subject: PC versus MAC [print this page] When deciding which new laptop you would like to buy, one of the first choices you will need to make is whether you want a PC or a Mac. Although you may have seen the commercials on television that depict a Mac deriding a PC, it's important to realise that those commercials are produced by Apple and are therefore a bit biased. There are actually strengths and weaknesses to each type of personal computer, so it is important to consider which type of computer will work best for your own individual needs. Let's take a look at some of the considerations so that you can make the best choice.
One of your choices for a laptop is a Mac. This would include laptops such as the MacBook, the Macbook Pro, and the Macbook Air. One of the best features about Macs is that they are designed for ease of use. Apple knows that you probably aren't a computer geek who likes to tweak every single aspect of your computer, so instead they focus more on making an intuitive graphical user interface. The irony is that since you are probably more used to the GUI of PCs, it will actually be harder for you to use a Mac at first. However, after this initial learning curve, it should be smooth sailing. If you want to use both OSX and Windows on your laptop, then you should get a Mac, because they are the only computers that will allow you to do that.
The other first candidate vying for your hard-earned money is the PC. PCs are those laptop computers that run the Windows operating system, such as a Toshiba laptop, an HP notebook, or Dell computers. The Windows platform is a tried and true operating system that has been dominating the operating system market for almost two decades now. Windows 95, in particular, solidified the reputation of Microsoft as a company that produces operating systems of the highest quality. One of the strongest arguments in favour of purchasing a PC is that you will likely already be familiar with the operating system. You'll already know where all the icons are and how to start and run your programs. It can be tremendously inconvenient and time consuming to learn how to use a new operating system. Another strong feature of the PC laptops is the Microsoft Office suite. Although there is a version available for the Mac, it doesn't include all the same features, such as Visual Basic for Applications. If you are the type of person who likes to get under the hood and customise your computer and your operating system a bit more, then a PC is definitely the laptop for you.
