What is the difference between and Mac and a PC?

Question

I have heard that Macs are better for graphics but other then that. Thanks.

Answer 1

They aren't spelled the same.

Answer 2

Macs run a different operating system. A PC runs Windows, a Mac runs Mac OS. OS X is the latest version of Mac OS.



Macs are faster and better for graphics like you suggested, they hardly have any virusses, but are more expensive on the other hand.



Also, don't listen to people that say that Macs don't have right mouse click, that was ages ago... Nowadays every single Mac in the world has a right click just like every other computer.



Try going to an apple store and play around a bit with the Macs they have there, you'll get a good idea.







And PLEASE note:

I read below that some people are spreading total bogus information. Some facts that have to be put aside before you believe them:

1) Macs can only run OSX: WRONG. Using Boot Camp, a Mac can run every OS available. You can run Windows and Linux along with OSX!

2) You can't upgrade a Mac: Yes, you can. You can't upgrade a Macbook(Pro) but you can't upgrade a PC laptop either. There a Mac Pro's which can be upgraded.

3) Macs are more expensive: There are PCs that are way more expensive, people compare wrong.

4) Macs are Linux with an apple on them? Wrong.

5) There are no games for Mac: First of all, there are games for Mac, second, using Boot Camp you can run Windows like you would on a PC, allowing you to play any game you like.

6) Macs are not for designers: I'm a graphic designer, every office I have visited uses Macs, Macs are used everywhere in the graphics sector.

Answer 3

Ok i'm more like a PC guy

but i like Mac too the problem is Mac can't run a lot of items



more like they don't have any items to run

PC has way more



with Mac you are Virus-free you can't get any virus crap with a Mac (which is VERY ANNOYING)



yeah the Right click is the big different

maybe they want to stick to the 1st mouse that got invented

lol

that was a joke



and like i think 7 out of 10 people use PC

3 is all the other operating system (include Mac, Linux, Ubuntu (which i think is also Linux))

but with PC you got many of choices to choose or to Upgrade



and they are cheap



i don't know

don't take my work for it



oh by the way

you can Run Windows on a Mac too, and you can transform your PC in to a "Fake" Mac



yeah they're both good

Answer 4

HI, thank you for your question. The real answer to the question "What is the difference between a Mac and a PC?" is this: Macs are designed and engineered by a single team with a single united goal. The goal, of course, has to do with creating the best user experience possible. That's the spirit of the Mac, the experience of using the computer is better because the hardware and software are perfect for each other.



Apple has the most elegant hardware, the most stable operating system, the best resources available, the most loyal user base, and the most excellent software as well. Apple offers a complete program to educate, inform and empower its user base and more and more people are recognizing and purchasing their Macs because they love them.



I think, Apple is the symbol of what American research and development can do, as well as a recognized leader in branding and marketing personal computers, an innovator in the field and design of personal computers, a one-stop-shop for everything you need or want out of a computer, number one in customer satisfaction.



Because Apple's A-Team is "all over it," you can expect a wowing customer experience using Apple technology.

Answer 5

Ok here it comes..

The main differences between MACs and pcs is PC can run Windows Linux(Free), Redhat(Free), BSD(Free). Mac can only run OSX. PCs can be upgradable(if your hardware get's old and slow you could change it). You can't upgrade mac, you need to buy a whole new machine. Macs are more expensive than PCs. PCs(Windows) have better software support. MAC is pretty much a linux with apple logo and prce tag on it. i dont see a reason why people should even pay money for it. Macs dont have any viruses. so as Linux. Mac's are not for designers.. it's just a silly "pro" mac users made to defend it.





a reply to maclover above me.

Bootcamp is just an emulator... like wine in linux

Macs are more expensive compared to PCs. yes that is true there are more expensive PCs than macs, but lets compare 2 equaly powerful computers. one iwth mac and one with pc. mac will cost more. besides you can do more stuff on windows\linux than on mac.

4. OSX is actually made on FreeBSD. which is Free(duh). Only difference is interface, logo and price tag.

5.Again, Emulators! why would you buy mac if afterwards you will end up emulating windows on it?

6. The main "designing" application on mac is also avalible on windows. which is called photoshop. and on windows it has more features. main one is that it can uilize GPU. i mean.. OS for designers? what's so "designing" about it?

and yes, you can upgrade macs. but itll cost you 3 times more than to upgrade same hardware on PC.





Mac is a pretty OS, and that's its only advantage over Windows... but it's not worth its price.

