Oh, the classic Windows vs. Mac debate. I have wanted to talk about this subject for a long time now, but I still haven't decided exactly how I want to organize my thoughts. For now, it shall remain a rather messy description of my thoughts and views on the matter, rather it won't be organized thoughtfully quite yet. It will be more of a let me just dump my thoughts into this page, then I can edit and organize them into specific sections and points later.
Preface:
Before we start this discussion, I want to point a few things out about myself. I am a college student studying Computer Science and Game Programming and I have been using computers since my first Windows 98 desktop. I have never owned a Mac computer. Now I know you are immediately thinking "Great, here is another Windows fanboy who is going to just trash everything Apple and ignore the problems with Windows.". While that may be the case across most of the internet, it isn't the case here. The reason for me never have owning a Mac computer is a dual problem. The first reason is that I have never had the money (let's face it, it's a lot easier to spend $600 on a computer compared to $1200), and the second reason is that I am constantly in need of programs that require Windows (which means I can't justify buying a more expensive machine made for Mac just to have to also buy Windows and dual boot it, that just gets really expensive really fast). I have spent extensive time on both operating systems, however. I have owned a desktop and 3 laptops for Windows, and have used Macs extensively in both school and on some of my relative's Apple computers. Trust me, I am going to completely avoid any bias toward either operating system, the reason being that both have their own pros and cons, neither is perfect. For the sake of this argument, I will leave out Linux, since I have barely used it and wouldn't offer any good input on it. So, let's get started.
Good old Windows, the first operating system I ever used, and the system that sparked my interest in computers. It has always had heaps of problems, but also remains extremely versatile and can run almost any software. I have always liked the fact that Windows is so open and allows you to have entire freedom over your system, meaning you can change whatever you like and be your own manager. This is very different from the relatively closed Mac environment, that chooses to control its own system. Now this isn't necessarily an all goo thing. One of my biggest complaints with Windows is this freedom. It is awesome that you can buy or build a computer to have whatever specs you like, but it's also a curse. One of the biggest downfalls of Windows, in my opinion, is not owning a flagship device. What do I mean? Think about Apple for a second. Sure, they don't have very many choices when it comes to buying a computer, but that isn't all bad. All of their computers are built with components that Apple KNOWS will work with their software with no issues. This also means that they can roll out their own device drivers more regularly and know that there will be no driver conflicts since they know exactly what are in their computers. In Windows, a million people could have the same Intel CPU, but at the same time there could be 300 different types of RAM in those same computers. All it takes is to install 2 device drivers that conflict, and you are going to have some serious issues. If you ask me, I wish Microsoft would make their own brand of computer. Why? Because they could use a line of computers that have premium hardware, an elegant look (like Apple, because let's face it, Apple computers always look sexy), and no bloatware.
That brings me to my next topic: bloatware. Yes, the bane of anyone who buys a computer from a manufacturer rather than building one (sorry laptop owners, we can't realistically build those on our own quite yet). The way PC manufacturers work is that they install a whole host of "free" programs (quotations because sometimes they are just trials, which is even worse) from third party developers and the reason they do this is that those third party developers pay them. So, when you buy a computer from Toshiba, for instance, you might find that you have 10 non-windows programs installed from the start. On top of that, they are usually called "Toshiba [insert program name]", so you can usually tell. This isn't terrible if you need the programs, but that's very rare, and the ones that are good in the slightest bit are generally just trials. The worst, is McAfee in my opinion. I have my own, slightly strong, feelings about McAfee, but that's for another time. The problem is, it is a trial and almost impossible to completely get rid of when it expires. You might be thinking, this bloatware isn't so bad, it's only a few programs and I have loads of hard drive space and my computer is fast. This is true, but the problem lies in the fact that you will face a slow down eventually. These programs generally are set to automatically start upon boot, so they run in the background. Now, imagine you are doing something CPU heavy like editing videos or playing games. Sure, they might not be using much, but that 100MB of RAM or 5% of CPU might be all the difference between no lag and slight lag. Sure, you can disable them at startup, but they are still there, and sometimes still use up your computer's resources. On the flip side, Apple never includes any third party software, which means you always start out with a clean slate.
