Mac vs. PC 2011: Elegance vs. Efficiency
Sunday, January 2, 2011 by Frogboy | Discussion: Personal Computing
Hello. I’m a Mac and a PC. That is, I’m the happy owner of a very new MacBook Pro. Core I7, Solid State Drive, 8 GB memory. And a ThinkPad T400 (Core Duo, Solid State Drive, 8 GB memory).
Some people get attached to pets. Some get attached to their cars. Me, I get attached to my computers. I’m a zealot. A fanatic. A fanboy. And both these machines rock but for very different reasons and they both suck in very different ways.
My degree is in Computer Engineering. My day job is software design. I love hardware and software. I know how it works and truth be told, I’m pretty good at it. And as I use these machines, I recognize bits of genius far beyond my capability and a lot of half-assery that is disappointing and surprising.
Generalizations
Let me summarize the key difference between a Mac and a PC in my opinion: Mac hardware is sublime, designed by the best and brightest. PC hardware is dumb, spec’d by suits and engineered without passion. On the other hand, Mac software is flash over substance. Elegance at the expense of productivity. And, frankly, surprisingly inconsistent even as it’s slick while being inconsistent. PC software, by contrast, tends to be ugly but designed for maximum productivity.
Specifics: Hardware
The Mac hardware is a joy to use. Its multi-touch touchpad is a joy to use. As a Trackpoint fan, I am surprised with how much more enjoyable and useful a well designed touchpad can be. I say well designed because I’ve found no touchpad on the PC to be remotely as useful.
The MacBook’s touchpad works like this. One finger to move the cursor. Two fingers will scroll a page (and do so incredibly smoothly and instantly). Three will let you go back and forth on a browser or other app. Four will let you quickly go between windows and programs. On the PC, the touchpad experience could be considered, well crap. I’ve got a lot of different laptops here and nothing comes close in this area. The ThinkPads, however, at least have a Trackpoint which serves as a good alternative. But PC users who love their TouchPads would likely return from using a MacBook rather pissed off at how clunky and half-assed their PC laptop’s touchpad was implemented. This is mostly (but not completely) a hardware issue.
PC laptops, in general, are just awful in comparison to a MacBook. Even the Lenovo ThinkPads are starting to fall behind. I open up a PC laptop (any brand) and maybe it’ll come out of sleep. Maybe I’ll need to hit a few keys to jolt it. Maybe I’ll have to hit the power button quickly to jolt it awake or maybe I’ll end up rebooting. Depends on the maker and the circumstances. When it does come out of sleep, maybe I’ll get my WiFi connection back within 10 seconds or…maybe I’ll have to rejoin the network or maybe I’ll have to reboot it to recognize something. Oh wait, the forums say I just need to turn off the blue tooth. Or maybe I just need the new drivers..etc. PC experts know what I’m talking about. Every version of Windows promises to fix this but nothing will fix hardware makers who just don’t seem to give a crap.
MacBooks, by comparison, are wonderful. You open the lid, it’s on and it’s connected. Every time. Always. Perfect. They are well made, well thought out, and clearly made by people who care about what they’re making. Talk to an engineer at a PC manufacturer and you’ll often hear frustration in how the designed by committee of people who barely use computers decided X or Y was going to be made. The hardware capabilities versus the software realities are rarely considered by PC manufacturers. It’s depressing.
Specifics: Software
On the other hand, there is no equivalent on the Mac for Windows Live. iMovie is more powerful but a much bigger pain to use for “simple stuff” than Windows Live Move Maker 2011 (note the version since it took Microsoft awhile to get this right). I was surprised at how many steps it took to make a simple movie via iMovie versus Live Movie Maker (especially since the source material was on my iPhone). This sort of behavior is exhibited throughout the Mac versus Windows 7 (note the version). Simply put, when it comes to getting things done quickly and effectively, Windows 7 is better in my opinion. And it’s better by enough of a gulf that I have a hard time seeing how anyone could come to any other conclusion (then again, I see Android fans clinging to the belief that Gingerbread is remotely as nice as iOS 4.2). See, I’m an equal opportunity offender. 
Now, the versions matter here because Snow Leopard is so much better in every way than say Windows XP to use on a daily basis and MacOS X was better than Window for so long that it’s no wonder there are so many Mac zealots out there.
