What is the difference between an Apple (MacOS) computer or a PC (Windows)?

I’m going to start this post off with something that I hope will not be controversial. Both Apple computers and Windows ones are very good at what they do. Apple and Microsoft are two of the world’s biggest companies and there is good reason for their success.

Apple made their name in computing way back in the 1970s and computers still form a significant part of their business – around 11% of their revenue comes from computer sales (source). Microsoft originally started at a similar time but rather than developing computer hardware, they concentrated on creating operating systems that would work on any compatible computer – notably MS-DOS in 1981 and then Microsoft Windows in 1985.

Understanding how an operating system is important

Knowing what an operating system is helps you to understand one of the key differences between choosing an Apple computer or a Windows based one. The operating system of a computer is the software it uses to allow you to interact with it and understand it. A computer itself is a collection of chips and circuitry, meaning it can only talk in 0s and 1s. The operating system allows you to use your computer. It manages all the different components for you and accepts instructions from you in your language and gives the computer those instructions in the 0s and 1s it understands. This site explains what an operating system is really well if you would like to learn further.

Apple and Microsoft are the company names, but MacOS and Windows are the names of the operating systems. They go about the job of managing your computer quite differently, which is why the experience of using a Mac or PC feels different. It is difficult to find objective comparisons of the two, because whether you’re a Mac or PC person seems to be one of those things that people identify with very strongly, which effectively makes if difficult for them to conceal their bias one way or another. So I will go back to my earlier, non-controversial statement. Both Macs and PCs are extremely good at what they do. That is why they still continue to sell so well.

Get off the fence.

Yes, that is fair enough. You need to know what the difference is if you’re going to choose between them, right?

I will try to be as fair as I possibly can. Please understand that the bias I have shown against [insert your favourite here] and the favouritism I showed to [insert the other one here] is not intentional. So, in alphabetical order…

Apple Mac

You can buy a range of Apple computers, both in laptop and desktop form factors. Apple not only makes their own operating systems, it also makes the computers themselves. This gives them tight control over the quality of the products they offer. You can’t buy a non-Apple computer that runs on MacOS.

This means that your choice of computer is narrowed down – although Apple offers different options, you will not have to choose between similar computers made by different companies as you would with a Windows computer. The main options are: MacBook Air (lightweight laptop), MacBook Pro (more powerful laptop), Mac Mini (cheapest option, small-sized desktop), iMac (mainstream desktop) and Mac Pro (most expensive, high-powered desktop).

The advantages of an Apple computer tend to be that their components, design and build quality are often very good. For example, the screens on Apple laptops do tend to be excellent. People interested in high end graphic design or photography often use Macs for this reason. As Apple is in full control of the computers they produce, you can be confident of a high-end experience. That does not mean that Windows PCs cannot match or exceed this experience, it just means that there is a wide variety of companies making a wide variety of Windows computers from a wide variety of components.

Other advantages are that there tend to be fewer viruses for Mac computers and they have a reputation for being very intuative and easy to use. They also tend to have a good customer support experience and they are extremely well integrated with other Apple products, such as iPhones.

The disadvantage is that this tends to come at a cost. Apple products are typically more expensive than PCs, but it is not just the cost at purchase. They tend to be more difficult to upgrade or repair and while the after-sales support is excellent, it comes at a cost too. Compatibility is another consideration. Apple products work extremely well with other Apple products but that doesn’t always extend outside of the Apple ecosystem. You should be aware that any software you purchase or hardware or peripherals will need to be Mac compatible and it is challenging that many of these products do not have the same level of competition between manufacturers, often meaning costs are frequently higher. For example, at the time of writing, the official Apple store only offers one mouse, costing £79. The official Microsoft store offers a range of mice from £17 to £170.

Windows PC

Windows is the operating system, not the computer. Microsoft makes very few computers themselves, meaning there are hundreds of manufacturers competing against each other to provide laptop and desktop computers. This is a bit of a double-edged sword – on one hand, this competition tends to drive price down, but on the other, it also means that quality control is not a given as it is on a Mac. There are thousands of high quality PCs out there for sale, but there are also underpowered ones using cheap components that may not last as long as you’d expect. If you are going to go for a PC, do your research. You can, of course, always ask me and I’ll let you know what specifications to look out for, but always look at product reviews to see what the computer is like to live with.

Other advantages are that Windows PCs do tend to be easier to upgrade or repair down the line and you are not usually restricted to one specific repairer. They are by far the most common computing platform across the world, accounting for about 80% of all computers in use today, as opposed to about 7.5% running MacOS (source). This makes becoming familiar with Windows quite a useful skill for anyone who might be using a computer in another setting, such as a workplace or school. If you are interested in gaming, PCs tend to have far wider options and buying peripherals for your computer (such as printers, keyboards, monitors or mice) again will typically present you with more choice and lower prices than the Mac equivalents. Again, you should remember that while the range of choice and prices are wider, so is the range of quality and reliability.

So which should I choose?

That is your decision to make. You will have to make your decision based on what is right for you. While it is true that Macs do tend to be somewhat more expensive, both in terms of initial purchase and subsequent costs, there are many people who see this as the necessary cost of receiving all the benefits that Mac ownership brings. Similarly, PC users do tend to have their own reasons for wanting a Windows machine, whether it is choice, compatibility or value for money. For many people, the decision is based on familiarity with the platform they are most used to. The good news is that whichever you choose, there are lots of high quality options available.

James