Mac^® vs. PC: The Pros and Cons

The Mac vs PC debate has been going on for a long time. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference; what you like and what you want to do with your system, but we have written this article to give you more information to help you make the right choice for you

At a glance, both computers do essentially the same thing, so is a Mac a PC? The first thing you should be aware of is that comparing a Windows PC to an Apple Mac computer means that you are comparing two slightly different things. When we compare software, the comparison is typically Microsoft vs Apple, because they each write one of the major computer operating systems. Hardware comparisons, for example Windows or Mac laptops, are different. 

When we talk about a ‘Mac’, we are referring to the product of a single company; Apple. Apple designs and manufactures the hardware, software and ecosystem that we refer to when discussing Mac computers.

A Windows PC is very different. Windows is the name of the operating system created by Microsoft, but the computer hardware could be assembled from many different manufacturers. The CPU could be Intel or AMD, the memory and hard drive could be from Crucial, the motherboard from another company, and so on. All these components are designed to work interchangeably, but there are no other computer companies like Apple, who control every part of the product.

With alternative operating systems available you don’t even need to run Windows. 

Let’s take a closer look at the differences and explore the pros and cons of a Windows PC over a Mac.

Some of the advantages and disadvantages of the two main computer systems come from the operating systems. MacOS®  (formerly OS X) and Microsoft® Windows® both perform similar functions, but they work in slightly different ways, and each has its own unique interface. The latest version of MacOS is Sequoia, released in 2024. Windows 11 was released in 2021.

Both operating systems control the basic functions of the computer, define how you interact with the device, and support a range of hardware and software.

Windows represents a far bigger share of the personal computer market, so it needs to support a wider range of devices and applications. The widest range of software, including games, is available on Windows. On the other hand, while the Mac may have fewer options, they are generally of a high quality. A great deal of computer use today is via the web, so the operating system you are using makes very little difference.

Finally, Apple’s macOS is only available on their own computers, so if you are a fan, that fact could make the decision for you. 

Depending on what you want to do, one might be better than the other, but it often comes down to what you are comfortable with.

When trying to decide between a Mac and a PC, you may want to consider the wider ecosystem of devices each one can support. Smart watches are popular devices and phones are everywhere, so a computer which can work with these devices is often a bonus. Apple’s iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch are all designed to offer a unified experience with your Apple computer. 

The Windows Phone never took off, but Windows can still connect with a range of Android-powered mobile devices.

While these different devices can talk to each other, the fact that Apple makes the hardware and software for everything the company puts its name to means that you can expect a more seamless and unified experience, all managed through a single account. 

If you want simplicity and reliability in your connected devices, Apple might be the way to go. If you prefer a wider selection of manufacturers so you can mix and match the right products for your lifestyle, then Windows might be better. 

However, just because a product was not made by Apple that does not mean it won’t be compatible. You can still connect tablets and other devices with your Apple computer, but the experience may not be as smooth and seamless as the one Apple provides.

Some people dislike the extra work to get the different devices to talk to each other.

With Boot Camp^®, it is possible to install Windows on a Mac, then switch between the operating systems according to what you need to do.

When comparing the prices of Macs and PCs, you’ll find that Macs are generally more expensive. For example, the starting price for a MacBook Air is around $1,000, whereas you can find entry-level PCs for as low as $300 to $500. Apple has positioned itself as a premium manufacturer, so the higher build quality and innovative design is reflected in the price of its products 

However, this is not always true. if you compare Macs and PCs with similar specifications, the price gap can narrow. High-end laptops with comparable performance, build quality, and features can be just as expensive as Macs. 

Another factor is the variety of options available. Apple has a relatively limited product line, focusing on a few high-quality models. In contrast, the PC market is vast, with many manufacturers offering a wide range of models at different price points. This means you can find very affordable PCs, but high-end models with similar specs to Macs can be just as pricey.

 The real difference is that Apple does not offer cheap or budget products.  The typical consumer may end up paying more if they buy an Apple computer, but they receive great quality machines in turn. 

Historically, Macs and graphic design, alongside the visual arts, have been a match made in heaven. This dates back to the 1980s and ‘90s when Windows PCs could not compete well in this area. Times have changed and Windows has caught up, but Apple’s strong pedigree means Macs are still popular choices for creative work. 

The UNIX underpinnings of macOS also contribute to it being a popular choice for software development, as UNIX based servers are commonplace.

