We investigate ten reasons why Macs are better than PCs as we ignite the Mac vs PC debate, dispelling the myths about price, spec, choice, and compatibility. Dec 16, 2018 - Tip: Mac users can use Boot Camp to run Windows on their computer. The computer software market share, and developers are more likely to create. Bottom line: In the past, Mac certainly had the advantage here because.
I spoke at Fluent conference in San Francisco in March of 2015. I looked out in the crowd as I was setting up and saw this:
At every front-end oriented conference I attend, it’s a sea of glowing Apple logos. Can you spot a single PC in that room?! After taking this photo, I literally hid my Windows machine behind the lectern because I was concerned I wouldn’t be taken seriously in a room of JavaScript developers who were running 99% Macs.
Up until this point, I considered Macs to be a silly waste of money. But after this experience, I decided to purchase my first Mac to understand what, if anything, I was missing.
So Why Do Devs Run Macs?
Here’s what I’ve found:
Bash
I prefer the Bash command line to Window’s alternatives like Powershell. Yes, you can run Bash on Windows, but obviously the filesystem underneath isn’t the same, so it’s ultimately not the same native experience. If you spend much time on the command line, a Unix-oriented OS is a win.
The Unix philosophy of small composable tools never goes out of style.
Hardware Quality
The MBP is the nicest laptop hardware I’ve found. While there are many impressive Windows laptops, none I’ve tried quite match the build quality of a MBP. The force touch trackpad is a luxury I’d never want to leave. Mac screens handle glare better than the mirror-like touch-enabled screens on most of today’s PCs. This is a win for outdoor coding and working in the car. And the thermal qualities of the Mac’s aluminum chassis combined with the efficiency of macOS means Apple laptops often run cooler than equivalent PCs.
Battery Life
MacOS is more efficient than Windows, so battery life tends to rival the best Windows laptops.
Reliable DPI Scaling
DPI scaling is flawless on Mac. This is still not so on Windows 10, where some of my favorite apps have yet to add support. 4k on a Mac just plain works.
Managed Ecosystem = Reliability
Apple only supports macOS on a small list of devices that they alone create. In contrast, Windows must support literally 1000’s of devices that Microsoft didn’t create. This tends to make the Windows experience less consistent. Apple’s model typically leads to a more cohesive, efficient, and reliable experience (though admittedly my issues with the brand new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar are concerning).
Long-term Support
I know many people happily running old Apple machines on the latest version of macOS. That’s harder to do on Windows. For example, Lenovo never released an updated Windows 10 compatible video driver for my 3 year old Yoga 2 Pro. Windows laptop manufacturers often produce a device and then ignore ongoing driver upgrades and bug fixes.
Apple’s small manicured hardware ecosystem helps assure long-term driver support. That said, it’s great to see Microsoft expanding their Surface line — it’s likely to enjoy the same long-term support as today’s Mac devices.
Peripherals
Superb peripherals like the Magic Trackpad 2 provide rich gestures that mimic the MBP’s trackpad. This means I have the same powerful experience when docked as on the go. Thunderbolt supports daisy chaining displays. The new MacBook Pro boasts a compelling story: Dual 4K displays via a single cable. And the monitor provides power to your machine via the same USB-C cable. Slick.
Resale value
When you factor in resale value, Apple hardware may be cheaper to own. Macs tend to hold their value better than Windows PCs. For example, I purchased a Yoga 2 Pro in December of 2013. What if I’d purchased a MacBook Pro three years ago instead?
2013 Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro (i7/1.5ghz/8GB/256GB):
2013 Retail: $1,299
Used value today on eBay: $400 (30% of retail)
Cost to own for 3 years: $899
2013 Retail: $1,299
Used value today on eBay: $400 (30% of retail)
Cost to own for 3 years: $899
2013 MacBook Pro (i5/2.4ghz/8GB/256GB):
2013 Retail: $1,499
Used value today on eBay: $800 (53% of retail)
Cost to own for 3 years: $699
2013 Retail: $1,499
Used value today on eBay: $800 (53% of retail)
Cost to own for 3 years: $699
So the Mac would have saved me $200 over three years, despite being more expensive initially. This shouldn’t be too surprising. It happens in the automotive industry as well.
Well-respected luxury brands can be a bargain when you factor in resale value.
Windows and MacOS on a Single Device
I run Windows 10 on my Mac via Parallels. Windows runs beautifully on a Mac with sufficient power like my new i7 MBP with Touch Pad. The inverse — running macOS on a Windows machine — isn’t possible. By buying a Mac, I’m free to enjoy the best software for both Windows and Mac, on a single device.
Summary
So outside of initial hardware cost, there’s little downside to running a Mac, but a lot of upside. Today’s Apple hardware is admittedly pricey, but when it comes to hardware that makes me money, I believe in buying the best equipment money can buy. When Windows eclipses Apple in these areas, I’ll happily buy another Windows machine.
Are there other reasons to continue to choose a Mac today? Are there unique benefits to Windows today that I’m overlooking?
Cory House is the author of many courses on Pluralsight, and principal consultant at reactjsconsulting.com. He is a Software Architect at VinSolutions, Microsoft MVP, and trains software developers internationally on software practices like front-end development and clean coding. Catch Cory on Twitter as @housecor.