Historically, the Mac’s elegant OS and software were its biggest advantage. It’s amazing how long it took Microsoft to get their act together on software and now that they have, it’s under appreciated (though the IE team UI designers should be flogged – the MS engine team do this wonderful job only to have the experience part of it made by people who clearly should not be making computer software). But Chrome on Windows and Chrome on the Mac are both wonderful so it matters not.
Compared to Windows 7, Snow Leopard makes me feel like I’m jumping through hoops. It’s still really good (especially if you’re coming from Windows XP or to a lesser extent Windows Vista) but it’s definitely not as efficient overall as Windows 7.
It. Just. Works.
The MacBook still has a big advantage in the “It just works” camp over Windows 7. As soon as Windows has to reach out to hardware…well, bad things happen. My favorite home printer is a Canon Pixia wireless printer. On the PC, getting it set up is a bit (but not much) of a pain. On the Mac, I just pressed a button, it saw the printer and I chose it. The drivers, scanner, and other goodies “just worked”. No CDs, no going to a website, nothing. It just worked.
Final Thoughts
Now obviously the Mac has the advantage that the hardware and OS are made by the same company. But consumers don’t really care. The good news is that, really, they’re both so good at this point that you really can’t go wrong. It’s just so disappointing at how poor PC hardware is by comparison when it comes to usability. What’s worse is that the bad hardware designs from the PC side of things comes from depressingly dumb decision making. It’s not even an engineering issue as much as just dumb decisions at the corporate level – where the specifications are made. If the PC makers could just make it a qualification that you have to have a genuine passion for technology before getting to make decisions, the PC guys would catch up overnight. Because it’s obvious that the Mac designers love what they’re doing.
At the end of the day, I’m using both my ThinkPad and MacBook depending on what I’m doing. If I need to do “serious work” I gravitate to the PC unless it involves “serious” video editing and then it’s Final Cut Pro (sorry Premiere, you’re too flaky these days) on the Mac. It’s a lot easier for me to gather my “stuff” on the PC than the Mac but the Mac is more fun to use.
So that’s just one guy’s opinion as a fan of both Macs and PCs. In 2011, it’s nice to be able to say that overall, they’re both really excellent.
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Reply #22 Monday, January 3, 2011 12:55 PM
About two years ago, I bought a MacBook and have to admit I fell in love with it. Yes, IT JUST WORKS and works well. I initially made the change because I was simply bored with XP (NEVER did like Vista) and it seemed like people’s interest in skinning was beginning to seriously wane from what it used to be. A few months ago , when I again got the skinning bug, I bought a new Lenovo with Win7 installed and was pleasantly surprised with the feel of Windows 7 over previous Windows versions. Still, Snow Leopard has that “more refined?” feel that Windows don’t. Maybe it’s because Windows is so dependent on itself that if one component has problems, a dozen others are affected unlike Mac OS’s (like Linux) whose components run independent of one another so if one thing breaks, the other parts just keep humming along. Can’t say much about the Apple hardware as I’ve had 0% problems with mine but with the newer Windows based Lenovo…yes, there’s already been the occasional hardware hiccup. Personally, if I didn’t love this strange little hobby of mine, the MacBook would be what I’d pretty much use exclusively….but that’s just me. Some like Ford, some like Chevy, some like Toyota….different strokes and all that jazz. 
Reply #23 Monday, January 3, 2011 1:42 PM
The biggest problem of macs: $$$
Its truth you may have to fight against the hardware, drivers and soft problems. But when its done you have a mac 1/2 or 1/4 the price + you can run all the games/programs you like. (99,9% are prepared to run in windows and being nice 95% in a mac os)
Reply #24 Monday, January 3, 2011 1:45 PM
No matter what hardware or OS you choose, it is nice to be able to have the choice of what you want to use. Just saying. 
Reply #25 Monday, January 3, 2011 2:26 PM
OK Rick so whichh one Ford Chevy or Toyota ?
Reply #26 Monday, January 3, 2011 2:53 PM
@ reply #15......bang on!
@ topic....
