by Mark Collins

Created on: January 16, 2007   Last Updated: November 13, 2011

Before I start, let's talk about my experience. I've been fixing computers and computer networks since 1992. I've worked for Apple Computer in the Applications, Servers, and Networking department. I've worked for HP. I've worked for an onsite PC repair shop called Computer NERDZ in Austin, TX. Given that, I've had a lot of experience with both Macintosh computers and PCs.

PCs are the most familiar computer. They have the largest selection of software. It is easy and convenient to buy PC software. They have tons of upgrade options. There are always places you can go and buy these hardware upgrades. They have a plethora of different vendors for each and every upgrade option at your disposal. That being said, they run Microsoft Windows, which is moderately difficult and extremely buggy. It is insecure. It accounts for more computer rage than road rage.

Macs are the simplest computers. They have a small but adequate selection of software. It is often inconvenient to buy Mac software, unless you are comfortable buying over the internet or through catalogs. They have a relatively small number of upgrade options, most of them available only through Apple. They have a very small number of different vendors for each and every upgrade option. That being said, they run Mac OS X. This runs on UNIX. It is highly stable. With the Aqua interface, it is quite easy to use. The uptime on a Mac is comparable to that of a true UNIX box. Many PC's experience as many as ten or more crashes in a day. Macs are unlikely to crash once in a week.

However, the real question is "what do you do?" If you're a hardware geek and want to trick out your box with the latest SLI quad graphics and put the new PhysX physics model accelerator in... do case mods... then the PC is the machine for you. If you want the latest 3D game, then the PC is for you. If you want something that every computer tech around you knows how to fix, then the PC is for you.

If you just want to surf the internet and answer email, either box will work for you. The matter then becomes price. If you want to use Microsoft Office, then either box will work for you. The matter then becomes price.

However, if you would rather pay a little more and not have to mess with your box, then the Mac is for you. People who find that their time is too valuable to put up with a computer that costs them half an hour a day in problems choose Mac. People who earn their primary income through creative arts choose Mac because of the lesser amount

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