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Topic: Difference between Mac's and PC's in Editing????
| Author | Message |
| MLA_Chick85 | Posted – 2/3/2008 11:15:12 PM | show profile | email poster I'm interested in editing and heard that QuarkXpress along with a few programs in Adobe Creative Suite( such as InDesign, Photoshop, InCopy, etc.) are the programs mainly used by copy editors. But these programs are usually used on a Mac platform. I've used Mac's once or twice in the past, but I'm Proficient in PC's and I'm afraid I won't know how to switch over. Is there really a big difference between using Adobe CS programs and QuarkXpress on a PC vs. a Mac. If I learn how to use them on a PC, will it be that hard to use them on a Mac? |
| keke11 | Posted – 2/4/2008 1:24:20 AM | show profile I'm sure that the programs themselves will be almost identical in PC's and Macs but honestly I would advise for you to try to be as proficient as possible with a Mac. The main difference will be using shortcuts, which make things a lot easier as you become fluent with the programs and allow you to work much more efficiently. All of the internships I have had at newspapers, magazines and publishing companies have used Macs. Even my university trained us to used Macs for journalism. But, if it makes you that uncomfortable i'm sure as long as you are gaining experience with the program it will be easy for you to work within both platforms easily. |
| Keith | Posted – 2/4/2008 10:27:27 AM | show profile How should I familiarize myself with a Mac? I feel kind of stupid because I recently bought myself a HP laptop, and could of bought a Mac instead! Ah, well. Should I buy a "For Dummies" book on Macs or something? |
| MLA_Chick85 | Posted – 2/4/2008 10:35:01 AM | show profile Um, okay. I guess sailor just asked the same question I was going to. I own a Dell. I do not want to buy a Mac because they are disgustingly expensive! I would guess a book would help. I don't really need a hands-on approach to using a Mac do I? As I've said before, I've used them in the past and know some things. |
| AWC | Posted – 2/4/2008 11:29:36 AM | show profile As far as the software goes, there's not a huge difference in how the programs (Quark, InDesign, etc.) work on a PC vs. how they work on a Mac. In my experience (I currently work at a place where both platforms are used regularly), the programs run a little better on the Macs. I imagine that that these programs are really designed for Macs, and that the PC versions of them are a bit of an afterthought. But if you learn the programs on the PC, you will definitely be able to jump to the Mac without any problems. As far as switching from PCs to Macs, I really don't think anyone has to seriously worry about it -- the beauty of the Mac is that they are so "intuitive" to use. I wouldn't really bother with books -- just spend some time on one and you will see what I mean. It's actually the PCs that are more difficult to use. |
| Marie | Posted – 2/4/2008 11:46:52 AM | show profile I'm a technical idiot, and yet have absolutely NO difficulty switching back between Macs and PCs. I don't even know what the differences are, and sometimes I don't even realize I'm on one or the other. So don't worry about it. Once you know one system, it's all intuitive. I will offer the one observation that MACs might be slightly more intuitive. |
