The rivalry between the MacBook and the PC laptop has been ongoing on for many years. It is as fabled as the legendary battle of David vs. Goliath. On the one hand, the MacBook, and particularly the flagship MacBook Pro, is famed for its exquisite style, exceptional build quality and lightning speed of use. On the other hand, the PC laptop, featuring the Windows operating system and manufactured by a variety of brands, is celebrated for its inexpensiveness, its accessible user interface, and the usefulness of its programs. The battle continues, with several excellent new laptops from both sides of the debate hitting the shelves in the first few months of 2016. This blog post will take a quick look at some of these newest models and the ongoing battle between the two competing formats.

Gaming Fitness. It's also difficult to argue against a Mac's aesthetic value. I completely understand the sticker shock people get when comparing a Mac computer to a PC. So instead of. It’s certainly possible to run games on a Mac, but PCs are generally considered better for hard-core gaming. Read more about Mac computers and gaming. The Mac vs PC debate will continue as long as they are the two major choices for hardware and operating systems.

MacBooks were first released under the guidance of Apple’s technological mastermind, Steve Jobs, in 2006. MacBooks differed from PC laptops in that they were often more expensive than their counterparts.

They also made use solely of the OS X operating system, yet featured groundbreaking aesthetic design, lightning­-quick performance, and minimal background noise.

They soon became immensely popular across the world and are currently the best-­selling laptop model worldwide, being sold under the ‘MacBook Air’ lightweight edition, the regular MacBook, and the ‘MacBook Pro’ model.

PC laptops, on other hand, first appeared on the scene in the 1990’s, specifically with the release of IBM’s seminal ThinkPad.

Since then, models such as the Sony Vaio, HP Pavilion and Acer Aspire, celebrated for their ease of use and relative inexpensiveness, have achieved millions of sales globally.

As opposed to MacBooks, PC laptops make use of the highly familiar Microsoft Windows operating system, itself featuring the Microsoft Office Suite amongst numerous other useful desktop programs.This, in turn, appeals to a wide variety of demographics: students catching up on assignments, office workers creating PowerPoint presentations, and beginners attempting to use personal computers for the very first time.

When faced with a physical model of the top level 15” MacBook Pro and that of your run-of­-the­-mill PC laptop placed side­ by ­side, you will most likely spot some marked differences in aesthetics. The current line of MacBook Pros, for instance, makes profound use of a utilitarian design ethos. Featuring striking curves, expensive materials, wafer-thin bodies and the ubiquitous ‘Apple’ logo on each cover, the MacBook Pro 15” model has praised by many for its stunning beauty.

On the other hand, PC laptops enjoy the accessibility and universality of the Windows operating system, complete with easy­ to­ access menus, a straightforward folder structure and extensive customisation abilities. Nonetheless, the popularity of the iPhone and other associated Apple products swings the pendulum in favour of the MacBook Pro once more, with connection between products, connection to Apple’s iTunes Store, and uploading to the expansive file­ storage service iCloud all big draws. Performance wise, both formats feature models of impressive capability, the ​Lenovo IdeaPad Y700, for instance, boasts 16GB of RAM and a 2.6GHz Intel Core i7­6700HQ processor, while the very top­spec MacBook Pro makes use of a 2.5Ghz Quad­Core Intel Core i7 processor and AMD Radeon R9 graphics card.

In terms of resourcefulness, PC laptops offer lots to students for a relatively low price. Models such as the Dell XPS 13, priced at $799, run the latest edition of Microsoft Office Suite, perfect for writing that last­ minute essay or creating a special­ effects laden PowerPoint presentation for tomorrow’s seminar.

Furthermore, models such as the Asus Zenbook UX350, featuring a clear and responsive keyboard, a straightforward graphical user interface and excellent social integration are clear winners in terms of functionality and ease ­of­ use. Wi-Fi connectivity is also wonderfully quick and very straightforward to access. The Asus, priced at $794, is relatively cheap to purchase. The Macbook Pro (priced between $1,099 and $2,499 ), also offers several key features to attract students, including a 3­ month free trial of Apple Music, and a wealth of useful programs such as iTunes and Facetime.

