Ask an Engineer - Mac Versus PC

Every month we answer your tech questions in “Ask an Engineer.” If you have a question you’d like answered, write us at bergeronl@alliancetechnologies.net. If your question is selected you’ll be answered in our newsletter!

Kaycee asks, “What are the major differences between a Mac and a PC? Which one should I buy?”

This is a huge question. We could fill the whole newsletter up to answer it and still need more room. So let’s boil it down to four essential concerns when buying a new computer:

Price – There’s no contest in this arena – dollar for dollar, PCs are less expensive than Macs. Apple has done quite a bit to make their computers more affordable in the last few years, but their products remain luxury items. If price if your main concern, buy a PC.

Style – Love it or hate it, Apple has done a much better job of branding themselves as a trendy company associated with a certain hip, creative style. Whether an Apple product conveys that style onto the purchaser is up to debate, but there’s no denying that Apple is the “cooler” computer, the computer for the young (or young at heart), the seekers, the dreamers. The PC is still seen as a business machine. Neither of these views are really true, but if style and image matters to you, go with Apple.

Customizability – Both in hardware and software, PCs are more customizable. Personal PCs are hobbyist machines – they can be easily altered with tons of free software and easily upgraded with cheap hardware. You can make them look like spaceships with blinking lights or use them to run your coffeemaker. Apple computers just can’t keep up with the level of customization PCs offer.

User-friendliness – Apple’s interfaces are built with user experience in the forefront of the designers’ minds and it shows. Their operating systems are much easier to navigate and figure out intuitively. Things are done the way they seem like they should be done. PCs and Microsoft Windows have come a long way in this regard, especially with the recent release of Windows 7, but Apple still wins here.

If you want a tailored, guided experience, go with the Mac. If you want an open, customizable platform, go with the PC. The Mac is easier to navigate and use, but you pay for that ease with a platform that is more locked down, not to mention your wallet. The PC takes more effort to get into, but you can do much more with it if you’re willing to work for it. It’s a tough choice, but a fun one to make. And don’t forget, we’re always a phone call away if you’d like more help.