Apple vs PC: The Real Facts!
Why PC is Better: Apple vs PC
This article has been a long time coming. I write it in the same mood that I wrote my articles on atheism and culture shock in America. Sometimes, things are so much like a religion, and one is so sick and tired of hearing how superior, wonderful, good something is that just the mere mention of it is enough to send red waves of irritation through one. That is the point I have reached with hearing about the wonders of Apple. I also have to comment that until I reached the US, I was completely unaware that Apple was, in any way, superior to other computers. That said, I am capable of not letting my irritations dominate me, and because I finally want to put this to rest, I am taking up the gauntlet. Let’s talk about where Apple is better and where PC leaves it in the dust.
One Young Child's Frustration with the Perpetual "Mac is Better" Propaganda...
50 Reasons to Switch from MAC to PC
- 50 Reasons to Switch From Mac to PC
Chris Pirillo compiled a list of 50 Reasons to Switch from Mac to PC.
Apple and PC Buy their Internal Hardware from the Same Manufacturers
Apple does not have their processors, RAM, or hard drives specially made for their computers. On the contrary, they use exactly the same bits and pieces as everybody else. Truth to tell, four months after I bought my MacBook, I had hard drive failure. This can happen to any computer. Apple is not immune. They’re using the same hardware.
The Operating System
The main difference between an Apple operating system and a PC operating System (Windows) is that Apple writes the software around the particular computer hardware. Microsoft writes Windows so that any different PC can run it, be it Dell, HP, Sony, or Toshiba. An Apple salesman will tell you that this is the major difference, that because Apple’s software is written to a specific fit, that it fits and operates better. That’s not necessarily true, so let me draw an analogy here.
Take a lady. Let a tailor sew an outfit for her. It fits perfectly. Then ask a tailor to make only one outfit that fits everybody, no matter what size, but he is only allowed to sew one outfit. This might look as if it is going to be a bad fit for everybody, but again, that’s not necessarily so. It depends on the type of fabric. If it is a knit, stretch, or elastic fabric, it might well look absolutely marvellous on everybody. In fact, the dress would be a lot more robust than the one that could only fit one person. In the same way, Microsoft Windows could well be more robust than Apple software. I am not saying it is because I don’t know the technicalities. I’m just saying that the Apple salesmen are spewing out fuzzy logic.
The Numbers
Market forces speak loudly. Although Apple was the first ‘what you see is what you get program,’ Windows pretty much took over market share within a few years. Currently, Windows holds 91% of the market, Apple holds 5% of the market, and Linux holds 4% of the market. Ironically, many will tell you that Linux is superior to both Apple and Windows, and that’s probably true. Neither Disney, Lucas, or Spielberg use Apple. It is suspected that they use Linux, although nobody is saying.
Why Windows is Better than Mac OS X
Why PCs are Better than MAC
- Five Reasons Why PCs Are Better Than Macs - Esquire
With the iPhone, the iPod, and rising sales in the U.S., Apple's legion of fans are convinced they're getting the best machine for the money. Um, let's not get carried away, OK?
The Compatibility
There are enormous issues of compatibility between Apple and PC. If you own a PC, you can send a document or an email to anyone. If you have an Apple, there are numerous issues. Apple lovers will tell you that it’s because you haven’t saved it correctly and that you have to do it a specific way. Of course. And that’s precisely it. It takes up extra time and effort. It’s not automatic. One has to think about it. And one also has to assume, just from the sheer numbers of PC users, that if one is sending a document to a stranger that they are probably using Windows so one has to save one’s work so that it is compatible to Windows.
The point is this: if one so consistently has to make sure that one’s work is compatible with another system, why bother? Isn’t it simply easier and quicker just to have the system that is compatible with everybody else anyway?
Mac uses Microsoft Software???
Apple is NOT more secure than PC
- Are Apple products really more secure?
One thing I hear regularly when working in the computer security field are comments from Apple users along the lines of:"Why doesn't everybody use Apple because there are no viruses for Macs?" or "All viruses target Windows because Windows sucks so b
The Software
Probably one of the most frustrating things about Apple is the lack of open source and free software. And everything that is written for Apple specifically is a lot more expensive than it is for a PC. That’s got to do with the numbers. If the author of software can sell a hundred million pieces of software for PC and only a million for Apple, and it takes the same amount of time and resources to write the software for both operating systems, the cost of writing software for Apple is going to be substantially more.
