Now that Windows 7 is available, this question takes on added significance.\u00a0 The ease of use advantage that Apple once enjoyed is now a thing of the past.\u00a0 Windows 7 and Apple Snow Leopard have equally slick interfaces.\u00a0 Apple’s marketing campaigns have done a good job making the claim that Macs “just work” and and PCs don’t.\u00a0 Of course, plug and play has been built in to PCs since Windows 95.\u00a0 What makes connecting new devices to PCs or Macs “just work” is the software that vendors provide with their printers, digital cameras, etc., to make them work.\u00a0 The frustration long known by PC owners with old unsupported printers came to be known by Mac owners who upgraded to Snow Leopard (the newest Mac operating system), then discovered that their old printers no longer worked.\u00a0 So, whether you own a PC or a Mac, the truth is the same:\u00a0 “supported” hardware “just works,” and unsupported hardware probably doesn’t.<\/p>\n
Always clever and timely, Apple’s new marketing campaign talks about the pain of upgrading to Windows 7, but conveniently neglects to mention the catastrophic data loss suffered by many Mac owners who recently upgraded to Snow Leopard.\u00a0 Apparently, Mac owners using guest accounts (and some without them), lost all their data — all documents, music, photos, etc.\u00a0 For further information, here are two articles http:\/\/gadgets.boingboing.net\/2009\/08\/28\/snow-leopard-killed.html<\/a> http:\/\/news.cnet.com\/8301-31021_3-10373064-260.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are a few issues to help decide if a PC or Mac is right for you and your specific needs.<\/p>\n USE.<\/strong> How you are going to use your computer could determine which is right for your needs.\u00a0 For example, if you do video animation, and (if) the software you need to use is only available for the Mac, you have your answer.\u00a0 Although many industry-specific packages are only available for the PC, that might not be true in your specific situation.\u00a0 If appropriate, do the necessary research to determine what you need.<\/p>\n SUPPORT<\/strong>. Unless you are very technically sophisticated, you will require technical assistance on occasion.\u00a0 Conveniently available support at home or work, by IT staff, coworkers, family, or independent IT consultants will greatly enhance your computing experience.\u00a0 Determining what type of expertise is readily available should help make your decision easier.<\/p>\n DESKTOP SOFTWARE<\/strong>.\u00a0 If a large variety of readily available desktop software is a necessity for you, you should probably go with a PC.\u00a0 Conversely, if you have limited needs that are met by both platforms, then this will not be a determining factor.<\/p>\n COOL<\/strong>.\u00a0 Let’s face it — Apple products are cool.\u00a0 Although — in my opinion — the iPhone and iPods (especially the Touch!) have more of it than the Mac, the Mac does seem to have it, at a several hundred dollar premium to the PC.\u00a0 Although the new PC designs — especially ones with Piano Black finishes — are awfully slick looking, the Mac seems a bit more sleek.<\/p>\n CONTROL<\/strong>.\u00a0 Apple tightly controls the Mac platform, to a much greater extent than any one vendor controls the PC.\u00a0 If you like control (think of your favorite “hands on” sports franchise owner), you will love Apple.\u00a0 Many of the choices are made for you.\u00a0 Whether that’s a pro or con depends on your perspective and needs.<\/p>\n Good luck with your decision.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Windows 7 has eliminated the interface advantage that the Mac once enjoyed over the PC. To determine which is right for you, consider its planned use, support, availability of desktop software, cool factor, and desirability of tight vendor control<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[9,5],"class_list":["post-250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-technology","tag-technology","tag-technology-frustration-remediation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tfr.info-safety.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tfr.info-safety.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tfr.info-safety.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tfr.info-safety.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tfr.info-safety.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=250"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/tfr.info-safety.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":466,"href":"https:\/\/tfr.info-safety.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250\/revisions\/466"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tfr.info-safety.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tfr.info-safety.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tfr.info-safety.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}