Apple vs Microsoft - My opinion on the matter

So Mac vs. Windows... iPod vs. Zune... Big debates, a lot of opinions flying around, a lot of facts, and even more misconceptions. Also a lot of unfair biases are thrown around constantly. First of all, let me get the most unfair comparison out of the way. This one REALLY bothers me...

ready?

STOP COMPARING MAC OSX, A 2009 OPERATING SYSTEM TO WINDOWS XP, A 2002 OPERATING SYSTEM!

Now that my vent is cleared out, let me get to my opinions of things.

So, to start let me say this. Macs and PCs are the same price. PCs have cheaper hardware and more you can do with it, but a stupidly expensive OS. Macs have much more expensive hardware that you can't do anything with, but a much cheaper and reasonable OS. The software package that comes with a Mac is much better than most of the software you must buy for Windows, especially in the audio / video realm. The webcam features on a Mac are also far superior. (Talking about base operating system, mind you). You do get much more for your money with buying a Mac, BUT the price will run you much more. That's just the way things go. When Windows has a new Service Pack, you don't pay for it. Every time Apple revises something in their OS (like leopard to jaguar to snow leopard to saber-toothed tiger, etc...), you must pay for it.

As for graphic design, I will tell you that I have a much easier time working on Photoshop on a PC than on a Mac. Primary reason for this is the way that Windows handles the actual software window. Macs open up all of the windows that the software needs and they look separate and scattered. I also have found that alt+tab on a PC allows me to quickly access different tools that I need when working in InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and other such programs. Dreamweaver and Flash operate about the same in both. Both are equal here.

Video - Final Cut is better than anything that can exist. Sorry, but I'm very biased on this one. Mac wins by a long shot here.

Audio - GarageBand... Comes free with it... and nothing on Windows quite comes close to what it can do without going into Cubase / Reason... And if you're going to spend that kind of cash, just get ProTools, which is available on both. I've had my problems with Mac ProTools, but that has more to do with the OS than with the actual software. Both are equal, IF you are willing to spend the $200 on a PC for a better sound card, by M-Audio or something. Mac wins here.

Gaming - Yes, gaming. Let's put it this way - if you're going to game, you either need a console or a PC. There's no such thing as Mac in the gaming world. PC wins by a long shot here.

Viruses - OK, here's a big one. People get viruses. A lot of them on PC, but mostly because of things they do that they shouldn't be doing. Checking out your porn or downloading illegal software and media are two things that cause a lot of viruses to get into your computer. Also, misconception time - Adware / Spyware / Malware can seem like viruses, but they're easily removed with a free program like Malware Bytes and Super Anti-Spyware. That and a good anti-virus program are all you need. "But AJ, you don't need anti-virus software on a Mac." Yes, you do, but it's not as important. Keep in mind, the extra $50 you put out a year for anti-virus programs is made up for the $600 for a PC vs $1600 for a Mac. Unless you have that PC for 20 years, it shouldn't even be considered a problem. Mac wins here, but not by much. It's your own responsibility to know what to click and what not to click.

Overall reliability of the system - Hardware is hardware. It will fail or it will last. Nothing new here. BSOD is just as common as BBOD. It happens. I've seen hard drives crash on both. It happens. Both are equal here.

As for other things, I don't like iPods if you're running PCs. iTunes has a problem with my two computers and Quicktime acts like it's a virus, taking things over that it shouldn't. I don't THINK that Zunes will work on anything OTHER than Windows... In the end... 3rd party MP3 players act like jump drives. Just go with those... lol

I feel like Apple is trying to monopolize the industry a bit too much. Jobs and Gates need to get a cup of coffee together and realize they're different. Too much hate in the world as it is.

Just use what works best for you. I don't like Mac. I will never use a Mac unless they do somethings closer to Windows (File management is a big one - I can't say I'm a fan of storing my files on a Mac)... But, why would they do that? In the end, Mac is better for most people. Windows is better for gaming or those that are really fussy about how their system is set up. Linux is free, but that's a different blog post! Seriously though, I prefer Windows, but Mac is better.