Mac

Mac Vs. Windows PC Pros and Cons

7 Mins read

Here is everything you need to know about the pros and cons of both a Windows PC and a Mac machine. There aren’t many things Add Crazy that separate the Macs from the PCs, but they couldn’t be more different either. They might have the same hardware, but their ‘packaging’ and approaches are poles apart. While the PC seems more user-friendly and popular, the Mac caters to a niche audience. Let’s compare both of them in all aspects.

Hardware

PC

An aspect that heavily tilts the balance in favor of PCs is the fact that you have the option to choose and customize your machine right from scratch. You can choose to either go in for a branded computer, which still offers you a fair bit of customization, or you could opt to pick up the best products of all computer manufacturers and assemble them to have your little supercomputer cater to all your needs, and a certain extent, your greed! You can also easily upgrade your old computer to quite a bit with the latest hardware available.

Mac
Mac

The iMac boasts some impressive hardware, churning out serious processing power. The only drawback is that you do not get to do a great deal of customization with the hardware as you pick up your iMac. There is no way to assemble a Mac alone, as Apple solely produces it and comes only in a few variants. Also, there is very little gradation that you can do with your iMac, although it already has a very impressive spec sheet. Syncing your iPod, iPad, or iPhone is a breeze with an iMac.

The model under the microscope is the high-end 15″ model, which contains a 2.2ghz Sandy Bride quad-core i7 processor, four gb ram, and a 6750m from AMD. That’s a big upgrade from the previous generation. I’ve also opted for the high-res screen given in my (Mac!)book. *pun intended*

Besides the high-end 15″ Macbook Pro, Apple offers two 13″ models and a 17″ machine. Across the board, each model enjoys a faster processor, ram, and a thunderbolt.

The latter is very interesting and a first for any laptop on the market! I’m not going into too much detail about it, but it’s Intel’s answer to USB. The connection can simultaneously transfer video, audio, and data at very high speeds. That means a DVD movie will transfer to external storage in about 6 seconds once supported hardware comes out.

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When deciding between models, realize that the 13″ models all share an Intel HD 3000 graphics as a sole provider. This is a source of frustration for gamers because the chip is pretty weak for modern games. The smaller models also use the gaps between the keys as speaker holes and lack a subwoofer; expect a slightly more tin sound.

The 17″ model has a 1920×1200 display and similar specs to the 15″ Macbook Pro. This is both a good and bad thing. The good thing is that you’ll have slightly more screen real estate, but gaming on the native resolution will struggle.

Operating System

PC

The world over, computers mainly run on the Microsoft Windows operating system. Easy access and comparatively easy to set up, most PCs have some variant of Windows pre-loaded on them. As it caters to over 90% of computer users, almost all software is designed for Windows PCs. Another feature of the personal computer is that you can choose to have two operating systems on it (two versions of Windows), or if you want, you can even configure it to have Microsoft Windows and Apple OS on board. However, it would be a bit more complicated to set up.

Mac

The iMac runs the much acclaimed Apple proprietary Mac OS. In addition, users can also opt for a dual-boot configuration, wherein one can boot either into Mac OS or Windows as and when one wishes to do so.

Compatibility

PC

When you compare the computer operating systems or study a Mac vs. Windows pros-cons list, you will find that PCs are always backward compatible. This is a major advantage that they have over Macs. New operating systems like Windows 7 can run on a relatively old PC without hassle. Almost all the software available in the market is Windows compatible and runs smoothly on PCs with the required config.

Mac

A major chink in the iMac’s armor is that they are not backward compatible. Simply put, it means that most newer Apple Mac OSes will not run on older versions of their iMacs. So, for instance, OS X Lion will not run on a Mac Mini. Also, not all software in the market is designed to run on Mac OS, although most newer software and applications are compatible with Windows and Mac. In either scenario, as the newer generation of Macintoshes supports both Mac OS and Windows, this shouldn’t be much of a problem.

Looks and User Interface

PC

Personal computers these days are no longer the ugly and cumbersome eyesores they used to be. The nasty duckling has transformed into a beautiful and powerful swan! Apart from just the processing power, people opt for beautiful showpieces to add to the house’s aesthetics. To match up to this, MS Windows, the main OS for these elegant machines, is rather simple to use because, over the years, most of us have gotten used to the interface. Ironically, the newer versions of Windows take a leaf out of their supposed complicated-to-use-rival, the Mac OS, and are even more fine-tuned to enhance the entire user experience with a more polished look.

