PC vs Mac: one of the oldest debates in tech
If you’ve ever shopped for a new computer, you’ve probably noticed there are a lot of options to choose from. Once you decide if you want a desktop or a laptop there are still so many choices that could be made. One of the biggest and most important choices for many is whether to use a Mac or a PC.
If you know exactly what you want this can be an easy choice to make. However, many folks still don’t know the difference between a Mac and a PC or how to choose between the two. Marketing will tell you a lot of things about both, but it also makes it extremely easy to convince yourself you need to spend more than you really do.
So what is the difference, and which is the better option? Read on to find out what’s best for you!
First things first, what is a PC?
PC (or personal computer) is actually a pretty broad description for any computing device that one might own. However, in most cases it refers to a desktop or laptop computer running a Windows operating system (OS). It could also run a Linux OS, but that could be an entire article of its own. 99% of the time if someone is talking about a PC they are referring to a computer running Windows. These can be sold from any number of brands including Dell, HP, and Lenovo just to name a few.
Ok so what’s a Mac?
A Mac (short for Macintosh originally) is the name given to most, if not all, computers designed, built, and sold by Apple. It’s that simple. While there can be many similarities between Macs and PCs, only Apple can sell you a Mac and it will only run the MacOS by default. Apple products have become extremely popular over the years thanks to the iPhone, and that popularity has resulted in a major uptick in Mac purchases as well.
Ok, simple enough but what is the difference?
There are a few key differences between Macs and PCs that you may want to consider before buying either one.
Operating System:
The operating system of a computer is essentially the software that runs everything so it is important to understand which one you need.
PC: Typically runs on a Windows OS designed by Microsoft
Mac: Runs on MacOS designed by Apple.
The Windows OS is compatible with most hardware and software with a few caveats. Generally, if there is a specific piece of software or hardware that you need, you can probably make it work with Windows. This is why there are so many different manufacturers out there making PCs, and why people (like me) are able to build PCs for pretty much any purpose.
Apple however takes a different approach. Apple takes great pride in their products and builds everything from the ground up. MacOS is designed to be used with the specific pieces of hardware and software that they choose. For this reason you may run into issues with some software. That said, most commonly used office programs can be used on Mac are compatible so no issues there. However, if you’re looking to build your own computer, MacOS is not your friend (although it can be done).
Hardware:
If you’re buying a brand new computer you probably won’t think too much about the hardware used. Someone else has already done all of that for you before the device ever gets to you. For the sake of this debate though there is one key difference to be aware of.
PC: As I mentioned before, Windows PCs are compatible with most hardware on the market. You could even technically run Windows on an old Mac if you wanted!
Mac: Apple is a little more picky when it comes to hardware. They specifically choose the components in each of their devices based on their own designs. Just as an example, Macs used to strictly use Intel processors and Nvidia GPUs when needed. Now most of their components are manufactured in-house to their exact specifications.
While it might sound like this is an advantage for the PCs of the world (and in a way it is), there is a good reason for this policy. Apple does this to make sure the user experience is as flawless as possible with their devices. Controlling what goes into each device makes it much easier to predict and fix any potential issues before they become a problem.
Cost:
The final major difference between Macs and PCs is the cost of the device. Apple does a great job at making sure their devices look and function amazingly. However, that quality comes with a significant cost. With PCs, just about anything can be used which means manufacturers don’t need to spend a whole lot of time and resources to picking their components.
Just as an example, at the time of writing the cheapest Mac available brand new is the Mac mini at about $600. Meanwhile, I can find hundreds of brand new PC options for much less and some of those are as low as $100. Now it should be noted this isn’t a direct comparison (that’s for a later post). That Mac mini is a high powered machine capable of doing intense graphical work while that $100 PC might barely work for browsing the web. It’s important to keep in mind that in many cases you get what you pay for.
So how do I decide what to buy?
As with any major financial decision, you should really consider your needs and how this purchase will affect that. Different people have different needs and that requires different choices. Someone doing graphic design or programming is going to need something significantly more powerful than someone who just wants to browse the web. Here are a few key situations where I would consider Mac over PC or vice versa:
Gaming: PC
While there are certainly some games that can be played on a Mac, the majority of games out there require Windows or even Linux to play. There are ways around that if you absolutely need a Mac, but it may not be worth the effort if you play a lot.
Graphic Design: Mac
You can absolutely get a high end PC for graphic design, but consistency can vary. What looks great on one PC might look awful on another. The beauty of Macs is that consistency and the amazing graphics technology they put into their devices.
Music/Video Production: Tie
You can easily do this with either a Mac or a PC nowadays as long as you have powerful enough hardware behind it. Macs tend to be capable of doing this even with the lower end models. PCs can be built or bought with the power to handle these tasks. It all comes down to how much you want to spend and your own preference as far as which OS to use. Both have their advantages and can take some getting used to.
Web Browsing: Chromebook
Just kidding! Well kind of… This whole article is about Mac vs PC, but for a few years now we have seen the rise of Chromebooks. I won’t go into much detail on these (maybe another future article), but they are great little options if browsing the web and checking emails is really all you want to do. The truth is just about any device is perfectly fine for these tasks so it again comes down to personal preference.
So what do you recommend?
It depends! Everyone is different and has different needs. For most people I say go with what you can afford and what you like. I personally use Windows or Linux PCs every day and have only touched MacOS in a handful of situations. I will most likely always use these because I like to tinker with all sorts of things. However, that being said I do make music for fun and would love to try out a Mac for that someday. I also did some web design on a Mac in college, and while I can do the same on any PC I own, there is value in using a purpose built Mac for these activities.
It is important to consider what you will be doing with a device and what you need to achieve that before deciding what to buy. No matter what you choose, there will always be something better out there. It’s important to not get caught up in what’s new or what’s “the best”, but rather focus on what meets your needs.
On that note, if you’re looking for a new device and you really aren’t sure what to get feel free to send me a message through my contact page. Estimates are always free and I love helping folks find exactly what they need without breaking the bank.
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