Well, it is certainly true that Windows is a generic, bare-bone OS, but your statement that Windows offers less performance than Mac is simply... wrong (and that very mildly spoken). Both Linux and Windows offer same or superior performance to OS X.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Mac vs PC
- Thread starter NickPhamUK
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Well, it is certainly true that Windows is a generic, bare-bone OS, but your statement that Windows offers less performance than Mac is simply... wrong (and that very mildly spoken). Both Linux and Windows offer same or superior performance to OS X.
I've been a Mac user since the Mac Plus, but I've always been forced to use a PC at work. I'm now working at a smaller company, and I'm able to bring in my own Mac to use (loaded 2011 17" MBP and Thunderbolt display).
I've been pleasantly surprised at how well the Mac integrates into our all-Windows network. Mac workflow is great, use Mission Control and Spaces all day.
My main challenge is how much I hate MS Office 2011, which I unfortunately have to spend a lot of time with. Outlook is a buggy mess - crashes, generates errors, and lacks features. Excel is a dog with some of the complex spreadsheets we use, bogging down and causing the fans to roar. Using Excel with Fusion is actually faster/easier to work with than the Mac native version.
I'm going to stick it out for a while longer, would be a slam dunk if not for MS office.
I've been pleasantly surprised at how well the Mac integrates into our all-Windows network. Mac workflow is great, use Mission Control and Spaces all day.
My main challenge is how much I hate MS Office 2011, which I unfortunately have to spend a lot of time with. Outlook is a buggy mess - crashes, generates errors, and lacks features. Excel is a dog with some of the complex spreadsheets we use, bogging down and causing the fans to roar. Using Excel with Fusion is actually faster/easier to work with than the Mac native version.
I'm going to stick it out for a while longer, would be a slam dunk if not for MS office.
Office for Mac should be called Office "Junior" or Office "Munshkin". It's missing:
-Access
-Infopath
-Lync
-OneNote
-Publisher
That said, what it does provide works well enough and keeps me on the OSX platform. Without it I'd have never made the switch years ago.
Well, the makers of Office do make Windows as well you know? Why should a competing OS be on a similar timetable?
This is also the reason why the apps above are missing from Mac Office and why you'll never see an official MS-Office on the iPad. (At least while the Surface is still around).
Wow in 2013 this is still a debate. Pick yer poison and roll with it. All three are great and all three have a place... meh
I saw several posts of people claiming they are IT people... IT stands for Information Technology and has a lot of branches. Those posts seem related to people who work in Help Desk or Network/OS Administrators (Windows, Unix, or Linux). There could be some exceptions (companies that allow BYOD work model), but those profiles use mainly Windows machines to perform their job.
Yes I'm an IT that builds and repairs windows computers. But I hate windows computers. Yes I have one because I have to for my job, but do i use it otherwise, no. I love my macbook pro and nothing could replace it other than a faster macbook pro (but that's years down the road since i just bought mine). I have been using macs for years now at home and recommend them to all my customers over there lousy windows setups. (don't word it like that, haha). All my customers that have taken my advice and switched are awe struck by macs, and rightfully so...they are amazing machines.
The only thing windows is good for is paying me money so I can live. If everyone switched to macs I wouldn't hardley have a job anymore.Yes I'm an IT that builds and repairs windows computers. But I hate windows computers. Yes I have one because I have to for my job, but do i use it otherwise, no. I love my macbook pro and nothing could replace it other than a faster macbook pro (but that's years down the road since i just bought mine). I have been using macs for years now at home and recommend them to all my customers over there lousy windows setups. (don't word it like that, haha). All my customers that have taken my advice and switched are awe struck by macs, and rightfully so...they are amazing machines.
In my opinion, it is not about Mac vs PC, but Mac OS X vs any other GUI based operating system (Windows, Gnome/KDE Linux, Haiku,...). In the desktop market, Mac OS X wins hands down because it leverages users' productivity by providing a simpler but powerful user experience, not to mention it is built upon UNIX foundations (FreeBSD). A part of average users and artists, startups and programmers are fond of Mac OS X.
However, in the enterprise and server market it is Unix like (AIX, Solaris, HPUX, Linux) and Windows servers who rule the market. For budget reasons, enterprise companies use a leasing model with companies such as Dell, Toshiba, Lenovo...etc. No medium to big enterprise company can afford to lease or buy retina models for their employees. However, some tolerate and allow the BYOD model...
At first I always hate Apple because they are way too expensive and too difficult to learn OS on Apple Performa PC. Windows desktop is so awesome and I am able to upgrade anything inside desktop case. But Windows OS is awful, so much crash, too much troubleshooting
also all of my friends called me for their help with Windows OS problems. I got tired of it. When I got my first iPhone 3G I fell in love with it. I decided to buy my first Powerbook. really love how Leopard OS works. So I went to MacBook Pro then now rMacbook Pro. I am retiring my Windows Desktop PC and it is in the public storage right now. Last weekend my Dell Mini 10 was stolen along with my Canon digital camera in the public storage so I don't think I should report to police because they can't do about it anyway.
