Mac* vs. PC Debate

There are certain two-sided debates that are just destined to be eternal. Chocolate vs. vanilla. Snowboarding vs. skiing. And if we skip over politics, the biggest ongoing discussion has to be the one that’s dominated the technological world for well over two decades: the Mac* vs. PC debate.

Fortunately, this debate has actually been the catalyst for ongoing improvements for both platforms, making them more intuitive, powerful, and user-friendly. And with the stunning Ultrabook™ as the latest product, the future of both PCs and Macs looks increasingly exciting!

Mac vs. PC: The Winner is… All of Us

Today’s computer users live in a veritable golden age when it comes to choosing computing devices. In truth, there’s no clear winner in the Mac vs. PC contest. Instead, both devices have significant developments. Both platforms now can come equipped with Intel® Core™ processors that result in impressive performance. In addition, both Mac and PC demonstrate increased memory; larger hard drive space; better stability and more availability than four years ago. However, differences remain: the PC and Ultrabook™ are widely available with touchscreens, but Apple has yet to release a Mac or MacBook* with integrated touchscreen technology. Retina display, which greatly reduces glare and reflection, is a feature on MacBook Pro* and iPad*, but is less common on PCs.

Compatibility

While the main operating system for Apple is OSX*, and PCs operate on Microsoft Windows*, only Macs have the capability to run both. Naturally, both systems continue to develop faster and more powerful versions of these operating systems that are increasingly user-friendly and more compatible with handheld devices.

And though the PC tends to dominate in the workplace, many software programs for professional use–including Microsoft Office* and the Adobe Creative Suite*–have versions for both operating systems. When it comes to apps for leisure purposes, it’s important to realize they’re not only for handheld devices. There are numerous web-based applications that replace the necessity for installing software on your computer by letting you perform all of the functions in the web browser. This may sound complicated, but you’re probably familiar with some of them already. Think about Flickr* for online photo managing and sharing, Pinterest* for online scrapbooking, YouTube* apps for streaming your favorite videos, and Qusic*, which alerts you to new releases from your favorite musical artists.

Reliability

When it comes to reliability, the Mac vs. PC debate has had some interesting developments of late. Though the majority of PC users know their devices are vulnerable to malware and viruses, Mac users this past year have certainly awoken to the fact that Macs are also vulnerable to sophisticated attacks. Ultimately, both PC and Mac users are safer after installing up-to-date antivirus software designed to protect their devices from malicious hits.

Even when it comes to repairs, both operating systems have made great strides. Though it’s still advised to take a broken Mac to an Apple Genius Bar* in an authorized Apple dealership, there are more locations than there were a few years ago. PC users enjoy a broader range of choices, from their local electronics dealer to a repair center at a major department store, though it remains their own responsibility to choose a repair service that’s up to their PC manufacturer’s standards.