Why get a PC when you can get a Mac?

This is the second part to my “” posts. In this part, I will discuss why we should embrace the “Mac evolution”, and sacrifice paying just a little more for a better experience.

Overview:

• The whole Mac thing
• Expensive, but good
• Compatibility with Windows

First off, I’d like to say that I’m a huge Apple fan. Unfortunately, I don’t own a Mac, since I’m still in high school and Windows is just fine for me right now. I do plan on getting one in the future, possibly when I leave school in Grade 12.

• The whole Mac thing

Ok, you’ve probably heard of Macs, and maybe even had the opportunity to try one out (if you haven’t, then check out the iStore in Gateway, Durban). Immediately, you’ll notice something… something different. Where’s the Start menu? Why the heck is the cursor black? Well, that’s because Macs run on OS X, a different operation system to Microsoft Windows. Apple states on its website that OS X is the “most advanced operating system in the world”. And they are perfectly right about that. Because on Apple’s OS X, there’s no “cryptic error messages”, or messages asking you if you really want to open the application you just clicked (yes, Vista actually does this).

No, OS X does just what an OS should do, and that is to stay “transparent”. It works quietly in the background and doesn’t bother you, so that you can get on and do the work you need to acomplish.

But, Macs don’t come cheap… and that leads me to my next point…

• Expensive, but good

Macs are extremely expensive. I mean, the base laptop, the simplest MacBook configuration, costs nothing under R9000. But, just think about this: if you buy a new PC, for, let’s say R5000, that comes with a flavour of Vista. You’re still going to need to buy extra applications in order to get some work done with your PC. Buying all these applications will most probably result in you spending more than what you actually spent on your PC!

So, isn’t it worthwhile to get a Mac instead? Yes. Here’s why: Macs come with everything you need to begin working. They come with iLife, a set of applications for Mac that lets you create and edit your own movies “like a pro” in iMovie, make your own music in GarageBand and edit photos in PhotoBooth. These are award-winning applications are simple, intuitive and amazing!

• Compatibility with Windows

You may be wondering if Macs can run Windows apps. Well, no, not really. But that’s where software like Paralells and BootCamp come in. Paralells allows you to actually run Windows XP (or Vista, if you’re a brave soul) in a window within your Mac. Amazing. But, it costs R700. So that’s where BootCamp comes in. With this utility, you can install Windows on a partition (section) of your hard drive, and the next time you start-up your Mac, it’ll ask you whether you want to run Windows or OS X.

So, the choice is yours: do you want to join the 90% of users in the Windows market who just use Windows to get by with their life, or the 10% in the Mac market, who use their computers to enjoy living their life.