barpkeo15

My aunt is buying me a computer for graduation, and I don't know if I should get a MAC or a PC. Please don't just say one or the other is good, or sucks with out reason, I need to know why they are good or bad so I can make my choice. Thanks for your help.

Smallz3141

Macs are good because PC's suck. Is that what you're looking for?

Rixs

Well, what are you planning on in college?

Macs are way better for media and art. There are less viruses liable to infect Macs.

PC's have a habit of getting more viruses and having more problems.

But PC's are cheaper. Really? You get what you pay for.

Macs are more expensive because they're made better. PC's are cheaper because they're made that way.

If you just want a laptop to use MS Word and the internet for four years of college, get a PC.

If you want a computer that's really good for media/art/etc and will last a while longer, (and generally works better) get a Mac.

Smallz3141

For a real answer? It depends. Macs are more intuitively easier to navigate, so if you're just planning on getting a computer for "everyday" things: word processing, movies, mp3's, internet, etc, a mac is a good choice. PC's have the edge if this is more business oriented: are you a Mech Engineer, using a lot of spread sheets and want the most hard drive space for the money? Probably a PC. Depending on your major, engineering for example, some software only works via pc. Mac's can connect into servers easier, they already have a terminal, and PC's can be a pain for that.

I've done the comparisons (at least for laptops), and if you match a PC laptop with a mac specification-wise (RAM, basic software, CPU speed) the macs cost about $200 extra (except for hard drive space, which PC's always give you more of, but more often than not you don't need 320 GB of space). So you're paying $200 for the mac style (admittedly nice), and the fact that Mac is a smaller business, so you'll always pay a bit more.

GL

Harambee

The only reason you would need a PC is if you're a gamer. Other than that you should get a Mac. The fact that you can run windows from a Mac using a program called BootCamp is all the more reason that you should get a Mac.

AeroEngineer3141

Macs are good if you only need a relatively simple laptop. Not too much gaming, and definitely no engineering software.

On the other hand, if you want to build an awesome supercomputer out of after-market parts, PCs would be your best bet.

It also boils down to which OS you like more. Windows 7 is coming out soon, but Mac OS X is historically more reliable.

schiesser

Macs randomly crash; PCs, although they crash more, at least have a reason for crashing. I prefer Macs, but make sure you always have a backup because you never know when it will suddenly die.

siglio21

i disagree with the whole 'macs are superior' consensus

many campuses have software that only runs on windows that you need to have...in fact windows has a software library 100's of times bigger than what macs have

also, macs are not suited for business use. some networks can't link with macs and vice versa

if you are going to be a compsci or engineering major (or any science major for that matter), you will find windows or linux to be more workable than mac os x

that said, if you're paranoid about security or if you work in multimedia, you should get a mac

Smallz3141

^ I agree that if you're an engineering major or compsci, a PC is the way to go (in Berkeley at least). But it's not true that all science majors do better with windows.

As an astrophysics major we're constantly connecting to berkeley servers, telescope computers, etc etc. In Astronomy and the general physics(quantum, optics, em, etc) most mainframes run on UNIX, so connecting with a mac is as easy as it gets. Macs can also bring up documents in certain programming units (LaTex, IDL, Emacs, etc) that a PC cannot.

So again, one isn't intrinsically "better" then another, it just depends what your uses/needs are.

Mr. Bojangles

You can always dual boot the Mac to run windows. There are slews of programs out there that allow you to run PC-only programs on Macs.

As a longtime PC user who doesn't 'game'...Macs are superior. End of story.

JBVirtuoso

I think there should be a huge sticky on Mac vs. PC topics. It will be at the top of the list of featured threads forever. Using its vast human resources, CC can pool together the best of all computer engineers and experts to have the best debate on the web. All other Mac vs. PC threads will be promptly deleted.

OperaDad

MACs are more "stable" because Apple controls all the software and hardware. Thus, the software can be fine tuned to the specific hardware.

PC's are open architecture. There are general standards, and anyone can manufacture products to the general standard. Unfortunately, that does not guarantee 100% compatibility. Thus, they are more prone to crashing.

MAC's have historically been good at graphics, and audio/video editing.

Because there are more PC's, PC's generally has more software available.

For the same capability, the MAC will cost more.

That's the "why", but it really doesn't help you to make a choice.

For a specific application, there might be one reason to select one over the other. But, you didn't give that information.

RahoulVA

If I buy a Macbook Pro (one of the new ones), I'll definitely have to get Bootcamp, but I only want to do it with Windows 7, but I also don't want to spend the hundreds of dollars to get Windows 7 as a DVD, rather getting it with a PC. Like you guys said, there is a ton of software that makes a PC worth it, one of the worst parts being you'll have to buy another version of Microsoft 2007 (even though there are alternatives like openoffice) if you already had it with Windows to begin with.

Smallz3141

I just did a laptop PC vs Mac comparison. As best I could, I tried to match the PC (HP) laptop with the new Macbook Pro 13.3 inch. Matching everything, the macbook came out to $1250 and the HP came to $960, including tax (I pre-loaded the pc with Student office 07 and the mac with Iworks 09). So the mac is about $300 more, but that's pretty good considering that the mac comes pretty packed with other software: ILife for pics and movies and music being the most obvious. And again, Mac's look nicer (something they always charge you for, PC or Mac), so I think it's about even in cost, though it doesn't seem it at first glance.

But that really doesn't matter if you want to play games that run on PC, or major in Art and Film, etc.

kjj17

I work at a pharmaceutical company, and almost everyone - from the highest level senior directors to the research associates to me, an intern - has a Mac. some have PC's for some PC-only programs, but I'd say a very small %age if any are PC-only