Apple versus PC

There is much debate amongst computer users as to which is best – the Apple Macintosh or a PC running Windows? Opinion seems to be polarised, with people claiming to “hate” one and “love” the other, so why do such strong views exist?

The advantages of the Apple Mac are varied. Firstly, the Windows operating system can be installed on a Mac now that they include an Intel processor, whereas the Apple operating system will not run on a PC, which gives Apple Mac users the choice and flexibility of using the different operating systems for running different application software. The Mac is simple to use and is less prone to viruses and other malware, although not immune entirely. This is almost certainly due to the fact that the malware authors have more PCs to attack and therefore it is more worthwhile to do so. Apple is known for its good design credentials and the Mac is no exception. It is trend-setting and appeals to people in creative roles. It also has good compatibility with the other popular Apple products such as the iPhone and iPad. To add to this, Apple is reputed to provide good customer support via their high street Apple stores, and also by phone.
In contrast, PCs are more flexible in that there are many brands to choose from, they are cheaper when you compare like with like (for instance, processor speed, hard drive, memory etc.) with the Mac, and they are much easier to customise as you can build a PC choosing from many different individual components. This also means that there is a larger selection of compatible accessories and they are more easily upgraded. Add to that a broader range of software that runs on PCs and better software backwards compatibility and you can see why PCs are popular. They also have a good reputation as being better for gaming than the Mac and due to the large market share there is therefore a larger user community and support network.
The choice seems to be a very individual one, with no right or wrong answer. In the end, it pays to decide what you want to use your computer for, weigh up what is important to you and make your decision based on what suits you best. There will always be some who agree with you and some who don’t!