Mac vs. PC
Its a battle as old as technology itself. Its a rivalry that can ruin friendships, bring down corporations and inspire some rather creative (and humorous) advertisements. But do we really know the fundamental differences between a Windows PC and Macintosh? This post will attempt to explain some of the basic differences between the PC and Mac.
Apple's line of computer hardware are called "Macs". Laptop variants are referred to as MacBooks, while the desktop variant is called an iMac. The operating system (OS) used by the Mac computers is called OS X. Currently, Macs use Apple's latest OS, OS X 10.10 "Yosemite".
Apple has been and continues to produce both software and hardware, often in synergy with another. Apple typically couples the release of an updated OS with an updated product. New versions of iOS for iPhones and iPads are typically released during the launch of a new iPhone or iPad. Similarly, new OS X updates are released the same time new Macs are launched.
What this means is that Apple produces both the hardware and the software for that hardware.This effectively allows Apple to "optimize and protect" its products. Since Apple's OS X will only be compatible with its own line Mac computers, Apple can make presumptions about what hardware it will be functioning on because Apple can extensively test its OS with every piece of hardware it releases.
However, since Apple manufactures both the hardware and the software of its products, you'll only ever need one machine. This can lead to inflated prices in upwards of $1,000. In fact, the entry level Macbook Air 13" is priced at $999. A $1,099 iMac is actually seen as a bargain!
In addition, iOS and OS X have been lambasted for being closed off to customization as compared to other mobile and desktop operating systems, such as Windows and Android. Apple trades extensive customization for security and simplicity.
Hello I'm a PC
Microsoft is historically a software company, known for producing the widely popular OS called "Windows." Microsoft has also produced a mobile OS of the same name for its line of Nokia smartphones, and a modified version of its desktop OS for tablets called "Windows RT." Currently, Windows 8.1 is the current version available, with Windows 10 in production.
As mentioned above, Microsoft has been known to ship software rather than hardware, as opposed to Apple. The only exception to this the recently released line of Surface tablets. The Surface tablets are the first pieces of hardware manufactured by Microsoft in a long time. While Microsoft only ships operation systems, several manufactures produce hardware for the Windows OS. Essentially, Windows can run on several computers not manufactured by Microsoft. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage.
On one hand, Microsoft's Windows is not limited to only a few lines of hardware and can be dispersed amongst several variants produced by several manufactures. This allows for Windows to be widely distributed and thus leads to lower priced computers. Typically PCs can range for $300 to $800.
One the other hand, Microsoft cannot optimize its Windows OS for specific hardware. Thus, the use of device drivers comes into play in order to establish compatibility with certain products and applications. However, not all applications and products are compatible with all hardware models.
Pick a side
Are you a Mac? Or a PC?
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