The Apple brand and its products play a significant role in shaping and setting current trends. The brand’s popularity is growing among Czech households and businesses alike. This is particularly true for Czech web design companies.
One of the advantages of Apple’s standalone products is, of course, speed. What does a computer’s speed actually depend on, and how can it be measured? It is, to a large extent, a purely subjective impression – both from the developer’s perspective and the user’s. Most people compare the speed of the operating system’s boot-up and response times, the speed at which applications load, the response to clicks, and so on. As a user of both rivals, macOS and Windows, I can also assess them subjectively. When it comes to graphics software, browsing the internet, and loading system functions, Apple clearly leads the way with its macOS.
Smoother and more realistic colour rendering
However, it is worth considering whether Apple is truly the right solution, particularly in relation to web graphics. What do I personally see as its advantages and disadvantages? Apple uses one of the best and most modern IPS (in-plane switching) technologies for its monitors. Among other things, this ensures superb colour reproduction from any viewing angle. The main product in question is the iMac, which offers two monitor sizes – 21.5 and an impressive 27 inches. These monitors feature a relatively thick layer of glass, which allows for smoother and more realistic colour reproduction.
The benefits of Apple monitors for freelance graphic designers, who primarily aim to create creative and original designs, are undeniable. A display featuring this technology can be extremely useful for achieving a final image of sheer perfection. However, this is often accompanied by difficulties when presenting work on other monitors – which, for the most part, still use TN (twisted nematic) technology. This technology is characterised by poor colour performance at viewing angles. It has earned its popularity and widespread use in most office monitors primarily due to its lower purchase cost.
An example of a comparison between these two visually distinguishable technologies.
The monitor on the left is fitted with an IPS panel, which gives the image a more realistic appearance, particularly in terms of colour. The landscape is rendered in greater detail and is not oversaturated with colour. The main advantage is one of the key benefits of monitors with this panel – clarity is maintained even when the viewing angle changes.
Advantages:
- IPS technology
- Vivid colours
- Viewing from multiple angles
- Custom colour space
Disadvantages:
- High price
- Inconsistency with other monitors (TN)
- Proprietary colour space
However, is it actually beneficial and truly effective to use Apple products for creating web graphics? When presenting a graphic design to a client who has a standard TN monitor, we can produce the best possible design on an IPS panel, but the client is unlikely to appreciate it at all. The reason lies in the aforementioned shortcomings of TN technology. Therefore, this investment is worth considering – both in terms of purchase costs and in terms of time and effort expended. It is therefore up to each individual to assess how much such an investment will actually pay off.