Apple Macs pioneered the ‘ultraportable’ design and sleek style of modern laptops so for some users, they are appealing choices based on looks alone.  

Security and privacy are areas where Macs excel, although this is less of a differentiator today than it has been in the past. Apple’s smaller market share compared to Windows contributed to it being a less-attractive target for viruses, but today’s security threats are different. Malware like viruses still exist, but security of personal data is more important than ever. Apple’s Keychain is an integral part of macOS and can secure a variety of data, including passwords. 

Apple is also known for tight control over its software, which means fewer unwanted applications are installed on new machines. 

Apple’s customer service is another area where the company excels, and again this is related to their smaller product range. Apple designs and manufactures their own products so they can offer a higher level of support in Apple Stores. Because there are so many possible PC makers, it’s hard to do a direct comparison, but in general, Apple does a great job of backing up their products.

Innovation of Macs is a mixed bag, however. Apple excels at innovation in some areas, such as the iPhone, the iPod, the Macbook Air and the M series processors used in current Macs. But it sometimes lags the competition too, instead choosing to perfect new technologies before integrating them in their products, such as touchscreens on its laptops.

Because Mac users are a minority, Apple has been careful to make sure that their products can work with Windows software. As a result, Macs can read drives that are formatted for Windows and can often convert Windows software to something that is compatible with macOS.

The biggest disadvantages to owning a Mac relate to its price, range of options, and limited support for gaming compared to a PC. There are few disadvantages of the Mac operating system, but it sometimes has a unique way of doing something, which can be strange if you are used to other computers.

The biggest PC advantage is choice. Because there are so many PC makers, it is possible to find a wide range of devices at different price points. Only the most high-powered and expensive PCs approach Apple products’ price point.

PCs are more easily upgraded and have more options for different components. The open nature of PC architecture and design means that users have an endless choice of components from CPUs to graphics cards which can be installed internally.  A Mac is often limited in what can be upgraded, with many components soldered to the motherboard, making a replacement impossible. A PC user can select from many motherboards, processors, storage drives, video cards, graphics cards, audio cards, and memory. This enables PC users to build a custom machine, or upgrade an existing machine quickly and easily. Find out more about upgrading memory and storage drives.

Touchscreen laptops are easy to find on a Windows PC. Apple has not released one for their laptops yet. Windows laptops are also more versatile, with some doubling as tablets when the screen is fully folded back.

PCs also have an advantage of offering more connection ports and types of ports on any one system and the ability to select a system based on the number and type connections, again providing PC users with more choice. If a particular kind of port is important to you, you can find just the right system with that port, or add an expansion card if you need to

With the number of different systems and the number of users, PCs have better backwards compatibility, that is, you can run older versions of software or operating systems on new hardware. Mac software is tightly integrated with the hardware, so if you wanted to run an older application on a mac you might need a separate computer (or a virtual machine) to run it.

PCs are generally considered better for hard-core gaming. Desktop PCs can be upgraded easily with the latest graphics cards, meaning it is possible to keep a Windows PC on the cutting edge of technology without buying a new computer. Read more about Mac computers and gaming.

PCs might offer more choice and flexibility, but if you want something simple and reliable it can be hard to know where to start. While Windows is a solid and reliable operating system, it lacks the macOS sense of design and its tight integration with other Apple products.

• Web Browsers and Cloud Services: A huge amount of computer use today is through a web browser. This makes many tools and applications independent of the hardware and operating system.

• USB-C: The USB standard has now evolved to the point where a single cable can supply high-speed data and power. This makes the addition of external devices like monitors and external hard drives simple and interchangeable.

• WiFi/Bluetooth: Like USB, these wireless standards mean keyboards, mice, speakers, headphones, and more do not need any particular hardware or software to run.

• External storage: Adding internal drives may not be possible on some computers, but external hard drives or USB memory sticks make moving data easy. 

• Cross platform support: Standard file formats for documents, images, and others, mean that files can be shared and edited by users on different platforms, despite differences in the underlying hardware.

If you want a premium product, are not concerned with upgrades, and want a well-integrated product ecosystem, a Mac could be the right choice for you.

If you value flexibility, the ability to upgrade your system, and want a wider choice of hardware, from cheap to immensely powerful gaming machines, then a Windows computer might be your perfect choice.

The Mac vs PC debate will continue as long as they are the two major choices for hardware and operating systems. Each system does some things better; it’s really a matter of what features are important to you and what you’re going to use the computer for. Whatever you choose, enjoy it!