Why do they call dell and other brands pc's but they call mac's mac.
pc= personal computer
a mac would be a pc then right?
2006-09-10 11:30:17 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
I believe it's just what they've been called since IBM days. A mac is a personal computer, but because of the history and operating system, it doesn't go by PC.
2006-09-10 11:33:40 · answer #1 · answered by hisprincess 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Originally the distinction was Mac or IBM computers, based upon the operating system. Once the market got to be too full of other manufacturers making IBM-like machines, a new term had to be coined and thus PC was born.
It also has to do with the fact that Macs, at that time, were found almost exclusively in schools or by those in the art or design fields, while most people only really had access to PCs at work - so when people started buying personal computers for home, they bought a machine like the one they had at the office, for compatibility issues as much for the fact that that is what they knew and were comfortable using.
So while yes, a Mac is a personal computer it is not classed as a PC.
Peace!
2006-09-10 18:33:22 · answer #2 · answered by carole 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Back in the early days of home computers, there was MacIntosh which was a propritary brand, meaning the held the exclusive rights to their format. There was also IBM, IBMs format was not propritary. There were many other brands that could run IBM software, they were often called IBM compatible. So yes, a PC can be a Mac or a non-Mac computer. It was sometime in the the early to mid 1990's that the term PC replaced IBM compatable. This was mostly due to Windows becoming the dominant OS.
2006-09-10 18:45:48 · answer #3 · answered by Mary S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IBM made the first marketable personal computers. They bought the exclusive license from Microsoft for the Dos, then Windows operating systems.
Because of this exclusive agreement, when Apple came up with their own computers and operating systems, eventually leading to the Macintosh, the distinction was made between a PC or PC compatible system and the Mac.
I don't know what they will call the Linux compatibles in the future.
2006-09-10 18:41:33 · answer #4 · answered by Vince M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
MAC stands for Machine Age Computer! Actually is comes from Macintosh-Apple Company thus MAC
2006-09-10 18:33:01 · answer #5 · answered by matt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually a Mac is a personal computer as well!
2006-09-10 18:33:21 · answer #6 · answered by telis_gr1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes macs are personal computers! Your right on that!
2006-09-10 18:35:29 · answer #7 · answered by PinkHighHeels 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well pc mean is it based on the old ibm version, (now microsoft) technology, but MAC are apple based. there are serious differences between the two, and most software will only run on one or the other.
2006-09-10 18:34:01 · answer #8 · answered by redhawktotem 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
pc's usually are windows based. mac's have their own operating system
2006-09-10 18:34:00 · answer #9 · answered by pdudenhefer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think Macintosh's a totally different kind of electronic. That's why they call 'em Macs. . .I think. . .âº
2006-09-10 18:55:32 · answer #10 · answered by emma 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