Mac VS Pc

Mac or PC it's the perennial debate for anyone looking to buy a new computer (or win an argument). Passionate and valid points exist in both camps, but it ultimately boils down to your personal tastes, needs, and budget. We played around with all shapes and sizes of Macs (Mini, iMac, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro) and PCs (Gateway One desktop, Gateway M-Series laptops, Lenovo x300 laptop, Acer Ferrari 1100, Sony TP Series, and Dell XPS M2010) to figure out which type of computer was best on a variety of fronts. Much to our surprise, not all of our findings turned out as we expected....

Ease-of-use

Yes, the rumors are true. Macs, in general, tend to be easier to use than PCs, thanks to built-in video tutorials on new models, consistent look and feel across all applications, and the generally simpler, drag-and-drop-based actions of the Mac operating system (also known as Mac OS X, or Leopard, in its most recent iteration). That said, certain tasks, such as moving your iTunes and iPhoto libraries to an external hard drive, can be downright confusing and you can risk losing your entire music collection if you don't follow the steps just right.

Still, it sure beats the non-stop-barrage of "Error" messages and freeze-ups you get periodically on the average Windows-based machine. To be fair, Windows has become less crash-prone in recent years, but the built-in security features on the latest Vista machines result in you pretty much having to click a 'Continue" button any time you want to make a desktop move.

Lastly, the relative newness of the Windows Vista operating system means there just isn't that much online support should you run into a problem. Based on user-friendliness alone, we'd recommend a Mac over a Windows-based PC.

Media

Yes, Macs have Front Row, an onscreen TiVo-like menu feature that lets you use a remote to browse and play your videos, pictures, and music from the comfort of your couch, but it pales in comparison to what is offered by Windows Media Center (WMC). WMC is included in WIndows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate Editions and essentially lets you access all your media on a similarly user-friendly, TiVo-like onscreen menu.

But here's where the similarity ends. WMC includes access to a multitude of seamlessly integrated movie, music, and picture-sharing services, and easily syncs up with the built-in media extenders on, say, your Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, networked storage device, or other PCs, so you can watch anything store on your PC on any other TV or PC in the house.

(To be fair, Macs can sync up with PlayStation 3's and certain other types of media extenders or networked external hard drives, but trust us, it's a lot less easy to set-up, which means pretty much your only choice for streaming your computer's content to another TV is by using Apple TV.)

Performance

Sure, you can read the endless benchmark tests that compare the boot-up speed of Windows-based PCs versus Macs, but if you've ever tried either a Mac or a PC, you'll know that Macs start-up considerably faster. This is partly due to the Mac operating system being optimized for the Mac-made hardware (versus Windows, which is designed to run with a wide variety of components and hardware from different manufacturers, resulting in time-consuming equipment checks during start-up). And within Windows itself, Windows XP tends to be faster than Windows Vista, at least according to most benchmark tests (and our own anecdotal experience).

Once up and running, however, speed, stability and multi-tasking on a computer really depend on a number of factors, from how many programs (and what type) you have running to how much RAM you have installed a souped up gaming or desktop-replacement PC may well (on paper and most likely speed tests) outperform a top-of-the-line Mac Pro, both processing-wise and price-wise.

Software

The variety of software programs everything from downloadable productivity programs and Web apps to online services, Blu-ray playback software and the latest computer games is much greater for the PC. Still, for every ten newfangled Web browsers or peer-to-peer file sharing programs that come out for the PC, there's just one innovative, versatile, and stable program for the Mac works just fine for those who want less clutter in their desktop lives.

In other words, there's something to be said for having a simple choice of extra programs to choose from and download for the Mac, whereas you can spend a lifetime downloading every single newfangled, not-necessarily-ready-for-prime-time app for the PC, thus cluttering up your computer.

Still, we'd just love it if we could watch, for example, more of our favorite TV shows or Netflix movies for free online (still something that's more easily done on a PC), or listen to unlimited music for a low monthly subscription price (as you can with the PC-only Napster, Rhapsody, etc). This one's a tough call -- if it's simplicity and ease-of-use you're after, you'll be plenty satisfied with the software available for a Mac. If you want to try the latest applications or services online or otherwise, you have no choice but to get a PC.

Gaming

We touched on this one briefly in the previous slide, but in terms of gaming, the PC is the clear winner. Every major gaming hit, from the 'Unreal Tournament' and 'Quake' series to 'Age of Empires' and 'Command and Conquer,' comes out for the PC first. And most PC games never come out for the Mac at all. Still, it's not all bad if you're a Mac owner companies such as Aspyr and EA are actively putting out Mac versions of such hits as 'Call of Duty' and 'Homeworld 2,' and almost all Web-based Flash games are cross-platform, so they'll work on both Macs and PCs. Also, onscreen action and graphics tend to be a lot more detailed and smooth on a PC, especially when you install a high-performance graphics card!

So which type of computer is right for you?

As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, it really depends on what kind of user you are. The truth is, for most of your basic computer needs -- e-mailing, word processing, photo editing and sharing, and music management -- either a Mac or a Windows-based PC will do the trick.

But beyond basic needs, the paths diverge: If you're a gamer, a movie and TV hound, a techie, or an early-adopter, you should probably consider a PC, since it's going to offer you the biggest number and variety of new apps, hardware accessories, and streaming or downloadable video in SD or HD. Business users may also want a PC since Windows is still the operating system of choice in most offices (though Mac is catching up), so a Windows-based PC is likely to integrate more easily with your workplace. And if price is an issue, you will get more bang for your buck with a Windows-based PC (let's just hope all those extra features you get with your PC actually work!).

Of course, having access to a multitude of programs isn't always a good thing, particularly if a sizable chunk of those programs don't always work or are glitch-prone. Simplicity, consistency, security, and good design count for a lot in the computer realm, which, let's face it, isn't a piece of cake for all of us. If you're new to computing, want minimal hassle, and just need to get to work right away without having to wait two minutes or more for your PC to boot-up, then a Mac is for you.

Macs also remain the computers of choice for creative types in the music, film, and design fields, which is something to consider if you're planning on using your computer for film editing work, Web site design, or just want to make a demo tape of your band.

Let's not forget how cool Macs look and feel, too -- everything from the elegant look of the desktop and the innovative designs to the satisfying click the keyboard makes when you type on it makes the Mac a pleasant experience for just about anyone. And they're well-built across the board (they all come from the same manufacturer, after all), compared to many PCs, which vary widely in terms of basic build quality. Yes, they may cost a bit more, but in our experience, Macs tend to run smoothly a lot longer than the average PC, which can be filled up with a glut of performance-slowing software in just a few weeks.

In a lot of ways, not much has changed over the past twenty or so years between Mac and Windows. Macs remain the easier-to-use and better-designed option for fun and creative folks who are willing to fork out a bit more, while Windows-based PCs offer a wider world of compatibility and products at a better-bang-for-your-buck price.

[Update: One important thing we forgot to mention, unlike Windows-based PCs, Macs can also run Windows using a program called Parallels Desktop or Bootcamp, which means that -- theoretically, at least -- you get the best of both worlds with a Mac. Of course, running Windows and Mac operating systems on the same computer simultaneously will slow down your computer and eat up resources, but it's not a bad compromise if you just need to run Windows for that essential Windows-only work app.)