Mac or PC?
Though the Macintosh
(Mac, or Apple) computer has been at the forefront of elegance and design for
many years, it is no longer the dominant brand of computer on the marketplace.
The personal
computer (PC) is a loose term used to describe Microsoft Windows-based systems
that are built with an almost infinite number of specifications.
While choosing
between the two is not often a dilemma many people face, you may be curious as
to the basic differences between them.
Let’s just cut right
to the chase and say that for the average computer user, there is no reason to
get a Mac. A PC system is cheaper and
the majority of all software is programmed for Windows systems. These are the two overwhelming advantages of
PCs.
For the hardcore
users, both systems serve as examples of two different ideologies. A PC is a totally customizable device. A skilled and experienced user can pick and
choose the proper components to suit his or her needs. All components have multiple brands, many manufacturers,
and varying degrees of quality and price.
For practical purposes, you can build a solid system for under $1000. The Mac, on the other hand, is an ’as-is’
device. You purchase the system and it’s
pretty much unchangeable after that.
Though there is some choice as to the specification of the components,
you are essentially buying everything from one company: Apple Computer.
So what is a
hardcore Mac user like? Usually they
are the niche computer for those in the media industry. Many important publication, film editing, photo
editing, and audio recording software suites are developed first for the
Mac. Of course, these suites are now
released on PC as well, diminishing the monopoly on these products. Mac also features a unique operating system
that is claimed to be simpler and more streamlined. Of course, we’ve all heard enough about how crappy MS Windows is,
but this is more about misinformation than anything.
There’s nothing
particularly wrong with the Windows operating system despite its security
shortfalls and the prospect of giving money to the world’s most loved and hated
software developer, Microsoft. In the
end, a well-maintained Windows system is just as effective as a Mac system, if
not better.
If I had to choose,
I’d pick a PC time and time again. I
enjoy the flexibility of choice when it comes to my specifications and
manufacturer. I also like to use the
latest software and don’t want to wait while it’s ported to Mac. Just to let you know, the following sections
about hardware components are related to PC systems only! You can’t even embark on such a discussion
about Mac parts.
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