Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to highlight why a consumer should select a MAC operating system over the Windows PC. Both Mac and PC are popular operating systems, readily available in the mainstream market catering to the various needs of the consumers. While the basic functionality of the operating system on a computer is the same, both operating systems differ in terms of their characteristics and the specific benefits that they provide to the end user. Through this paper a justified argument, supported by evidence based on books and scholarly journals, is presented on why consumers should look towards adopting a Mac computer instead of one based on Windows PC.
Introduction to Mac and PC
The Mac operating system was a computer software developed by the company Apple Inc to provide operating systems for Apple computers. Initially the software was only available for use on Apple computers and apple devices, however now other computers can also make use of Mac OS. The original line of computers that were launched in 1984 and supported the Mac OS where named Macintosh and were sold exclusively by Apple Inc.
This was a revolutionary computer operating system as previously the only operating system that was available to consumers was MS Dos a command line and prompt in nature and was tedious for majority of the consumers. On the other hand the Macintosh computers with the Mac operating system were unique and revolutionary as they provided a graphical user interface for the consumers and enabled them to use programs, and software developed on the object oriented programming language. This form of a computer interface was more user-friendly and easy to comprehend for the consumers.
The Mac OS made use of the hierarchical directory tree approach for navigation and file addressing and enabled the users to create their own files and folders with relative ease. The system itself promoted multiple and comparative multitasking as the user could use more than one program at the same time which was previously not possible with other non graphical user interfaces. Aside from this the Mac operating system was also developed and supported by the UNIX language which meant that it was open source.
As a result the Mac users were able to customize their own systems according to their requirements and share the knowledge of new developed upgrades and programs with others in the UNIX based OS community. This enabled the Mac users to have highly customized and efficient operating systems that were based on upgrades and programs developed by other Mac users purely for their convenience and facilitation. Other application programs that are provided by the Mac operating system included image processing software, audio and video processing software as well as software for word processing, email and development of databases and spreadsheets.
While the Mac OS was launched by Apple Inc, the Windows OS was launched by Microsoft Windows in 1985. PC’s are usually associated with Microsoft Windows as they are computers that run on the Windows based operating system. The Windows operating system was also a unique operating system in the market at the time of its launch as it provided the consumers in the market to be able to use a graphical user interface for operating their computers and navigating instead of using the old command line based operating system.
The Windows operating system was launched by Microsoft Windows as an additional product/ service to the currently available MS-DOS, however the new operating system became more popular than MS-DOS amongst the users as it was more user friendly and allowed just about anyone to be able to use the computer with minimum knowledge of computers and programming languages or command line instructions. The Windows operating system also provided a range of application software for video and audio playback, video and audio recording as well as the famous Office Suite known as MS Office.
The MS Office suit provided application software for word processing (MS Word), spreadsheets, (MS Excel), data base and file management (MS Access), email management, (MS Outlook), and multimedia based presentations (MS PowerPoint). The other characteristic of the windows OS is that it is not an open source system. This means that the code of the Windows OS is restricted and accessible to only Microsoft Company. As a result it is not possible for the users to make changes to the underlying code of Windows OS in order to make customizations or change any flaws or errors that might be present in order to make the operating system more efficient.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Mac OS
The advantages that are associated with a Mac OS pertain to the fact that the Mac operating system is more reliable and has less chance getting a virus. Specifically after the launch of the Mac OS X in the year 2000, the number of viruses, ad ware or malicious spy ware that attack the computers has greatly reduced for computers having a Mac OS. Having a Mac does not guarantee that there are no viruses that can attack the computer, however having a Mac OS greatly reduces the chances of acquiring a virus through normal use or internet browsing.
Aside from this the Mac operating system is very friendly for the user. The users are easily able to comprehend navigation and control on the operating system. Moreover the Mac operating system is often available on machines pre-installed or can be installed at the request of the customer. This is specifically true for Apple machines or Macintosh.
Another great feature and advantage of the Mac operating System is that it allows the user to use both Mac OS as well as MS Windows OS on the same machine, therefore providing the user with a choice of dual OS usage. In fact it is also relatively easy to convert files created on the Mac OS to be transferred and used on the MS Windows OS through migration and conversion. The Mac OS and Mac computers provide the user with exceptional video, audio and photo processing technology. Using the Mac OS it is very easy for the users to run professional applications for video, audio and photo editing.