In addition, there is a lot of open source and freebie software that simply isn’t available for Apple. Nor do many of the established software companies make software for Apple. The market is simply too small. This limits one if one is using an Apple computer. It can also be extremely frustrating when one is looking for a particular kind of software and nobody has written it for an Apple operating system yet. I know that because I’ve been there, done that.
From a Gamer: Why PC is better
Demographics of Apple and PC Users
- Profile of Mac vs PC Users [Infographic]
Profile of Mac vs PC Users [Infographic]
The Different Apps on Apples and Windows
Apple offers some pretty interesting innovations on its software - if you’re so inclined. I, personally, found them useless. I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in using my computer to write a musical score or to edit movies. I’m sure that there are some who find those applications very useful and that Apple is far better suited to their use than a PC is. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. The fact that Apple and PC choose to supply different applications with their software does not make one superior to the other. Again, though, it is a numbers thing: just exactly how many people are interested in writing a musical score?
South Park debates PC vs Apple
32 Reasons PC Better than Apple
- http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/216778,32-reasons-why-pcs-are-better-than-macs-are-they-still-tru
From the Australian PC Authority why PC is better than Apple Mac.
Innovation
One thing that peeves me no end is that Windows bought into the ‘Apple is Great’ myth. They copied the photo application. Whereas before, I could sort my photos into different files and know that they weren’t duplicated elsewhere, I don't have that luxury anymore. Now both operating systems put all the photos in one enormous file and have a secondary sorting system that allows you to put photos into different secondary files. But they aren’t really in different files. The photos are all kept in one place. I find this immensely inconvenient and frustrating.
Both Apple and Windows have done this for search purposes. Thanks, but I preferred the old way. This one positively sucks. Just because it's innovation doesn’t mean it’s good innovation.
This love affair with innovation has destroyed a lot of very useful products that were around in the 50s and 60s. Today, those items can’t be found, and the ‘innovations’ that have replaced them, aren’t half as smart or as useful.
More than that, I have a bone to pick with both companies. It’s not good for the environment to keep updating your products just because you want to make more and more sales. Let me step into absurdity here for a moment - just to illustrate a point.
A company manufactures a cup that is capable of catching raindrops in their exact shape as they fall. They don’t join the mass of water, but retain their individual shape. The company tells everybody that these little gadgets are cheap at the price - only $499.00 - and to be a trend setter one has to get the first one so that everybody can marvel at what a cool cat you are. There appears to be nothing more effective, these days, than to appeal to people's egos to get them to buy a product.
Immediately, a load of unthinking people purchase the product. Why? They’ve never had the need to catch a single raindrop before. Now there’s a whole new game in town. People are moving to places where there’s rain - just to have rain drop parties.
And how does this move human kind forward? It doesn’t.
So the next time you’re contemplating buying your new 5G phone, please stop and think. Are your fingers able to take advantage of the fact that the latest gizmo in town uploads and downloads at the speed of light? In the end, your finger speed is going to limit how fast the task gets done. And more importantly, if you receive information a split second or a minute later, is it really the end of the world?
I think that manufacturing all these ‘innovations’ might well be the end of the world; I don’t think waiting a moment longer for information is.
Stupid Arguments about Mac Vs PC
Cost Comparison of Apple vs PC
While it’s possible to get a PC a great deal less expensive than an Apple, if you want a PC to match an Apple, you’ll pay about the same price. A PC and an Apple costing about the same have more or less the same processing power, ram, memory, lasting power, etc. It's also true that you get what you pay for. A PC that costs the same amount as an Apple PC will give about the same amount of problems that the Apple will. No computer is without problems.
