Spring Break
Mac vs. PC
Deborah Silverman and Alexandra Scheinfeld
Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
PC: Cheap, customizable
There will always be the ongoing debate between Mac and PC, based on personal preference, but if cost is your main concern, you may want to choose a PC.
With low starting prices and a wide range of machines to choose from as well as customizable parts, PCs prove to be the best computers for the hard-working, tight-budgeted student.
Although the MacBook Pro and iMac compete with high-end PC models such as the Sony Vaio all-in-one Desktop PC, the VGC-LS25E, according to Scot Finnie of Computerworld Operating Systems, Macs do not offer a solution for students looking for a computer at $600 or less. Direct from the manufacturer, a new Compaq Presario C700T series computer starts at $499.99. Apple's entry-level computer, the 13-inch white MacBook, however, starts at $1,099.
It is clear that if you are looking for an easy-to-use, basic computer and do not want to spend upwards of $2,000, a PC is your best option.
PCs offer cheaper upgrades and customizable parts. If you like to build your own computer so that it meets your specific needs, PCs offer a wide range of customizable options. Macs, on the other hand, only have a handful of options direct from the manufacturer.
Various PCs can be upgraded with tablet technology, fingerprint scanning and Lightscribe technology, not to mention the wide variety of RAM, hard drive and graphics card options available direct from the manufacturer when you build your computer. These upgrades are cheaper for PCs than for their Mac counterparts. It costs $150 to double the memory of an HP Pavilion dv6700z series laptop from 2-gigabyte RAM to 4-gigabyte RAM direct from the manufacturer, whereas the same upgrade on a MacBook Pro costs $400. Thus, if you are looking to customize your computer without breaking the bank, PCs are a great choice.
Although a majority of the major programs designed for PCs are now available for Macs, there is still a lot of specific software that is unavailable for Mac operating systems. This becomes a concern for students because several educational programs offered for PCs are not offered for Macs. Looking on Drexel's IRT computer marketplace, there are 21 programs available for PC users to download but only 12 programs for Mac users. There is a better selection of PCs, including versatile laptop options from many different manufacturers. Apple only offers the MacBook, iMac, MacBook Pro and the new MacBook Air, all of which have a similar design. Overall, if you are concerned about paying too much for a new computer this upcoming school year, PCs are the way to go. PCs are versatile, functional and have countless software and hardware options that are, in general, much cheaper than Macs. Thus, if you are like every other college student, struggling to pay for tuition, books, housing, utilities and food, don't sell yourself short by purchasing an unnecessarily expensive computer as well. Purchase a functional computer at a reasonable price - go with a PC.
Mac: Simple, quick, easy
For me, having been raised on my Gateway desktop and loving every moment of Windows 2000 bliss, buying my first Macintosh right before college was a little scary. I'm not artsy at all. In fact, I'm a freshman in nursing and about as creative as, well, a science major.
I know that Apples have that artsy-fartsy feel about them with all the iBells and iWhistles, which are a ton of things that I can't use (although Photobooth does make me feel like an excellent photographer), but from the moment I first opened the box containing my new MacBook I was filled with glee because everything was so simple.
I am by no means a computer person and just looking at Windows Vista gives me a headache. If you are the kind of kid that loves tinkering with programs and intricately changing settings on your computer, maybe a PC is better for you, but if you just want a computer that does what you need it to do and does it well, then a Mac is the right choice.
One of the qualms I had about buying a MacBook was the incompatibility issue. In today's world, though, since Macs now have Intel "processors" (just like PCs), almost everything comes in a Mac and PC version, including Microsoft Word. Mozilla Firefox, AOL Instant Messenger, Skype or any other mainstream application will run just fine on your Macintosh. Love gaming and have games that only work on Windows? No problem! Apple actually came out with a program called Boot Camp that allows you to run a Windows operating system on your Macintosh computer while keeping the original Mac OS X system too. Two operating systems running simultaneously on one computer! Let's see a Dell do that.
I considered buying Boot Camp when I bought my computer, but after about 24 hours of getting used to the one mouse button and the simple drag-and- drop function (you can drag anything to anywhere on your computer - it's amazing), I was hooked. It takes about a day of fooling around to be comfortable with Mac OS X, and that's for someone slow, like me.
I used to press the power button on my Dell at home to turn it on, then I would go get a snack, watch some TV, do some laundry, and then come back to see if it was all the way on yet. If time is money, then I should be broke by now after using that computer all through high school. Quickly checking Facebook was a 20-minute ordeal. My MacBook boots up in literally about one minute on a bad day.
