Mac vs. PC

Are Mac computers better than PCs?

Reviewers and pundits hotly debate the relative value of a Macintosh versus a PC. Now that all Macs can run Windows (because they use Intel chips), it's no longer entirely an apples-to-oranges comparison (pun intended). However, the Mac OS will only run on a Macintosh computer, which still makes the product line unique. Although there are arguments for both sides, Macs seem to have a leg up in terms of performance. Still, the majority of Americans use PCs, and PCs still seem notably cheaper.

Although Apple computers appear more expensive on the surface, experts say that when you look at comparable PC computers, the difference isn't all that great. Harry McCracken, who writes at Technologizer.com, puts it this way: "Every time I do the math, though, I come to the conclusion that the cost of Macs isn't out of whack with that of similar Windows machines. Apple isn't selling $750 notebooks for $1,500 -- its portables tend to use higher-end processors, mostly have aluminum cases rather than plastic ones, are typically thinner and lighter than garden-variety laptops and run longer on a battery charge than many of their Windows brethren." Even so, PCs definitely have the upper hand when it comes to selection. The cheapest Mac laptop starts at $1,000, and there are lots of PC laptops that cost much less.

Apple has long been touted as a more innovative brand than similar PC manufacturers, but that stereotype may be starting to erode. Take the new Apple iMacs, for example. Although they've been updated with the latest processors and graphics cards, the desktops have most of the same features and look identical to those that came out several years ago. As a result, experts say some PC makers are adding more innovative features to their all-in-one desktops, including touch screens and numerous entertainment features. That's one reason why the iMac lost out on the PCMag.com Editors' Choice award to an all-in-one desktop from HP.

When it comes to security, most experts agree that PCs are more vulnerable to viruses and malware -- although Macs are by no means immune to these attacks, as evidenced by the proliferation of the Mac Defender malware in 2011, and the Flashback Trojan, which infected an estimated 600,000 Mac computers in 2012. In 2010, CNET interviewed 32 computer security experts and asked them to weigh in on the Mac vs. PC security debate. Most experts agreed that hackers and cyber criminals focus on PCs because there are more PCs out there. As Cambridge University professor Ross Anderson tells CNET: "They would far rather attack Windows PCs as there are lots more of them. So you are much less likely to be bothered by malware if you use a Mac, or run Linux on your PC."

Cost of use is another issue. With Apple adopting PC standards like IDE, SATA and USB and using Intel processors, Macs have fewer proprietary parts. However, the cost of Macintosh service and repairs still extends beyond the purchase price. For instance, if the optical drive in an iMac dies, owners must pay for Apple's proprietary replacement parts or buy an external DVD burner. Because the internal drives are built into the chassis, they aren't user-replaceable parts. Apple's own extended warranty, the AppleCare Protection Plan, is the most expensive in the industry.

Still, the unique qualities of the Macintosh operating system makes value hard to quantify. Some people need Macs. The Mac OS is superior to Windows for several types of uses, including graphic design, desktop publishing (because Macs have flawless WYSIWYG -- what-you-see-is-what-you-get -- printing capability), music production and certain sciences. Some programs, such as Adobe Photoshop, run better under the Mac OS. On the flip side, most reviewers don't recommend Apple computers for serious gamers, because there is a greater selection of games available for Windows PCs and a wide variety of dedicated PC gaming rigs to choose from. However, the Steam online gaming service has been released for Mac computers, which brings a greater selection of titles to Apple computers. Steam allows you to purchase and download games right to your computer. 

Running Windows on a Mac

If you are considering using a Mac as a Windows computer, it will be much more expensive. You need to buy a full edition of Windows 7 software (*Est. $100 and up, depending on version) in addition to the cost of the computer. Apple does not offer Windows as a pre-installed option, but dealers might. Of course, running Windows on an Apple computer is cheaper than buying two computers. With a laptop, it can be more convenient, too. If you're torn between a Mac and its seamless hardware/software integration and the universality of Windows, you can have your cake and eat it too, albeit at a steep price. Review tests indicate that Windows can run just as fast on a Mac as on a comparable PC.

Two programs, Apple's free Boot Camp and Parallels Desktop for Mac (*Est. $80), allow Mac users to run Mac OS X and Windows on the same Apple computer. Boot Camp comes with the Mac OS, but it requires users to reboot to use Windows. As the name implies, Parallels allows you to use both operating systems at the same time. Reviewers say it is faster, too.