Mac or PC: I am torn between the two options. Apple is gaining market share, and I can feel it around me: all my friends fall one after the other for the MacBook or MacBook Pro. And I can’t imagine how the sexy MacBook Air will appeal to them …
And I, myself, have now been considering the possibility of potentially contemplating the option of switching to Mac. What kept me from doing so is not my religion: I’m not a fan of windows, I like the appeal of Mac, I think Mac OS is easier to use and lighter than Windows, and, I must admit, I am very weak to well executed marketing. What kept me from switching to Mac are MacBooks’ prices.
I was discussing about this with a friends, Michael, who is in the same situation right now. We were not debating which system is the best one, this has been done number of times (by the way, a great contest from CNET here).
So the issue was not “who is better”, the issue was pricing and features of hardware. For Xmas, I bought an Acer laptop for my sister: for 600 EUR (+/- $900), I got a 17″ screen, double layer DVD writer, 2Gb of RAM, 160 Go HDD, 4 USB ports and 3 years guarantee. $900.
So Michael told me that it’s not about quantity, it’s about quality of the components.
Note: I mainly use my laptop for office apps (word / excel / powerpoint), to do some coding, communicate and surf internet, and of course (maybe 30%) for media consumption (movies and music both online and offline). And also, I’ve never had any bad experience with Windows (one way crashes, viruses, …, all those things that Mac zombies will spit in your face if you dare say that Windows does the job).
Well, I take Michael to the word and do my own comparison. I try to find Windows PC equivalents to:
- a 2.2Ghz MacBook with 2Gb RAM, 250Gb HDD,
- a 2.2Ghz 15.4″ MacBook Pro base model with 160Gb HDD.
A little digging and I found good products (Asus, Toshiba, Lenovo) 15% to 35% cheaper than the equivalent Macs. And of course, there are always promotions here and there, and you can get very good laptops for $500.
So my point/conclusion is this: for a cost-concerned not-marketing-attuned rational average (word / excel / email / internet) user, why switch to Apple when buying a Windows laptop can be 30% cheaper?
However, I am sure that Apple’s price difference is not a wallet barrier to the consumers (”too expensive, can’t afford it”) but a “rationality bridle” (”I would throw money by the window buying a $1,500 MacBook when I can get the equivalent PC for $750″). And I would bet that a price decrease for Apple MacBooks would get Apple’s market share to jump to a good 30% in the twinking of an eye.
This is what I found for the MacBook:
This is what I found for the MacBook Pro:
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Actually, I still agree with what I said: Mac components are exactly the same as any Windows-based PC nowadays, and when buying a Mac you kind of get “ripped off” if you stick to the components included in your laptop.
I’m still thinking about getting an iMac and the more I think about it, the more I understand that there is an irrational factor in the Mac user profile. You are “part of it”, you’re a special person, smarter and richer than the average computer user. Because, yes of course, Mac users are smarter people. They’re the only ones to know that their OS is far beyond Windows.
Well, you got my point, Apple relies on a very strong identity marketing. And they’re not the only ones, ever thought about Nespresso, the most expensive coffee in the world, that also is based on the “community” effect?
I was researching the same thing when I saw this.. I can not agree more - but I am still going to look for a better source
if u start ur business then how can u travel or share ur data if u have mac while people have pc.please mail
I am a graphic designer and we are renowned for using macs
I have macs at home and have macs at work but my newest job has pc’s
I dont’ find much difference as I am using the same software on both.
the differences I have found are these…
PC are more internet friendly and more email friendly
this however is not the fault of mac but the people who configure the sites or emails do not set them up for both platforms.
Mac’s do not need virus software - in my 13 years of design I have only come across 2 viruses that were made for the prepress industry hence macs
Mac’s software seems to have more options for prepress than their PC conterparts.
Mac is pc friendly can open pc files of same software and older versions
PC can open mac files of the same version and software but not older versions of same software
I prefer web, movie or 3d design on pc
I prefer graphic design for print or prepress on mac
PC better value
Macs are a rip off
PC spend money on virus and firewall protection
Macs save money on not need to buy protection
does anyone else have similar experience with both platforms
I laugh when I hear people fighting over which is better as I usually discover that the one they like is the one they use or know.
that is the key….
I use to only like macs for that reason
then I thought I should try pc and lo and behold …
I don’t have a favourite anymore as both have their qualities
I wish someone would come along and take the best features off of both and start a new brand One that is compatible with everything
they would make alot of money…
also new design software that is compatable with all other design software before it.
Dream on….
Thanks, that’s a good and honest point for once in the mac vs pc debate ;))
I was in the market for a laptop about 16 months ago and settled on a MacBookPro. I remember, at the time, debating the price, but when I configured a windows laptop with the same options as come standard on the 15″ Macbook Pro the MacBook Pro was actually slightly cheaper. (Granted my info maybe 16 month out of date but don’t forget about things like the built in iSight web cam). I look at it the same way new cars are sold. Japanese cars tend to be sold with a small number of option choices while American car makers tend to sell autos with a large choice in options. If you just want a computer for the daily business grind buy just what you need, if you are getting the other options anyway, don’t dismiss a Mac just because the it appears more expensive.
This is the first Mac I have owned since the “fat Mac” I bought in 1985. While I have owned nothing but windows machines in the intervening years and still have a Windows desktop it seems to get less and less use mainly because of the convenience of the laptop form factor, it is the little things in the operating system make a Mac such a pleasure to use. Perhaps that fit and polish make them worth the perceived difference in price.
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for the comment, we get your point i guess.
However, when i did that analysis back in January, I really compared face to face the MacBook Pro and PC competitors, trying to find the closest match if not perfect. The result was still a lower for the pc …
But again, as I said, this was only a comparison on price/components ratio !