Mac vs. PC: An Analysis for Normal People

May 20, 2009 - By Justin E. Gehrke

     I’m a Mac. I’m a PC. What is it really better to be? Apple or Microsoft? Mac or PC? If you ask a hundred people, the only thing of which you can be certain is that you’ll receive divided opinions. You’re also certain to have a fair amount of diehard Windows and unwavering Mac lobbyists. Each will cite opinions regarding creative ability, security, ease of use, compatibility, and a slew of other reasons. How much of that, though, is really fact and constitutes an “educated” opinion. Much like the so-called liberal left and conservative right factions of political enthusiasts, the polarization is what captures the attention and remains in the memory of the public. This divide has only widened thanks, in part, to the Microsoft and Apple Corporations decision to launch sustained advertising campaigns to minimize each other’s positives and capitalize upon the perceived negatives. This article is not intended to influence users to buy one or the other. I, myself, use both…sometimes simultaneously. For general use, graphic design, videography, photo editing, I use Mac. For work-related tasks that require the use of specialized applications, I often am required to use Windows, which I usually accomplish through the use of a virtual machine (See Software Application Compatibility and Functionality below). Another result of our one-hundred person survey that may surprise you would be that many users don’t really know or, for that fact, even care which one is better or worse. For these users, price and looks (not performance, dependability, or return on investment) are the primary considerations when buying a laptop or desktop computer. For all potential computer consumers, though, It is important to look beyond price and looks, before deciding whether they will be forever (or at least until their next computer purchase) tattooed as a Mac or PC person. The question should not be, “What is better, PC or Mac?” More importantly, it should be, “What is better for you, based on your user habits and specific needs, as a consumer.” To make it easy, I’ll break it down into a few common areas and highlight the differences.  

Operating System Differences and Application Installation & Removal

     I’ll start with Operating Systems or OS, as it is more commonly known. Microsoft Windows XP and Vista are the operating systems most commonly used by Microsoft Windows home consumers, since they are normally purchased with the OS preloaded on the computer. On the Mac side, Tiger and Leopard are the most commonly used operating systems by Apple consumers and come preloaded, as well. What, if any, is the difference between the PC and MAC operating systems? Any Windows OS is what’s called “registry based”. The easiest way to explain this is that the Operating System is built to function in a hierarchical structure. Any software (e.g. office productivity applications, antivirus software, etc.) installed includes the creation of “keys” in the Windows Registry. The registry and its keys are interwoven into every function of the computer, from initial boot up, application behavior, policy application, etc. After that, necessary folders and files are created within the Program Files folder (and often in other clandestine locations) of the computer. Once the installation is successful, opening an application from the programs menu or a desktop shortcut calls upon the primary executable file of the program, which then calls upon dependent files and registry keys. This is one of the reasons that deleting application files or registry keys erroneously can lead to errors regarding missing files when attempting to open an application or, in many cases, when the computer initially boots up into the operating system. This is the reason that PC users must always use the “Add/Remove Programs” option in the “Control Panel” to uninstall applications. This method, though, often removes the files and folders but does not remove associated Registry keys. The repeated installation/uninstallation of programs leads to the gradual accumulation of unnecessary registry keys  and is often one of the factors that leads to slowed response and degraded computer performance, over time.

     Apple’s OS, though, is structured in an entirely different way. A Mac OS is part of a larger, family of open source core systems, which, like Unix, are file-based in their design. Since the 2000 release of Mac OS X, Apple’s OS has been built around an “XNU Kernel”. There is a sub-system called “Darwin” whose job is to manage the file-system. Its duties also include control of the Unix permissions layer. This function is one of the benefits relating to secure design, since, unlike the Windows OS, any changes to the file system must be approved using Administrator credentials. Though opinions will certainly differ regarding its roots, development, and credit deserved, Apple can be credited as taking the Unix, file-based simplicity and adding the attractive and easily navigable, Guided User Interface (GUI) that users prefer when using a computer. This GUI is nothing more than a developer’s way of creating simple boxes, menus, and prompts to provide users with a more simplified computing experience that includes easy-to-follow directions. When an application is installed on a Tiger or Leopard, it creates a few files in the Applications menu. Generally, though, it does not create many dependencies between files in far-off locations. Those created are limited to several specific and easily-located, communal folders. In cases where dependencies are created, most software developers will create an “Uninstall” file that accompanies the installation software.  Executing this file on a Mac will remove both the applications, proprietary plug-ins or other dependencies created. In many cases, there is no other file created than the single “application” file. In these cases, users can simply delete the application file or folder from the “Applications”. Whether using an uninstall file or simply deleting the application file, emptying the “Trash” will remove it from your computer forever. This results in a user not having to worry about the residual collection of unnecessary files or folders on their hard disk, which reduces the degradation of performance over time. Ultimately, the fact that it is a file-based operating system ensures that starting up the computer, whether you correctly or incorrectly uninstalled programs or deleted files, will not result in repeated errors popping up on the user’s monitor.

