Mac vs PC

[NickPhamUK]

I know some of you might yell "no, not this thread again", but I'm not starting a flame war. I just want to ask what you find fascinating in Mac that PCs can't offer.

I've been using both PCs and Macs; I started with PCs and then bought an MBP in 2008 and an MBA in 2011. To be honest, I only buy macs because:
1. They have top-notch design and quality build. Only Vaio can vie with macbooks.
2. MBA is the best machine in the ultrabook category
3. Smooth OS, beautiful UI, easy to learn
4. I don't have to spend pointless cash on anti-virus programs
5. Decent battery life.

That's it. In short, albeit expensive, Macs are decent for casual users. Past some point, one will find that Macs can't satisfy niche interests. Some examples
1. Gaming
2. Modding for games
3. Corporate work. iWork is ok for casual users, but for professional work, it is a joke (except from Keynote). Numbers are no match with Excel. Pages can't edit some of Words features. We have Office 2011, but features are still limited compared to the Windows version, and Office 2013 has been out in Windows for a long time.
4. If one is into Android needs rooting, then Windows is a must.
Etc. Some devices have root applications, but in my case, Note 2, doesn't.

Because Macs caters for only a small percentage of computer users, there are not many applications written for macs, thus those who have special interests must have bootcamp (defeats the purpose of Mac OS, aye?) or buy a PC. I hear people say Mac excels as a designing tool, though I'm not into that but from what I understand, Autocad, Adobe softwares and Sony Vegas are all available in Windows too?

 

[KingKen1986]

Are you an IT, because I am, and guess what, I never have to work on Mac's, only PC's. That alone is enough of an answer to why macs are better than PC's. Plus the software is tailor made for the hardware. So even though specs might sound similar, the hardware will be utilized more efficiently in a Mac.

 

[l.a.rossmann]

Macs offer the experience. The cohesive, shi! just works & looks nice out of the box experience. There's a fuzzy feeling you get when you get into using all the features of a Mac, and seeing that integrate with other devices & pieces of Apple software that you just don't get on a PC.

PCs offer the choice. I want a computer that I can pour a gallon of milk into and still have work... that has rounded edges on the palmrest, and I want to transfer files to my MP3 player as a UMS device, not using iTunes. I just want to do things my way, not the way someone else wants me to do them. I want to create my experience instead of take part in the experience someone else has made for me - even if it is an aesthetically pleasing & user friendly one. iTunes is nice, but I like having a bunch of folders with artist names, then album names, then songfiles with the track number first - all in FLAC, all available for quick transcoding to another format or copying. I could care less about iTunes. Or an integrated mail app.... I like what I have.

I love what Apple has made. When I use their products, I always feel like I am inside this beautiful apartment with perfect furniture that was arranged by one of those home remodeling shows I moved into one of those nice apartments and threw all the furniture out to make room for owens corning 703 panels & a Vandersteen stereo... the furniture ****s up the sound. Know what I mean? I have my priorities and my way of doing things, and I want to do things my way - so I own a Lenovo laptop and a home built desktop.

It depends what you're looking for. It really does. I love the Mac aesthetic, but it's just not for me.

The idea of hardware being utilized more efficiently in a Mac can be **** on by anyone who runs their CPU to 100% load on an 820-2915 motherboard. Poor thing throttles and stalls faster than a recalled Ford Escape engine.

 

[KingKen1986]

Windows is a generic os, just like android. They are made for infinite hardware configurations meaning they will not fully take advantage of a singe hardware setup, they are designed to run tons of different hardware. Therefore they do not and will not offer the performance a Mac offers. Apple makes the hardware and OS, so they work flawlessly. It's not just about aesthetics with OSX, everything works like the aesthetics do, everything just runs better. Argue till your blue in the face but I work on windows computer every day, They are nothing compared to Mac's and never will be. I get home everyday and smile knowing I get to get on my beautiful, high quality, super fast macbook pro instead of some hardware thrown together to kinda work.

 

[chrono1081]

Are you an IT, because I am, and guess what, I never have to work on Mac's, only PC's. That alone is enough of an answer to why macs are better than PC's. Plus the software is tailor made for the hardware. So even though specs might sound similar, the hardware will be utilized more efficiently in a Mac.

This. I too work in IT and our Mac trouble ticket count is so far lower than our Windows trouble ticket count (even adjusting for differences in user base) that its insane. Windows just ends up with so many stupid little problems its mind boggling.

 

[ohbrilliance]

I find it very hard to be objective on this topic. I enjoy using Macs. They work well and in expected ways. It is the polar opposite to PCs, which drive me around the bend.

