Myths busted: the ol' Mac vs. PC debate By Ted Kritsonis

http://ca.tech.yahoo.com/blogs/erevi...s/article/3433

It’s an ongoing debate that continues to pick up steam, particularly for those everyday users looking to buy a new computer. But the PC vs. Mac battle always conjures up feelings of “us vs. them” amongst the biggest fans of either platform, which can lead to some confusion for those not as well-versed.

Here, I’ve outlined some of the questions and contentions that are fairly common in the debate between the two. In trying to shed some light on these, I’ve responded to each one with a mix of facts and my own interpretation.

Macs are more expensive than PCs.

Truth: Macs are often pricier than PCs, for a variety of reasons.

A lot of this stems from the fact that Apple creates both the hardware and the software for its products. That kind of integration means that Apple’s Mac OS X operating system works seamlessly with Apple’s proprietary lineup of desktop and laptop Mac computers. With all that under their control, Apple solely determines what specs their Macs will have, how much they’ll cost and who can ultimately sell them. This created the ideal conditions for Apple to launch their own Apple Store retail outlets, which also offer face-to-face tech support services by appointment, as well as classes for new users to familiarize themselves with the platform.

By contrast, Microsoft largely represents the image of the PC because a vast majority of them function with the Windows operating system. But that’s only software. There are dozens of PC hardware manufacturers around the world that compete with each other on everything from features to pricing. The one common denominator is that they overwhelmingly run on Windows, which means that the manufacturers have deals worked out with Microsoft. When buying a PC, you are also paying for the license to use Windows.

Basically, PC manufacturers will compete by targeting all consumer segments — low-end casual users to specialized and highly technical consumers. Apple typically targets a mid-level-and-higher type of consumer, but also has a very loyal fan base for its brand. They also use more expensive parts and components across the board. These are the key reasons why Apple charges as much as it does.

Macs are good for multimedia (graphics, video, photography), while PCs are better for everything else.

Truth: Depending on your needs, Macs and PCs are beneficial to both the graphic artist and the business person.

The next time you look at a magazine, newspaper, billboard or any other visual media, remember that it was likely designed and produced using Macs. For a long time, Macs had the reputation of being ubiquitous in schools and businesses that worked in publishing. This has changed a little now that Macs have become very widely used in the music and movie industries, television broadcasting and in other service-based industries.

PCs, on the other hand, are a key backbone to how the world does business. It’s a platform that knows no real borders and can be used for just about any purpose. Looking at how many different models each PC manufacturer has, you can see that they target many different types of consumers.

While certain sectors may stick with one platform, the average consumer only needs to really consider the basics: what you need it for and what kind of value proposition you’re looking for. In most cases, there are equal options for both, but the performance, look and feel of each one may differ greatly.

There’s so much more software for PCs compared to Macs.

Truth: it's not quantity, but quality that counts - and both platforms have great and not-so-hot software, depending on your needs.

It may be true that there is more specialized software for the PC, like the kind of distinct programs engineers, auto mechanics and wedding planners might use, for example, but that’s not true for everything else. The gap between the two has decreased steadily in the last 10 years, as it’s now become more than likely that you will find a PC application’s Mac equivalent. In many cases, this could simply be a native Mac version of what was originally a Windows app, or something developed purely for the Mac.

Either way, the number of applications for both platforms is easily in the thousands, so it’s very possible that you’ll find some sort of software that does what you want. But how well it performs is another matter altogether.

If I were to switch to a Mac, I wouldn't be able to use Windows programs.

Truth: With a Mac, you run Windows simultaneously with OS X. Compatibility is far less of an issue than it was a decade ago.

When Apple started using Intel processors, they eventually launched Boot Camp, a free program that allows you to install Windows and use it separately on your Mac when you need to. Aside from Boot Camp, there are other software programs like, Parallels and VMware that allow you to use Windows simultaneously with Mac OS X on your Mac. You can move files back and forth between them, and use Windows-exclusive software this way as well.

In cases like Microsoft Office, Windows Live Messenger, Firefox and iTunes to name a few, there are Mac versions for these programs that can integrate seamlessly with their PC counterparts. Compatibility is far less of an issue now than it was before between the two platforms, particularly since most computer peripherals and portable electronics work with both PCs and Macs as well.

If you are looking to switch from PC to Mac, be aware that the Windows installation you have on your old PC is yours, and you should take the license code with you. This way you would be able to install Windows on your Mac using the code that you had on your PC — and not pay again for a new copy of Windows.

Macs never get viruses, but PCs always seem to have problems with them.

Truth: Most viruses are developed for PCs (because of the sheer volume of PC users), there are still plenty of ways you can be victimized on the Internet - so you've got to exercise caution, regardless of your platform of choice.

This is one argument that many Mac enthusiasts love to point out. There are many pundits who publicly say that the Mac OS X operating system is generally more stable, secure and user-friendly when compared to Windows. Considering that Macs have less of a tendency to crash, don’t require as much maintenance and aren’t targeted as much, there is real truth to that.

But this has to be put in some perspective as well. Hackers were once the type to cause some mischief and claim bragging rights, except cyber crime has now become an entrepreneurial activity. Hackers now exploit holes in Windows for the sake of making money, which can be any number of things like, identity theft, stealing online banking passwords and bringing down a company website for ransom. Since 90 percent of computer users in the world are using PCs, it only makes sense for the hackers to go where the numbers and vulnerabilities are most lucrative.

As a result, most viruses and other forms of computer malware are written for Windows, so they wouldn’t affect Macs anyway. Still, there are several ways in which you can be victimized via the Internet, regardless of what platform you use.