The Great PC vs. Mac Debate
July 7, 2010
Yes, I know it’s a tired debate but it’s one I just can’t seem to let go. You see, I’ve always been a PC fanboi. I’ve told everyone I can think of over the past fifteen years of being in the computer tech field that PC’s are superior to everything. I’d say things like: “PC’s are great, you can upgrade components as you go!” “Most computers today are run on Microsoft, that’s got to tell you something.” “I can play more games on PC.” “Mac’s are more expensive!” And while Mac’s may be more expensive and even though there may not be as many games being developed for Mac, my mind is starting to change. I believe that’s because with all the things Mac’s can do, they seem to do them right. The Hardware Issue: This actually used to be my main argument for owning a PC. I could upgrade my computer as I go, buying a video card from one place and a hard drive from somewhere else and installing them myself. I take a lot of pride in the fact that I can break down a computer, rebuild it from scratch and then install Windows and all my other software. I’m like a car mechanic but with far less useful skills. However, nowadays I find myself upgrading less. I worry more about stability issues rather than if my latest graphics card is going to push the boundaries of my video games. There are so many other things to worry about like late bills and hackberry eating dogs! Why the hell would I want to worry if my computer is going to start tomorrow morning in time for work? Or maybe in the middle of a Go-To-Meeting I’ll get the blue screen of death because a USB driver failed. I’m simply tired of the extra stress, especially if there is a better solution out there. I mean, do Mac users even have a blue screen of death equivalent? I just don’t hear the same complaints coming from Mac users that their hardware fails as much as someone who builds their own PC’s. Sure, I could go buy a Dell but it would still have Windows on it and that almost defeats the purpose doesn’t it? My only reluctance of letting my PC go is the difficulty in keeping up with the latest games and the demands they can put on a computer. However, even as I write this my gaming days seem to be slowing down. The Browser Issue: Let’s be honest. You just don’t hear Mac users complaining about software failure. I’m sure it happens but it must be rare because I know a ton of Mac users and they never complain. Ever. It’s just seems to be us poor Microsoft users. Is there anyone out there with a “crash proof” PC? I’d sure like to meet that guy and asked why he never turns on his computer. It all really started when I became a web developer. Because I didn’t use Firefox that often, I rarely saw the difference in the commonly used browsers. I just used Internet Explorer faithfully without question. The reality is there just hasn’t been a version of Internet Explorer out there that has treated me right. On the other hand, Firefox treats me with the utmost respect and kindness. Firefox rarely crashes while Internet Explorer seems to enjoy the vast amount of ways it can ruin my day. Fast forward fifteen years and here we sit. My default browser is now Firefox and I’m itching for the moment I can purchase my very first Mac. It’s an exciting time. The amount of browsers is growing which means that the level of difficulty in coding a compatible website across all of them is daunting. Every web developer has felt this burden when trying to make sure all of your web pages look the same across all browsers. It can be a logistical nightmare! And that’s the beauty of Firefox. I can always count on Firefox to look like it should while most of the issues seem to come from Internet Explorer. A Foregone Conclusion I can see that in the not too distant future I’ll be writing to you on a shiny new Mac laptop. As my state of thinking evolves I realize that maybe nowadays PC’s just aren’t for me. They always seem to be one headache after another. My Mac loving friends never seem to have the problems I do and I’m a bit jealous. Anybody feeling the same?