 

[Mr. Dee]

Hmm interesting views

I am a system administrator and I have to honestly say, I am not a Mac user. Will be purchasing my first Mac later this year. The excuse that with a Mac, you don't need to buy Antivirus, is really a false sense of security. You don't need to not have Antivirus to be easily compromised on OS X and a number of exploits over the past few years have proven that well. In fact, Safari is always the first one to go down at hacking contest.

Also, social engineering, phishing emails, hacked websites and naïve users are easy ways for Mac systems to be easily compromised just as Windows or Linux system. I have been using Windows for a long time and the last time my Windows PC was compromised was in Summer of 2001. Yes, viruses have tried to infiltrate my system, but my system has never been compromised. Then again, I am not your typical Windows user and can spot when something is phishy. Also, you don't need to pay for Antivirus on Windows. There are many free third party AV's that are just as good. Windows 8 comes with a built in Antivirus and many other security features such as ASRL, Heap Stack protection to prevent buffer overflows (when was the last time you heard about those on Windows), UAC, Protected Mode, DEP, Signed Drivers, Patch Guard, Secure Boot, Standard Account.

Combine this with some common sense, you should be fairly safe on Windows. Then again, if you torrent, download pornography illegally in addition to other things like music, movies, software, you run a higher risk of being compromised.

If all these things make Windows such a great platform, then why am I getting a Mac? Well, that's just it, it works great, I use it everyday. I wake up, I am on Windows, I go to work, I am Windows, I come home, to Windows, my PC is the last thing I shutdown at night and the first thing that boots in the morning. Being exposed to over a 100 PC's everyday, I said to myself, its time for change. I want to try something different.

Its not out of frustration with Windows the platform, it works good and gets the job done very well and I see this everyday as a System Administrator. Its just, I want to try something different. Its pretty much like your life, sometimes I want to take a vacation, go somewhere different for a change.

Also, I actually like OS X based on my short stints with it. Then again, the last time I seriously used OS X was when I had a hackintosh back in 2006 running Tiger. Back then, it wasn't a peachy experience getting it run dual booting with Windows XP, Vista on an AMD Sempron. I am sure a lot has changed since then, but I did like the simplicity of the interface, the photo realistic icons and working with Mac versions of popular PC apps like Office, Photoshop and many others.

My main push was seeing the 27 inch iMac I saw at a camera store in Seattle a couple years back. I said to myself, then and there, I gotta get me one of these and started saving towards it. That dream will soon be realized if all goes well. I will also be getting an iPhone and iPad. I currently do not own a smartphone, so this will be my first.

I decided on both I-devices because I want a complete ecosystem, Apple I believe has really perfected the cohesiveness, then again, I have heard the issues that exist with iCloud. Overall, I am looking for something new with a bit of challenge behind it. Considering that I have been purchase Macworld, since 2002 and reading about OS X for many years, I have built up a healthy readiness for the platform. I pretty much have exhausted most of what Windows has to offer as a power user. Don't get me wrong, I still like the platform, its does everything well and if you just want a computer for communication, music, videos, Internet, Office productivity, everyday computing, a Windows PC can be more than enough for most persons needs.

Its in interesting how life works, when you start making money, you happen to want the finer things in life. So, the ability to afford is probably part of it too.

 

[makaveli559m]

I am in IT, I have fixed a few Macs its rare though. Macs are good because of being able to run OS X and Windows! If I cant fix something on a Windows pc I can use the Mac OS side to see if their is anything I can do. Some people may say a lot about how Macs are inferior and using same market parts! But you have no idea how they are until you actually mess around with one not to mention that the boards on Macs are customized and cannot not be used on a Windows PC only aftermarket parts would be the cables and hard drives and RAM. BTW on the Windows 7 my 256MB video card has a 6.4 gaming rating!

 

[johnnnw]

2007 called, they want their debate back

Just kidding, I've used both and Mac is better.

 

[leman]

It depends on what you have to do, doesn't it? Macs are great for scientific work, for example, or for unix software development. There is a great bunch of excellent Mac applications (like TextMate). I can't even work with Windows anymore, because my workflow is too deeply rooted in Unix features. And some mac models are absolutely adequate for gaming - the 15" rMBP has the performance characteristics of a mid-level gaming laptop.

P.S. I am confused by your point 4. Why do you need Windows to root Android? The SDK is available on all platforms.

 

[DiscardedPacket]

1. Awesome hardware
2. Awesome OS built on Unix
3. Unix under the hood
4. VMware fusion in unity mode for windows apps, if required.

 

[alex0002]

1. Gaming

not a gamer.

2. Modding for games

ditto.

3. Corporate work. iWork is ok for casual users, but for professional work, it is a joke (except from Keynote). Numbers are no match with Excel. Pages can't edit some of Words features. We have Office 2011, but features are still limited compared to the Windows version, and they've long moved to Office 2013.

