PC's or MAC's? (looking for big answers)?

Question

Things I would like to know: (deciding which one to buy-laptopwise)
-compare and contrasts
-which is more advanced
-easier to use
-how annoying it is(popups, werid instructions, whatever bugs you from your personal exprience)
-which is better for the long haul (for school and/or fun time)
-how "compatiable" it is

[I know many other people are thinking about this too-for graduation gifts especially, and I would appreaciate this very much. Thanks!]

Answer 1

J Lee does not know what he's talking about. Here is the BIG breakdown. PC people like to tinker with their machines. They like to build their own, make changes etc. That's one reason why a PC is cheaper, because there is competition in the making of the machines. Because of Intel Macs, you can have 1 machine that runs BOTH operating systems, not just 1.

So... Macs come with more software installed. Fun, practical and informative software. They are the king when it comes to graphics and are for anyone who just wants to get things done. The OS is far superior as far as how many clicks to get things done, and the GUI (graphical Interface) is a dream to look at and work within.

I am an Adobe Certified Instructor, and web designer and have a MacBook I use for training with both OS X and Windows XP Pro on my machine. I use both sides because I have to, but I am always frustrated in the PC side. The beauty of a MacBook is the size, durability and ease of use. One machine and 2 systems is hard to argue with. If it's a graduation gift, then it's either college next, or the work world. Either way you'd be prepared for anything with the MacBook. It may be just a 13" screen, but I had/have a 17" Powerbook as well, and because of the resolution, it's a beautiful screen and I don't feel the least bit cheated in screen real estate. It's so portable, I don't mind toting it around and have found some really great covers to protect my investment.

These days, if you compare, really compare you get for each, there is no beating the MacBook. Hands down easier to use, and Windoze is way more annoying to use. The MacBook is very durable, so no compaing there, and since it can handle both operating systems, a hands down winner.

J Lee talks about games, which are best played on a desktop/tower anyway instead of a laptop.

Answer 2

Good luck getting a solid answer from this question, man. It's like arguing Coke vs. Pepsi. Personally, I'm a Windows user for life, but that's just born out of familiarity. PC's do have the advantage of upgradeability and easily available parts for them.

Really, though, it's personal preference. Macs are a fun thing to play around on - the GUI is very cool and fun to use. PC's are, to me, a bit more practical, but I know a lot of Mac users who love them, and a few who hate them.

To really go into it all would take a long time, longer than I care to write up, honestly. You can Google your question (try PC vs. Mac) and find some more in depth reviews. I will add that PC's do have a greater risk of viruses, mainly because they're much more popular.

I hope I helped at least a little bit with your problem.

Answer 3

actuality is more beneficial major than opinion. in case you favor actuality study this and take the steps I supply to work out if i'm fantastic. yet do not blindly imagine i'm incorrect. value is something that has arise contained in the solutions the following. Time you do your homework. pass to the major workstation manufacturers' internet internet sites and personalize their pcs basically so that they are going to be more beneficial or less equivalent to the Mac that you favor. Print that web page out. pass to Apple's internet web site and print out the specs and value for the Mac that you favor. prepare those printouts on your father so as that he can see that a Mac and a workstation which have an same specs have about an same value. each and every time i have done this with Dell or Gateway, the Mac ended up being a lot less. next little bit of homework for you. pass to eBay and count number what number anybody is paying for six year previous Macs. Now count number what number anybody is paying for six year previous pcs. For a workstation that has 10% of the person base, the Mac has more beneficial than 50% of the market between previous pcs. the reason behind it truly is toughness. The Mac keeps its usefulness about two times so long because the workstation. this suggests you $$ replace a Mac 1/2 as frequently as you replace a workstation. value is one difficulty, yet you have to be searching at value rather. The Mac expenses 1/2 as a lot as a workstation.

Answer 4

It all really depends on what you are buying this computer for. There are pros and cons to both and I find myself cursing out both my PC and my Mac at times for different reasons.

The main thing that distinguishes the two: Imagine, if you will, a lawer and an animator. The lawer would be carrying a PC while the animator would be on a Mac. This is because Mac computers are much better with graphics while PC's are made more for documents and such. I'll run you through some other differences...

