Updated 8/2018
I get asked this question quite often, so here is the response I give to people…
Who I tell to buy a Mac
– You and your family will use this computer. Macs tend to have less problems and viruses. Any Mac can easily last you several years without any issues.
– You are asking this question. If you do not know enough about computers and you are asking me for advice I tell you to buy a Mac because they are significantly more user friendly and designed for the average computer user.
– In general if you fall into the 95% (made up stat) that uses the computer for email, social media, internet browsing, and work (Assuming you are not using proprietary software), I also tell you to buy the Mac.
– If you have money to buy a good machine – like at least $1500 – get the Mac.
– Quick start up time – computer takes about 10 secs to boot up (so does a good PC)
– Closed system – Apple closes their system making it harder for you to install malicious software and mess with the registry
– Very compatible with iPhone/iPad/Apple TV – however the PC is pretty compatible too
– No need for anti virus software – but this may change in the future as Macs are not virus proof, people just tend to only develop them for PCs
– You can install Windows on the Mac if you would like and have two operating systems
– You want a solid computer that will easily last 3-4 years. I know Mac users that still have a quality computer after 5-6 years and its still not outdated by much.
Who I tell to buy a PC
– All the tech people. PCs are meant for the tech person who can customize it. This is what I love about PCs. This is also the BIG problem for most home users, they are allowed to break the machine and they do it, which is why it takes 15 minutes to boot up after a year of use and they cannot figure out why. On the Mac, you are limited so you cannot break it. This is both an advantage and disadvantage for each machine, Mac and PC, depending on who you are.
– People who need certain software that might only work on the PC. However, most software, like Word, PPT, and such all work on both the Mac and PC.
– People who only have $500 to spend on a computer. Unfortunately Macs cost more because there is no such thing as a low end Mac. There are low end PC however. You do get what you pay for though so dont expect that low end PC to last very long. Most tech people will buy a custom built PC that costs at least $1000-$2000 dollars. My PC was $4500.
– Gamer – certain games may take longer to get to Mac, such as SWTOR and GW2. WoW is on Mac.
– You want to customize – this includes the computer such as the registry or the hardware. Its nearly impossible for the average user to upgrade a Mac once they have it.
– You want to take the battery out of the laptop. Yep, you cannot do that on Macs.
And thats it. Where do you fit?