Soooo.... Mac's are better than PC's because nearly everyone uses PC's??? Because if "that alone" is enough to answer the question, that's essentially what you're saying. My Mac clients need just as much help as my Windows clients. The difference is that there are far fewer of them. That's why you hardly ever work on them.
Either you didn't know this and you're not very good at what you do, or you're pretending this important and very large disparity doesn't exist, which means you're not very honest.
I have worked in IT (hardware/support) and now do development but to the regular user, none of this is important. What is important is how you like navigating and using the OS. I run Windows 8 on my desktop. I love it and have no complaints. However I know that I might be in the minority in fact I most likely am, but I have had no issues with it and find it to be nicest, cleanest Windows to date. I have a Macbook that I use a fair amount as well because I like it for its battery life and mobility compared to my horrible piece of garbage HP laptop.
If you're dilligent enough on either system you are unlikely to become infected with viruses/spyware.
Things I miss when I'm on the Macbook:
Aero-snap (Snap pages to half the screen quickly, snap to full screen, etc)
Full maximize
*I know there are third party applications to handle these functions but I do miss them natively
Things I miss when I'm on Windows:
Command+Key for shortcuts (On my laptop I find this to be much more ergonomic for my hand, issue doesn't arise on a full size keyboard)
Quick and useful standby (standby on my HP? Might as well just pull the battery, it is going to shutdown anyway)
I guess my TL;DR is I like them both, they do what I need them to do. One is not necessarily a piece of sh#t compared to the other one as some people on this forum like to think.
If you're dilligent enough on either system you are unlikely to become infected with viruses/spyware.
Things I miss when I'm on the Macbook:
Aero-snap (Snap pages to half the screen quickly, snap to full screen, etc)
Full maximize
*I know there are third party applications to handle these functions but I do miss them natively
Things I miss when I'm on Windows:
Command+Key for shortcuts (On my laptop I find this to be much more ergonomic for my hand, issue doesn't arise on a full size keyboard)
Quick and useful standby (standby on my HP? Might as well just pull the battery, it is going to shutdown anyway)
I guess my TL;DR is I like them both, they do what I need them to do. One is not necessarily a piece of sh#t compared to the other one as some people on this forum like to think.
As a Dos/Windows/Linux/OS X convert the things I like about Apple gear that doesn't exist in PC land:
- Applescript. No VBscript isn't good
- Automator
- Target disk mode. I repaired my Mac Mini's EFI folder with target disk mode from my macbook pro last week. Similar problem with a PC would have been a drive-out + USB caddy job.
- Trackpads that actually work
- Hardware that still looks new 2 years later. My work PC laptops look old after 3-6 months due to the crappy plastisc they use.
This sounds more like people trying to justify their purchases than anything else.
In case you weren't aware macs are PCs too. PC stands for Personal Computer.
Apple has stability due to the fact that it has control over it's OS and hardware. Open up OSX to all PCs and you will see a completely different story.
I have used both sides and have had no complaints either way, unfortunately on the other side sometimes i cannot justify spending more than $2000 for something I can get that runs Windows for a fraction of the cost.
In case you weren't aware macs are PCs too. PC stands for Personal Computer.
Apple has stability due to the fact that it has control over it's OS and hardware. Open up OSX to all PCs and you will see a completely different story.
I have used both sides and have had no complaints either way, unfortunately on the other side sometimes i cannot justify spending more than $2000 for something I can get that runs Windows for a fraction of the cost.
That's where I am. I live on the command line and there's no substitute for a full UNIX or Linux terminal. As a result I find Windows jarring and frustrating, and that it cripples my productivity. I'm currently in the job market, and the development environment is a serious consideration for my next position.
----------
No. Macs have a lot going for them. Many of us find them to offer a vastly better experience to Windows.
Okay Mr Semantic. I think it's pretty well understood that in this discussion PCs refer to non-Mac computers running Windows.
Office for Mac should be called Office "Junior" or Office "Munshkin". It's missing:
-Access
-Infopath
-Lync
-OneNote
-Publisher
That said, what it does provide works well enough and keeps me on the OSX platform. Without it I'd have never made the switch years ago.
Well, the makers of Office do make Windows as well you know? Why should a competing OS be on a similar timetable?
Ironically, they've recently released MS Office for iOS & Android.
Yeah, but this is reality we're talking about, not fantasy land. The reason it works is irrelevant really, as a consumer I don't care. I want the working option... I don't care about some theoretical scenario that doesn't exist.
I deal with PCs in my day job (I work in the IT field, have had various roles including PC diagnostics and repair, but i'm currently an enterprise networking/virtualization guy). The hardware is generally cheap, the trackpads are useless and I spend way too much time on my computer.
