The Mac vs. PC debate is one of the most controversial topics when it comes to computers. This page gives an overall comparison between computers running Apple's macOS and those running Microsoft Windows. We are looking to help users who are interested in buying a new computer, not dictating which brand is the 'best.'
Security
Mac - Traditionally, Macs have had fewer security vulnerabilities. Also, in overall numbers, Macs receive fewer viruses than PCs running Windows. However, these numbers can be misleading as Apple's computers only account for less than 10% of the market share. Consequently, PCs show that they have more vulnerabilities, but if one were looking to infect or illegally access the most computers, PCs are the best target.
PC - More people today are using computers running some version of Microsoft Windows, which makes it a smarter target for attackers. That being said, Windows computers have had more security vulnerabilities than Apple computers in the past.
But don’t worry, there are a few easy fixes you can do to make your Mac or PC start up almost as fast as when you first took it out of the box. See also: Google, NASA's quantum computer is 100. As many people pointed out, Macs aren’t faster than all Windows computers. If you buy a Mac and a Windows PC for the same price, then that PC will be faster. Macs have a higher price for the same performance because they can. Someone who is used t. To make your Mac run faster while in the browser, minimize the number of opened tabs. Many IT consultants recommend having no more than 9 open tabs at a time. This way, you won’t overload the browser, and the title for each tab will be perfectly visible.
Bottom line: Mac wins in this category. While newer versions of Windows have made significant improvements in security, most malware is created for PCs. Therefore, you're less likely to run into security issues with a Mac.
Price
Mac - Although many people may argue that 'you get what you pay for,' compared to a PC, a Mac computer, along with its peripherals, is far more expensive from a dollar to performance perspective. That being said, Mac computers are well built with high-quality components, whereas some PCs are not.
PC - Many PCs, including their peripherals, are far less expensive than a Mac. They are especially cheaper when it comes to customization of the computer's components.
Bottom line: PC wins this category when comparing all computers and hardware. If you compare only high-end hardware, a PC can be nearly as expensive in some cases.
Operating system
Comparing the operating system is like comparing apples and oranges. Both macOS and Windows 10 are clean, fast, highly capable operating systems. In this category, it comes down to personal preference and the user's specific needs.
Bottom line: Tie, as it depends on the user's preferences.
NoteWindows is put onto PCs by multiple manufacturers, most of which add some form of bloatware. But, it is removable and doesn't mean Windows 10 is an inferior operating system. However, an Apple user has never had to deal with bloatware.
TipMac users can utilize Boot Camp to run Windows on their Mac. PC users can also install Linux on their computer and use it in conjunction with Windows or as an alternative to Windows.
Software
The number of software titles for Mac has grown over the years. However, Windows dominates the computer software market, especially when it comes to gaming. Developers are more likely to create software for PCs because of its much larger user base. Furthermore, there are hundreds of free programs available for PC that are not available for Mac.
Bottom line: PC wins this category in the overall availability of software and free programs. However, keep in mind that most of the bigger, popular applications, like Microsoft Office products and Adobe products (e.g., Photoshop), are available for both PC and Mac.
Ecosystem
Mac - Apple has created a strong ecosystem with Apple products, like the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Purchasing an Apple computer helps you interact with other Apple products more easily using macOS.
PC - Microsoft has a strong ecosystem with Microsoft Office and the Xbox. However, they no longer have any mobile solutions and must rely on Android devices. Also, because there are so many different manufacturers, their ecosystem is not as cohesive as Apple's.
Bottom line: Mac wins this category for anyone who already has Apple products.
Build quality
Mac - Macintosh computers are known for their exceptional quality across their entire line, including both laptops and desktops. Macs offer a very compact profile regardless of form factor and are aesthetically pleasing.
NoteAlthough Apple is known for its quality, there are plenty of examples where Apple has made mistakes. For example, recent Apple MacBooks have had a lot of issues with their keyboards.