Mac OS based computers are highly capable when it comes to dealing with multimedia as their performance using multimedia is excellent. “Today, many computer users in business and industry are adopting Macintosh computers as a primary multimedia tool because of its superior video, images, and sound” (Jun Na Rajaravivarma, 2003). Aside from this the Mac OS also provides application software unique in nature like iChat for chatting using audio and video, iLife for managing files related to multimedia and the Time machine application which allows the user to schedule data backups.
The Mac OS is based on the UNIX platform in the open source. This has enabled the users to create and highly customize the Mac OS according to their specific requirements and needs. Alben highlighted in her Muriel prize winning article about the approach taken by apple for Mac OS that provides that apple conceived the Mac OS to be “a computing environment that allows people to choose what works for them. Instead of having to conform to the confines pf the computer, they will work and play and learn in a way that better fits their needs and wants. These customizable appearances take the Mac OS beyond the utilitarian operating systems currently available” (Alben, 1997).
The UNIX base of the Mac OS has made it more reliable as well as less faulty as it has been extensively tested, used and adjusted to eliminate any possible faulty code or programming by peers. The open source nature of the Linux and UNIX has allowed users to fine tune software and additional application software for the Mac OS (Lerner & Tirole, 2005).
The open source nature of the Mac OS has enabled users of Mac OS based machines and computers to create new application programs for the Mac OS system. These application software have been accessed by Apple and have been provided licensing by the company while integrating them into the Mac OS package for future users. One such development that has been developed using the Mac OS open source environment are the technical or virtual bulletin boards that were originally used by the Mac OS open source programmers to share code and advise on developing short code for Mac OS (Luca & McLoughlin, 2003). The Mac OS was specifically designed for Apple products by Apple Inc.
Therefore it is more reliable when it is run on apple products as it provides a complete solution of hardware and software that works together in a mutually cohesive manner to benefit the user and make using a computer machine easier for them.
The disadvantages that are associated with a Mac or a Mac OS pertain to upgrading the OS. As no upgrades of the Mac OS are routinely launched by Apple, it is not possible for the users to upgrade their Mac operating systems. However the users can always download shortstopped from the internet provided by other Mac users and customize and adjust their Mac Os features and application programs. Aside form this a recent trend analysis of the Mac systems on the internet has revealed that Mac systems are more expensive as opposed to PC’s to purchase as they are more multimedia oriented with additional features.
The old Mac OS is somewhat redundant and some of the applications that traditionally have worked on Windows OS might not work on the Mac OS unless the user installs the Mac OS X software. Similarly it is often difficulty to repair a Mac and resolve issues as the code for the Mac is often different and not standardized. Moreover one drawback for serious gamers is that most of the games that are readily available on the MS Windows based PC are not compatible with the Mac OS platform and therefore cannot be run on Macs. “Although many cross-platform file types are currently available, connection type depends mainly on network purpose, and media types are sufficiently diverse that uninformed users can encounter serious problems” (Jun Na Rajaravivarma, 2003).
Advantages and Disadvantages of Windows OS/ PC
The main advantage of a MS Windows based PC is that the MS Windows Company provides extensive and unlimited upgrades for the Windows OS. As a result the users only have to have access to the internet in able to automatically download upgrades for the Windows OS and the related application software that run on the Windows OS.
Another advantage of the PC based on MS Windows OS is that majority of the programs that are available in the market and the games that are available to the users are those which are created keeping the MS Windows in mind. As a result they run much better with MS Windows and some are only able to run if a Windows MS based platform is provided on the PC. The PC is also a very common computer that is extensively available in the market, relatively cheap as well as having a high percentage of population using it.
The disadvantages that are associated with PCs and MS Windows OS is that they are highly prone to viruses and bugs. This makes them very unstable and unreliable. The PCs as a result have to be secured with complex antivirus programs that can often be very expensive for the consumers to purchase. The system of a PC can often crash and become slow or unresponsive over time with heavy usage. This is another major problem with the PC’s that makes it unsuitable for extensive heavy usage. Moreover as PC’s have a standardized code based operating system provided by MS Windows, the hackers specifically target PC’s with their viruses and malicious code.
