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How to Choose Between a Personal Computer Vs a Macintosh
Gates or Jobs? Whom do you want to support? Here's a guide to help you decide whether you want to buy a PC or a Mac computer.
- Decide how much you have to spend. If you're not sure if its worth it for a Mac, try a Mac mini first. They start at around $500 and may actually be able to fulfill all your requirements. A handbuilt PC costing $500 will take up more space on your desk, but can be much more powerful.
- Decide what you want your computer to do. If you want to do high-end video editing and graphic design, you may choose a Mac for this job. PCs and Macs are both good for doing day-to-day tasks.
- Consider your choice of operating systems. While Windows has its instabilities, Mac OS X in most cases are far superior and more ahead than even the newest, most up-to-date Windows operating systems. Mac operating systems tend to be much more secure, and offer a very easy-to-use interface with many included applications and intuitive features.
- Macs have less of a software selection, but there are quite a few decent programs for the platform. Most commonplace programs are available on the Mac. Microsoft Office, most Adobe products, and most major software have Mac counterparts.
- If you want a cheap disposable workhorse, or want to play games, PCs are best. Mac users have a quasi-religious devotion to their computers which is well founded: few switchers from PCs to Macs ever go back.
- If you want a PC, but want OSX, get PearPC, a free Mac emulator, and install Mac OSX with it
- Instead of Windows, you can try Linux, a free and much more reliable OS that is based on UNIX. There are many distributions available, visit the official website at http://linux.org/
- Macs may be more expensive, but keep in mind that it includes a lot of applications that the PC doesn't include. Apple has great tech support. Macs are also proven to last longer and are more reliable than PC's.
- While there is a 'stereotype' of sorts about the price of Mac computers, investigation will reveal that prices are more comparable now than they ever have been. The newest Macintosh computers are made with Intel processors, which should help to further bring down the price.
- PC systems can handle high-end video editing and high-end graphics as well as Macs, although PC solutions will cost much more.
- Avoid the salespeople at "Big Box" electronics stores who usually know little about computers and a lot about this week's special offer. Talk instead to a devotee of either the PC or Mac platform before making your choice. Get both to show you what each machine can do with the software that comes with the machine.
- Macs, by nature, cannot be exploited by Windows viruses. Also, there is much less of a spyware/adware problem, because most spyware/adware is written targeting vulnerabilities in Windows operating systems.
- If you decide on a Mac, you'll want to buy it online in most cases. Many mainstream retailers do not carry Macs, so you'll probably end up shopping online. Places like Apple's online store (http://store.apple.com) and MacMall (http://www.macmall.com) are geared toward Macs and offer all Mac products.
- * If you are switching from a PC to a Mac or vice versa, you will have to adjust to some minor keyboard differences (i.e., you will use the command key instead of the control key in most instances when switching from PC to Mac).
- Think before you buy.
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Added: Fri Jul 28 2006