PC - PCs have always been highly customizable, from cases to internal components. As such, there are many different levels of build quality. Therefore, while you can get very high-quality components for a PC, you can also get those that are of poor quality.
Bottom line: Mac wins this category - but situationally. While the quality of PC components can be as high as an Apple, we're comparing the overall quality of all PCs.
Customization and upgrades
Mac - Apple computers may be customized with several options. All their computers come pre-built and are only manufactured by Apple.
PC - PCs have more pre-built options due to a higher number of manufacturers. Furthermore, for those who want to build a computer, the options for customization are exponentially higher.
Bottom line: PC wins this category.
Boot time
Bottom line: Traditionally, Macs were faster to boot up than PCs. However, with the release of Windows 10, PC boot times have decreased dramatically. In some cases, Windows 10 performs faster than macOS. That being said, these differences are negligible when comparing computers with similar hardware. The single biggest component in reducing boot time is the type of hard drive a computer uses. Both Macs and PCs have SSDs available to them, but those who build PCs have much faster options.
Bottom line: Tie when comparing a Mac and PC with the latest operating systems and similar hardware. However, a PC can be built with faster or slower hardware that increases or decreases the boot time.
Drivers
Mac - Mac has an advantage because Apple is the sole manufacturer of these computers and most of the hardware. Consequently, Apple can control and maintain most of their drivers.
PC - PCs are built by many different manufacturers with interchangeable components, which requires numerous drivers. Although plug and play has made it easier to install hardware, all hardware still requires drivers and for the hardware manufacturer to maintain those drivers. Also, because there are so many different hardware manufacturers, it can be difficult to make sure all drivers remain up-to-date.
Bottom line: Mac wins this category.
Gaming
Over the years, computer game companies have shown increased support for Macs. However, Windows owns 90% of the market share, and as such, developers are far more likely to create games for that operating system. Additionally, because custom-built desktop PCs have more upgrade options (e.g., latest graphics card), they can meet and exceed the demands of new games without needing to replace the computer.
Bottom line: PC wins this category.
Support
Mac - When needing technical support or help with your Mac, Apple can offer a lot of assistance that is not available for PCs. Because Apple designs and builds their computers, you only need to deal with Apple when you have problems. Also, Apple has many stores around the world that offer in-person support and help with using Apple products.
PC - If you purchase an OEM PC (e.g., Dell or HP), support can be hit or miss, depending on the OEM and the type of problem you're having. Also, while there are plenty of repair shops that fix computer problems, they are not specialized for one brand of computer, and they offer no training. Finally, if you build your own computer, you'll be dealing with many different manufacturers for support.
Bottom line: Mac wins this category
Repair costs
Mac - Apple strives to make its Mac product line as sleek and compact as possible. To do so, they continue to further integrate their components. Thus, when their computers need to be repaired, it's more expensive. Apple also makes it very difficult for anyone but them to repair their products. Although this helps make sure the repairs are done correctly, it can also increase the costs and make it harder to get your computer fixed.
PC - Desktop PCs repairs and can be done by any local computer repair shop. However, some PC laptop repairs can be as expensive and difficult as an Apple laptop.
Bottom line: PC wins this category.
Touch capability
When it comes to desktop and laptop computers (not mobile devices), Mac offers no touch screen capability, only the Touch Bar on some MacBooks.
Bottom line: PC wins this category.
Additional disclaimers
Not all PC's are the same
There are many PC manufacturers, and thousands of models of computers, which means not everything mentioned above applies to every PC.
My Apple can run Windows
Microsoft Windows can run on Apple computers using Boot Camp, which means not everything above may apply to your Mac. In the case of gaming, you may be able to run the latest games on your Mac using Boot Camp. However, Boot Camp is not perfect, and it does not mean every game can run on your computer since PC games are not developed with Apple hardware in mind. Thus, it's also very possible to encounter problems and have performance issues.
Windows XP is not Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10
Windows XP is over 18 years old. Comparing a Windows XP computer to a new iMac with macOS is like comparing a Ford Pinto to a Ferrari. When deciding between any computer, make sure you compare the latest models with similar hardwarecomponents.