Answer 6

Pc does have huge power but mac doesn't have power to just run sommthing pc would do like crysis...

And if u plan gaming then choose pc because there is few games thats for pc and mac.



And there's other difference and difference is both name are not same.

Answer 7

if you are a graphic designer, mac can be better. but honestly the biggest difference is the right-click.



pc's have 30x more software.

Answer 8

I HEARD MAC IS BETTER BUT in my opinion pc is better

Answer 9

Macs use the same graphics cards as PCs... So that is a myth. The only differences are 1) price - macs cost a lot more for the apple label 2) expandability - low-medium end macs lack expansion slots because they are compact 3) You can run OS X on PC but it is ILLEGAL





PC=Variety of specs, options, quality, prices, vendors, support

Mac=One vendor, limited options, still more expensive. Look below for more information..



Contrary to belief, Macs are not better quality. Apple also has been changing suppliers to try to "lower the price" and thus lowering quality. Even with the lower prices, Macs still cost more, they spend a higher percent of budget trying to make it look pretty, and marketing.



Today, Macs use the same hardware as PCs. Why spend extra to get the same CPU chips, graphics cards and OS X isn't as secure as you think.. Look below.



WINDOWS ADVANTAGES:



Aprox 90% of the market is Windows. Most PCs include windows already pre-installed.

1) A number of websites still require Internet Explorer to view and IE for Mac Stinks (it is really ies4osx which is the Windows IE version running really buggy on OS X and illegal if you don't have a legitimate copy of Windows, too many problems with it).

2) More supported peripherals (printers and other things you hook into the computer) on Windows.

3) Many more games

4) Like the Dock on OS X (Mac)? google/yahoo rocketdock, objectdoc.



Install at least Free Versions of Avira AntiVir, Avast, Comodo Firewall on the Vista.



LINUX ADVANTAGES:



1) Install Linux, and then get tons of software for free.Update software easily and automatically. (Checking a checkbox in either two ways to install (Add/Remove or Synaptic Package Manager), search for something you want, check a box and click apply)

2) Like the Mac OS X effects? go yahoo/google COMPIZ FUSION. It can do just about any cool effect a Mac can do and more...

3) Like the Mac OS X Doc? google/yahoo Cairo Dock, avant window navigator.

4) It is faster/MORE SECURE. Surf the internet and even run some windows programs with Wnehq/Crossover..



LINUX OS

If you are worried about viruses, spyware, security, Try Linux (it is free), I have included some information about Linux and links so you are not lost if you decide to try it.



Easily turn your system into a Dual booting computer with Linux, fast, safe and secure, easy to use (contrary to belief). You then get the best of both worlds (Windows with all of its supported products, freely go online without the worry)



Installing Linux in general is very simple and much more secure than OS X(Macintosh) and free.

Also, most Linux distributions have a LiveCD which means you can try without installing...

UBUNTU, KUBUNTU, FREESPIRE, PCLINUXOS, etc.. all have live CDS.

All you have to do is..

A) to download .iso file off the internet from the Linux website

B) burn the .iso file to a CD or DVD (Make sure your burning software can burn an ISO or get InfraRecorder http://infrarecorder.org/ )

C) restart the computer with the CD in the drive

D) As computer is restarting, press on F12 Key a bunch of times to get a boot menu

E) Select the option to boot from CD or DVD.



Click on this link and follow instructions up to the point of "Once the system has started up...", (the rest is how to backup windows) for an easy picture guide for steps A-E above http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/

For easy instructions on setting up Dual Boot http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed_first.htm



ANOTHER QUICK NOTE: People have been able to run OS X on a PC since the PC and Mac use the same hardware. This is not legal and I would not recommend it for security and legal reasons, the purpose is to show that there is nothing special about the MAC.



A)Price...

