Mac vs. PC: Fight to the Death

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Author: Christina LeBlanc

Coke and Pepsi. Itchy and Scratchy. Red Sox and Yankees. Macs and PC’s. There are certain things in life that are just fundamentally opposed to each other.

On Oxy’s campus, the most notable rivalry exists between the latter category, each side consistently proclaiming their own superiority. This rivalry seems only to be intensifying as Apple becomes more competitive within the market—what with the new iPhone craze and the ever-evolving iPod. This increase in popularity only solidifies the many reasons why owning a Apple computer simply beats functioning in the outdated world of PC’s.

While I myself used to be lost in the world of PC madness, with freezing screens and hidden files, my reformation into a Mac devotee was swift—the moment I set eyes on my shiny new laptop. The white plastic of its sleek form simply begged me to take it home. After all, what could be more basic than making your product more physically appealing. Apple, realizing the lack of focus on aesthetics present in the world of PC’s, capitalized on this weakness by creating, in layman’s terms, a prettier package.

The looks may initially have drawn me in, but once I started using the computer I was hooked. The ease with which I could adapt my previous, though extremely limited, skills from my IBM ThinkPad to fit my new Mac was surprising to say the least. A year later, I know more about how my Mac works, and where my files are than I knew after years of experience on PC’s. The simplicity of Apple’s layout and processing makes using my laptop an enjoyable endeavor, versus an infuriating rage as to why I can’t find the song I downloaded a week before on my PC.

This increase in knowledge can largely be attributed to a huge amount of time spent in the Apple store. Whenever I have a techy question, or my computer is on the fritz, the Genius bar is there. Not only do they always fix what’s wrong (at no cost, thanks to Apple’s one-year warrantee) but they also tell me what is causing the problem and how to avoid it. This friendly, quick, and incredibly informative service is unbeatable, and helps to prolong the life of the computer.

The service at Apple is impeccable. However, owning a Mac, you probably wont have to use it. This is due to the reliability of Apple computers, for which they are known. Susceptible to fewer viruses than PC’s, Macs break down less often, and are less at risk for bugs caught by Internet downloading—a huge plus for me as a college student. Computer freezing is not an issue either, so when your watching a movie at three in the morning, your computer won’t freeze just before the guy gets the girl.

While PC’s often have a better track record for financial processing, Mac has made great strides in this arena, adding a Mac-friendly Excel to their Microsoft Office package. In terms of graphics, music recording, producing, or even downloading, however, Mac has proved superior on all fronts. The graphic capabilities of Apple computers far outshine the abilities of PC’s—especially within the software included on the computer. iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, and Garage Band all come standard with any Apple computer. iTunes has largely become the standard digital music format, surpassing Windows Media Player and other competitors. Along with iTunes, Garage Band allows the user to record music with ease, and is a relatively sophisticated program.

One of the main concerns about Apple computers, however, is the question of whether they are compatible within the still PC-dominated office or school environment. This problem was solved with the inclusion of the Microsoft Office software package, which includes Microsoft Word, Excel, Office, Powerpoint, and Entourage. The one downside is that this package is not included with the computer, but rather costs $90.00. The upside though, is that for each purchase, the software can be installed on three different computers.

Some PC-users argue that Macs are simply too expensive. While it is true that Macs are currently priced higher than most PC’s, the lifespan of a Mac computer on average is much longer than its PC competitors. So, while you may be paying a higher price up front, the benefits in the long run are certainly worth it.

The war between Macs and PC’s shows no sign of slowing. In fact, if anything the competition is getting fiercer every year. But as the fighting increases, I know that I’ll eventually come out victorious. What about you?

Christina LeBlanc is an undeclared sophomore. She can be reached at cleblanc@oxy.edu.

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