An extra say, 500 bucks over 3 years of ownership (and the price difference isn't that bad, seriously - but let's be pessimistic here for the sake of discussion) is about 30c per day. Which i'll probably get much of it back when it comes sale time as well, as a 3 year old PC notebook is worth approximately zero dollars, and a macbook will sell for at least a few hundred.
But even if I put the macbook in the bin alongside the PC - I consider an aesthetically pleasing machine with a working trackpad and an OS i actually like to use to be well worth 30c per day to me. I'm not sure how much more justification one could need?
Never mind the cheaper OS upgrades, more included software (oh you want to generate PDF on windows? well that will be nagware, warez or a copy of adobe, etc.).
I've run PCs (and still do) since 1989. But the mac hardware is worth it, IMHO.
Last edited:
yes but every time I have a customer that has a problem with a mac there always seems to be an easy solution...I'm actually one of the best computer hardware experts in my area....your taking that a little to far by saying I'm not good at my job....Why don't you learn some respect. Yes I occasionally have to do something with a mac but its rare and few and far between, even if you take into consideration the user base of macs is smaller, there is still a smaller percentage of people with macs that have problems. Again man, learn som fricken respect, I take my job very seriously and help a lot of people, you shouldn't say things like that you have personally offended me.
That is partially false because when a windows computer breaks it can be replaced for less than the cost to repair. It can also usually be repaired (rebuilt) by anyone who can find Newegg or Tiger and has a screwdriver
. My Mac Pro is beautiful but bought on a whim. For the cost of it's 2 repairs I could have bought 3 Windows machines.
Since I have no problem building from motherboard up ...... I have more fun plug and playing without IT (genius bar) involvement.
Last edited:
I prefer Mac to PC, having switched over 2 years ago. But I can't say I completely agree with all of your reasoning.
There are several good, free anti-virus programs for PC. And while we may not need one yet on Mac, as more and more people use Apple computers, we'll eventually need one too.
Gaming is entirely reasonable on a Mac. I have a 15" rMBP and I use it for gaming every day. It doesn't perform as well as a Windows gaming rig, but I no longer buy into the "Macs are not for gaming" statement. They are just fine for games, as long as you get one with discrete graphics. You don't even need BootCamp, unless you want to play a Windows-only game. I play all my games in OS X.
Corporate work - it seems like you are comparing iWork with MS Office, and not Mac to PC. Remember that MS Office is available for Mac too. And with a lot of companies moving towards desktop virtualization anyway, the hardware and OS platform is becoming less important for businesses.
As I'm sure you know, it all comes down to personal preference, but your PC pros are bizarre to say the least:
1 & 2 are basically the same thing, not? I'm also not sure what you mean by "modding." Hardware or software?
3 is equally odd since you can just run Office on your mac (you do realize they make Office for OS X, right? Even if you wanted to use the Windows version you could).
4 - You're just recycling arguments from 10 years ago. Most software has an OS X equivalent or version. If not, you can run bootcamp. The rest of that is just you babbling, sorry.
Very well said.
Lol.. why are you so upset?
This is why your fixing "windows computers" because you have people like this using windows
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdIWKytq_q4
Last edited:
Mac vs PC well funny title but Mac is a PC it is a personal computer not a UFO
Apple OEM computers vs Other OEMS well depends on model and on person and so i am a guy who would never buy a mac pro or iMac as my desktop machine as i like to build my own desktop/server/workstation. I have build my own desktop workstation with 64 gb of ram & xeon processor and i have no issues to run a hackintosh, serval linux distros and windows without any issues with a nice price but when it come to laptop i cant really build a good laptop on my own thats where i am looking for OEM and my personal choice of OEM is apple...
I pick apple as my laptop OEM not because of OS X ( i run triple boot ), its because of laptop design i like the fact that they are durable, powerful and lightweight ...
Other OEMS just lack some stuff compare to apple but that doesnt make apple a perfect laptop OEM too but for my usage it is a best laptop maker for me... But everyone have own taste some like Apple as OEM someone else like Alienware and so on
Apple OEM computers vs Other OEMS well depends on model and on person and so i am a guy who would never buy a mac pro or iMac as my desktop machine as i like to build my own desktop/server/workstation. I have build my own desktop workstation with 64 gb of ram & xeon processor and i have no issues to run a hackintosh, serval linux distros and windows without any issues with a nice price
but when it come to laptop i cant really build a good laptop on my own thats where i am looking for OEM and my personal choice of OEM is apple...I pick apple as my laptop OEM not because of OS X ( i run triple boot ), its because of laptop design i like the fact that they are durable, powerful and lightweight ...
Other OEMS just lack some stuff compare to apple but that doesnt make apple a perfect laptop OEM too but for my usage it is a best laptop maker for me... But everyone have own taste some like Apple as OEM someone else like Alienware and so on
MAC's
I use a mac for schoolwork and I love it
When I am at home I use a Windows 7 64bit for playing Battlefield 3
I like them both and the are both amazing
I use a mac for schoolwork and I love it
When I am at home I use a Windows 7 64bit for playing Battlefield 3
I like them both and the are both amazing