A similar equipped PC is much cheaper to purchase than Mac. Lets use Dell (but you can compare with another PC Brand if you like)



*****************(LAPTOP)

Dell Inspiron Laptop $849 dropped to $799

15" Screen

CPU: (upgrade to) 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100

Memory: 3GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Hard Drive: 320GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm

Optical Drive: Blu-ray Disc Combo (DVD+/-RW + BD-ROM) - WRITES DVDS,CDS, READS Blue-Ray Disks



Macbook $1349 just dropped to $1224

13" Screen (SMALLER)

CPU: 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (SAME)

Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (SAME)

Memory: (upgrade to) 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (LESS RAM)

Hard Drive (upgrade to) 250GBSerial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm (SMALLER HARD DRIVE)

Optical Drive: (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) - (Writes CDs, DVDs, cannot read Blue-Ray) (WORSE AND 1/2 SPEED)



****************(DESKTOP)



PLEASE NOTE: I'm comparing Apple Mac's vs Dells best deal. If you decide that you must have an all-in one. The Dell all-in-one has more ram, wireless keyboard and mouse and equivalent to $400 for free making the Imac still more expensive when you upgrade the Imac to try to match. Personally I don't think the All-in-Ones are a good choice, and consider them overpriced, lack expandability and repairs both more expensive and require the entire computer.



PS: Apple knows that they must make Macintosh look different than PC so all Macs except the Mac Pro will not have a tower option. Apple's low end lacks expandability but it makes the Mac "look different", if Mac had a tower for low-end, more people would realize the similarities between the two.



Dell: (Right Now) Specs Below costs $809

CPU: 2.4 GHZ Dell Inspiron QUAD (4 Processor) CORE

SCREEN: 20inch Screen

MEMORY: 3GB Ram

HARD DRIVE: 500 GB hard Drive

OPTICAL DRIVE: 16x DVD/CD Read/Writer

GRAPHICS: (upgrade to ) ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO 128MB



The Best Deal Mac is not the Mac Mini since it has no monitor, keyboard, mouse, very skimpy on options and setup... IMac is better price than the Mac Mini.



IMac ($1400)

CPU: 2.4 GHZ DUAL (2 Processor) CORE (SLOWER CPU)

SCREEN: 20inch Screen

MEMORY: (upgrade to) 2GB Ram (LESS RAM)

HARD DRIVE: (upgrade to ) 500 GB hard Drive

OPTICAL DRIVE: 8x DVD Reader/Writer (1/2 speed)

GRAPHICS: ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO 128MB



************************END OF DESKTOP



B) SECURITY:



Mac OS X was hacked in 2006 under 30 minutes, and hacked within 2 minutes in a contest in 2008. Linux and Vista were not able to be hacked until another day when restrictions were lowered.

All macs are standardized with Cameras, if your system gets hacked, the hacker would more likely be able to turn on your camera.

Please Note: All OS's have vulnerabilities.



C) VIRUSES



The argument that OS X has less viruses is true, but that is against XP, BUT Mac OS X has viruses, a friend of mine has a virused Mac. As more users use Macs, more viruses will come out for it. Especially when users think "they are safe".



Google/Yahoo Mac Viruses





D) WINDOWS LICENSE is discounted with PCs



You do not pay the full price, for instance Dell -> you pay $50 or less for Vista Home Premium If you buy a Mac and want Vista, you pay full price.





D) EXPANDABILITY & REPAIR...



Repairs are more expensive than PCs since the IMac, Mac Mini are compact units, and Apple charges a premium for their services. Some repairs can be done by another repair service but the compact design of the computer causes problems.

With an IMac, if the problem is with the monitor, the whole computer would have to be brought in.

IMac and Mac mini lack expansion.





E) PROBLEMS



Sample of problems: Overheating Macbooks, OS X- not responding to keyboard, some units with 16bit screens, etc. Apple statistics are misleading since Mac users with problem machines are more likely to go out and buy a new computer than PC users. Apple is lowering prices which means you can expect lower quality than in the past. Apple had switched the manufacturers producing parts. OS X also has problems slowing down.



http://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/01/apples-quality-dwindling-my-macbook-pro-sob-story/

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Finds-Irony-in-Mac-OS-X-Getting-Hacked-Before-Vista-SP1-82135.shtml

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10020263-17.html

http://infosecurity.us/?p=4005

http://blogs.chron.com/techblog/archives/2008/07/malware_authors_take_aim_at_growing_number_of_1.html

http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/poll_have_you_noticed_an_increase_in_malware_viruses_etc_on_your_mac/

http://www.ubuntu.com/

http://www.kubuntu.org/

http://www.freespire.org/

http://www.pclinuxos.com/

http://distrowatch.com/

http://polishlinux.org/

http://www.desktoplinux.com/

http://xwinman.org/gnome.php

http://xwinman.org/kde.php

http://www.linuxalt.com/

http://screencasts.ubuntu.com/

http://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting/

http://www.avast.com/

http://www.free-av.com/

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromMacOSX

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromWindows

Google/Yahoo OS X on PC