Comments for :: Ganger Design ::

Comment on Adobe Launches CS6 this Week by Sheryll Ryan

Sheryll Ryan — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:21:27 +0000

Your rant is just as relevant today as the day it was when you first posted it. I only came across it today because I’m a Usability Analyst who now finds that I’m expected to be a web designer as well, using all the web design software. That is a BAD idea, as no one can be totally objective about their own design–i.e. can a user really
use it and do they really want to?!! I was searching for the latest version of CS when I came across your blog and loved it!

Comment on Adobe Launches CS6 this Week by T. Purcell

T. Purcell — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:38:16 +0000

Loved the comments. You nailed the Software issues, I’ll try and tackle the Hardware issues…

I too am a designer in Wisconsin, and if my 30-something, pasty white, beer-drinking, Dark-Irish, cheese-head ass wasn’t enough to make me “Not Cool” then it would be the fact I do design within a budget. That’s right: I never get to use die cuts, or special paper, or interesting spot inks, as I’m a practitioner of the art of form FOLLOWING function as I care about things like post office requirements, efficient use of the press sheet and variable data integration—but I digress… the thing that makes this sooooo “Not Cool” is that I have ALWAYS worked on a PC.

Before working in Graphic Design, I worked in IT and learned how to strip apart a PC and rebuild it. The fact of the matter is that all computers are essentially the same: CPU, motherboard, RAM, Hard Drive, Power Supply and some other random peripherals. Macs ARE pretty, and ARE built from stellar hardware, but they also are way more difficult to upgrade over the long term and cost somewhere between the price of my arm & leg up to the price of my first born. Sure, PCs come in all different shapes and sizes and can range from being total crap to being hell on wheels, but in all cases with PCs: you get what you pay for. Take the cost of a Mac, and buy a PC for the same amount and I’ll bet you dollars to donuts that the PC has better performance capabilities. Case in point: I can build a PC for half the price that outstrips most of the standard Mac and can keep pace with all their top of the line models as far as Adobe program performance goes and I have. I rarely ever am just using Photoshop, I run the entire Creative Suite and cut and paste between the programs all the time without a hick-up. By the way, that is where I see more advantages of Windows environments vs. a Mac as I’ve never thought that Macs multitasked as well as PCs. Granted, the top of the line Macs do have super hardware, but I can spec out a PC that has literally the same specs as the top of the line Macs as far as processor, RAM, hard drive, video cards, and BUS speed and assemble it all in my existing case with existing optical drives (because seriously, when it comes optical drives, do we really need to keep upgrading them -who burns CD/DVDs anymore?) for a FRACTION of the price Apple is charging. Add in the fact that I know how to optimize a PC for better scratch disc performance with Windows/Photoshop and it turns out that my capabilities are just as good as any ritzy design firm’s. Again: a computer is a computer, no matter what the outside case says. I choose to use PCs with custom hardware because it’s cheaper and faster and I like actually knowing what I’m paying for, instead of just being enamored with a cool looking translucent piece of plastic and deciding to pay way more than it’s worth just so I can tell my peers “I have a Mac…”

If you aren’t a Mac-Nazi (Mac’s being the proverbial Aryan’s of the PC world—all that white plastic and elitism with no real capabilities to back up the superiority claims—contrasted by the vast diversity of other IBM-compatible hardware available), and you want some tips on how to save some cash but stay fast and productive then drop me a line and I’ll help you out

Comment on Adobe Launches CS6 this Week by John

John — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:27:47 +0000

Well, looks like the real release is actually still a ways off

http://prodesigntools.com/when-adobe-cs6-coming-out-creative-suite-6.html

Comment on Adobe Launches CS6 this Week by Caleb Sewell

Caleb Sewell — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:45:31 +0000

I dont see why you would necessarily need to go to cs6 immediately just to be successful. Cs5 is still extremely powerful and can do all the things you will probably need. The updates just add new features that aren’t necessarily required, rather they are just helpful to possibly speed up your workflow. I do feel your pain as I cannot afford it either obviously but sadly that is the way it goes in this industry. It is just as bad If not worse in the auto desk 3d modeling arena lol.

Comment on Adobe Launches CS6 this Week by Jim Hunt

Jim Hunt — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 17:32:16 +0000

How about a pool for the CS6 release date?

The winner could stay on the cutting edge with periodic updates for the rest of us now waiting for CS7.

Thanks.

Comment on Adobe Launches CS6 this Week by Nick

Nick — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 03:07:51 +0000

Now this is fake, but I HAVE to say, that picture of the box, is real good work. I would never have been able to do that.
Weird that they launched it over a year ago and it’s still not on the Adobe website yet.

Comment on Adobe Launches CS6 this Week by Andy McLintic

Andy McLintic — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:56:15 +0000

Love it mate! Just about to pay the price for CS5 but half expecting CS6 to come out next week so I totally understand your rant. Go for Windows/PC, been avoiding MACs for 12 Years for the same reason you’re moaning about them – they aren’t really user serviceable! Windows 7 is cool and the difference between that and OSX very small. Good luck to you!

Comment on My inspiration for 2011 by admin

admin — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:16:12 +0000

Awesome. Approved!

Comment on My inspiration for 2011 by Steven Alan

Steven Alan — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 06:13:09 +0000

I hope you get a lot of emails telling you that you are spot on about all the BS upgrades pushed on designers. I realize that is keeps people employed, but I refuse to buy software and hardware upgrades until I absolutely need them. My computer is 10 years old, I’ve replaced the hard drives and added as much memory as the old box can handle (2GB). Sometimes I do wish it could move a bit quicker, but it isn’t really all that bad.

Thanks for the great article/rant. I loved it!

Steven

Comment on Adobe Launches CS6 this Week by Timmy M

Timmy M — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 13:56:38 +0000

But the puppet warp is so cool!
Maybe I’m brainwashed by all the sweet advertisements but I find it pretty cool, those insane algorithms they write. They allow you to perform the craziest shit with your images with the click of a (few) button(s). Sadly, that crazy shit is barely ever useful. So, is “pretty cool” really worth a few extra hundreds? The student version of CS5 design premium costs $449. I say: WTF?! Does the adolescent youth really have that kind of money? I guess the fact that most of them use a cracked version (and the school not caring about it or sometimes even silently promoting it) tells us the answer. And seriously, who can blame them? That’s like 50 movie tickets! Or 449 condoms! Or a binge drinking party for about 30 people!

Thanks for making a good point, dude. It’s spot on ^_^

Oh and you got me going at first! I started looking for CS6 on adobe.com. lol