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MarchHare · 02-05-2007, 04:06 PM

I own two Windows PCs at home (one running Vista, the other running Server 2003) and a Mac running OS 10.4 Tiger. I have to support both platforms (and Linux too, but that's a whole other thread) at work. So it's safe to say I'm intimately familiar with the pros and cons of both PCs and Macs.

For the average home user who wants to send email, browse websites, do online banking, write letters, organize photos, edit home movies, listen to music, etc., I think Macs are vastly superior in every way. The new iMacs are pretty good value for the money.

Anyone who wants to play PC games should probably stick to a Windows-based computer since that's the OS most games are programmed for (World of Warcraft is a very notable exception, though, as it runs natively on both platforms and installs form the same CDs). With the ability to dual-boot Windows XP on Apple hardware, though, that's becoming less of a concern. That being said, it's probably cheaper to put together a high-end gaming PC buying parts from Memory Express or whatever than it is to buy an expensive MacPro. PCs also have the advantage that it's easier to upgrade individual components. You can add more RAM to a Mac, but that's about the extent of hardware upgrades you can do. Good luck if you want to replace the CPU with something faster.

The support issue is very much a real one. I'm a very saavy computer user, so I make sure I've got the most up-to-date virus definations, spyware scanner, and firewall software installed on my Windows boxes. I don't need to worry about any of that stuff on my Mac (and yes, it's probably because Apple's marketshare is so much lower than Windows that the malware writers don't bother with the platform, not because OSX is more secure -- with XP SP2 and especially Vista, Microsoft has really improved the security of their OS). Also, Apple's Software Update utility is way better than Windows Update.

The biggest downside to Macs, though, and one that utterly prevents me from using it as my primary desktop box, is the inability to maximize windows. Far too often I have to use horizontal scrolling on Macs, which is so annoying. It's less of an issue if you've got a nice widescreen LCD display, but any Mac I've used doesn't have that luxury.

If I was looking to buy a new laptop today, I wouldn't look at anything other than a MacBook Pro. Dual-boot OS X and Windows XP on it using Bootcamp, and you've got the best of both worlds.

02-05-2007, 04:06 PM	#43
MarchHare Franchise Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: YSJ (1979-2002) -> YYC (2002-2022) -> YVR (2022-present) Exp:	I own two Windows PCs at home (one running Vista, the other running Server 2003) and a Mac running OS 10.4 Tiger. I have to support both platforms (and Linux too, but that's a whole other thread) at work. So it's safe to say I'm intimately familiar with the pros and cons of both PCs and Macs. For the average home user who wants to send email, browse websites, do online banking, write letters, organize photos, edit home movies, listen to music, etc., I think Macs are vastly superior in every way. The new iMacs are pretty good value for the money. Anyone who wants to play PC games should probably stick to a Windows-based computer since that's the OS most games are programmed for (World of Warcraft is a very notable exception, though, as it runs natively on both platforms and installs form the same CDs). With the ability to dual-boot Windows XP on Apple hardware, though, that's becoming less of a concern. That being said, it's probably cheaper to put together a high-end gaming PC buying parts from Memory Express or whatever than it is to buy an expensive MacPro. PCs also have the advantage that it's easier to upgrade individual components. You can add more RAM to a Mac, but that's about the extent of hardware upgrades you can do. Good luck if you want to replace the CPU with something faster. The support issue is very much a real one. I'm a very saavy computer user, so I make sure I've got the most up-to-date virus definations, spyware scanner, and firewall software installed on my Windows boxes. I don't need to worry about any of that stuff on my Mac (and yes, it's probably because Apple's marketshare is so much lower than Windows that the malware writers don't bother with the platform, not because OSX is more secure -- with XP SP2 and especially Vista, Microsoft has really improved the security of their OS). Also, Apple's Software Update utility is way better than Windows Update. The biggest downside to Macs, though, and one that utterly prevents me from using it as my primary desktop box, is the inability to maximize windows. Far too often I have to use horizontal scrolling on Macs, which is so annoying. It's less of an issue if you've got a nice widescreen LCD display, but any Mac I've used doesn't have that luxury. If I was looking to buy a new laptop today, I wouldn't look at anything other than a MacBook Pro. Dual-boot OS X and Windows XP on it using Bootcamp, and you've got the best of both worlds.