Bottom Line: Operating Systems may be generally unimportant to the common user, but file-based operating systems provide them with more functional design and worry-free operation. On a Mac, application installation/removal is definitely easier, cleaner, and less likely to cause residual performance issues.

Software Application Compatibility and Functionality

     Many Microsoft devotees will lobby for the cause of PC superiority with the rationale that more programs are developed for and only run on Windows operating systems. The other side of this argument is that there are also many programs developed only for Mac. The oft-ignored truth, though, is that there are similar applications made for both operating systems. A case in point is Microsoft Office. Microsoft long ago recognized the market potential and sells versions that run on Windows and Mac. For a growing number of users, the choice has shifted to the use of “Open Office”, which is a robust, secure, and stable open source (read: free) office application suite that provides all the same functionality as the Microsoft Office and Apple iWork. Open Office even reads files created and edited in Microsoft Office. Apple, too, has its own version of an office suite, known as Apple iWork. Though the interface may look different, it is generally compatible with Microsoft Office-generated documents and provides almost exactly the same functionality. Ultimately, the most important consideration for the user is the ease of use and the learning curve required to become an expert user. In this respect a switch to Apple iWork or Open Office is no more than that of a Microsoft Office user migrating from Office 2003 to Office 2007. Its simply a matter of finding where the menus and commands are located. As far as other applications go, many developers have and continue to make versions of their software for both Mac and Windows. If you come across one that doesn’t, a simple search of the web will yield many other software options, which provide the same functionality for less money or no cost at all. Apple’s iLife (which includes Garage Band, iPhoto, iMovie, etc.) offers regular users with the ability to expertly edit photographs, videos, and music, like a pro! iLife applications are designed to easily interface with each other and are designed to allow for intuitive learning. In this respect, Windows does provide a minimal number of built-in applications, which provide similar, but fewer, capabilities for the editing of photographs, video, etc. For small business users who already own licenses for Microsoft Windows XP/Vista and utilize Point of Sales software that runs only on Microsoft Windows, programs such as VMWare for Mac and Parallels allow for the installation of a virtual computer, within the Apple OS. (To this end, I’ve even created Windows virtual machines on a Mac and migrated them to VMWare on Windows! The possibilities are endless.) This virtual computer can then be configured to use the same internet connectivity of the host computer and operate, as though it were entirely on its own. One of the advantages in this scenario is that the virtualization software allows users to take “snapshots” or make backup copies of the entire virtual computer. In the event of OS failure, the backed up virtual machine can then be copied to the appropriate location and allow users to resume operations, with minimal downtime.

Bottom Line: If you run a business that requires specialized applications, do your homework first to ensure a transition from PC to Mac isn’t going to cause you or your IT person (if you can afford one!) heartache and discontent. Don’t want to buy a new Microsoft Office license to edit your files on Mac? Use Open Office safely and for free. Absolutely have your heart set on a Mac but need to runs a Windows application? Buy VMWare for Mac and go virtual!

The Security Conundrum: Viruses, Spyware, and Malicious Logic

     I know you’ve all seen the commercials. You may have read an article or blog about it, too. Apple and its devoted followers will tout the Mac OS as being the ultimate in secure design. To be effective, though, secure design must be accompanied by secure configuration and operation. This is ultimately a user responsibility. The fact is that there are currently less viruses and other malicious logic that have the potential to infect an Apple OS. The reason behind this is not that they are impossible to create. They may be more difficult to execute successfully, based on the Unix-based permissions structure, but they are a real threat. Without making light of the topic, there is really less of a market for Mac viruses. One of the primary reasons for this is that the number of Windows users still greatly exceeds the number of Mac users. In this respect, it is a sheer matter of market share. Why develop a virus that has the potential to infect 5% of the computing population. Those kinds of numbers will certainly not get your efforts noticed by the cable news networks! Another reason for the increased number of viruses is the opinion, among the hacking community, that Microsoft is an evil empire dedicated to taking over the world with flawed, unsecured, and messy source code. (There opinion, not necessarily mine…)

Bottom Line: The most important thing to remember, though, is that, regardless of your OS choice, regularly updated antivirus and firewall applications and signatures are a must. Remember, the computer, much like your house, is only as secure as you make and maintain it!

