Mac or Windows? How to choose your next computer.
Windows 7 is out and it appears to be better than Vista. Apple has released Snow Leopard, an upgrade to its operating system and introduced some new hardware. So you might be thinking of upgrading to your next computer. And you might be asking yourself, “Do I buy a Mac or a Windows PC?”
First some background about my own experience. I am a recent convert to the Mac platform. I started building my own Windows computers to save money since I needed a powerful computer to learn video editing and motion design. I chose Windows NT — yes it was that long ago — because it was an OS I knew fairly well, and the most stable OS available at the time which meant less crashes. Of course I did work on Macs here and there, but to be honest, the Macs would crash and the system itself seemed really slow compared to my Windows machines. Most of my clients used Windows machines and I needed to be compatible.
About two years ago, a client of mine changed all his computers to MacOs. Which meant the work I delivered to him needed to work on his Macs and Windows machines. But now times had changed. Apple was now building Intel machines. I could switch between Mac and Windows with ease using virtualization software like Parallels and VMWare’s Fusion. So when it was time to upgrade it was to a Mac.
And now? I use Macs almost exclusively. My Windows XP machines have been relegated to test machines or additions to my home theatre setup.
Now to the subject of this post, which machine should I buy? The first question you should ask yourself is how will I use the computer? Is it my link to the company intranet? Are you a parent buying your kids their first computer? Are you an email, social networking fan, living in the “cloud” kinda user or a serious gamer, 3D graphics, or CAD designer?
If you are upgrading your business laptop ask your IT person what OS is preferred and what version. Security programs, network settings, intranet access and certain company programs may be set up for a certain OS. The Windows OS can be run on a Mac with the use of virtualization software, but you may need to get the okay from your IT department. MacOs only runs on Macs — with the exception of a few hackintosh machines out there and I KNOW your IT department won’t want you using one of those.
Parents, if you are buying a first computer for your kids, buy a Mac, and if you can an iMac. Why? iMacs are beautiful. If it has to be out in the open for all to see and use it should look great and not take up a lot of space.
And Macs are easier to use. This is not a MAC CULT I am starting. Macs are easier to use because they are built with a motherboard designed for its operating system. One single design. A Windows machine can be made with any number of motherboards, graphic cards, ram or processors all made by different manufacturers…just search “motherboards” and see how many are available. The Windows OS has to talk to all those parts. And all those parts have to be compatible with each other and Windows. Frankly, it is genius that a Windows machine even boots up!
What does that mean exactly? Mac compatible products such as software, and peripherals will just work since they are working within a simpler operating system. The idea is similar to creating a recipe for one specially designed oven or creating a recipe that works the same in any oven, toaster oven or microwave the cook comes across. And guaranteeing that this recipe will taste perfect every time!
So we covered the company laptop and the first time computer purchase for kids. What if your a road warrior?
If you are on the road and want a computer only for email and creating office documents then a netbook is really a great choice. Some phone companies are selling or giving away netbooks with a two year contract. Netbooks are Windows and Linux only, for now. You can’t beat the small form factor, especially when traveling. And for under $400.00 you can’t beat the price. The benefit over your smart phone is a larger screen size, bigger keyboard and being a bit more powerful to get some light work done. I’d rather blog on my netbook than my iPhone.
You are also a perfect candidate for some of the lower priced Windows laptops. But keep up with the security updates, especially if you are grabbing free wireless wherever you can get it!
If your a road warrior and use it for heavy lifting such as photography, web design, music editing, then I would recommend one of the Macbook Pros. The screens have much better color reproduction than I have found on the low priced Windows machines. If you are just starting out learning about photography, music composing or video editing the Mac OS comes with great software as part of the computer purchase so you don’t have to pay for expensive software that may be too advanced for the beginner. And the battery life is much better on Macbook Pros…even my little PowerBook G4 outlasts my Windows tablet by at least 90 minutes.
I know what your thinking, “..but I can get a windows laptop for hundreds of dollars less…” Well, not really. You should really look at the specs. Compare the amount of RAM, the type of graphic card, whether it has a dedicated graphics card (faster=better=more expensive) or integrated (slower=cheaper), the hard drive speed, and hard drive capacity. Also, compare battery life and size of the actual machine. Smaller Windows laptops will cost you more. If you compare apples to apples — no pun intended — you aren’t saving that much money. And Macs don’t have bloatware and have some great programs already part of the OS such as the iLife suite. And don’t forget Apple’s warranties and customer service.
If you are a gamer its a pretty easy decision. Windows is the best platform for two reasons. You can build your own super machine assembled with parts built especially for the best gaming experience. Secondly, most games are Windows based. Very few games are available for the Mac. That may change but for now its a Windows world.
The Mac desktop, the Mac Pro is best for dedicated video editing, digital audio workstations, high end photography, design, any program that needs power! Even an entry level Mac Pro will blow away any Windows desktop machine. And you can upgrade much easier and with more RAM or hard drives than what most Windows desktops allow. If you need power, my advice is to buy an entry level Mac Pro and upgrade as you need it. And did I mention how easy it is to upgrade? No tools, no tearing your knuckles, just pull that lever, insert upgrade, slide in drawer, close computer. EASY!
Home theatre use…this is a tough one. Both products serve this function well. It will depend on a few things…
Do I need HDMI output and is the graphic card powerful enough to send video to my HDTV?
Do I want a TV Tuner with QAM and ATSC tuners? Or will my DVD player, or cable box do that for me?
What is its form factor and how will it fit into my current home theatre setup?
How much power does it consume? Does it go to standby when not in use?
How much heat does it generate?
Do I want it to record my favorite TV shows? If so, what is the hard drive capacity? What software or accessory do I need for that?
What’s my budget?
Both Mac and Windows have machines dedicated for home theatre use. Have someone answer the questions above for the computer you are thinking of buying and then decide.
And what will be my next computer purchase? I am thinking it will be a MacBook Pro running both Windows 7 and Snow Leopard. The best of both worlds!
So, what will your next computer be and why? Leave a comment.
Look for upcoming posts on some ways to save on your next PC purchase and some advice for those switching from Windows to MacOs.
great article. I would love to follow you on twitter. By the way, did you learn that some Iranian hacker had busted twitter yesterday.
I know that feeling. From someone who has made the transition, its very easy and you will love the MacOS. Plus, its always good to shake things up!
Very helpful points as I struggle whether to give up 20 years of proudly being a PC person.