Now, let’s continue where I left on the “Computers” article… In order to actually get anything done and delivered to the public, having just a computer and art supplies isn’t enough. You naturally need the right software to handle all the necessary tasks — and there’s plenty of those where I come from. I’ll say a few words about the operating system first, but I’ll leave my thoughts on image editors for a separate article.
Naturally, the computer you choose more or less determines the operating system — or vice versa. If you want to use Windows, you can choose any computer except those made by Apple. And if you go with a Mac, macOS is your only real option. No, we’re not talking about virtual machines, Boot Camp, or any other advanced workarounds. In my opinion, those just introduce more trouble or, at the very least, complicate your workflow. We’re doing design work here, not tinkering with operating systems. We want everything — both the OS and the software — to launch and run as quickly and smoothly as possible. Which realistically leaves us with two options: Windows or macOS.
What about Linux? Well… you can use it, if you want to. But if you’re only looking for an alternative to Windows, I’d recommend macOS — it’s Unix-based anyway, and most of the features people seek from Linux are already available there. That said, if you insist on using Linux, be aware that it requires a bit more technical understanding and you’ll be limiting yourself to even fewer software options. Except when it comes to the OS itself — in that case, the sky’s the limit with the countless Linux distributions available. As for software, GIMP 3.0 and XnView MP are the only serious image-related tools I know of that work well on Linux. Everything else I’ve reviewed runs on macOS, Windows, or both.
Don’t get me wrong — I have nothing against Linux, even if I’m not currently using it myself. Yet. I am tempted to give it a try… if and when I ever find the time. Which, realistically, might be never.
I’ve used Windows since Windows 95, but for the work featured on this site, I’ve been using versions 10 and 11. On the Mac side, I’ve worked with versions ranging from 10.8 to 10.15.
Many designers — especially those working across both web and print — may choose to use both Windows and Mac. That’s what I did for years too. That’s also because the very little software I need runs on both platforms.