Both PC laptops and the MacBook Pro have made significant strides in terms of battery life. The latest 13­inch MacBook Pro supports up to 10 hours of internet browsing, while the similarly priced Toshiba Kirabook reaches the 9 hour, 7 minute mark. Other models, such as the Lenovo ThinkPad X260 (priced at $999), the Acer Aspire One Cloudbook (priced at $218), and the Sony Vaio Z (priced at $1,549), have all been found to reach well­over the 10 hour mark of continuous web­ surfing.

Where both the Macbook Air models and Macbook Pro models appear to outperform is in their overall lifespan. The unibody aluminum shell of the latest line of MacBook Pro features, like most Apple products, very good build­quality and strength, while the products themselves come with very strong warranty agreements and the unique ability to enjoy free repairs at your nearest Apple Store.

In terms of overall performance, the highest specification MacBook Pro currently on the market, priced at $2,499, is top of the tree, featuring a 2.5Ghz Quad­Core Intel Core i7, with a AMD Radeon R9 graphics card and 16GB of internal memory. Nonetheless, cheaper PC laptop alternatives also come close. The recently­ released Dell XPS 13, for instance, packs in an Intel Core i7 processor, a Quad­HD touch display, and 8GB of internal memory, all for a mere $799. If you are in the market for something with a bit more grunt, the highly impressive Lenovo IdeaPad Y700 (priced at $1,035), with 16GB of RAM, a 2.6GHz Intel Core i7­6700HQ processor and a beautiful 15.6 backlit screen, makes the perfect companion for enjoying high­-definition video or playing power-hungry video games with online friends.

In conclusion, the choice really depends on your budget and needs. If you are after a good-­looking and lightweight laptop with an extensive battery life, the MacBook Air is an excellent choice; however it does come at a price of ​around $1000. The current line of Windows laptop PC’s, priced anywhere between $​300 for the ​Acer Aspire Notebook, and $1,799 for the Sony Vaio Z, come with all the useful Windows programs and office suites you would expect, plus a straightforward menu design and lots of options for customization. If, however, you are after the very best in laptops in 2016, the current 15” model MacBook Pro offers fantastic styling, a bright and beautiful screen and very impressive performance, though for the higher price of $2,499.

The Mac vs. PC debate is one of the most controversial topics when it comes to computers. This page gives a comparison between computers running Apple's macOS and those running Windows. We are looking to help users who are interested in buying a new computer, not dictating which brand is the 'best.'

Security

Mac - Traditionally, Macs have had fewer security vulnerabilities. Also, in overall numbers, Macs receive fewer viruses than PCs running Windows. However, these numbers can be misleading as Apple's computers only account for less than 10% of the market share. Consequently, PCs show that they not only have more vulnerabilities, but if one were looking to infect or illegally access the most computers, PCs are the easy target.

PC - More people today are using computers running some version of Microsoft Windows, which makes it a smarter target for attackers. That being said, Windows computers have had more security vulnerabilities than Apple computers in the past.

Bottom line: While newer versions of Windows have made significant improvements in security, most malware is created for PCs. Therefore, you're less likely to run into security issues with a Mac. Mac wins in this category.

Price

Mac - Although many people may argue, 'you get what you pay for,' when compared to a PC, an Apple computer, along with its peripherals, is far more expensive. However, Apple computers are built well, with high-quality components, whereas all PCs are not.

PC - Nearly all PCs, including their peripherals, are far less expensive when compared to a new Mac. They are especially cheaper when it comes to customization of the computer's components.

Bottom line:PC wins this category.

Operating system

Bottom line: This section is even as you're comparing apples and oranges. Both macOS and Windows 10 are clean, fast, highly capable operating systems. In this category, it comes down to personal preference and the user's specific needs. This category is a tie.