I'm fortunate enough to have both (Macs and PCs) in my home. I use PCs for business (servers etc.) and Macs for all home computing needs with the exception of gaming. I have PCs for gaming as well which I tend to run like a "gaming-console" (OS with all patches/service packs but the only third-party software on the gaming machines are the games themselves......I don't even browse the internet from the gaming PCs).
FYI....a PC can in fact be "secured" from "death-by-virii"......you just have to run 2 user accounts. One regular (limited) user account and keep the other (admin) account secured. Only use it for installing/uninstalling software etc. and certainly never browse the internet using an admin account. Most malware requires admin credentials to perform it's nasty work. Use your PC with the "limited" account and the malware that comes knocking will also be stuck using said account. It's easy enough to have scheduled AV scans clean out any malware that "partially" got onto your system using the "limited" account. Single best way to save yourself a whole lot of hurt when using PC's these days.....
the Monk
EDIT:
Oh and very well written article. My sentiments exactly. I only wish certain Apple hardware was easier to open up (perform surgery on...hehe). You know, for those times when one in fact does need to swap out dead hardware etc.
Reply #27 Monday, January 3, 2011 3:02 PM
Much as I love classic American muscle, I'm embarrassed to say these days it's (1) Toyota and (1) Honda. 
Reply #28 Monday, January 3, 2011 3:27 PM
You know the one disadvantage that both Macs & PCs both suffer? Cost. Linux may be free, but from what I know, the learning curve is difficult and there's not nearly as many compatible programs as with a PC. Even Mac suffers in the free software category.
On another note, Macs will NEVER be as customizable as PCs, EVER! Even if Windows is far more insecure, i'll still stick with PCs to make my computer my own. (Isn't that what WinCustomize is about?) And PCs support a much wider array of hardware and drivers than Macs & Linux machines do. (I'm talking about basic computer functionality here.)
And doesn't apple have a difficult learning curve as well? PCs are simple to use compared to both Mac & Linux (insert distribution here).
One thing that I don't like about PCs is that Windows does tend to lock up quite a bit. But this is just something that we PC users are all used to (sometimes on a daily basis).
As for me, i'll always be a dedicated desktop PC user. I'll never become a laptop or tablet convert. I don't find them useful as I don't travel most of the time. Plus, Desktop PC's are SO much easier and cost-effective to upgrade than both Macs and laptops/tablets. (including iMacs & MacBooks) Not to mention that portable devices spend much of their time recharging or needing batteries replaced. Now that's annoying.
Desktop PCs are a win for me, even if they do become extinct.
Reply #29 Monday, January 3, 2011 4:45 PM
OK Rick so whichh one Ford Chevy or Toyota ?
Much as I love classic American muscle, I'm embarrassed to say these days it's (1) Toyota and (1) Honda.
I remember buying my first Toyota truck (Tacoma) and driving to the lot to pick it up (my wife drove) in a Honda. 
Reply #30 Monday, January 3, 2011 5:07 PM
Reply #31 Monday, January 3, 2011 5:41 PM
I enjoyed this article. I have been trying to decide between a new imac or PC and recently decided that the imac is for me (well really the family machine since I still game on a PC). This makes me think then...is Windows office for the mac the best route to go since it is Windows software on Apple hardware. I have not pulled thr trigger yet but almost there....
Reply #32 Monday, January 3, 2011 6:10 PM
I used MS Office to begin with (no problems) then installed NeoOffice which I ended up liking better. Here's a comparison link...they both (MS & Neo) work fine...it's according to what you do and personal preference.... 
http://neowiki.neooffice.org/index.php/NeoOffice_Feature_Comparison
Reply #33 Monday, January 3, 2011 6:14 PM
Personally I found the MS Office suite for Mac a tad buggy at best and some of the enterprise email issues with Entourage (Outlook) were game-breaking.
I do find their own suite iWork (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) to be quite good on the iMac as well as the iPad app versions.
Reply #34 Tuesday, January 4, 2011 4:05 AM
Well, if you have some free time, you can always try OpenOffice ( who is free )... chose your download version and language at http://download.openoffice.org/other.html#tested-full ... be sure to choose the right version for Mac...
If you like it, nothing stop you to install it on any of your PC ( Mac OS, Windows, Linux, Solaris, ... ) ... same software on various platform without the need to pay a license for each...
As today, learning curve of Linux is like these of Windows... a few click for install and easy to use... it become more complex when you tune your system but it is true with windows too...
