When not using the digital pen and touch screen, the Surface Book 2 and Surface Pro run the Adobe Creative Cloud just like any other computer, which you can control with the touch-pad or mouse.

If you are looking for the short-list of favorite computers for Creative Cloud, weve included it here as well, listing both desktop computers and laptops.

Best Configuration For Editing Mac Or Windows

You dont give-up anything when using the Creative Cloud on either the Mac or Windows operating systems.

This makes the Mac vs.

Will you be using Adobe Creative Cloud as part of a corporate computer environment If so, does the IT department support both Mac and Windows operating systems If they only support one, then youll save yourself many headaches and the trouble of self-help by selecting the environment that they support.

Best Configuration For Editing Free To Select

If you are comfortable being your own IT support staff, then youre free to select the platform of your choice.

But because of the similarities between the Creative Cloud on both Mac and Windows, there is no reason to argue strongly for one platform or the other.

The other deciding factor in whether you will want to work on Mac or PC is whether you have exceptionally strong skills in one operating system or the other.

Although students pick the platform of their choice, once the Adobe Creative Cloud applications are started, students in Photoshop classes or InDesign courses generally cant tell the difference between the Mac and Windows versions because Adobe has worked diligently to keep their appearance and functionality so they are identical.

Creating a brochure using InDesign or editing a photo with Photoshop require certain aspects of your computer to have more capabilities than a spreadsheet or an email app.

Any computer, whether a Mac or PC, will need three key components: a fast processor, enough RAM memory, and an adequate video processor.

If you are looking to use a laptop computer for Creative Cloud use, these requirements eliminate most low-cost notebooks or laptops.

Higher-end laptops, such as the Microsoft Surface Book 2 or MacBook Pro generally are well equipped in all three areas.

If you will be working on photo editing, video editing, or animation, the base configuration for these computers will not be sufficient, and you will want to get a computer with additional RAM memory and the more advanced video card, sometimes labeled as a discrete GPU.

If you are buying a desktop computer, the higher-end iMac or advanced systems often sold for gaming by companies such as Dell also include these necessary items.

With the most advanced iMacs, the discrete GPU may no longer be needed for most general Creative Cloud tasks as Apple is using the more powerful graphics processor from Intel.

The exception to this is for video editing and special effects with the Creative Cloud apps of Premiere Pro and After Effects, where a computer with a dedicated GPU is helpful.

The Surface Studio is an all-in-one computer, available with a dedicated graphics processor and also a 28-inch display that supports both touch and pen input.

This functionality makes it a great computer for Creative Cloud users.

The Surface Book 2 is not to be confused with the Microsoft Surface Pro, which has a slower processor and no graphics card.

Although Microsoft is a relative newcomer in the computer hardware business, they have produced systems that are part computer, part tablet, and perfect for creative professionals.

The Surface Book 2 and Surface Pro add both touch and stylus input support for Adobe Creative Cloud users.

Previously users that wanted to work with a digital pen needed to attach a separate device to their computer, or buy a highly specialized display.

Now the Surface Book and Surface Pro include support for drawing with a stylus in tools such as Photoshop and Illustrator.

They also provides touch screen support in the Creative Cloud apps, for tasks such as panning and zooming.

Best Mac Configuration For Editing