Mac

Until the introduction of the Macintosh, a new breed of computing machines, all computers in the market were always seen as big, ugly pieces of equipment. With the Mac, Apple changed the world’s outlook toward computers. With their compact and beautiful form factor, iMacs these days are gorgeous and now offer up to 27″ of real estate in terms of screen size. This is topped up with a very refined, and contrary to popular belief, easy-to-use OS. The Mac OSes have always been quite a spectacle, with their smooth buttery user interface. Mac OSes have often been mistaken to be extremely complicated to use, wherein it is one of the best interfaces to work with.

As noted,d Apple has retained its famous unibody design for this generation of Macbooks. I don’t consider this a bad thing. Built from a single piece of aluminum, this laptop isscratch-resistantt and clean-looking. My previous Macbook Pro (same design) withstood the test of time. (not a single scratch!)

In my view, this is the best-looking laptop apart from the Macbook Air. Its design is very symmetrical. Everything is exactly where you’d expect it to be, like how the speaker holes match the vertical space used by the keyboard keys. The width of the hinge also perfectly fits the horizontal keyboard space. Using a combination of black and silver, Apple created something aesthetically pleasing. However, I’d have loved to see some Macbook Air elements take over. The battery indicator seems unnecessary to me, and the DVD super drive is bound to disappear. Guess we can expect those changes in a redesign later on.

Security

PC

Security is by far the biggest issue that bothers PC users worldwide. With the Internet boom, which has made Internet connectivity easily available and very affordable, computers everywhere face a constant threat of being attacked by viruses and hackers. Cybercrime is also on the rise, with identity theft and phishing rampant. Personal computers are very vulnerable to these attacks, as they are the most widely used computing machines, and their many loopholes have been exposed and exploited by hackers and the many viruses on the prowl.

Mac

Security is one area that Apple has always flaunted as one of the biggest strengths of the iMac. The Mac is at a much lesser risk of being attacked by malicious software and hackers because of its security features.

User Base

PC

The fact that personal computers were in the market even before the whole idea of the Mac was conceived gave them a huge and almost unassailable lead. PCs rule the market, with about 70% of the market share to their name. They cater to a huge segment of society, from the basic personal computers at home to advanced computers used for programming and data processing. Hardcore gamers prefer PCs because they can be easily customized, and you wouldn’t need to pay for an arm and a leg to buy one, unlike an iMac with a similar configuration.

Mac

Although the market share for the iMac has grown by notches, it still only accounts for a paltry 10% of the consumer market. Apple has always targeted a niche group of consumers and hasn’t wavered from its approach a lot. The concept Apple follows is to service the premium share of the market and not compromise on quality, even if this results in a lower market share. iMacs are preferred over conventional computers in animation, visual effects, and sound editing. This is mainly because certain advanced editing and designing software used in these fields are compatible with Mac OS machines. Also, some offices use the iMac more for its aesthetic appeal. For the affluent class, their iMacs are status symbols, although the scenario has changed quite a bit lately.

Now it’s time to put the internals to the test. This is Apple’s fastest notebook offering, so my expectations were sky-high. The first thing I wanted to have a look at is the battery. Apple advertises 7 hours of battery for every Macbook Pro model it offers. That’s down from 8-10 hours for the previous generation. Most of this is probably due to the faster processor and a new way of testing that supposedly better represents real-world results.

I fully charged the laptop and left the settings at default. The brightness sensor was turned on for more realistic results. During the test, I used everyday apps like Microsoft Word and Safari. To mix things,p some light 3D work was thrown into the mix.

Price

PC

With production costs decreasing drastically and many more players entering the PC manufacturing industry, you can get a computer with a decent configuration for less than a basic television set. What also helps to make them so popular is that the software for PCs is easily available and at really low rates. Computers no longer seem to be a luxury but instead have become an essential part of daily life for people.

Mac

Most people will shout out “Highway robbery” when they hear the mention of Apple, and sadly, the iMac does little to change this notion. The iMac undoubtedly makes you feel a part of an elite group, but it comes at a premium. All-In-One computers these days offer the same, and at times, a better experience, both in terms of looks and performance, at a much lower price. But the fact remains that once you’ve had an Apple bite, you can’t seem to have enough of it if you can afford it.

Over the years, personal computers and Macs have learned to co-exist, with one being hugely popular with the masses and the other still choosing to cater to a niche group of users. It all boils down to the user’s requirements. While Apple bashers and PC haters will always look to belittle the other, comparing the two would be like choosing between ‘apples’ and oranges!

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