Service Comparison Between Apple and PC
This is a big one. I will never buy an Apple again because in more than two decades of owning computers, I have never had such bad service as with Apple. I’m not the only one. I’ve heard the same story elsewhere. It’s not that some PC manufacturers don’t provide better service than others. It’s that they’re competing with each other and if your PC breaks down, there are a lot of people about town who can fix it. This is not true with Apple. To some degree, that makes them a lot more difficult to deal with. A salesman from Best Buy some years ago told me that Apple was a nightmare to deal with. Then, again, he said that Apple would take over the world. I don’t think the latter is true so, maybe, the former statement isn’t true either. Who knows.
Apple uses the same internal hardware as PCs.
- Mac Vs. PC Apple Quality Debunked - YouTube
This should put the Mac Vs. PC arguments into perspective.
Top Ten Reasons Apple Sucks...
- Top 10 Reasons Why Mac Sucks - CollegeTimes™
College blog that's prone to offending people with controversial opinions, practical tips and advice, and underground research that will shock you.
- Why the Mac vs. PC debate is stupid.
The early Mac’s, right up to the G5, were built on an entirely different architecture...Then Apple made the unthinkable switch… the RISC processor was no more and Intel began selling chips to build the MAC.
Viruses
No, Apple hasn’t been getting as many viruses as PC. However, that’s not because Apple is immune to viruses. That’s because the Apple market is so small that the people who write malware couldn’t be bothered to write these little ‘gremlins’ for Apple.
That said, since I stopped using McAffee and Norton six years ago, I’ve never had a virus. I occasionally go weeks and months without any virus protection and I simply haven’t had any. I don’t think that’s wise, by the way, and I don’t go on to any unknown websites. However, the point is that sometimes one has to look a little deeper at the reasons behind things. The people who write viruses write them for Nortons and McAffee - not specifically for Windows.
Dumb Argument : Apple vs PC
- Why Mac vs. PC And Other Arguments Are So Stupid « slushie
The main reason it is so dumb is because WHO CARES. Sure, Mac OS is better at some things and Windows is better at other things. Each has great benefits and each has major problems. Thats the reason for software updates.
Comparing State of the Art Apple with State of the Art PC
- PC Vs. Mac - Apple - Systems
So I have been noticing this sudden up rising in apple products and the ignorance of their users and I just cant keep my mouth shut anymore. (feel free to do that same, thats why I started this thread
Why Web Developers don't Need a Mac
- Why Web Developers Don't Need A Mac - Smashing Magazine | Smashing Magazine
As Web developers, we never stop hearing about the Mac. A lot of people love to talk about their Macs, but despite the “elite” status of the Apple computer, is there any need for a Web developer to splash money on one?
The Real Difference Between Macs and PCs
- The REAL Difference between Macs and PCs - Michael Martine
It doesn't matter that most people choose not to hot rod their PCs. That's not the point. They can. It is, in fact, encouraged and built into PC culture. It is actively discouraged by Apple. You void your warranty. You can be sued. You are subject to
The Argument that Apple Does Not Break Down as Often
One of the arguments that you will consistently hear is that Apple does not break down as often. No research has been conducted in this area, so it is all opinion, and that opinion is probably more the result of an extensive advertising campaign than anything else.
Walk into an Apple Store and you will see that there is a line waiting to speak to the Apple Genius Bar (I kid you not) about broken iphones, ipads, and their computers. In fact, there isn't five minutes to spare, so it's highly unlikely you'll just be able to stand in line. Mostly, you have to book two or three days ahead.
The best place to find out about Apple issues and breakdowns are the Apple sites. I've provided a few links. Take a read through. Also just do a search for Apple issues, Apple problems, Apple breakdowns. That should reassure you that Apple does, indeed, have breakdowns, bugs, and all the other normal computer issues. They are not immune!
Apple Owners Speak to Each Other About Issues They are Having...
- I\'m having problems with My MacBook Pro...: Apple Support Communities
I downloaded Mac OS X Lion 10.7.2 a few weeks ago, and now I've noticed weird glitches. For instance, my WiFi is SUPER spotty (even though we have RoadRunner top speed), and then I am having these random, yellow QR code-looking things that pop up o
Apple Won't Wake Up From Sleep...
- How I Fixed my MacBook Air 11.6″ Wake From Sleep Problems
How I Fixed my MacBook Air 11.6″ Wake From Sleep Problems
MacBook Air 2011 Heat and Fan Noise.