AS a result the MS Windows OS and PC users have to extensively take care of their computers, look after them and keep them upgraded in terms of their systems and their anti virus software in order to have smooth operations on the computer. This is especially true for the new Windows Vista which has been released. Vista makes PC’s more unreliable and unstable in terms of performance. Another disadvantage that is present to the PCs and MS Windows OS is that PCs that are bought with MS Windows OS are often provided with the most basic of application software in the package. However the Mac systems with the Mac OS have customized media applications and software that can only be run on Mac. As a result this reduces the appeal of PCs for the younger generation.
Why Mac is better than PC
In today’s day and age a Mac is better than a PC. This is mainly because the software and media that is used on the computer by an average user is highly complex in nature with high level of multitasking taking place. In such a situation that Mac fares much better than a PC as it especially designed for multimedia applications and use of heavy duty multitasking programs. In addition to this the Mac is also exceptional for gamming and multimedia processing with the enhanced applications dedicated to this and high level of graphics provided. Moreover the design of the hardware for Mac anther GUI interface makes Mac innovative and suave choice for style conscious users. On the other hand PCs are considered to be boring with lack of stylish appeal.
The PCs are readily available as the most affordable systems in the market. However the Macs are more affordable for the users in the long term. This is because the Macs have integrated customizable application software for office as well as connectivity, multimedia and online chat that are not available on PCs. The PC users as a result have to purchase MS office suite in additional to the Windows OS and the PC, while additional security protection software and graphics cards also have to be bought in order to bring the Pc up to the level of a readily available Mac therefore increasing the cost of the PC.
The Macs are more reliable for the users as they tend to break down less often and suffer from much fewer crashes as compared to the PCs. The PCs are prone to malicious code, viruses and faulty which have to be addressed by Microsoft. This makes them unreliable. The Macs however are less prone to viruses and attacks form hackers as it is much more difficult to hack a Mac as compared to a PC. Aside from this the Macs are also well known for their high level of performance and processing Speed. The Macs are designed specifically for heavy duty usage with multitasking of multimedia applications and software.
The Macs, as a result deliver a much more efficient performance in terms of speed and reliability. On the other hand PCs tend to slow down over time and can often crash when multiple multimedia applications are being used on a PC. Similarly if high quality gamming is to be conducted on the PC, an additional graphic card is required which is not necessary for a Mac.
The Macs are also easy to use for the end users of the system. The Macs provide an interactive graphic user interface that is specifically made keeping the users’ requirements in mind. As a result the Macs are much easier to navigate and use for users as compared to PCs. Regular updates are available for Macs provided by the company as well as other users which can upgrade the Mac OS X. aside form this the Macs also feature instant connections to external devices, internet based communication devices, other apple products. The provision of the iChat software along with a web camera allows the users to have access to video based chat at the click on a button.
The Mac also features a unique capability of housing two operating systems at the same time, enabling the user to make use of Mac based OS as well as MS Windows based US on the same machine. This dual operating system is particularly useful for families where multiple people prefer different types of platforms and operating systems. Apple Inc provides the Mac computers on which Mac Os is provided by the company.
The company designs hardware which corresponds with the Mac OS and adjusts the software of the Mac OS to the changes in the hardware making both the hardware and software mutually cohesive. The integration of hardware and software provided by Apple in the Macs allows Mac to feature unique capabilities where services like chatting and internet connectivity is instantly available to the user.
The Mac users are spoilt to choice when it comes to what application they want to have on their systems and the level of customizations that they prefer for their systems. The Mac is available in unique designs and covers which cannot be rivaled by PC in terms of design or style. Moreover the Mac provides the user with a range of customized application software which can be loaded on to the machine at the time of Purchase. A limited number of such applications often are provided by MS Windows based PC at an additional charge.
The main reason as to why the Mac is so diverse and is able to provide the user with a range of benefits and customization is because of the open source nature of its UNIX and Linux platform. As the Mac OS is open sourced, users can make changes to the system code and develop new application software according to their requirements that can be used on Mac Systems. The sharing of this information enable Apple Inc to provide these newly developed application to consumers in the Mac packages, therefore making the entire Mac offering more customized for the end user. The increased performance, reliability and diverse capabilities of the Mac are also based on its open source nature.
Conclusion
The Macs of today are highly evolved with better reliability, speed, performance security and customizations offered to the users as opposed to the PCs. The consistency of the Macs, along with their predictability, the low level of security and virus threats as well as the increased solutions provided by Apple for Mac users makes Macs a better choice for users instead of a PCs.
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