Introduction
The MAC vs. PC argument has sapped a lot of our collective energy and wrecked many otherwise good relationships since the start of humanity (the 1980s). However, this ongoing fight is legitimate. There are sufficient distinctions between Macs and PCs that could either be advantageous or detrimental. Your company could waste hundreds of thousands of dollars on equipment that isn’t suited for your operations if you don’t understand crucial aspects. Because of this, we’re dissecting the Mac vs. PC dispute and comprising their possible advantages, disadvantages, and costs. You will be more equipped to choose the option that is ideal for your company if you have a general understanding of what each offers.
MAC Vs. PC
Each computer was large, expensive, and slow. Personal computers were originally launched in the 1970s, revolutionizing society as we know it today. Models were created by several businesses, including IBM and Apple. However, by 1983, just 9% of business clients were using Apple products, with about two-thirds preferring PCs. Then everything changed in 1984. The Macintosh was the first commercially successful computer model to make use of a graphical user interface, mouse, and operating system when it was introduced by Apple. Since then, the famous Mac vs. PC dispute has persisted. Over time, both Macs and PCs have progressed and become more cost-effective, but users are still split on which is the superior choice. It’s important to comprehend how Macs and PCs vary on a more fundamental level before delving into the specifics of Macs and PCs. An exclusive brand of personal computers made by Apple is called the Mac. Although numerous operating systems can operate on Macs, Mac OS is the industry standard. On the other hand, a machine running the Windows OS is typically referred to as a PC. A PC may, however, also run a Unix operating system like Linux or FreeBSD.
Difference Between MAC and PC in Tabular Form
| Parameters | MAC | PC |
| Cost | The MAC mini desktop costs $599, the M1 MacBook Air Notebook costs $999, and the 24-inch M1 iMac costs $1299. Despite having substantially superior performance with the M1 versions, Macs are frequently more expensive than similar PCs. | Windows and associated hardware are less expensive than Macs, and you may create your own for even less money. Windows-based machines that are comparable to a Mac can be found for about 40% less money. |
| Manufacturer | Apple, Inc. | Several companies: HP, Toshiba, Dell, Lenovo, Samsung, Acer, Gateway, etc. |
| Compatibility | Can access practically all PC files and cohabit with PCs on local networks. Can open various file types, including .exe (as a compressed bundle), .doc, and .xls. Other file types have their software. Can fully compatible run Windows on a Mac. | PCs cannot natively handle Mac-based files (.DMG), but you can install software that allows you to read and possibly write Mac-based files on a PC. |
| Virus Attacks | Even though dangerous software is becoming more prevalent as Macs become more popular, there is less malware built specifically for them than for PCs. | Windows is the most common desktop operating system, therefore most virus authors target Windows systems; nevertheless, Linux frequently has less malware. |
| Performance | Despite on-paper specs that are frequently inferior to those of similarly priced PCs, every Mac delivers tight integration of the hardware and software since Apple controls both. This translates to improved reliability and performance. | For every component in each OS version, different OEMs and even custom-built PCs might not have the right drivers available; this can lead to incompatibilities that negatively affect overall stability and performance. |
| Messaging | Messages (using iMessage, Google Talk, etc.) | Skype, Facebook, and Twitter |
What is MAC?
The Mac, also known as Macintosh (the brand’s official name from 1984 to 1999), is a line of personal computers created and sold by Apple Inc. Along with the iMac, Mac Mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro desktop computers, the product line also includes the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops. The macOS operating system comes preinstalled on Macs. The renowned “1984” campaign served as marketing for the 1984 release of the first Mac. After experiencing some early success, the Mac sat dormant in the 1990s until NeXT was purchased by Apple in 1996, bringing Steve Jobs back to the company. Jobs oversaw the launch of numerous popular products, introduced the current version of Mac OS X, finished the 2005-2006 Intel transition, and brought iPhone functionality back to the Mac. The Mac experienced a period of neglect after Tim Cook took over as CEO, but it later experienced a resurgence thanks to the release of well-liked high-end Macs and the Apple silicon transition, which brought the Mac to the same ARM processor architecture as IOS devices. Apple supplies a variety of add-ons for the Mac, such as external monitors like the Studio Display and Pro Display XDR, Wireless headphones like the Air Pods line, and keyboards and mice like the Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse.
History
The Apple II was one of the most widely used computers in the late 1970s, particularly in education. Apple released the Apple Lisa in 1983 as a response to IBM’s 1981 introduction of the IBM PC, whose sales swiftly overtook those of the Apple II. Xerox PARC’s work served as some of the inspiration for Lisa’s graphical user interface, but it also added intuitive direct manipulation such as the ability to drag-and-drop files, double-click to open programs, and move or resize windows by clicking and dragging instead of using a menu. The Lisa was a commercial failure because of its exorbitant $9,995 price and lack of software, though.
The New York Times called the original Macintosh, which was introduced in 1984, innovative. The machine’s limited performance, one floppy disc drive, early lack of applications, and initial lack of sales exceeded estimates at first, but soon sales stalled. After being ejected by CEO John Sculley, the majority of the original Macintosh team members- including Jobs-left Apple went on to form NeXT. Nevertheless, the initial Macintosh inspired cult enthusiasm among users and some programmers, who hurries to create new applications for the platform, such as PageMaker, MORE, and Excel.