Web Browsers: Let the Unimportant Confusion Begin

     Web browsers are generally supposed to be created equal. Emphasis here should be placed on the “should” portion of the previous sentence. Unfortunately, all web browsers (e.g. Safari, Internet Explorer, FireFox, etc.) are not created equal. In general, web design is intended to be done in a standard manner, to ensure cross compatibility with all browsers and operating systems. The truth is that some websites will have difficulty in Safari, the default browser on Mac. The problem is generally not the OS, though. Its related to how and for what platform the website was designed. Though there are established standards for web design (see World Wide Web Consortium - http://www.w3.org), not every designer bothers to create their website, with cross compatibility in mind. The biggest offender, in the past, has been Microsoft Internet Explorer-based designers themselves. The fault lies not with the designers, but, instead, lies with web development applications, such as Microsoft FrontPage and, more recently, Microsoft Expression. Basically, these applications design pages, which are meant to be placed into Microsoft-based, web servers and environments. More often than not, no cross-browser testing is done, to ensure that the webpage renders exactly the same on alternative browsers. Is this a lot of extraneous information for normal users? Probably, but it is important to understand that every once in a while, pages containing Java Script, Java Applets, Microsoft Silverlight, etc. may cause minor errors or not function as designed. The good news, though, is that Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 8 marks the first time that a Microsoft-based browser has been designed, from the bottom up, to be compatible across all browsers. Why? The designer’s of the browser finally followed the World Wide Web Consortium standards. This means that, in the future, 99% of websites will function exactly the same on all web browsers.

Bottom Line: Website incompatibility is not a significant reason to write off a Mac or lobby for PC.

Cost: The Ultimate Tie Breaker

     Let’s face it. PCs and Macs are both relatively cheap to make. Why is a PC generally cheaper than a Mac? The truth lies veiled behind a mask of secrecy, in the inner sanctum of computer design and manufacturing. Seriously, though, why would you pay more for a Mac? Let’s put it this way. If you buy a Toyota, you can usually count on quality and dependability. You might get decent support at the dealer. If you buy a BMW or a Mercedes, though, your quality and dependability is likely to be backed up with roadside assistance, free maintenance, and higher trade-in value. The same concept applies to Mac. While the PC may be cheaper to buy initially, its shorter product life-cyle (read: performance that continues as processing requirements continue to rapidly evolve) means you’ll have to replace the computer sooner. Most often the disk space and memory limitations negate the ability to continue upgrading. The MAC’s design and build, though, lends itself to an increased life-cycle. Based on the ease of upgrading memory, disk size, and more on a Mac, many users have five and six year old ones that run right along with today’s newest PC models. Additionally, many PC vendors offer technical and warranty support that most will agree is less than acceptable. There always seems to be a foot-note or disclaimer item that precludes your model or part from being covered. With the Apple Care Program, though, Mac  users can spend a minimal, extra amount to ensure their computer is covered beyond its first year, to a full three years. What does this mean? If it breaks, you take it to the Apple Store. If there isn’t one in your area, you call the 800 number, and they send you a prepaid box. If they can’t fix it, you get a new one. Its that simple.

Bottom Line: Return on Investment should be the tie-breaker. Users have to decide if its better to spend less every two to three years on a PC or slightly more every four to five years on a Mac.

The Final Verdict: To be Determined…

     Ultimately, users have to decide how much time, effort, and money they want to spend buying, becoming accustomed to, and maintaining their computer. Anyone interested in a possible transition from PC to Mac should check out the Switch 101 guide located on the Apple website (http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/). Its very helpful in addressing what most regular computer users want to know. Where is the stuff I use on a PC located on a Mac? If you feel that the learning curve is comfortable, go for it! It never hurts to learn something new. Even if you decide to stay on a PC, after learning about the Mac, you’ll at least be able to give an educated opinion that transcends two guys on a white television screen politely insulting each other! Whether you ultimately choose a PC or a Mac, the most important thing is to make sure you take care of it. Applying OS and application patches, via automatic updates, maintaining antivirus and firewall protection, with up-to-date signatures, and avoiding installing every free game you come across will go a long way toward ensuring your computer reaches its optimum lifespan and dies at a ripe, old computing age….somewhere around four or five years!

Justin E. Gehrke is the founder and President of Geek Shui Living. As a right and left-brained geek, he is available for consulting in the areas of Information Technology, Network Security, and creative web design and development. He really does appreciate feedback from the computing masses, so feel free to transmit your packets to him, via the Geek Shui Living Contact page.