I personally haven't had too much experience with Vista (thank goodness), but the times I have used it, I noticed a few things.
The "Gadgets" that adorn the side of the screen are mysteriously similar to the widgets that Apple has had for years. By pressing F9 on a Mac you can see all the programs you have running at once. In Vista there is a way to page through all the windows you have open one by one. But to be fair, Vista has its good points too. You can see what is minimized just by putting your mouse over it. Oh wait, Leopard - Macintosh's latest operating system - can do that too! Even in older versions of Mac OS X, the minimized version of a window wasn't a mere tab: it was a full-fledged tiny picture of the window sitting on the bottom of your screen.
Just about everyone in the computing age, PC and Mac alike, uses iTunes to store and organize music. Think of how simple and efficient that program is, and imagine applying that simplicity to everything you do on your laptop. Since the same company makes both the hardware and software everything moves together flawlessly, with no blue screen of death, I might add.
I love my Macintosh because it's simple, beautiful and fun. It can do anything a PC can do, and I don't mean to be catty, but it can do it better. Oh, and in case you were wondering, it does have a right-click: Ctrl-click. Duh.
There will always be the ongoing debate between Mac and PC, based on personal preference, but if cost is your main concern, you may want to choose a PC.
With low starting prices and a wide range of machines to choose from as well as customizable parts, PCs prove to be the best computers for the hard-working, tight-budgeted student.
Although the MacBook Pro and iMac compete with high-end PC models such as the Sony Vaio all-in-one Desktop PC, the VGC-LS25E, according to Scot Finnie of Computerworld Operating Systems, Macs do not offer a solution for students looking for a computer at $600 or less. Direct from the manufacturer, a new Compaq Presario C700T series computer starts at $499.99. Apple's entry-level computer, the 13-inch white MacBook, however, starts at $1,099.
It is clear that if you are looking for an easy-to-use, basic computer and do not want to spend upwards of $2,000, a PC is your best option.
PCs offer cheaper upgrades and customizable parts. If you like to build your own computer so that it meets your specific needs, PCs offer a wide range of customizable options. Macs, on the other hand, only have a handful of options direct from the manufacturer.
Various PCs can be upgraded with tablet technology, fingerprint scanning and Lightscribe technology, not to mention the wide variety of RAM, hard drive and graphics card options available direct from the manufacturer when you build your computer. These upgrades are cheaper for PCs than for their Mac counterparts. It costs $150 to double the memory of an HP Pavilion dv6700z series laptop from 2-gigabyte RAM to 4-gigabyte RAM direct from the manufacturer, whereas the same upgrade on a MacBook Pro costs $400. Thus, if you are looking to customize your computer without breaking the bank, PCs are a great choice.
Although a majority of the major programs designed for PCs are now available for Macs, there is still a lot of specific software that is unavailable for Mac operating systems. This becomes a concern for students because several educational programs offered for PCs are not offered for Macs. Looking on Drexel's IRT computer marketplace, there are 21 programs available for PC users to download but only 12 programs for Mac users. There is a better selection of PCs, including versatile laptop options from many different manufacturers. Apple only offers the MacBook, iMac, MacBook Pro and the new MacBook Air, all of which have a similar design. Overall, if you are concerned about paying too much for a new computer this upcoming school year, PCs are the way to go. PCs are versatile, functional and have countless software and hardware options that are, in general, much cheaper than Macs. Thus, if you are like every other college student, struggling to pay for tuition, books, housing, utilities and food, don't sell yourself short by purchasing an unnecessarily expensive computer as well. Purchase a functional computer at a reasonable price - go with a PC.
Mac: Simple, quick, easy
For me, having been raised on my Gateway desktop and loving every moment of Windows 2000 bliss, buying my first Macintosh right before college was a little scary. I'm not artsy at all. In fact, I'm a freshman in nursing and about as creative as, well, a science major.
I know that Apples have that artsy-fartsy feel about them with all the iBells and iWhistles, which are a ton of things that I can't use (although Photobooth does make me feel like an excellent photographer), but from the moment I first opened the box containing my new MacBook I was filled with glee because everything was so simple.
I am by no means a computer person and just looking at Windows Vista gives me a headache. If you are the kind of kid that loves tinkering with programs and intricately changing settings on your computer, maybe a PC is better for you, but if you just want a computer that does what you need it to do and does it well, then a Mac is the right choice.