- MacBook Air 2011 Heat and Fan Noise Issues SOLVED | Mac Crazy
There’s been a number of complaints in forums about MacBook Air heat problems and fan noise or fan running constantly. What causes these heat issues? What’s the fix? Does it affect the i5 model as well as the more powerful i7?
Almost Religious Obsession with Apple
There is almost a religious obsession with many Apple lovers. They will insist that the machine is superior in every respect. If you point out some of the simple things that it cannot do, and that a PC can, they will immediately say that it's easily overcome and that all you need to do is invest another $500 in a part that will immediately allow you to do that task with ease, and once you've done that, your Apple will immediately surpass anything that a PC can do. The fact that a PC does this automatically without an extra $500 cost does not seem to be of interest to them. So I'm exaggerating. Maybe the cost will be an extra $100 or an extra $200. The point is that Apple supporters can be almost irrational in their insistence that Apple is superior in every way.
Now don't get me wrong here. Apple can most certain do some things that PC can't. But as I've said, PC most definitely does a lot that Apple can't - play the same games that everybody else is playing, connect to the TV, and send a Word document without much ado.
Ubuntu
Have you ever heard of Ubuntu? It's also an operating system, and it's a very, very smart operating system. Like all operating systems out there, it has some limitations, e.g. it doesn't use some browsers. That said, it's free. You can just download it. Why would you use Ubuntu? A friend's four year old HP PC had seen its day. It just wasn't working well on Vista. She switched to Ubuntu and that now six year old computer is still going strong.
Ubuntu is easy to use, gives you info about your computer like 'Your hard drive needs replacing' if there's an issue with it, and has free software of every conceivable type. It will also work with all your files you've created to date so you won't lose any work.
A Misworded Argument
There's something incredibly misleading about the wording of the Apple is better than PC argument. For a start, there is only one Apple make, and there are many, many different PC makes. Some of those PC makes are better than others. They are not all the same, so it is ludicrous to argue that Apple is better than all those different PC types combined. It's just not true! Perhaps, the argument should be that the Apple operating system is better than the Windows operating system. As pointed out, they are different, and while Apple gives you the ability to do some things, PC gives you the ability to connect with the world.
PC Makes that are Better than Apple.
The Vizio is said to be prettier than Apple.
The Sony Vaio does a lot of things that Apple can't.
Here are the top ten reviews for laptops for 2012.
You will note that Apple is not number one. You will also note that this list is compiled by the computer people of the world. In other words, there is not unanimous support for the idea that Apple provides the best computer in the world.
Apple is NOT a good company to do business with...
- Seattle Rex vs. Apple: The Verdict Is In | Seattle Rex
Apple has no ethics. They bully clients to accept defective computers. As per the guy in this article, the same thing happened to me. The Macbook I bought had a defective operating system and a failing hard drive. Their 'policy' was not to replace...
Parents Sue Apple
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2131826/Parents-sue-Apple-childrens-costly-highly-add
The U.S. court papers state: ‘These games are highly addictive, designed deliberately to be so, and tend to compel children playing them to purchase large quantities of game currency, amounting to as much as $100 (£62) per purchase or mo
Don't know if this is the way Windows works as well, but it's definitely Apple's way of working...
- Inside the Chinese factories making iPads for Apple | Mail Online
'Forced to stand for 24 hours, suicide nets, toxin exposure and explosions': Inside the Chinese factories making iPads for Apple
The Endless Heated Arguments Caused by Apple!
Steve Jobs did a magnificent job in convincing his Apple clientèle that Apple computers were superior in every way to PCs. I guess that is why he made his billions. Now that you've read through this lot, consider that it is not the opinion of everybody out there, that there is no impartial research conducted on the issue, and that it all really depends on what you want to accomplish with your computer. If you just want a computer that isn't going to give you problems at some point, it's not going to happen. It's a man made piece of equipment manufactured in a factory by machinery. Sometimes, you'll pull a dud product. It's the luck of the draw. The best thing you can do is look for good service and always, always, always, buy insurance!
