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Computer showdown: Mac v. PC |
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Thursday, 14 September 2006 |
PCs offer ample software, inexpensive options for all
by JON LAFONTAINE
Associate Editor for Production Operations
The epic battle rages as PC users continue to challenge the Mac world that is marketed today.
That is just it, though – Apples have an amazing marketing ploy that talks the talk but does not walk the walk.
Putting it bluntly, Macs are expensive, simple, “cool,” full of
proprietary components (aka “Mac Products”), and continue to lack in
software.
PCs on the other hand are inexpensive, powerfully complex, contain
standardized components and have an overabundance of software.
How does this affect everyone?
The first major advantage PCs have over Macs is that Macs previously
required proprietary components (this has changed in the past year) and
PCs have always had standardized components.
Standardized components mean multiple companies like Intel and AMD can use a variety of the same parts for each PC.
For example, both companies create processors for PCs and have
continued to stay in a never-ending rivalry where each company attempts
to one-up the other. This rivalry has allowed for the creation of some
of the most powerful chips known to mankind.
Macs on the other hand, because they have always used “Mac Products”
(aka proprietary components), do not have the rivalry complex, which
inhibits its product expansion.
After realizing that PC components have room to grow where Mac
components do not, many Mac users go back to one of their “trump
cards,” which is Macs do not get viruses.
This is a completely ignorant statement.
After coming out with OS X, the latest Mac operating system (compares
to Windows), Apple decided to release a security update for the system
to plug over 20 security holes. This was after the discovery of two
worms and named “extremely critical” by the security monitoring company
Secunia, according to CNetNews.com.
The reason why Mac users claim that they do not get viruses is because Mac is a niche market.
What does this mean?
If viruses were infecting cars, viruses would be infecting Hondas over
the less common Oldsmobiles. This is the same way with computers. PCs
are more prominent so virus creators hit the more popular equipment.
The other “trump card” is the Apple concept that Macs are made for media editing.
In 1998 this statement would be true. Today, however, products such as
the Adobe Creative Suite allows for even ground between PCs and Macs.
Both PCs and Macs can use this software and both have the capabilities
of having good graphics cards and processors to effectively run the
software.
Furthermore, when computer users do “enter the real world,” users will
encounter business computer networks that are set up on Windows or
Linux based servers.
“There is no such thing as a Mac Server,” Microsoft Certified Systems
Engineer/Networking Engineer Stewart T. Gregory said. “Macs have to
work with other operating systems in order for them to be used with any
business networks.”
Gregory also said setting up business networks that allow Mac computer usage is an hour-long ordeal.
When entering the real world, computer users will have to rely on
PC-based software versus the Mac universe they may be accustomed to.
Apple has the best marketing that any company could ever hope to achieve.
However, one thing Apple does that hurt students in the long run is
selling schools computers dirt-cheap. When students get out of college,
they go to buy their own computer and choose a Mac because; “I’ve used
it during college. I should do it again.”
The world of business networking is a PC world, and buying a Mac out of
college only hinders the success and knowledge of using computers most
companies work with.
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