The age-old question, indeed. And I'm going be weird when I say: both.
(Disclaimer: I have used both extensively)
The ads are vicious, the fanboys even more so. Macs are easier to use, no, PCs are, but Macs don't get viruses, etc. etc. etc.
It really all depends on what YOU need to use a computer for. Your "philosophy of use," if you will.
Where they fail, however, is on the "techie" side. I use the term "techie" here to mean an IT pro. You know, the guys that wear HTML t-shirts and have dedicated computer glasses. They love to code, tinker, use Boot Camp regularly, etc. Macs are designed to be easy-to-use and "foolproof," which translates to a closed system. While actual OS X machines are a little different than their little brothers the iPhone and iPad, the principles are the same. If Apple controls the system, they can control the quality. The quality therefore is increased (usually), but the availability and ease-of-access to programmers is not.
PCs are great for a wide variety of things. The sheer number of Windows-running machines out there is staggering. This means that if you need a program that does something specific, there's a good chance it's out there. Not so on a Mac. Gaming, for instance, only just got a boost on the Mac side with the release of Valve's Steam.
And plus, if that specific program doesn't exist, and you're a programmer, it's much easier to write and distribute a program on the Windows platform.
PCs can also be fairly easy to use. I grew up using PCs, so I know my way around them pretty well, and so do most people in my generation (born in the late 80s). And as long as you use safe web practices (i.e., no porn or limewire), viruses are few and far between.
But they're also more prone to malware than the Macs. This is simply due to the colossal number of machines out there. If there's more PCs out there, virus writers are going to write for what's out there. It's Logic!
And PCs can get a bit clunky, don't get me wrong. My primary computer for two years in high school was a Windows ME machine.
Shudder.
But it really comes down to personal preference. What do you want to do with your computer? What have you used in the past? How much customization do you want? How much do you want to pay for a brand name (cough, Apple tax, cough)?
For myself, I prefer PCs for my personal use. As a journalist, I have used more than my fair share of Apple computers, and believe me, I know my way around them just as well as PCs. It just so happens that I like my Windows machine for everyday use.
So there you have it. It's not a matter of who can play more games, who has more style, or how slick the UI looks. It's all about you. Your preference, your money, and most importantly, your choice.
Pretty good. I have three comments.
ReplyDelete1. As far as security, yes more people write malware for PCs, but Macs have been known as just tougher to crack even if the playing fields were even. So it's just better security in general. To date, there's never been a true virus on a Mac (though there are many trojans). I'm always on the lookout, so if there is a genuine one, let me know.
2. As far as paying for the brand name, I can tell you that as a family who's bought and sold PCs for a while, we prefer the price situation on the Mac. Macs for one thing have higher quality screens than many laptops. They often have nicer screens and come with Firewire 800 and USB 2. Now, there's less options on a Mac. If you don't need the firewire (many PCs do not come with it), then you're paying extra for something you'll never use. Something to consider. The second part that we discovered (and that I continue to see) is that Macs have a higher resale value, so it doesn't actually cost as much if you're buying and updating your system now and then. But if you want a very simple machine to run a specific task (or a PC just for gaming) then by all means, by a Windows machine.
3. I would never buy a PC machine. I remember a while ago when PC World magazine said the best computer to run Windows was the Macbook Pro. It runs the Microsoft OS even better than typical PC notebooks. My dad has bootcamp but sometimes has three operating systems running at once on his machine. So if I have to choose between a system that can run both OS very well or one that can only run one not quite as well, I'll get the Mac.
The second part that we discovered (and that I continue to see) is that Macs have a higher resale value, so it doesn't actually cost as much if you're buying and updating your system now and then. But if you want a very simple machine to run a specific task
ReplyDeleteHey Caleb... you'd enjoy this. :)
ReplyDeletehttp://verydemotivational.com/2010/07/01/demotivational-posters-the-truth/