It’s the great debate – Mac vs PC – people are staunchly loyal to whichever one is their favorite. So which should a new computer user choose? In the end it comes down to preference and what you plan to use it for. There are a few myths surrounding each that cloud the issue.
The first myth is that Macs can’t do everything a PC can do. This just isn’t true, especially with the newest technology Mac has been using, such as the Intel Core Duo processor found in new iMacs and MacBooks. In fact, if you were concerned about not being able to use your favorite PC applications on your new Mac, fear no more.
While Macs have long been known for being the computer of choice for design, many design programs have not upgraded to be native on the new OS X Tiger Intel Core Duo version. This means that until next year, 2008, programs such as Adobe Photoshop currently run in bit faster in their PC versions if you have one of the new Macs.
Alternatively, the popular belief that PCs are less intuitive, prone to viruses, and more difficult to use and upgrade are all based in fact. Granted, not all people are looking for an intuitive machine. Some people just find it harder to work in an intuitive environment. That’s okay, if you are one of those people that just means you belong in a PC environment.
I like to think that it doesn’t really matter which type of computer you use. The more advances in technology we make, the easier it is to just choose the computer you are most comfortable with and still be able to work with and communicate with anyone, anywhere.
Take a look at me, for example, I use an iMac G5 desktop and a MacBook Intel Core Duo laptop for my work. Many of my clients use PC laptops. By using similar programs and universal file formats, we’ve never had a problem sharing files or working together. I could share anecdotes about both types of laptop all they long, but let’s get down to the nitty gritty. I’ll start by taking a look at PC laptops.
The first thing most people notice about PC laptops is how much they vary in price as compared to Macs. Just because you can buy a PC laptop for the bargain basement price of 600 dollars doesn’t mean that machine will be comparable to a Mac. What you get for your six hundred dollars is a machine they can do basic things like check your Email, surf the Internet, and performs some basic business functions like create documents and spreadsheets.
The more that you would like your PC to do, the more money you will have to spend up front. PCs do not come loaded with any of the standard business software, design software, or games that many users enjoy and need. If you want to write word documents that use formatting more complicated then the basic Notebook text program, you will need to buy the word processing software such as Microsoft Word or Works. In fact you should plan on buying any software that you will need to do anything more than run your computer’s operating system, check your Email or surf the Internet.
Another issue with PCs is the susceptibility to viruses and instability of the operating system itself. Buying virus and hacker protection software and learning how to use that software and create firewalls and other protective devices is a must when using PCs. In fact, viruses are so prevalent on PCs it is foolish to run your computer with out any protection whatsoever.
Microsoft, makers of Windows, one of the most widely used operating systems in the world, have recently introduced a new operating system to replace Windows. This operating system is called Vista. The introduction of Vista has made many computer users angry. The reason for this is that it leaves a hackable door open in the programming.
The original purpose of this “door” is to allow Microsoft to do automatic upgrades on your computer (whether you want it or not), and to require automatic registration in hopes of preventing software theft. Of course, there is the theory that more reasonably priced software, or bundling more software with the OS like the Mac does, would go along way to preventing software theft all together. But that’s just a theory.
On a more positive note, because PC laptops are made by so many different companies, the prices of many are more affordable up front for most computer users. The long-term cost of the PC is far greater than a Mac, but the up front cost is lower. Most people only look at how much the PC or Mac costs them right now.
So what is long-term cost? The long-term cost of your laptop is the combination of several factors. Number one is how long will your laptop last? As a general rule, PC laptops physically wear out and/or break within five years. Not only that, the cost of software for a PC can really add up over time. This isn’t due so much to the cost of the software, but more due to the cost of not having any software included with purchase.
Another aspect of long-term value it is how often do you need to upgrade, and how easy is it to do so? With a PC, it is not unusual to require some kind of hardware upgrade each time you go to the next level operating system or other software. Needing a new sound card here, more RAM there and other new hardware along the way can really add up.
One advantage that PC laptops have over Mac laptops is accessibility to people working with a tight budget. Even though Mac laptops will cost you less over many years, the reality is that some people simply can’t afford the Mac laptop at its lowest price point: 900 dollars, much less its highest price point: well over two thousand dollars.
Apple’s newest laptop, the MacBook line, is the cream of the crop. This computer is versatile, innovative, sleek and solid. Do not be turned off by the high price tag. Macs are a complete computer that you can start using right out of the box with very little learn time. Not only that, they last for decades with no real upgrades needed.
What will an entry level MacBook really cost you? I bought an entry level MacBook to replace the iBook I’d been using. I paid around $800 for the iBook clamshell in the nineties, and I paid $999 base for the white MacBook in November 2006. The iBook lasted years and years with no problems (in fact it is still in use today by my younger sister in college) and only one upgrade to a larger hard drive and maximum RAM. It had everything I needed right out of the box, so buying software wasn’t needed for the Mac, though I ended up buying Word and Photoshop to be compatible with clients using PCs at the time, as well as paying for some shareware games and such. That put the real world cost of the original iBook somewhere around $1300 all said and done.
The MacBook came with even more preloaded software (iWork, iLife, and so much more). With that and the super fast processor, generous hard drive and superior RAM, not to mention the built in iSight camera, I was up and rolling in minutes. Without any additional purchases I had the ability to handle making and editing original movies and music, writing documents and spreadsheets, playing games, checking email, surfing the internet, and running a laptop movie theater and juke box.
The one feature I would never use is perhaps this Mac’s biggest selling point to died in the wool PC lovers. It can now run Windows in addition to OS X. You can boot in and out of operating systems, run them simultaneously, and more. This means a PC user won’t have to give up their Doom-playing days to join the Mac universe, for example. Keep in mind, it is the Mac OS that keeps it virus free, and running Windows opens your Mac to possible viruses – think ahead and protect it accordingly!
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