Buying a Computer for College – The Real Skinny on the Mac vs. PC Debate

With retail stores struggling amidst a sour economy, students can now find some incredible deals on both desktop and laptop computers. Whether you are in the market for an upgrade or looking to purchase your first machine for college, the current sales environment is providing some of the best possible opportunities when it comes to proverbial bang for buck.

Yet the thought of a computer purchase brings about the ongoing debate: do I go Mac? Or is a PC the best option? Truly, this discussion has no simple right answer, but there are some key points to consider when making the choice.

Operating System Software – It Depends
There is little doubt that the number of applications available for Windows-based machines exceeds the possibilities for a Mac. The experts at Switched.com offer this simple statement: “Windows is the operating system for games — most popular titles, ‘Halo,’ ‘Bioshock,’ and ‘Crysis’ aren’t available on Mac or Linux.” Likewise, “uTorrent (the best BitTorrent client out there for peer-to-peer filesharing of movies, TV shows, and the like) is also Windows-only.”

Clearly, Mac is making major inroads in the software arena in virtually all other arenas outside of the gaming industry. Switched.com insists that “Macs excel at creative tasks, such as music creation, photo editing, and video production” Add to that, a substantial library of software such as iTunes, iLife, and Garage Band, that are shipped with every Mac” and it is easy to see why so many are firmly behind the Mac as the way to go.

Here there appear to be two clear divisions, if you are into gaming, then a PC is in the cards. If you are more into music, video, and the graphic arts, then a Mac is the machine for you.

Internet Attacks – Edge Mac
While there are more applications available for a Windows-based machine, there is little doubt that your PC will be exposed to an endless number of viruses and spyware that are targets of the Windows operating system. If you are buying a PC, then you will need the latest and best computer software protection available. And yet, you still might get zapped.

Macs are currently relatively free of the viruses and spyware that plague Windows users. There is the likelihood that fact could change down the road but currently Mac users face far fewer issues with downtime or file problems due to viruses and spyware.

Speed – Edge Mac
A recent set of tests by Popular Mechanics revealed PCs utilizing the Vista system to be remarkably more sluggish than Macs operating with Leopard. In various speed trials, PM noted that “Leopard OS trounced Vista in all-important tasks such as boot-up, shutdown and program-launch times.” In addition, when PM tested Vista on a Mac using Apple’s platform-switching Boot Camp, the “Apple computers ran Vista faster” than the PCs did.

Aesthetics – Edge Mac

When it comes to aesthetics, Switched.com gives the definite edge to Mac. “Simplicity, consistency, security, and good design count for a lot in the computer realm” so if you are “new to computing, want minimal hassle, and just need to get to work right away without having to wait two minutes or more for your PC to boot-up, then a Mac is for you.”

The general consensus is that Macs have it all over PCs when it comes to look and feel. Switched.com adds, “everything from the elegant look of the desktop and the innovative designs to the satisfying click the keyboard makes when you type on it makes the Mac a pleasant experience for just about anyone.”

Price – Edge PC
While there are exceptions, if price is your bottom line, then the general consensus is you will get far more bang for your buck with a PC. The major particular difference is when seeking options at the low end of the cost spectrum. For under $600 you will find a wealth of PC options. For a Mac, you will be hard-pressed to find anything other than the mini-Mac for such a price.

At times, though, this low-end pricing can be an example of “you get what you pay for.” Switched.com noted that PCs can “vary widely in terms of basic build quality.” In addition, when you move towards the upper end, it can be more expensive for a PC to match the software options for a Mac. But to purchase a Mac, you will need to be ready to outlay at least $1,000 for either a laptop or desk model.

Intangibles – It Depends
Your area of study and career choice should also factor into your decision. If you plan to work in the graphic arts field or any of the number of creative fields related to photography, music, or video production, we have already noted that Mac should be your choice. Yet in the business world, there is still a clear advantage to PCs. The folks at Money.CNN.com note that “major compatibility issues still lurk” and even though “Macs consistently excelled at running Microsoft Office,” the most utilized tool for business “Excel on the Mac is just awful.”

If we still haven’t given you enough cause for one over the other, Switched.com offers what just might be the clincher to go Mac. “Unlike Windows-based PCs, Macs can also run Windows using a program called Parallels Desktop or Bootcamp.” In simplest terms, theoretically you just might have access to the best of both worlds with a Mac.

Flickr photos courtesy of paperocks a.k.a. evalinda, Paul Watson, n8kowald, and Erik Eckel.