Comments
LindaSmith1. I bought a MacBook a few years ago and got my money back four months later. There was nothing I needed to do on my computer that wasn't done better on a PC. As I said, If I had been a musician, yes, maybe, the macbook would have been better. But I'm not. Go for a good PC. There are some excellent makes out there. You just have to look. Dell has gone down.
I have been programming, using and supporting businesses and home users professionally since 1981. I am competent in a number of languages and operating systems, including "enterprise level" certification in some.
When I tell you that Macs are superior to Windows, that is an opinion, but it has real knowledge and many years of experience behind it.
Lindasmith: for ANY system, Apple or PC, but the extra ram from a place like Crucial.com. Same memory, far less cost. Nor is any Mac any more expensive than a *comparable* Windows box. You CAN find cheaper PC's, but they are not quality. If you compare features and specs, Apples are the same price and sometimes cheaper.
Tony, I said no apple lovers!!! Luckily, you're my friend so you'll get away with it. There is also the matter of familiarity. When one is very familiar with something, it's quicker and easier to use than something one isn't. You obviously prefer using Apple. That said, if LindaSmith is a gamer, isn't a PC better???
Actually, many gamers buy Apple HARDWARE because of its superior performance and run the games under Boot Camp (or, for games that don't require full throttle CPU, under an emulator like Parallels or VMWare).
But that all may be about to change too: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/10/ios-5-a5-pr
We've got both and in terms of ease of use and no problems, the Mac wins hands down. But in terms of number of programs, especially the games that I like, the PC wins. Voting this Up and Interesting. A poll might be interesting to add to this hub.
Oh, as to "familiarity" - for many years, I used Windows XP for my daily use and a Linux box for my more technical needs. I bought an Apple in 2003 ONLY because they came out with OS X and I needed to become familiar with it. I recognized immediately that this was far superior to Windows and started using it more and more.
Windows 7 is vastly superior to XP. It's not a "bad" OS - XP definitely is. I still think OS X is ahead of Win 7 in many ways, but for casual use, Win 7 is fine.
Used Apple's have far higher resale value - in real dollars and as a percentage. THAT ought to tell you something by itself.
Oh, service stats: http://www.rescuecom.com/computer-reliability-repo
I have a 2008 Dell laptop at work, and a 2008 MacBook Air at home. The Dell is a true dinosaur, spending about 3-4 minutes to start up (about 20 seconds for my Mac), oddly "crunching" for minutes before it's ready to do anything, and always requires "urgent" updates that take hours to download and install.
I've written off PCs now and frankly have not looked back fondly.
It's a pity, because I admire what Microsoft has done over the past 30 years and what Bill Gates does as a philanthropist (much more impressive than the late Steve Jobs).
At the beginning of this Hub, I spoke about the frustration many of us feel about the incessant carping of Apple people about how fabulous their machines are. The point is that it's not your individual experience with your computer that tells the story. It's the statistics researched that show the real story. I had an apple for four months and I will never touch an apple again for the rest of my life. It was a complete nightmare. I know other people who have had the same experience as I had but they're all too scared to say something because the apple brigade keep coming down on their heads saying that it couldn't possibly be true,
I also asked very nicely for Apple owners to stay off this particular hub. Obviously, none of you read it. If you listen to several of the videos, or read many of the links, you will see that your comments don't tell the real story.
They are just your perceptions. And if you have a dinosaur Del, that's your choice. I have a Dell, and quite honestly, it's a helluve lot better and more convenient than the MacBook I had.
I am not a gamer. I hate IE and Vista. My Dell does not work with skype, so I had to uninstall that. I want to be able to do graphics, pics for websites and blogs. I read today that Apple is horrible with emails, especially if you want to send something to those who do not have MAC. It sounds like that Mac compatible is still and issue. I can't even use messenger on this piece of crap from dell Inspiron laptop.
Linda, whatever you read is absolutely incorrect. I have a business and send and receive email all day long every day.
Sophia: these are just YOUR perceptions with very little experience or knowledge to back them up.
