by Michael Hansen

Created on: February 24, 2007   Last Updated: May 18, 2007

Is the Mac really better than the PC? This seems like an age-old, devisive question and there really isn't an answer that will satisfy all people. Yes it is and no it isn't is probably the best answer anybody can give you on the subject. There are a lot of factors involved in judging which system is best for you.

Do you work on a Mac now? If so, then you obviously think that the Mac is better than the PC. Until Vista was released, Mac OS X was arguably the more elegant of the two systems. I personally believe that the Mac interface is prettier and more intuitive than any flavor of Windows.

Viruses are a big concern for Windows PC users. Are Mac users immune from viruses? Absolutely not. But, there are fewer viruses and worms on the Mac platform than there are on the Windows platform.

PCs are cheaper than Macs. Well, this is an urban legend. What's true is that you can get a cheaper PC, but that doesn't mean that a comparable PC is cheaper. When you compare a Mac component for component with a PC, you'll see that often times, the Mac is cheaper. The expensive Macs are expensive because they have premium parts built in, like a large, separate graphics processor with lots of memory, built-in video cameras, larger hard drives, etc. It's important to compare apples to apples (no pun intended). You can't say, "Well, the MacBook costs $1,100, but I can get a Gateway for $400," because the specs are completely different.

Macs do graphics better people say. I think they do, but that doesn't mean Windows does graphics poorly. Adobe Photoshop is Adobe Photoshop whether you're running it on a Mac or a PC.

There are so many other factors that you have to think about when worrying about this subject. At the end of the day, however, which one is better really comes down to how you want to use your computer. If you want a computer with all the bells and whistles in a stylish case, get the Mac. If you are a serious gamer or just want a cheap computer, get a $400 PC. Just remember that with today's Intel-based Macs, a lot of Macs are better at running Windows than PCs are. I guess Macs are better than PCs.

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