So you’re looking at laptops or trying to convince someone who holds the checkbook that you really need a new one. But you’re a little torn about what you should be getting. Should you get yourself a Mac or a PC-based laptop? Well, in the world of laptops there are lots of choices, so the best thing is to take a look at what you need it for.
First things first – both are going to be excellent choices. The abilities of modern laptops are truly mind-boggling. Just as smartphones are becoming like mini computers, laptops are becoming more and more like portable desktops. This is true across the board for both Mac and PC. Which brings us to sunny point number 2 – both Mac and PC compatible machines are fully capable of performing the majority of tasks that the average user would want and doing it with speed and style. That being said, what about the non-average user?
What is an average user and what do they do?
The average user of a laptop is a bit like the average user of a desktop – someone who wants to check the internet, read and reply to emails, store and organize photos and music, download a movie or two and maybe do some video-chatting with friends and family. Only thing is they want to do it on the go.
The non-average users are the ones who have more mission specific tasks in mind – photo editing, video-editing, business presentations, and programming on the go, IT service, whatever. The list goes on and on. For many of these people, the particular industry they are in or the activities they will be involved in will already dictate which choice they will need to make.
Another consideration is the area you might be using your new laptop. If you live in or will be living in cities where Mac laptops are popular, like Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York, it might be a good idea to go with the trend and take a good hard look at Mac laptops. Vice versa, if Macs are thin on the ground where you will be spending most of your time, for example many cities in Asia, then PC laptops might be a better choice. This is not about blending in but about getting service or a helping hand should anything go wrong with your computer. While most major cities have service centers for both respective types of laptops, traveling an hour or two one way across a busy city just to get your computer fixed isn’t an ideal situation to be in.
Lastly one needs to consider what kind of experience they are going for. In broad strokes, PC laptops are for those who do not mind a bit of tinkering while Mac laptops are primarily for those interested in a stylish and tinker free experience. While there are Mac lovers who dig playing with every aspect of their laptop, Apple has built their reputation on streamlined interfaces. Microsoft and Linux have not focused on that aspect of their software as much.
As mentioned before, if you are looking for just any old laptop, then Mac laptops or PC laptops will more than likely satisfy you. However if you have mission specific tasks that require one or the other, or are living in a hotbed of PCs or Mac-central, or have definite ideas about what kind of user experience you want, then you will more than likely be happier with one of the choices over the other.
What is your choice? Ma Laptops or PC Laptops? Do share your views with us, here in the comments section.