Pcunix: This is where I got my information. http://sophia-angelique.hubpages.com/hub/Apple-vs-
Pcunix. I used Apple in the advertising industry in the late 90s. I used Apple again when I used them in web design in London for six months in 2001/2. Then I used them again for 8 hours a day for 9 months doing pre-press print in San Diego. I also owned a Macbook for four months. Exactly, how much experience must one have to say that one has actually used a computer?
I don't have to be able to program the thing or fix it in order to have an opinion on it.
Next, this article was researched, and it was well researched. I've actually been researching the topic on and off for about six months. I read a lot more than is linked to here.
When I say that there isn't any impartial research done by an impartial body like a consumer research body, there isn't.
The fact that you are a programmer doesn't mean that your opinions outweigh mine. I used Apple for web design, graphic design, prepress print, and for writing. And I used them for sufficiently long periods of time to know that I infinitely prefer PC.
That said, I can understand that if you're writing applications, etc., maybe Apple is better. I don't know. I have never done that. But most people don't use computers to write applications.
LindaSmith, if you're still using Vista, then obviously your computer must be older than two years. The computer world changes so often that in that time, Skype has been updated and sometimes there programs aren't backward compatible. I generally buy a new computer every two years.
I currently used www.paintnet.com to design book covers and do some graphic design. It does use layers but there are some things from that are available on Photoshop that are not available on paintnet. However, I don't need them.
With regard to Skype, try the hangout app on Google Plus.
Depending on my situation in the next year, I intend replacing my Dell with another computer. It will be a PC and not an Apple.
As I said earlier, you buy the computer that best suits your needs, but don't let an Apple fan convince you it is the best computer. Do your own research!
I bought this dell in 2009 or 2010. Hard drive was defective, had to be replaced almost as soon as I got this crap. Not getting Vista, I would have had to pay out more money. I will make a note about paintnet.com. It is hard to determine which information is correct or not. Dell is out. Packard is a no. Gateway was horrible.
LindaSmith1. :) Yes, I agree. It is difficult. I bought a desktop in London that had a defective hard drive and that was replaced by the company with in a week. And I bought a defective laptop from Apple that had hard drive failure within 4 months and their operating system didn't work from day one.
The thing is that any computer, regardless of make, can go through this. No computer is immune. That's just because machinery, these days, is made by machinery. Things go wrong. Just on a statistical basis, something will go wrong. I can't help you chose and I wouldn't want to influence you. :) Good luck in your search. Just do a lot of research. :)
Sophia: Can you give me some ideas as to decent computers. I am hoping that the next purchase is my last purchase. In fact, I am probably going back to a desktop with flat screen. Keys don't last long on laptop. I am on my computer 12 hours a day or longer.
LindaSmith1. Funny you should mention desk stop. I am also on a keyboard 24/7. However, I need to take a computer with me quite often which is why I've been using laptops for the past 5 years. However, I definitely think that they don't have the power of a desktop. Actually, this is one thing you can ask Pcunix about. He definitely does know computers. We just have a strong disagreement about Apple! :)
When I was doing some research for this article a few weeks ago, I ran into an article which compared several PCs with various Macs. One PC - only one- apparently left the Mac in the dust. I looked everywhere for that link when I was writing this, but couldn't find it.
I will continue to look for it, and when I find it, will forward it to you.
Off hand, I have no idea. I also think that Dell isn't as good as it used to be. Alternatively, it could just be that laptops aren't as sturdy as desktops. I don't like HP (the first laptop I had from them went into hard drive failure 24 hours after I bought it. I returned it.)
I wish I could answer you but I think all products have inbuilt obsolescence into them these days, so I think nothing is going to last. Some just last a little longer than others, but that's about it.
Okay thanks.
I'm not discounting your experience, Sophia. I read your Hub and understand your personal experience. I am also not swayed by surveys or any other set of statistics; my own personal experience with comparable PCs and Macs informs my own opinion.
I would imagine it would be best to have opinions from people who have actually used both OSes and can speak from experience. That would include you, Pcunix, and me. I'm not speaking about the superiority of OSX in vague generalities.
Soohia, your experience is next to nothing. I'm sorry, but you are exactly the sort of uninformed person who makes me very angry. My opinions outweigh yours because I have worked with thousands of machines used by all kinds of people doing all kinds of tasks for over thirty years.