Some people don't like Windows or macOS
For a lot of people, it may only boil down to the computer's operating system. Some users don't like Apple macOS or Microsoft Windows. If you're more familiar with one of these operating systems, that could be the most important factor. If you don't like using macOS, get a PC. If you don't like using Microsoft Windows, get a Mac.
I still cannot decide on what type of computer to get
Finally, if you're still having difficulties deciding what type of computer to buy, use the following link to guide you in your buying decision.
Additional information
On day one, there is nothing like the speed of a Mac, but unfortunately like all computers, Macs also need occasional “tweaking” to speed up your Mac again to first day newness. These are some of the things I have found to be most useful for bringing back that speed of old. Please consider sharing this article to your favorite Social Media site if helpful!
1. Restart your Mac somewhat frequently.
Like the Energizer bunny, a Mac running OS X can stay on its feet seemingly forever. Launch Terminal (found in /Applications/Utilities) and enter uptime. You’ll learn how long your Mac has been running since the last reboot. If it’s been buzzing along for a while, restarting it may afford it the opportunity to flush out some old junk that’s slowing it down.
2. Keep the desktop clean of files.
If you have a lot of files on the desktop your Mac will slow down. Tidy up those files by placing them in folders and the Finder will be much faster.
3. Clean Out Startup Items
Some applications automatically (or when asked) set themselves as a “startup item”, which causes them to open at every restart or login. You can find out what is in your startup items list by navigating to Apple Menu > System Preferences > Accounts > Login Items. You may be surprised at how many there are.
To remove them, simply select the item by clicking on its name and then hit the “minus” button at the bottom of the list. However, be sure that you know what you’re removing; otherwise you may kill some critical function for the next time you restart.
4. Remove unnecessary files from your hard drive.
If your hard drive is nearly full, your Mac will run more slowly. Archive or trash old files you no longer need. A good program to do this is MacKeeper. It’s also good for security and increasing speed.
5. Add RAM.
More RAM can speed up some applications.
6. Restart your browser and clear its cache.
Browsers are notorious for slowing down after they’ve been running for a long time. If you find that your Web surfing has been reduced to dog-paddling, quit and restart your browser. If it’s still slow, clear its cache. In Safari choose Safari -> Empty Cache. In Firefox choose Firefox -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Network and click the Clear Now button.
7. Check login items.
Background applications and processes can slow down your Mac. Open the Accounts system preference, select your account, and click the Login Items button to take a gander at what’s slated to run at startup. Do you need everything it lists? If not, delete the unnecessary items.
8. Check Activity Monitor.
Launch Activity Monitor (found in /Applications/Utilities), choose My Processes from the pop-up menu at the top of the window, and click the CPU heading. Look at the top several items. This tells you what’s drawing most of your Mac’s attention. Are there items there that you can do without?
9. Quit applications.
Per the last suggestion, it’s very easy to run multiple applications on your Mac. But perhaps there are more running than you need. Look in the Dock. If you see scads of applications with little blue dots beneath their icons (indicating that they’re active), quit those you aren’t planning to use in the near future.
10. Speed up your wireless network.
There are times that your network is the bottleneck rather than your Mac. If you suspect this is the case, you may want to upgrade to the latest router.
11. Buy a faster (or different) drive.
A faster hard drive can speed up your Mac as can a solid state drive (SSD). SSDs can have read and write times that are four to five times faster than a standard spinning hard drive.
12. Run Cleaning Software
Whenever things get slow on my Mac, one of the “go to” solutions is to run a utility like MacKeeper.
How To Get My Mac Faster
This utility offers a variety of “jobs” and “repairs” to the system, and my experience has been that it brings a good level of optimization back to my Mac.
How To Make Mac Faster
Hopefully this has been helpful to speed up your Mac and bringing new life back, and if so please consider retweeting and liking this page for others to enjoying it as well!