Aficionados of both Macs and PCs are adamant in their adoration of one or the other. However, the reality is that many opinions are based more on rumors or misconceptions rather than real differences between the two platforms. That does not mean there aren’t advantages to owning one over the other. There are a few arguments presented by owners to support their convictions.
There are more programs available for PCs than for Macs.
There may have been some basis for that argument in the past, but for the past several years there is little difference between the two. In fact, when the ability of Macs to run software developed for PCs is considered, Macs gain the edge. In addition, top software developers like Microsoft and Adobe now offer programs to run on both operating systems.
Macs cost more than PCs.
Again, there is some truth in the argument that Macs do, in fact, cost more initially than PCs. However, that cost differential is mitigated by two important factors. First, PCs typically require more repairs over their lives than Macs, which makes the total cost of ownership more equal over the life the devices. In addition, Mac is now offering versions of its products that are closer in price. The difference here is that PCs offer some features, even on entry level models, that Macs do not.
PCs are more prone to malicious software than Macs.
For years, hackers targeted PCs simply because they were more plentiful and easier to attack. Viruses commonly found in PCs simply did not show up in the Mac world. Recently that’s changed, as Macs have experienced some pretty sophisticated hacks in the past couple of years. As a rule, PCs are still more prone to malicious attacks, but no Mac owner can take for granted that Macs are immune from viruses and other malware.
There are many myths on both sides of the mac vs pc debates. While some enjoy a modicum of truth, the majority are easily debunked. There is no real “best” computer, as users do not share the same needs or expectations from their devices. Before making any buying decisions, users should carefully examine the good and bad points of both platforms.
There is one issue in these debates that irritate me, that would be pc vs mac. What is a pc, pc stands for personal computer. Isn’t an apple computer considered a personal computer? Now talking about the differences they have between them is a different story. I own them both and have for years. The one thing that Apple had over the other computer systems is that they created the hardware and software, which gave less problems than purchasing a computer from Dell, Hp, etc… and waiting for Microsoft to fix an issue with their operating system. Early on Microsoft missed the boat by not producing their own systems to compete with apple, which they do now. I will end my rant. Like your articles.
Thanks for the comments Randy! I agree that the debate revolves more around taste factor rather than functionality, although Apple is known for being very user friendly in terms of components working together. On the other hand, however, I just ran into an interesting dilemma regarding Apple’s methods of upgrading their system in “generations” which is rather frustrating. For instance, I would like to purchase a Mac Pro for video editing, but they haven’t upgraded their systems or price points since December 2013. That’s a long time in computer years. Since they won’t trickle out hardware updates and I’m not going to wait around for a “refresh”, it looks like I’ll be buying another PC.