Computers and Technology

Mac or PC?
By L Tritten

All arguments, prejudices, and TV commercials aside, it basically comes down to a matter of personal preference. My personal preference is PC, although I do own a Mac. The Mac sits pretty in a little nook in my kitchen, and is primarily used for quick internet surfing, looking up recipes, and keeping an eye on my teenager s online activities. I purchased it even though it was a little on the pricey side, mostly because of its looks, being placed in a highly visible area of the house, and curiosity – seeing if an old dog like me, could learn some new tricks.

Having heard that Macs are impervious to viruses, this was another reason for the purchase, as I have a kid that has managed to infect every computer in the house. So far, which has been a little over one year, our Mac has remained virus free and the only computer the kids are allowed to use. Kids, by the way, seem to adapt to the Mac very quickly and have fewer problems converting their brains from PC, like some of us stubborn adults. I have seen some great, almost professional looking photo books, DVDs and slideshows come from these creative little minds! So, for its good looks and personality Mac gets an A+.

Personally, there are a few quirks that get on my nerves, such as the button-less mouse that comes with the Mac. It seems like they still have not progressed to the two-button mouse, not to mention the click wheel. When surfing, it seems that more sites work better on the PC and at a faster speed than the Mac. Using bookmarks/favorites also seems to be easier and cleaner on the PC than the Mac. Don t even think about using Internet Explorer on the Mac, it s extremely slow – Safari or Firefox are better options. As for multi-tasking, Windows wins hands down. In terms of reliability, I believe Mac has the edge, as error messages, crashes etc. are rare. I ve heard that Macs do not crash, but on rare occasion, I ve witnessed the eternal spinning color-wheel, that may just as well have been a crash. Games? Games are what Playstation and Xbox are for (at least in our house) so I cannot speak for either system in regard to that arena.

As I said initially, it all boils down to personal preference. I like having both a Windows PC and a Mac, because each one serves a different purpose in my particular situation. Both systems have their pluses and minuses it basically depends on which type of applications you use most often, and the primary use your computer will serve, along with your comfort level and willingness to try something new.

L Tritten writes on various subjects and hosts Laptop Computers Reviewed along with a blog about
techie reviews.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=L_Tritten
http://EzineArticles.com/?Mac-or-PC?&id=349356

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Mac or PC
By Michael Kaye

For the longest time, people would just walk into a computer store and buy
a PC because that is what everyone else seemed to be using. With the success of the
iPod people are beginning to take notice of Apple and their very eye catching
products. Now there seems to be a choice, which computer is best for you? Mac or
PC?

I m going to say right off the top, my Personal Computer of choice is a
Mac. This
doesn t mean that I wouldn t use a PC or that a Mac is right for everyone.

Firstly so we all understand, PC stands for Personal Computer. Is a Mac a Personal
Computer? You bet, since most people refer to Windows based Computers as PC s.
We will use the term PC to describe a Windows based Personal Computer and we will
use Mac to describe Apple s OSX-Unix based Computer.

Whenever I help someone find the best computer for their needs, I like to ask a lot
of questions.

Here are a few questions to consider.

1. What are you going to use the computer for?

2. Do you have a computer geek in the family that is going to help
you
with setup, questions and problems you may have, or do you want to be
independent.

3. Are there any specific programs that you must be able to use,
how
important is software compatibility?

4. Are you the creative or business type?

5. How concerned are you about Security,Viruses and Spyware?

6. Will Design and Styling be part of your buying decision?

7. How important is Gaming to you?

How do these question help me determine which Computer System to
recommend?

Lets start with Question 1.

What are you going to use the computer for?

It s very important to first find out what this computer will be used for. Is it going to
be for very basic uses such as Internet, email and Word Processing or will you be
using it for a home business or for creative tasks like Graphics and Design. There is
no cut and dry which is better here, in this case a basic user could go with Mac or
PC, The business type may be leaning towards a PC, and the Graphics and Design
person should start considering a Mac.

Question 2.

Do you have a computer geek in the family that is going to help you with
setup,
questions and problems you may have, or do you want to be independent?

This is an important question because if you have a Geek in the family, more then
likely they prefer one system over the other, if you want their approval and support
you may need to purchase the system that they use.

On the other hand, do you want to be self sufficient? If so then you have the
freedom to choose the system that you like best. If you are not overly computer
savvy the Mac offers the quickest learning curve with the least amount of technical
understanding to be self sufficient.

Question 3.

Are there any specific programs that you must be able to use, how
important is
software compatibility?

Does your business require specific software programs for real-estate, database,
design or education? Not all programs are cross-platform, meaning they may only
run on PC or Mac but not both. This could greatly effect your purchasing decision.
One note to make here is that a Mac can run a Virtual PC program that allows you to
install Windows and Windows based programs. This allows you to run PC programs
on a Mac but they will run at a reduced speed because of software emulation.

Question 4.

Are you the creative or business type?

A common perception is that PC s are best for business and Mac s are best for
creativity. There is definitely some truth to this however both PC s and Mac s are
capable of either. It may come back to compatibility if you are working closely with
others.

Question 5.

How concerned are you about Security,Viruses and Spyware?

Viruses and Spyware are here to stay, but did you know the Viruses and Spyware
that can bring your PC to its knees will not even slightly affect a Mac? This is due in
part to the Mac s Unix based operating system. The reason for this is Viruses and
Spyware are programs for PC s, PC programs will not run on a Mac. This doesn t
mean a Mac can t get a virus but is much more unlikely since it would have to be
written specifically for the Mac and it s very robust Unix security.

Question 6.

Will Design and Styling be part of your buying decision?

Without question Apple makes some very stylish computers! This is prevalent when
ever you watch a Movie or TV show. Mac s are in almost every scene where a
computer is scripted. Style isn t just about looks, it s also about making a product
that is usable and simple yet full of features that you really need.

Question 7.

How important is Gaming to you?

Maybe you are purchasing your computer as a gaming machine. Hands down the PC
would be the best choice for this. Make sure you balance all of your computer uses,
you may not have as much time as you think to game with all of the other great
programs available. You can always purchase a console game like the XBox 360 and
destroy your friends from the comfort of your couch.

More to Consider…
I wanted to mention some of the strong points to each system.

PC:

-Extensive selection of software and hardware to choose from.

-Very competitive pricing on hardware and software as a result of a multitude
of
companies selling PC s and their related programs.

-Full compatability with virtually all accessories.

Mac:

-Very tight integration between hardware and software due to Apple designing both
aspects.

-Extremely user friendly and stable.
-Lots of Pre-installed software programs for todays digital lifestyle called iLife. iLife
is a suite of fully integrated programs that make it easy to use digital cameras,
digital video editing, audio and music.

-Mac users are the most product loyal customers in the industry, that s got to
say
something!

Todays computers are becoming closer and closer in speed and what they can do,
compatibility between PC and Mac is almost seamless. I recommend you go to a
retail store and talk to a qualified sales rep and give both systems a test drive with
an open mind. The right computer will reveal it s-self to you…

Author-Michael Kaye

DigitizMe.info

http://www.digitizeme.info

Get you free Computer and Technology eBook:

http://www.digitizeme.info/free.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Kaye
http://EzineArticles.com/?Mac-or-PC&id=137026

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