Next, is security. Now, let me first start out by debunking the myth that Mac computers can't get viruses. That is total bullshit, speaking plainly. Let's talk again about the PC ecosystem. Last time I checked, approximately 80% of the computers out there are running Windows. So let's think logically: if you were someone who was writing viruses or malware (generally to profit in some way), would you spend the time writing them for Windows computers or Apple computers? The obvious answer would be Windows. Why? Because why spend the time targeting 20 people while you could spend the same time and get 80 instead. It makes very little sense for many "hackers" or virus writers to spend their time creating viruses for Macs. Speaking relatively, in my opinion Windows likely has better security due to the constant threat of viruses if given the same situation as a Mac. Why? Because, think about it, who would be better trained, someone who has served in Iraq for 3 years or someone who is freshly out of bootcamp? It makes complete sense for Windows to have grown to fight the constant threat facing it. That being said, Macs ARE generally more secure, but not because of the actual security, it's because there is very little out there to be worried about in comparison. Don't believe me? Do a quick google search for the hacking competitions each operating system holds. If I remember correctly, OS X (I believe) was hacked in a mere minute or so. In the end, neither operating system is full proof, but you are likely safer in a Mac environment.
Let's talk about some features. Generally speaking, I feel like Mac is a much cleaner environment and provides everything you need from day one. One of the biggest complaints I have with Microsoft is that they made Microsoft Word a paid program, while they used to include it in Windows a while back. This alone means you have to spend the money to buy Office (which is around $150, so not cheap) because your computer is unable to write a basic essay for a middle school class. On the flip side, Mac comes with a word processing program, video editor, etc. Another huge problem is the fact that you can't even open a simple .pdf file from day one, without having to go download Adobe Reader. A bit ridiculous, right? When you can't finish a school assignment because your computer lacks the software to type out words (yes it can type, but every teacher ever requires a format that isn't really possible on wordpad) or can't read the class syllabus. With Mac, you can open the box directly from the store, and type out your assignment without even needing to access the internet if you so choose. Granted, I really do like Office. I think it's a great suite, but I also would rather pay $50-$100 more for an operating system that includes it from day one. It's just too darn important, and you shouldn't have to spend your first hour on your computer scanning the internet for what program you might need to open that pesky .docx file. Now, to be fair, if you want an equal experience on Mac, you would also have to buy Office. My point here is to simply say that at least Apple knows what you will need and offers at least a basic application to do it with.
Let's talk quality. As I said before, Windows has a huge range of customization when it comes to hardware, however that isn't always a great thing. For me personally, I love the look and feel of an Apple computer. I look at the latest Windows laptops, and I see a plastic hunk of crap. Sure, some look okay, but I've NEVER seen anything that looks remotely as nice as an Apple computer. Sure, this isn't a huge problem at all, I mean you do pay a lot more for Apple computers, but they have a certain premium feel that PC's just plain lack. If Microsoft (or any PC manufacturer) would wise up, they would realize that there is a market for nice, premium looking computers. After all, if we are going to be using computers for a large portion or our day (not all people, I just mean students and especially myself since I am working to become a programmer), shouldn't they at least look and feel nice? It's like if a woman bought an ugly purse merely because it carried items, and ignored the fact that she would have to carry this ugly thing around. Some people might do it to save money, but realistically almost all women would want one that looks nice since they always have to look at it and carry it around. Again, not everyone would pay more for a brushed aluminum unibody laptop, but I sure would. It's another area where Apple comes out ahead, simply due to better marketing and understanding the population.
Next, is usability and performance. This, is where Windows shines. Windows can run almost any program out there, and you can always find a program for something you need (there's an app for that, right?). Sure, Mac has a lot of programs available, but it's just no comparison. The amount of times I see programs or games that say compatible with Windows and not Mac is just mind boggling. Again, it has to do with Windows owning a huge market share. If you are looking to play video games with any sort of seriousness, you have to own Windows. Yes, it's that simple. Sorry Mac users, but you will have to at least bootcamp Windows in, which is perfectly viable. That is another huge point. Mac can run its own OS, Windows, and Linux using bootcamp (or parallels), while Windows is limited as Apple doesn't sell it's operating system to anyone. So, if you want the Mac OS, you are stuck with Apple (which is probably a good thing). Again, hardware is a huge thing. You can build a monster PC for fairly cheap, whereas an Apple with similar specs would cost several times as much, if you can even find one with comparable specs. A lot of this pricing has to do with the operating system and premium construction, mind you. But, this is the main selling point of PC's: their price. However, it should be noted that Mac generally handles resources less recklessly than Windows, meaning your hardware will go slightly further with a Mac computer. So a PC with equal specs hardware-wise will likely be slightly outdone by the Mac. Another huge key is stability. In my time using Apple products, I have noticed one big thing: they rarely, if ever, have problems such as crashing or freezing up. This has to do with how resources are handled in the OS and the fact that Apple knows exactly what hardware you have, meaning you won't have any driver or system conflicts.
