Mac vs. PC
February 1, 2008 | By Raymond T. Hightower
If you’re bored and you want to start a fight amongst IT professionals, ask this question: “I was wondering if you would give me your thoughts on getting an Apple computer instead of a PC.”
Zealots on Both Sides
The question has the potential to spark a religious debate! There are zealots on both sides. The answer is not simple, and that is why the debate continues.
How to Decide
Choosing a Mac or PC for yourself depends on two key questions:
- What do you need the computer for?
- Who do you share information with?
What Do You Need It for?
If you’re a graphic artist or video editor, go Mac. If you’re a developer creating Web 2.0 apps using the Ruby on Rails framework, go Mac. The graphics tools are better. Everyone in those industries uses Macs, so it will be easier for you to get support from your peers.If you’re running a business and you need to create documents & spreadsheets, go PC. If you manage an accounting department, go PC. The business software is more powerful on the PC platform. Most people in the business world use PCs, so it will be easier for you to get support from your peers.
Who Do You Share With?
If you’re planning to travel to a foreign country, you’ll enjoy yourself more if you speak the local language. Can files be converted back and forth between Macs and PCs? Yes. But truthfully, only the simplest files can undergo this conversion in a seamless fashion. The more complex the file, the greater the chances of losing information during a conversion. Information sharing is easier between people who use the same tools.What About Windows Vista?
Never buy a PC running Windows Vista. At least not yet. The newest Microsoft operating system is still buggy and slow.One PC Advantage: Specialized Hardware
Windows-based PCs have one advantage that few people seem to mention: Thousands of hardware developers. All Apple hardware is developed by one company in California due to licensing restrictions. Specialized hardware (tablets, embedded systems, etc.) typically runs Windows. Chalk one up for the PC platform.My Biases
I’ve owned dozens of PCs over the years, but only two Macs. My first Mac didn’t live up to my (over-hyped) expectations, and I sold it. But my current MacBook Pro is great! One thing I really like about the MacBook Pro: A third-party software package lets me run Windows software on the Mac, and the Windows software has no idea that it’s running on a Mac. Kind of like The Matrix. Very cool! The concept is called virtualization, and you can read about it here.The Bottom Line
Which is better, Mac or PC? Answer: It depends on the user. Decide what software you need to use, and who you need to share with. And let that be your guide.