I'm also certified in three operating systems. Your knowledge of computers doesn't even begin to compare in ANY way.
I'm dione here. You are making a fool of yourself.
livelonger and Pcunic, there are people who have exactly the same amount of experience that you have, and they think that Apple is not any better than PC.
How can I possibly make a fool of myself? This is NOT my experience compared with your experience.
This is the objective information that is out there, and I'm sorry, with all due respect, 91percent of the market belongs to Microsoft, and only 5% belongs to Apple. If Microsoft didn't do the job adequately, they would not have held on to that percentage of market share for that long.
Goodbye, Sophia. The next time you need help understanding something, don't ask me.
Wow, Tony, it's really strange that you feel so strongly about a piece of plastic. And I will respect your wish not to ask you anything. Thank you for all the assistance that you have given me in the past.
Passionate debate? lol! I enjoy PCs as a rule but I accept that Apples have a lot to offer too. Thanks for writing such a well written and interesting hub!
livelonger, I'm curious as to why you think that I have no experience using Apple. I have used them in advertising, in web design, and in prepress print. I have used them sufficiently enough that at times I found myself using Apple methodology on a PC. Just exactly how long am I supposed to have used an Apple before I can actually say that I'm familiar with both operating systems?
Reread my comments. I never said that. In fact, I said the opposite.
livelonger. You're right. I thought you said just you and Pcunix. Livelonger, here's the thing. I don't ever use personal experience to evaluate things. I use impartial research. I discount my own opinion for everything except my own decisions involving my own personal life. I would never in a million years advise someone on something and tell them one product is better than the other. I wouldn't even suggest a restaurant or a movie. I just don't do that.
My own personal opinion is that your, mine, and Pcunix's experience is irrelevant. There are too many factors that cloud the issue.
That is why I have added a variety of links to my hub. I always back up everything I say with other voices, preferably not opinion. In this case, that was an extremely difficult thing to do because no computer organization has actually sat down and tested every single PC against every single Apple.
I suspect that if that is every done, some Apples will win some contests and some PCs will win other contests.
It's simply not feasible to say that one product from one manufacturer is better than all the other products manufactured by all the other manufacturers in the world.
Well, that's your opinion, and you're entitled to it. As for my opinion: I can read all the data and surveys about the matter, but I literally spent SIX hours yesterday updating various components on my PC laptop in order to install an Active X control that one site needed, and it still didn't work. I have never had anything close to that level of frustration with my Mac, so for the time being, I'm staying with my Apple preference. :)
Well, must have been a very unusual laptop that you had to update various components in order to install Active X. I don't think I've ever had that issue. Active X just downloads in minutes. You see, livelonger, there are all sorts of reasons that could happen, but it's nothing to do with PC in general.
Yes, it's more of a Windows thing, but PCs and Windows sadly go hand-in-hand.
livelonger, I suppose you're right about that one! :)
LindaSmith1,
My personal preference for PC brand and that which I recommend and supply to my clients (for advanced modelling in the nuclear industry) is Lenovo's Think series (for desktop/workstation and laptop).
If you do consider a laptop again, the keyboards on the ThinkPad series machines are extremely durable with great feel, the machines have an impact resistant "skeleton" inside the body, and so forth. They are designed to last.
You do have to pay for this, of course, which goes back to the saying "you get what you pay for"... professional grade hardware from just about any OEM will be much better than more economically priced consumer grade fare.
I have worked on just about every computer make on the market, and I can tell you this - a $2000 machine will last much longer than a $350 machine, whether or not they are all built from "PC parts".
That being said, everything does break from time to time - the cost of doing business. So, I back up my data regularly and upgrade my hard disks to newer, larger capacity units about every 18 months.
LindaSmith1 4 months ago
Interesting article. I have had 2 computers in 7 years from Dell, and hate them both. I was considering an Apple, but the cost is ridiculous, i believe just a basic Apple is around 900 bucks. Max memory, etc is around 2000 bucks, but without any extra software programs. After reading this, I am going to get another computer, but probably not an Apple.