About software, with around 25000 applications in a full distro and a lot of other found elsewhere on the internet, i have everything that i need... i keep my windows platform only for some games... several run on linux via wine and playonlinux but need windows for update ( by example, Impulse don't work (yet) on Linux )...
Not true in my case... in the bios of my computer, i have a lot of options where it is wrote "don't work with windows OS"...
By the way, Linux can run on IA-32, MIPS, x86-64, SPARC, DEC Alpha, Itanium, PowerPC, ARM, m68k, PA-RISC, s390, SuperH, M32R and more ...
One thing that I don't like about PCs is that Windows does tend to lock up quite a bit. But this is just something that we PC users are all used to (sometimes on a daily basis).
Well, it seem that people continue to think that PC mean Windows... PC mean personal computer, other choice are Mainframe system used by many people...
Type of PC are : Desktop computer, workstation, Laptop, netbook, pocket pc, and more...
Windows OS, Mac Os, Linux, Solaris, Unix, and more ... are operating system...
Now, about Windows ( who is not my first OS choice ), the possible "lock up" don't happen with a clean installation... it is application or non Microsoft driver who "lock up"... can happen with Linux too when you install application who are not in the repository for your distro... can happen on Mac OS when you install non Apple application too...
Mac OS or Linux are not more difficult to learn/use that Windows OS... problem is that a lot of people have use Windows OS for years and that any change is difficult... similar difficult exist for people who move from XP to Win7...
And nothing stop a PC user to use a bootloader who allow to install multiple OS... it is not unusual for a Mac user to have a dual boot with Mac OS X and Windows OS... myself, i have Linux, Solaris and Windows OS... there is no need to buy a PC for each OS, it is possible to enjoy the best of each OS on a single PC...
Reply #35 Sunday, January 9, 2011 10:59 PM
I know that Mac users can dual-boot with Windows using BootCamp, but I don't think it works the other way around. *looks up info on Google then Wikipedia* It seems that it IS possible to run Apple OSX on PCs after all. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSx86 for more details.)
Even if you can run all three OS's (Windows, OSX, and Linux) on the same machine, would all of the hardware on your PC have device drivers for at least two if not all three of the OS's? I don't believe that most hardware that's designed for Windows will provide drivers for Apple and/or Linux. Same applies for Apple & Linux hardware & drivers with Windows compatibility. But sometimes the generic drivers that come with each OS work just as well.
I'm not really all that knowledgable with Apple or Linux OS's. So correct me if i'm wrong.
Reply #36 Monday, January 10, 2011 4:29 AM
I'm not really all that knowledgable with Apple or Linux OS's. So correct me if i'm wrong.
First, usually, it is the OS who is designed to work on some hardware, not the reverse... Embedded system or mainframe are other case...
Windows can work with almost everything... Linux can have problem with "false" hardware ( for example, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softmodem )... In case of MAC, you need hardware who is compatible ( http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/HCL_10.6.3 )... my own hardware is not listed there but it is compatible with a MAC Pro...
Not all PC will be able to run all OS but if you wish build yourself your next computer, it is possible to choose the right compoment in a way that any OS run without problem...
Reply #37 Monday, January 10, 2011 5:23 AM
Hello. I’m a Mac and a PC. That is, I’m the happy owner of a very new MacBook Pro. Core I7, Solid State Drive, 8 GB memory. And a ThinkPad T400 (Core Duo, Solid State Drive, 8 GB memory).
I think you've no problem of money
Macbook pro: 1800-2000 (Euro)
Acer i7: 1000 (Euro)
if you need a case pc for work:
MacPro 8-core: with a good video-card about 4000 (Euro)
My Pc: i7 930, 12 GB of Memory, 1 TB HD and GTX 480: 2000 (Euro)
Never one problem and for 3d applications, plugins and for new gpu render engines pc is better in my opinion
Reply #38 Monday, January 10, 2011 9:52 AM
Back when Macs were on the Power PC chip, I asked why you could not use a VM for Macs - and was told that Mac refused to release its Boot code for that purpose. That is why you can run all 3 on a Mac Intel PC, but not on a whitebox PC.
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Reply #21 Monday, January 3, 2011 9:56 AM