Apple Computers Vs. PC
Mac or PC? That question has fueled intense debate among computer aficionados for more than 25 years, reaching a fever pitch when Apple pulled back from the brink of bankruptcy in 1998 with its release of the iMac. The iMac design, completely unlike that of any Windows-based PC available at the time, established Apple's new direction as a company that thought carefully about its computers' visual design. Today, Apple products continue to earn high marks for stunning design. But does that make them better computers?
Price
Apple computers are more expensive than similarly equipped PCs. In 2009, Apple listed the least expensive Mac laptop at $999, and the least expensive desktop at $1,199, excluding the $599 Mac Mini, which provides no keyboard, mouse or monitor. Apple has yet to embrace the low-to-mid-end segment of the market, perhaps for fear of cannibalizing its enviable profit margins. Windows-based PCs fare much better in the cost department. A comparable 2009 Dell laptop, for example, sold for $499 and a desktop for $699.
Performance
In many published benchmark tests pitting a Mac against a Windows-based PC, it is possible to find results favoring either platform. The fact is Macs and PCs today use the same parts, and thus can be compared on a level playing field in terms of hardware performance.
Mac OS vs. Windows
Choosing between Mac OS and Windows is largely a matter of personal preference. The two operating systems are different enough that switching from Windows is likely to require a period of adjustment. Little things that Windows users take for granted---the start button and task bar, for example---are not present in Mac OS. On the other hand, nearly every commonly used Windows program like Firefox, Photoshop and any number of games has a functionally equivalent Mac version. Those PC users who take the time to learn Mac OS will be delighted at the many touches that make it a breeze to operate, such as the simple drag-and-drop installation of software and seamless, full-system backup of the Time Machine utility.
Bundled Software
In most cases, the only software that will be bundled with a Windows PC will be Windows itself and, sometimes, a stripped-down version of Microsoft Office. Every new Mac includes Apple's iLife software suite, which brings the experience of using a computer into a more-cohesive whole, because the computer can do more right out of the box, without acquiring third-party software. Welcome additions to the iLife suite include excellent applications for photo-editing and organization, movie-making, website authoring and multitrack audio recording.
The Bottom Line
In the end, deciding between a Mac or PC comes down to a couple of simple questions: Do you believe a Mac is worth the higher price over a comparable PC and, if so, can you afford to pay that price? If you are involved in digital content creation, you may find that the price is worth paying. Take music production as an example. Apple's GarageBand, included free with every new Mac, is an excellent recording solution for beginning or intermediate musicians. Purchasing a similar solution for the PC, such as Sonar Home Studio 7, will add an extra $139 to the price of your computer. If you also need photo-editing software, budget an extra $79 for Paint Shop Pro Photo. Additions like these can quickly raise the price of a PC above that of a similarly equipped Mac.
Tags: least expensive, similarly equipped, that make, that price, users take