Mac vs PC-Which One do You Choose?

Now more than ever, landscape architects and designers are heavily dependent on computers for both rendering and technical drawings. As a designer, owning a computer or laptop is basically a necessity. When faced with the task of purchasing one, the number of choices can range from overwhelming to downright confusing. First and foremost is deciding which way you swing – are you to be an “Apple Fan” or a “Windows Loyalist”? We aim to help you out with this feature article on Mac vs PC Myths & Misconceptions Both stereotypes are rather comical and, to a large degree, untrue – I own a MacBook Pro, but I’m not exactly the Vespa-riding art school dropout that common clichés would have you believe. My roommate owns a PC laptop, but this doesn’t somehow make him dull and nerdy. The two computers can seem a world apart, with each side of impassioned partisans righteously defending their weapon of choice, so what are the differences? Price is always at the top of the list, with Macs seeming to be much more expensive than their counterparts. You could walk into a computer store today and walk out with two brand-new PCs for the price of one Mac. Yet in reality, there isn’t much price difference between comparable Macs and PCs. To build a PC that would match the standard that Mac Pro offers – similar software, hardware, etc. — the price difference would be minimal, and by minimal, I mean $6, as shown here. The Pros & Cons That being said, PCs can be customized with as many or as few options as you want, allowing you to adjust the features to meet your exact budget. Compare this with Macs, which are basically non-negotiable with no picking and choosing of features. Another difference is that a PC’s hardware is designed to be upgraded and tweaked to perform repairs or modifications. Macs generally aren’t made to be modified; however, things such as RAM can be added if deemed necessary. Apple’s product lines boast more expensive and better-quality parts, meaning Macs will generally outperform lower-end PCs. This is no reason to be conned by the “genius” at the Mac store – despite common rumor, they aren’t faster, just more efficient. PCs have the one up on Macs in terms of choice and variety, with Apple currently only offering five different lines of computers — which happens to fall neatly in line with Apple’s “less is more” marketing approach. On the other hand, PCs offer a wide variety of shapes and sizes, with up to 11 big-name brands wearing the Windows badge. Buyers often see this copious selection as a benefit, giving them a much greater chance of finding a computer to suit there exact needs. A deciding factor when choosing a side could well be the difference between the level of customer satisfaction Mac and PC owners claim to have. This is where Apple really shines – after purchasing any Apple product, you have free face-to-face access at any of their stores with their genius bar technicians. This relationship is much more personal than ringing company after company before even identifying the problem with your computer. Design is most likely the biggest differentiator between the two brands. The obsession Steve Jobs and Jonathan Ive had with reaching perfection resulted in Macs obtaining their sleek, clean aesthetic, thus producing a brand addiction as opposed to one-off purchases of products. I, for one, find Apple’s designs to be much more aesthetically pleasing, possessing an almost alluring appearance. Bottom Line The Mac vs. PC debate has been raging for more than a quarter of a century, and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future. Apple fans will continue to tout the Mac’s ease of use and elegance, and Windows loyalists will continue to see the enemy as overpriced with too little in the way of choice. As designers, the ability to run industry-standard software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and AutoCAD effectively and smoothly ultimately depends on what you’re running under your hood, not what brand of computer you possess. It is your personal needs, tastes, and budget that will establish how much hardware and software you can equip, thus determining what side you are willing to take in the ongoing fray. Article written by Paul McAtomney Featured image: shutterstock.com