I'm not sure what percentage of corporates have moved to Office 2013... about as many as those that have moved to Windows 8 perhaps?

If office on windows is really needed, then there are options such as dual-boot through Boot Camp and virtual machines. Some companies (including the one I work for) will have remote access to some sort of virtual windows environment, so contractors can use those office programs when needed.

4. If one is into Android needs rooting, then Windows is a must.
Etc.

Depends on the android device...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2189536

When it comes down to it we are talking about gaming. Nothing wrong with being a gamer, but it's funny how you get all sorts of spurious arguments against Mac and Linux when most of the time, it all comes down to gaming.

 

[Steve121178]

Are you an IT, because I am, and guess what, I never have to work on Mac's, only PC's. That alone is enough of an answer to why macs are better than PC's.

Genius conclusion. Really.

Plus the software is tailor made for the hardware. So even though specs might sound similar, the hardware will be utilized more efficiently in a Mac.

Not sure what planet you are living on, but there's tons of Mac apps that are badly optimised and use far more resources than they ought to.

Not sure what you do in IT exactly, but it can't be much to come to that daft conclusion.

 

[CausticPuppy]

I know some of you might yell "no, not this thread again", but I'm not starting a flame war. I just want to ask what you find fascinating in Mac that PCs can't offer.

I've been using both PCs and Macs; I started with PCs and then bought an MBP in 2008 and an MBA in 2011. To be honest, I only buy macs because:
1. They have top-notch design and quality build. Only Vaio can vie with macbooks.
2. MBA is the best machine in the ultrabook category
3. Smooth OS, beautiful UI, easy to learn
4. I don't have to spend pointless cash on anti-virus programs
5. Decent battery life.

That's it. In short, albeit expensive, Macs are decent for casual users. Past some point, one will find that Macs can't satisfy niche interests. Some examples
1. Gaming
2. Modding for games
3. Corporate work. iWork is ok for casual users, but for professional work, it is a joke (except from Keynote). Numbers are no match with Excel. Pages can't edit some of Words features. We have Office 2011, but features are still limited compared to the Windows version, and Office 2013 has been out in Windows for a long time.
4. If one is into Android needs rooting, then Windows is a must.
Etc. Some devices have root applications, but in my case, Note 2, doesn't.

Because Macs caters for only a small percentage of computer users, there are not many applications written for macs, thus those who have special interests must have bootcamp (defeats the purpose of Mac OS, aye?) or buy a PC. I hear people say Mac excels as a designing tool, though I'm not into that but from what I understand, Autocad, Adobe softwares and Sony Vegas are all available in Windows too?

I use my Mac for "corporate work." As well as software development.

Did you know that Microsoft makes Office for Mac?

 

[KingKen1986]

Genius conclusion. Really.



Not sure what planet you are living on, but there's tons of Mac apps that are badly optimised and use far more resources than they ought to.

Not sure what you do in IT exactly, but it can't be much to come to that daft conclusion.

I was speaking about the OS. The OS is tailor made for the hardware. But you must be on a planet farther out than me because most software made for macs runs better as well. If it's made for windows and ported to mac, that's when you run into some issues of not utilizing hardware. Most people that argue against mac simply haven't used them enough (they say they have) to understand the difference.

 

[NickPhamUK]

I use my Mac for "corporate work." As well as software development.

Did you know that Microsoft makes Office for Mac?

Did you read what I typed? That Office 2011 which sucks compared to PC version? Ah yes but Windows has Office 2013 already.

 

[CausticPuppy]

Did you read what I typed? That Office 2011 which sucks compared to PC version? Ah yes but Windows has Office 2013 already.

IMO Office for Mac is better than the windows version; but then again I'm not using the newest subscription-only Windows version.

 

[Doward]

Battery life.

Power in compact package.

OS-X.

I mean, really, with Bootcamp this is all a moot argument now, isn't it?

 

[mslide]

I just want to ask what you find fascinating in Mac that PCs can't offer.

The fact the OSX is a UNIX operating system and provides a good terminal app out of the box while still being widely supported enough where almost all my apps have OSX versions (thus the reason I don't use Linux). I spend all day long on the command line, working with *nix systems, and it's nice that I get all that out of the box without having to install something like cygwin. I'm a software developer and Macs just seem to be the best fit for my line of work, which thankfully doesn't involve writing Windows apps.

The OP's points are all valid though. That's why I have a Windows gaming PC at home and use a Windows VM at work when I need the "real" MS Office or some other windows app.

 

[Steve121178]

I was speaking about the OS. The OS is tailor made for the hardware. But you must be on a planet farther out than me because most software made for macs runs better as well.

Go on then, what runs better and how are you measuring it to come to that conclusion?

