Mac or PC? Answer depends on whom you ask

  • Monday, March 24, 2008 9:04am

The rift continues between Mac and PC users. Both sides contend their desktop or laptop solution is the best. Most likely, neither will be able to declare a decisive victory, but there are some good arguments for either side.

Let’s start with the basics. A PC is built with “open architecture,” which means anyone can build parts (video cards, hard drives, etc.) for it. This allows consumers and manufacturers to choose between a variety of components from which to build a computer and meet specific needs. The downside of this is that it is virtually impossible to test all possible permutations and combinations of parts to ensure they will all work well together. This means from time to time consumers will find that the PC they purchased has unexpected problems difficult to troubleshoot.

On the other hand, Apple builds its computers using only parts tested and proven to work together. This “closed architecture” makes for fewer customizable options but greatly increases the reliability of the system.

Traditionally, the PC has had a leg-up on the Mac. Through great marketing and pricing, the PC found its way onto more than 95 percent of desks in the world’s homes and offices. That mass appeal, and the fact that the operating system (the software that allows the computer to talk to the hardware and software it uses) is entirely different on the two types of computers means there is much more money to be made writing software for the PC than for the Mac.

But the tide is starting to turn. Last summer, Apple launched its new line of Intel-based computers. It might not sound like much to the average consumer, but to us digit-heads it is earth shattering. The new Mac now has the capability to run Windows! While it isn’t quite as easy as some would like us to believe, running Windows on a Mac is not that tough. And when you do, it’s FAST.

At Byte Slaves, one of our favorite things about the Mac is that it works right out of the box. After a short registration process, it’s up and running. You get a nice, pristine desktop; a beautiful user interface; and an option to import all of your files and settings from your old Mac quickly and easily.

The feature that persuaded Byte Slaves’ half of this Tech Talk column to adopt the Mac as the computer of choice was an astonishing lack of annoying little pop-up advertisements for trial-ware and other “craplets” you find in so many mass-produced PCs. Instead, Macs provide a few full-featured applications for editing and managing photos, videos and publishing them to CD or Web.

The geeks at Computer Concepts, thankfully, don’t load anything onto their retail computers (except anti-virus and one or two helpful utilities) that require owners to sign up, activate, configure or delete. Other manufacturers reduce their prices by taking money from vendors to include “lite” or “trial” versions of multiple programs. Then users have to wade through the setup/registration/activation of so many programs it can take an hour or more to get to a point where one can actually do anything.

What’s our bottom line? Even these two columnists have differing opinions on what makes the best computer! Our advice is to ask lots of questions of retailers and, if possible, test drive a computer before buying it.

Sven Mogelgaard is the owner of Mill Creek-based Byte Slaves Inc. and can be reached by calling 425-482-9529. Will Rutherford is the owner of Bothell-based Computer Concepts and can be reached by calling 425-481-3666.

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