The battle of the computers: Macs vs. PC

Macs
By Lindsey Miller

As we live in this modern day computer age, it's hard to tell where to turn. Should I buy PC or Mac, and if I decide on a PC, which type of PC should I get? Should I get a laptop or a desktop? Let's just face it, Microsoft has become completely outdated, and their market share is diminishing significantly. The entire reason that they've come out with the new XP is because their operating systems for home users worked essentially like a virus. They were so anxious to get XP out onto the market that they sold a product with tons of problems. Macintosh has out performed any of the PCs on the market, and the trend in hardware design and software ability is following in Mac's footsteps. Everyone else is vying to catch up to Mac's innovative models and ingenious software. But aside from that, there are some great reasons to go with a Mac if you're a college student.

As a student, the best reasons to go with a Mac would be music, or graphics and web design. Since it is also practical to look into purchasing a Macintosh, let's take a look at their recent line-up in laptops. Laptops are the hottest items on the market, and Macintosh does theirs exceptionally well.

The iBook, which I own, is a practical laptop for any college student. Coming with a 12"-14" screen, a DVD/ CD-RW drive, 30 megabytes of Hard Drive, an 800 megahertz processor, and firewire (Fiber Optics), USB, and Ethernet ports, it is priced from anywhere between $1,199 and $1,699, plus you can get a $50 to $100 discount for just being an ORU student. It's light and easy to carry around with you so you can bring it to class to take notes on and it is more durable than any other laptop on the market (with the exception of the Titanium PowerBook.)

The Titanium PowerBook is about the coolest looking computer on the market, isn't very practical as far as pricing goes, but if you can afford it, there are many perks that make it an unbelievable computer. It is the most durable laptop since it is made from a titanium alloy. It comes standard with four USB ports, two firewire ports, a 17", 15" or 12" screen, an 867 megahertz dual processor, a DVD-R/CD-RW disk drive, anywhere from 40 to 60 megabytes of hard drive space, and an incredible graphics processor. The machine is built for running large graphics programs, so for music production or graphic and web design, it is the best laptop on the market.

Another great thing about the Macintosh is that they offer great discounts to college students. I got $100 off my iBook, and $250 off Office (originally $400). You can get these discounts by calling Apple at 1-800-MY-APPLE and asking for customer assistance, or you can go to the website at Apple.com and select college student option.

If you are in the market for a new computer, Macs are definitely the better choice. Combining fresh ideas with state of the art hardware and software, Macintosh has proven that they deserve the phenomenal comeback that is essentially pulverizing Microsoft and the other PC providers.


PCs
By Matthew Mark Miller

I've been a computer user and programmer for years, using both PCs and Macs. You can therefore take my word for it that, whether for college or as you graduate, a PC is your best option. I ask you to consider the price, power and possibilities a PC offers you.

Price. Mac users will only grudgingly admit it, but any Mac will cost significantly more than its PC counterpart. Consider that the typical top-of-the-line to trashcan lifetime of any computer is four years. Consider also that owning a computer is becoming as essential as having a car, a phone and a credit card.

Then consider these figures, current as of January 15. Mac G4 desktop: $4,448. Identically featured Dell desktop: $3,039. Mac iBook laptop - $1,599. The comparable Dell laptop - $1,365.

Figure a new computer every four years, conservatively speaking, from now until the day we all stop using computers for research, business, weather, movies, music, news and communication. You do the math.

Power. I've heard people tell me that Mac G4s are superior to any PC because "G4s come standard with two processors instead of one! They're way faster!" Frankly, I find this hilarious.

An analogy: Picture Adam, the big Australian ex-military guy on ORU's track team. Now picture a fight between Adam and not one but two of the ORU sprinters.

This would, of course, never happen, because Adam is a docile and peace-loving man. But seriously, a Corvette versus a Geo Metro with twice the horsepower? You get the picture.

If you aren't convinced, however, visit http://www.digitalvideoediting.com
For years, video, music and graphics performance have been Mac proponents' biggest selling points. See how a dual-processor G4 fared against a single-processor Dell running Adobe's digital video benchmarks - i.e., comparative performance tests - using a Mac video format.

"Power? I just want something cute that burns CDs and plays movies." Even if you're looking for an "entry-level" machine, you will pay less for your PC, even a cute PC, than for the equivalent Mac. Guaranteed.

It's simple economics. With a Macintosh, Apple makes the whole thing, stem to stern, and then sets its price. With PCs, hardware and software vendors abound. Competition drives prices down and innovation up, saving you money.

Possibilities. Nearly 80 percent of all software released is for the PC first and, often enough, for the PC only. Sometimes a "ported" version will be written for the Mac OS, but only if there is sufficient clamor from the Mac community.

The moral is simple. Whatever you want to do with a computer, you can do more of it faster and cheaper with a PC. And, equally as cool, you can do it all for less.

So there. www.pc.com/switch. My name is Matthew Miller, and I'm a college student.

Finals Schedule