PC's crash on a regular basis ~*~ Mac's stay clear of viruses for the most part due to better protection

PC's are are great for games ~*~ Mac's suck as far as games go... Mostly

PC performance begins to slow down after less than a year ~*~ Mac performance lasts at least two years if not more (from what I've seen personally)

PC's have those annoying things that keep popping up in the lower right hand corner of the screen ~*~ Mac's don't ^.^

PC's navigation through programs is simple ~*~ Mac's is as well but it's a different set-up

PC's are good with aim and other messengers ~*~ Mac's suck with them, but have IChat through which u can get on aim and the other messengers

So it all really depends on what you want out of your computer. One thing to keep in mind is that if you're used to a PC then using a Mac will take some getting used to, because the set-up of it is completely different, and vice versa. Both the Mac and PC computers are rather compatible with eachother and on their own. At times you will come across certain files that won't open on other computers because they are not supported by the program but I've found that, for the most part I can create a file on a Mac and later transfer it to a PC and have it open just fine. The programs that you have are what makes the difference in this

And I'll say just one more thing. Stay away from Dell! Their laptops are far from best as far as the market goes and their customer service, as I experienced personally, isn't the greatest either. Hope this helps!

~*~firedhel~*~

Answer 5

One of the problems into todays computing is people don't understand computers be it Mac or PC. And most of all it is the operating system they are used to

Every one on here is going to give you their proffered choice of computer, some will say the mac, some will say other brand names, but in the end it will be your choice,

Now we come to the most Important thing people forget to mention, after sales service, this and only this should be your determining factor, After sales service is the most important factor you should decide on which brand to buy,

So here is what you do, check out every computer manufactures to find out which one as got the best reputation, for after sales service

next comes the operating system do you go for Windows XP/Vista or get a mac and go for OS/X system, with both systems your going to have to buy other software, that is going to be more expense on top of the computer price.

Now in a nut shell, windows XP support is coming to a end shortly, Windows Vista is full of bugs thats causing people problems, Mac OS/X is stable and secure, but their other software is very expensive, though it is a very good system,

Is there another alternative you can look at when it comes to another operating system. the answer is YES, this operating system is Linux, used by big Businesses, Governments, and Education the world over, and it is the back bone of the internet,

What are the advantages of using Linux operating system.
(1) it is now being used by the home user
(2) it is the best operating system
(3) it is more secure
(4) it is Free
(5) it is the best operating system for support
(6) it as all the same software Microsoft and Mac has
(7) it is used by big businesses
(8) it can do far more than the mac computer will ever be able to do,

So now is your chance to do you're research into Linux Operating System, Linux is the same operating system as the mac computer.

I am not trying to convince you into buying or using anything. what I am saying is do your research and do it well before you commit your self to anything

Answer 6

well everything considered pc's are my top choice. here's why:
-mac's (laptopwise) are much more expensive than pc's of the same level. sure they get less viruses but if you keep your computer clean and have a good AV its just as good as having a mac.

-i would also say that pc's are more advanced because mac's havent been out in laptop form as long as pc's and you can upgrade pc's (not as much as desktops) as opposed to macs.

-macs could be easier to use but if you have been using pc's so far, it will be a hard change (meaning if you have been using pc's, another pc will be easier to use than a mac)

-pop ups and wierd instructions are just internet problems and you should get rid of those easily with pop up blockers and other gadgets (this applies both to macs and pc's)

-if youre looking at fun time, pc's are the way to go. it does everything a mac does and more (even if its not that efficient at video making as the macs are)

-as far as compatibility is concerned, mac isnt compatible with almost all the programs that we use now and are familiar with, especially games

Answer 7

For desktop publishing and high end video editing, mac. For anything else PC. Assuming you buy frm a decent mfgr, PC's are Easier, cheaper, more compatible, more freedom of choice, more games, music and entertainment. Apple safari suks vs Firefox and IE. However if you buy budget pc's or you can't exercise common sense when surfing on the internet, you will have nothing but problems with a PC.

Answer 8

Here's how professionals will deal with this question.

Pick the software you want to run first. Then, consider which platform (Mac or Windows) will be best suited for the purpose.

I say this because your choice of platform should not be an arbitrary one. You can't just ask, which is the best? If it doesn't do what you want, it's irrelevant.

How "compatible" is it? They are not. Apple software does not run on Windows. Windows software ONLY runs on Mac if you run a special software and run Windows inside it. It can be done, but it involves cost.

The big question is, what are you going to do with it?

Answer 9

Apple OS X Leopard won't be available for a few months, yet.

I use Macs at home and PCs at work. There are pros and cons to each, and it really depends on what you will be using it for...

When you ask about "how 'compatible' it is" you have to tell us what you want it to be compatible with...

My best recommendation is to go to a computer store and actually USE some of the devices. Remember that there are different manufacturers of PC hardware that runs Windows -- INCLUDING Macs (you can put BOTH operating systems on a Mac)

To give us more information, please go to the pencil icon on the button bar below your Question, and select "Add Details." -- Thanks!

Answer 10

You will get a lot of arguments back and forth on this one.

If you are going to use it for school, ask the school what they recommend. If the school has no recommendation, then do a bit of research, go to an Apple store, try one, then go to a store that sells Windows PCs and try it also, buy whatever you feel you are more comfortable with.