Mac vs. PC Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mac vs. PC - Essay Example Because of the two different models of manufacture, each type of computer, Macintosh and PC, has its strengths and weaknesses. Since Apple controls every level of the manufacture of Macs, one of the positives of the platform is that there is a high level of quality control. Also, since Apple designs the hardware to run their software exclusively, the Mac operating system is very stable. Because PC manufacturers are unsure what operating system (OS) their user will purchase, they are unable to design a system solely for a single OS. The result is that, whatever OS the user chooses for their PC, it will likely not be as stable as the Mac OS. Also, since PC manufacturers source their hardware from other suppliers whom they do not control, the level of quality is not always as high as a Mac. One of the drawbacks to Apple’s level of control is that they employ many proprietary technologies. These technologies often require the user to purchase specialty products from Apple in order to perform tasks that PCs can accomplish with generic products. One example of this situation is in the way Macs and PCs connect to external displays. PCs, because they are produced by so many different manufacturers, rely upon international standards for technologies. For external displays, PCs typically use HDMI connections. Apple, however, does not follow the international standards. In order for a Mac user to connect to an external display, he must purchase a special cable available only from Apple instead of a standard HDMI cable. The result is that the Mac user must spend more money to accomplish a task because the proprietary technology is more expensive than the standard technology. Another drawback to Apple’s approach is that the level of customizability of the Mac is generally much lower than that of a PC. A Macintosh computer typically comes from the factory with nearly maximum performance. Apple provides very little