Mac versus Windows
How I learned to love my Apple
Why did I buy a Mac?
• My PC use to freeze frequently and was quite
slow when editing large photographic files
• Windows Vista was a bit of a nightmare
• Which? Magazine consistently awarded Macs
their highly recommended category
• Apple brought out the Mac Pro laptop with a
‘Retina’ screen
Mac Keyboard Symbols
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⌘
⌃
⌥
⇧
⇪
fn
Command key
Control key
Option key (Alt)
Shift Key
Caps Lock
Function Key
Mac Pro Keyboard
Mac Keys
Mac Keys
No ‘delete’ key on Mac Pro
• To delete to the right you have to use delete
to the left plus fn key
Mac Features
• Apple’s interface is simple - you pin the apps
you want to use to the dock at the bottom of
the screen and they are always available.
• It’s also got rapid-fire startup and resume
times - although Windows 8 machines are
comparable in this area.
Mac Good Points
• The best thing about using Mavericks OS X is
the stability - no freezing or crashing
• Because Apple doesn’t license out OS X to
other manufacturers, there’s no ‘bloatware’.
• Windows machines, on the other hand, are
plagued with useless programs, which eat up
system resources and are a pain to uninstall
Mac Good Points
• Hackers are preoccupied with tormenting the
dominant Windows installed base because it's
still seen as an easier target
• Apple releases OS updates on a yearly basis. It
used to charge around to upgrade to the latest
version but this has all changed.
• Mavericks was the first to be made available
for free!
Mac Good Points
• In comparison, it looks like Microsoft will
continue to charge users a license fee when it
launches it’s next flagship OS - Windows 9.
• No need for anti-virus?
• Apple has built-in malware protection via the
GateKeeper tool. Apple’s machines are also
shipped without Java and Flash pre-installed two of the most vulnerable plugins on the
market.
Mac Good Points
• However, I use MacKeeper just to be on the
safe side. It also tunes up the computer.
• Windows has always had an update problem.
Clicking on the ‘update and restart button’ can
lead to mammoth waiting times as you sit
there watching tens and sometimes hundreds
of updates installing. Windows 8 does not do
anything to remedy this.
Mac Good Points
• There are no such problems with Mac as
Apple rolls out fewer updates - tells you
exactly what they are for and installs them
quickly.
• Those who complain about Apple forcing you
to use its proprietary software are misguided.
It’s possible to install Windows on any Mac via
the built-in Bootcamp tool or by using
virtualisation software such as Parallels 9.
Mac Good Points
• You’re not forced to use Safari, FaceTime or
iTunes.
• Indeed, you can download browsers such as
Chrome or Firefox, carry out video calling via
Skype and buy your music and movies from
the Amazon, LoveFilm or stream via Netflix.
Trackpad
• The gestures on MacBook trackpads are
unmatched. They work flawlessly - so you can
swipe between apps, desktops, and windows
by flicking fingers up and down the pad.
• No Windows machine provides an experience
anywhere near as consistent
Cost of Macs
• Cost is the main barrier of entry for many
people either because they don’t have the
means to purchase an Apple device or
because they believe that they are not value
for money.
• However, When you compare the
components on offer in most Macs with PCs,
you’ll see Apple is offering reasonable value
for money.
Cost of Macs
• Macs have a reputation for being more
expensive than PCs, but feature-by-feature
breakdowns have shown that show the fees
are quite comparable.
• Building a laptop with similar features as a
MacBook Pro, for example, may cost as much
or more.
Cost of Macs
• With MacBook Pros available from just over
£1,000, this is a similar price to most high-end
Windows Ultrabooks.
• Remember, if you buy cheap, you buy twice.
Upgradeability
• Apple doesn’t like third-parties - including
customers - tinkering around with its
products.
• As such, most products have components
stuck in place with blobs of glue.
• This means you have to pick the specification
carefully when you purchase devices
Upgradeability
• However, the Mac Pro (2013) comes with an
upgrade-friendly design - but this is targeted
at the professional market and Apple laptops,
tablets and smartphones are likely to remain
locked down.
Seamless Operation
• Apple products are vertically integrated
• The company makes its own hardware,
software and accessories, and delivers the
product whole to the consumer
• Instead of making decisions about what
components and software to use and then
manually installing them, Mac users can
simply power up their computers and use
them right out of the box!
Servicing
• If you have a problem with any component -from keyboard to hard drive -- there's a single
point of contact at Apple's customer service.
• By contrast, PCs have hardware and software
components made by multiple outside
vendors.
• Users may need to communicate with several
vendors to diagnose and fix a PC problem.
Customisation
• However, being able to pick and choose
components also makes PCs easier to
customize than Macs in terms of both cost
and capabilities.
• If you love engineering your computer then go
for a PC
Closed System
• Macs are considered a "closed" system
because their components -- software,
hardware, and operating systems are not
compatible with non-Macs
• However, non-Apple-developed apps,
accessories and even operating systems are
becoming increasingly Mac-accessible.