Windows is put onto PCs by multiple manufacturers, most of which add some form of bloatware. That being said, bloatware is removable. Either way, that doesn't mean that Windows 10 is an inferior operating system.

Mac users can use Boot Camp to run Windows on their computer. PC users can also install Linux on their computer and use it in conjunction with Windows or as an alternative to Windows.

Software

Bottom line: The number of software titles for Mac has grown over the years. However, Windows dominates the computer software market share, and developers are more likely to create software for PCs because of its larger user base. Furthermore, there are 100s of free programs available for PC that are not available to Mac owners. PC wins this category.

Build quality

Mac - Newer models of Macintosh computers are known for their exceptional quality across their entire line, including both laptops and desktops. Mac's offer a very compact profile regardless of form factor and are aesthetically pleasing.

PC - PCs have always been highly customizable, from cases to internal components, to monitors. As such, there are many different levels of build quality. Therefore, while you can get very high-quality components for a PC, you can also get those that are of poor quality.

Mac Vs Pc Laptop

Bottom line: While the quality of PC components can be as high, if we are to rate quality across the board, Mac wins this category - but situationally.

Customization and upgrades

Bottom line: Apple machines may be customized with several options. All their computers come pre-built and are only manufactured by Apple. PCs, however, have more pre-built options, due to a higher number of manufacturers. Furthermore, for those who want to build a computer, the options for customization are exponentially higher. PC wins this category.

Boot time

Bottom line: Traditionally, Macs were faster to boot up than PCs. However, with the advent of Windows 10, PC boot times have decreased dramatically. In some cases, Windows 10 performs faster than macOS. That being said, these differences are negligible when compared to hardware. The single biggest component in reducing boot time is the type of hard drive a computer has. Both Macs and PCs have SSDs available to them, but those who build PCs have much faster options. PC wins this category - but situationally.

Drivers

Bottom line: In the past, Mac certainly had the advantage here because Apple was their sole manufacturer of these computers. Consequently, Apple only had to create one set of drivers. PC, on the other hand, not only has many different pre-built manufacturers, but many interchangeable components as well, which required numerous drivers. However, in recent years, all devices are plug and play in Windows and no longer require the user to install drivers. This category is a tie.

Gaming

Bottom line: Over the years, computer game companies have shown increased support for Macs. However, Windows owns 90% of the market share, and as such, developers are far more likely to create games for that operating system. Additionally, because (built) PCs are much more customizable, their ability to run computer games is higher. Except for the Mac Pro, there aren't any Macs that keep up with a PC running a mid-range graphics card. PC wins this category.

Repair costs

Bottom line: Apple strives to make its Mac product line as sleek and compact as possible. To do so, they continue to further integrate their parts. Thus, when their desktop computers need to be repaired, they usually require more than one part to be replaced. Most desktop PCs on the other hand, have easy access to any part of the computer by removing a side panel. Laptop repair costs between the two platforms would be more similar, but Mac is still more expensive. PC wins this category.

Touch capability

Bottom line: When it comes to desktop and laptop computers (not mobile devices), Mac offers no touch screen capability, only the Touch Bar on some MacBooks. PC wins this category.

Additional disclaimers

Not all PC's are the same - There are many PC manufacturers, and thousands of models of computers, which means not everything mentioned above applies to every PC.

Mac Vs Windows For Gaming

My Apple can run Windows - Microsoft Windows can run on Apple computers using Boot Camp, which means not everything above may apply to your Mac. In the case of gaming, you may be able to run the latest games on your Mac using Boot Camp. However, Boot Camp is not perfect, and it does not mean every game can run on your computer since PC games are not developed with Apple hardware in mind.It's also not unlikely to encounter problems and have performance issues.

Mac Gaming Vs Pc Gaming

Windows XP is not Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10 - Windows XP is over 15 years old. Comparing a Windows XP computer to a new MacBook with OS is like comparing a Ford Pinto to a Ferrari. If you are trying to decide between purchasing a PC or a Mac, make sure you are comparing the latest models and that they have similar hardware components.