The Mac vs. PC debate is one of the most controversial topics when it comes to computers. This page is meant to give a comparison between computers running Apple's macOS and those running Windows. We are looking to help users who are interested in buying a new computer, not dictating which brand is the 'best.'
Security
Mac - Traditionally, Macs have had fewer security vulnerabilities. Also, in overall numbers, Macs receive fewer viruses than PCs running Windows. However, these numbers can be misleading as Apple's computers only account for less than 10% of the market share. Consequently, PCs show that they not only have more vulnerabilities but if one were looking to infect or illegally access the most computers, PCs are the easy target.
PC - More people today are using computers running some version of Microsoft Windows, which makes it a smarter target for attackers. That being said, Windows computers have had more security vulnerabilities than Apple computers in the past.
Bottom line: While newer versions of Windows have made significant improvements in security, most malware is created for PCs. Therefore, you're less likely to run into security issues with a Mac. Mac wins in this category.
Price
Mac - Although many people may argue, 'you get what you pay for,' when compared to a PC, an Apple computer, along with its peripherals, is far more expensive. However, Apple computers are built well, with high-quality components, whereas all PCs are not.
PC - Nearly all PCs, including their peripherals, are far less expensive when compared to a new Mac. They are especially cheaper when it comes to customization of the computer's components.
Bottom line:PC wins this category.
Operating system
Bottom line: This section is even as you're comparing apples and oranges. Both macOS and Windows 10 are clean, fast, highly capable operating systems. In this category, it comes down to personal preference and the user's specific needs. This category is a tie.
NoteWindows is put onto PCs by multiple manufacturers, most of which add some form of bloatware. That being said, bloatware is removable. Either way, that doesn't mean that Windows 10 is an inferior operating system.
TipMac users can use Boot Camp to run Windows on their computer. PC users can also install Linux on their computer and use it in conjunction with Windows or as an alternative to Windows.
Software
Bottom line: The number of software titles for Mac has grown over the years. However, Windows dominates the computer software market share, and developers are more likely to create software for PCs because of the potential in getting a good return on their investment. Furthermore, there are 100s of free programs available for PC that are not available to Mac owners. PC wins this category.
Build quality
Mac - Newer models of Macintosh computers are known for their exceptional quality across their entire line, including both laptops and desktops. Mac's offer a very compact profile regardless of form factor and are aesthetically pleasing.
PC - PCs have always been highly customizable, from cases to internal components, to monitors. As such, there are many different levels of build quality. Therefore, while you can get very high-quality components for a PC, you can also get those that are of poor quality.
Bottom line: While the quality of PC components can be as high, if we are to rate quality across the board, Mac wins this category - but situationally.
Customization and upgrades
Bottom line: Apple machines may be customized with several options. All their computers come pre-built and are only manufactured by Apple. PCs, however, have more pre-built options, due to a higher number of manufacturers. Furthermore, for those who like to build their own computers, the options for customization are exponentially higher. PC wins this category.
Boot time
Bottom line: Traditionally, Macs have been faster to boot up than PCs. However, with the advent of Windows 10, PC boot times have decreased dramatically. In some cases, Windows 10 performs faster than macOS. That being said, these differences are negligible when compared to hardware. The single biggest component in reducing boot time is the type of hard drive a computer has. Both Macs and PCs have SSDs available to them, but those who build PCs have much faster options. PC wins this category - but situationally.
Drivers
Bottom line: In the past, Mac certainly had the advantage here because Apple was their sole manufacturer of these computers. Consequently, Apple only had to create one set of drivers. PC, on the other hand, not only has many different pre-built manufacturers, but many interchangeable components as well, which required numerous drivers. However, in recent years, all devices are plug and play in Windows and no longer require the user to install drivers. This category is a tie.
Gaming
Bottom line: Over the years, computer game companies have shown increased support for Macs. However, Windows owns 90% of the market share, and as such, developers are far more likely to create games for that operating system. Additionally, because (built) PCs are much more customizable, their ability to run computer games is higher. Except for the Mac Pro, there aren't any Macs that can keep up with a PC running a mid-range graphics card. PC wins this category.
Repair costs
Bottom line: Apple strives to make its Mac product line as sleek and compact as possible. To do so, they continue to further integrate their parts. Thus, when their desktop computers need to be repaired, they usually require more than one part to be replaced. Most desktop PCs on the other hand, have easy access to any part of the computer by removing a side panel. Laptop repair costs between the two platforms would be more similar, but Mac is still more expensive. PC wins this category.
Touch capability
Bottom line: When it comes to desktop and laptop computers (not mobile devices), Mac offers no touch screen capability, only the Touch Bar on some MacBooks. PC wins this category.
Additional disclaimers
Not all PC's are the same - There are dozens of PC manufacturers, and thousands of models of computers, which means not everything mentioned above applies to every PC.
My Apple can run Windows - Microsoft Windows can be run on Apple computers using Boot Camp, which means not everything above may apply to your Mac. In the case of gaming, you may be able to run the latest games on your Mac using Boot Camp. However, Boot Camp is not perfect, and it does not mean every game can run on your computer since PC games are not developed with Apple hardware in mind.It's also not unlikely to encounter problems and have performance issues.
Windows XP is not Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10 - Windows XP is over 15 years old. Comparing a Windows XP computer to a new MacBook with OS is like comparing a Ford Pinto to a Ferrari. If you are trying to decide between purchasing a PC or a Mac, make sure you are comparing the latest models and that they have similar hardware components.