I'm assuming that most of the people that reach this site are
looking to buy a personal computer, not a Macintosh. This is
because a Mac comes in only a couple of forms and the one you buy
basically comes down to how much you want to spend.
However, I still think it is worth edifying the general public
that a Mac should not be a status symbol of what you can afford,
but that it has it's place and in some cases is a better purchase
than a PC.
People like to bring this up a lot. No matter how you do the
numbers PC's are cheaper than a Mac (period). There is no such
thing as a $300 Apple laptop, for $300 Apple will give you an Mp3
player.
Now the real question is whether or not the price of a Mac is
more than a PC when you have identical hardware configurations?
You can Google that question, and I'm sure there will be results
but I don't really care.
The point that I think should be made is you don't buy
things based on price unless it's a question of
affordability. If you don't have the $1000 to purchase a
Mac then you're stuck with nothing or a PC, and until that
changes little else matters.
Bottom Line - It does not matter, make
your purchase based on your needs.
A PC will always have a greater variety of software than a Mac.
However, there is a question of quality over quantity. If as a
Mac user the software you have is sufficient and you take greater
joy in using it then you will be satisfied with your computer
experience.
As for software reliability I've used both a Mac and a PC for
extensive periods of time and at least when a PC crashes you have
the option to ctrl alt delete (apple Q is not the same). I will
say that most of my trouble with Mac programs was with programs
that came with the computer itself so they might be just as bad
on a PC.
Bottom Line - If you're happy with the
choices you have on a Mac then you're good to go, otherwise
you'll never be limited by what you want to do on a PC.
If you've been using Windows all your life, switching to a Mac is
going to be a struggle. Even though they claim they have a better
user interface and it's easier to use, you still have to learn a
new complicated interface. One example of this is how you eject a
music CD ... you drag the contents into the recycle bin. To me i
just deleted all the contents on the CD... which I know can't be
done but who knows what you can do on a Mac?
To be fair windows isn't without it's share of problems but
everyone knows how to use a window unless they've grown up on a
Mac (some .001 % of computer users in the world.. just a guess).
If you really want to you'll be able to learn the interface after
a few headaches just like anything else.
Bottom Line - Everyone knows how to use
a PC. Given enough time you'll pick up how to use a Mac as well.
Mac Pro Tip : drag the CD/DVD into the recycle bin to eject the
disc.
Both operating systems get viruses and spam ware. In the future
Apple is going to have to deal with a greater number of threats
and exploits due to its growing market share. A hacker unlike
popular belief is not always out to do malicious things for fun,
they're trying to make money. This means that they want to hit as
many possible victims as possible. When 99% of the world uses a
PC, then that is who you target with your viruses and
spyware.
Now I don't want to defend Microsoft too much because there is
lots of argument that they have not done a good enough job.
However, we might have Google to thank in the future as they have
made a claim that their OS will make it so that "users will not
have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates". We'll
just have to wait and see what that means.
Bottom line - Both operating systems
deal with viruses and spam, currently Windows users will have to
deal with it more.
If you read my about page
you'll find out that I am a PC user. I did for six months have to
use an Apple at a startup I was a part of, so I feel like I've
been on both sides of the tape.
My biggest complaint isn't against Apple but against the rest of
the computer industry for not being able to have an answer. There
is no reason that it has taken Dell or HP, both companies that
dwarf (or used to dwarf) Apple in size, too respond with their
own savvy marketing and slick computer design. Either of them
could have mimicked Apples ability to create beautiful computers
but they dropped the ball.
If you're not sure which computer you want, then you should
probably stick to a PC. If you want a Mac you should know why you
want it, for specific image/video editing software. Because you
like how it manages your music and your photographs. Have a
reason, don't spend money because you think it's a status
symbol.