In my opinion most modern apps for Mac or PC run just fine although many are quite badly optimised and use far more memory and resources than they should, but that's the same problem for applications running on OS X or Windows. To claim one is superior than the other as you were doing is just wrong.

If it's made for windows and ported to mac, that's when you run into some issues of not utilizing hardware. Most people that argue against mac simply haven't used them enough (they say they have) to understand the difference.

Not fully understanding your point. Most core applications perform the same or better on Windows machines due to PC's generally being more powerful, certainly when it comes to servers & high end workstations. In my experience I've yet to encounter anything running on a Mac that blows the socks off their PC equivalent.

I also personally find a lot of creative applications (namely Adobe products) seem to run better on PC than Mac, it used to be the other way round.

 

[scbond]

Office on Windows is bloated crap. It does everything you need and then has loads of stuff nobody needs just so that they can justify the price. iWork has just what you need, the core productivity that the vast majority use. Office for Mac is a sort of healthy in-between but still a bit bloated for my liking.

Also, the comment about Numbers not being anywhere near as good as Excel...to be honest, it depend on what you use it for. For a basic spreadsheet I think Numbers has much better presentation. Excel is is the much more advanced of the two and is more suitable for statistical formulae but then again IBM SPSS is ideal and much faster than either of them for statistics.

As for Mac and PC, like many others I grew up using PC and always desired to try Mac. I'm glad that I did as it's just a much nicer package as a whole. Nicer hardware, nicer design, nicer OS which still does what you need it to do. I do still have a PC running Windows 7 but I barely use it, it just sits there ready for when I want to play a Windows only game or one which requires extra power like Flight Simulator X.

 

[Dweez]

I use both OSX and Windows, each has their place. My laptop is a 2011 MBP with 16 gig of ram and a 512 gig ssd, as I need to demo product which utilizes multiple VMs running simultaneously.

We have some corporate apps which still REQUIRE internet explorer, so I've got a windows VM which I use for that. Plus I've got a multiboot hackintosh next to my desk (home lab box) - Linux, OSX and Windows 7. Again, each has their place.

 

[jonnymo5]

1. Build quality is excellent.
2. When there is a problem I go to the Apple store and typically leave with a complete replacement.
3. I prefer Unix to Windows and I get a lot of Unix under the hood with OSX.
4. I tend to get twice the life out of my equipment vs PC+Windows since Apple designs their software with specific hardware in mind
5. I spend more time getting work done than having to screw around with my system.
6. Ecosystem. My computer, TV, phone and tablet all sync and work together perfectly. Sure sometimes another device has a feature that I don't but there are enough benefits that switching isn't worth it.

I'm sure there are plenty more. I use a PC at work because I have to. I use a Mac at home because I want to. Everyone should try them both and then make a decision. The same reason you test drive multiple cars.

 

[Zeov]

Windows is a generic os, just like android. They are made for infinite hardware configurations meaning they will not fully take advantage of a singe hardware setup, they are designed to run tons of different hardware. Therefore they do not and will not offer the performance a Mac offers. Apple makes the hardware and OS, so they work flawlessly. It's not just about aesthetics with OSX, everything works like the aesthetics do, everything just runs better. Argue till your blue in the face but I work on windows computer every day, They are nothing compared to Mac's and never will be. I get home everyday and smile knowing I get to get on my beautiful, high quality, super fast macbook pro instead of some hardware thrown together to kinda work.

i know this might seem like an ignorant question and i am sorry.

but people usually say "Apple makes the hardware and os".. now i agree on the OS, but they get CPU from intel, GPU from Nvidia, screen panels from LG / samsung and Flash storage from Samsung (?).. i don't see where Apple is making their own hardware exactly? or am i missing something. ?

and no i'm not a troll, it's a curious question.

 

[KingKen1986]

i know this might seem like an ignorant question and i am sorry.

but people usually say "Apple makes the hardware and os".. now i agree on the OS, but they get CPU from intel, GPU from Nvidia, screen panels from LG / samsung and Flash storage from Samsung (?).. i don't see where Apple is making their own hardware exactly? or am i missing something. ?

and no i'm not a troll, it's a curious question.

Yes you are missing something, apple knows what processors they are using, what ram they are using, and all the other hardware they know exactly what it is, so they tailor the os to run on the hardware that they KNOW they have. They KNOW what processors are running in there computers so they can optimize for them...Windows is designed to run on infinite hardware configs. I don't know how else to explain this...yes there hardware is made by some other companies...but they know exactly what hardware that is. They know there computers all run intel i5 or i7 processors. A PC could run celeron, i3, i5, i7, pentium, or any of the number of amd processors as well, a pc is not designed specifically for the hardware it is running....it's designed to run any compatible hardware.