“To ship a great new product” was Jobs’ primary objective. The iMac G3, an all-in-one computer, was the first. It was designed to make using the Internet simple and intuitive. The Power Mac G3 (affectionately known as “Blue and White”) and the iBook, the following two Mac devices in 1999, debuted industrial designs influenced by the iMac, combining vibrant translucent plastic and carrying handles. The iBook offered several advances, including the first laptop with built-in Wi-Fi, ports that were placed on the sides rather than the back, and the removal of a mechanical latch in favor of a stronger hinge to keep the lid closed. During the final quarter of 1999, it was the laptop that sold the most in the United States. As the first laptop with a wide-screen display and the lightest and thinnest laptop in its class, the business-oriented Titanium PowerBook G4 was introduced in 2001. It also introduced a magnetic latch that elegantly locked the lid.
Customers of the Mac are renowned for being extremely devoted. The Mac received the greatest customer happiness rating of any personal computer in 2022, scoring 82 out of 100, according to the American Customer happiness index. With a market share of 8.9% in that same year, Apple was the fourth-largest seller of personal computers.
What is a PC?
Personal computers (PCs) are multipurpose microcomputers that are tiny, powerful, and reasonably priced for individual use. Personal computers do not support concurrent usage of time-sharing by several users such as large, expensive minicomputers and mainframes. The term “home computer” was also used, primarily in the late 1970s and 1980s. The introduction of personal computers and the concomitant Digital Revolution profoundly impacted people’s lives worldwide. To accomplish any useful work with their computers in the 1960s, institutional or corporate computer owners had to build their programs. Although users of personal computers may create their programs, these machines often run commercial software, free software (sometimes known as “freeware”), which is frequently proprietary, or free and open-source software that is made available in "ready-to-run" or binary form. In most cases, the hardware and operating system makers are not involved in the development or distribution of personal computer software. Although end-user programming is still possible, many computer users no longer need to write their programs to utilize a computer in any way. Contrast this with mobile systems, where software is frequently only accessible through a manufacturer-supported channel and where a manufacturer's lack of support may deter end-user program creation.
Early personal computers, often known as microcomputers, were typically offered in kit form, in small quantities, and were primarily of interest to technicians and hobbyists. Toggle switches were used to enter instructions for the minimal programming, while front panel bulbs served as the output. Peripherals like keyboards, computer screens, disc drives, and printers have to be added for practical use.
History
Significant advancements in semiconductor technology were necessary to create the personal computer. Robert Noyce at Fairchild Semiconductor invented the silicon integrated circuit (IC) chip in 1959, while Mohamed Atalla and Dawon Kahng at Bell Labs invented the metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor. RCA commercialized the MOS integrated circuit in 1964, while Federico Faggin of Fairchild created the silicon-gate MOS integrated circuit in 1968. Later, in 1971, Faggin created the Intel 4004-the first single-chip microprocessor using silicon-gate MOS technology. Early in the 1970s, the first microprocessor-based microcomputers were created. Since the middle of the 1970s, microprocessors have been widely available on the commercial market, making computers affordable for individuals and small enterprises to acquire. The capacity of personal computers to interface with other computer systems and exchange information was essential to a growing number of uses. In the Community Memory project, experimental public access to a shared mainframe computer system was first demonstrated as early as 1973. However, bulletin board systems and online service providers only became more widely accessible after 1978. In the late 1980s, commercial Internet service providers started to appear, opening up the network to the general public.
On August 12, 1981, IBM unveiled its first personal computer, establishing the mass-market standard for PC architecture. Time magazine selected “The Computer” as the Machine of the Year in 1982. Systems that were a little bigger and more expensive were designed for use in offices and small businesses. These frequently had 80-column text screens but occasionally lacked sound or graphical capabilities. Even, so the price of these microprocessor-based systems was less than that of shared mainframes or minicomputers.
The Main Difference Between MAC and PC in Points
- Steve Jobs had a passion unrivaled by his rivals for the aesthetics of the Macs he produced. The distinctive designs that came from this devotion have given Mac products the current “hip” reputation. On the other hand, when it comes to PC design, no single aesthetic philosophy is driving decisions.
- Macs are costlier than PCs, ranging between $599 to $1299. On the other hand, PCs are cheaper than Macs, ranging between $299 to $999.
- There are five computer product lines available from Apple: The MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, and Mac Pro. On the other hand, PCs are available in a huge range of sizes and shapes. 12 different Windows-based computer companies, including well-known ones like Acer, Asus, Dell, Gateway, HP, Hyundai, Lenovo, and Samsung.
- Apple is pickier than PC makers when it comes to which third-party retail locations it will allow its products to be sold in.
- Apple has a long history of providing excellent customer service. That’s probably partly because of how the business offers its services. Mac customers can obtain hands-on help from a specialist at the Genius Bar help desk accessible in any Apple Store, while PC owners can tell tech support or visit a third-party repair shop.
Conclusion
Personal interests and requirements ultimately determine whether to select Mac or PC. Mac OS is best suited for users that value design and usability and are willing to pay extra for a consistently better user experience. It depends on your work and preference, for which type of system is suited for you.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_computer
- https://www.pdq.com/blog/mac-vs-pc-right-for-business/