One of the qualms I had about buying a MacBook was the incompatibility issue. In today's world, though, since Macs now have Intel "processors" (just like PCs), almost everything comes in a Mac and PC version, including Microsoft Word. Mozilla Firefox, AOL Instant Messenger, Skype or any other mainstream application will run just fine on your Macintosh. Love gaming and have games that only work on Windows? No problem! Apple actually came out with a program called Boot Camp that allows you to run a Windows operating system on your Macintosh computer while keeping the original Mac OS X system too. Two operating systems running simultaneously on one computer! Let's see a Dell do that.
I considered buying Boot Camp when I bought my computer, but after about 24 hours of getting used to the one mouse button and the simple drag-and- drop function (you can drag anything to anywhere on your computer - it's amazing), I was hooked. It takes about a day of fooling around to be comfortable with Mac OS X, and that's for someone slow, like me.
I used to press the power button on my Dell at home to turn it on, then I would go get a snack, watch some TV, do some laundry, and then come back to see if it was all the way on yet. If time is money, then I should be broke by now after using that computer all through high school. Quickly checking Facebook was a 20-minute ordeal. My MacBook boots up in literally about one minute on a bad day.
I personally haven't had too much experience with Vista (thank goodness), but the times I have used it, I noticed a few things.
The "Gadgets" that adorn the side of the screen are mysteriously similar to the widgets that Apple has had for years. By pressing F9 on a Mac you can see all the programs you have running at once. In Vista there is a way to page through all the windows you have open one by one. But to be fair, Vista has its good points too. You can see what is minimized just by putting your mouse over it. Oh wait, Leopard - Macintosh's latest operating system - can do that too! Even in older versions of Mac OS X, the minimized version of a window wasn't a mere tab: it was a full-fledged tiny picture of the window sitting on the bottom of your screen.
Just about everyone in the computing age, PC and Mac alike, uses iTunes to store and organize music. Think of how simple and efficient that program is, and imagine applying that simplicity to everything you do on your laptop. Since the same company makes both the hardware and software everything moves together flawlessly, with no blue screen of death, I might add.
I love my Macintosh because it's simple, beautiful and fun. It can do anything a PC can do, and I don't mean to be catty, but it can do it better. Oh, and in case you were wondering, it does have a right-click: Ctrl-click. Duh.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 15
GerbilSoft
David Korth
posted 5/04/08 @ 5:58 PM EST
I couldn't help but notice several inaccuracies in these articles.
"Apple actually came out with a program called Boot Camp that allows you to run a Windows operating system on your Macintosh computer while keeping the original Mac OS X system too. (Continued…)
Shad
posted 5/09/08 @ 1:25 PM EST
Tanks your blog helped me with my debate for English
Bob
posted 5/10/08 @ 2:18 PM EST
There, there fanboy... Steve jobs will give you a penny.
Seriously, Gaming on a Mac? Forgot you need the hardware to do it? Only Mac pros and the expensive high end iMacs can do gaming. (Continued…)
Jarrod
posted 6/02/08 @ 1:11 PM EST
My friend is a computer whiz and has managed to get windows xp and linux on his two year old dell.
Greg
posted 6/02/08 @ 2:32 PM EST
Boot Camp, as mentioned, does NOT let you run Windows in a Mac, it allows you to create space on your hard drive to install Windows NEXT to Mac OS X. You must restart your Mac to enter into Windows. (Continued…)
Nilesh
posted 6/03/08 @ 9:49 PM EST
Apple will have viruses too eventually. The main reason Apple doesnt have viruses is because hackers at the current moment dont care for MACs because the market for MACs still isnt as high as PCs overall. (Continued…)
Cancer Cure
posted 6/05/08 @ 10:04 PM EST
This was a very interesting article to read and the comments make it that much better. From just the article, it sounds like the Mac is better if you do not look at price. (Continued…)
Nilesh
posted 6/07/08 @ 1:32 AM EST
Dialup connection speeds have little to do with the computer, and more to do with the site you are connecting to. Em and this is the broadband age, dialup is so 20th century!!
And why college kids buy MACs, simple, its a FAD, and thats why everyone is buying it, but sooner or later people are going to realize that MACs have their problems!
JohnPaul R. Sein
posted 6/07/08 @ 2:44 AM EST
Look personally i think that it is about time mac got some spot light. i was using macintosh before they had the power pc . back then yeah i wish i had a pc, but now that i do i have to reformat my pc like four times a year because the expensive cpu, motherboard, and os system i got only had trial software to install and not full versions. (Continued…)
Greg
posted 6/07/08 @ 2:16 PM EST
@ JohnPaul R. Sein
I agree when you say who cares about rebooting. But in my opinion it's a hassle to wait the extra three minutes or so to switch operating systems. (Continued…)
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