The School Year is Ending, Considered Using a Mac for Next Year?

You’ve probably seen those ads on TV, “Hi I’m a Mac, and I’m a PC.”
Apple has some great marketing going on, and more and more computer users, especially college students are making the switch. In my second year of university, I’ve noticed a lot more students packing Apple laptops compared to my first year. As the school year comes to an end, the thought of purchasing a new Macbook has possibly crossed your mind. Maybe you want to know what all the hype is about.

Well, I’m here to lay out the pros and cons. I would like to advise college students who are considering switching whether or not they really need to.

Pros:

1. The OS is not as vulnerable to spyware and viruses
   This is one of the biggest benefits of switching. I’m not trying to be biased about this either. Compared to the user experience on either Windows XP or Vista, Mac OS X helps you achieve that piece of mind when using your computer. Honestly, there are hardly any viruses for this platform, and if an exploit has been found, Apple is quick to patch it up. Spyware is also non-existent. The OS is solid and secure. It’s nice to be able to concentrate on your work without having to worry about your vulnerability on the internet.
2. There is no trial bloatware bundled
   One major problem that is starting to become recognized in the PC industry is the amount of bloatware that is bundled when you buy a new computer from manufacturers such as Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Sony (they’re one of the worst), etc. Annoying AOL trials and other trial software initially take up a bunch of space and it takes effort to clear them out.
3. Peripheral installations are easy
   It is so convenient to just plug a peripheral into your computer without having to search through CDs or the internet for its drivers. Most* of the extra hardware you plug into any Apple computer will start to work within seconds without having to install anything extra.
   * There are a few legacy devices or really new devices with extra functionality that need extra installation. Chances of you needing to install something extra are much slimmer compared to Windows though.
4. Apple laptops start up instantly from sleep
   Most PC laptops I know of need a few seconds to wake-up from sleep. This feature is nice for lectures. Perhaps you thought the professor was done and you took the initiative to put your laptop to sleep and pack up…but wait, they have more to say. No problem, just open the lid and start typing again (provided you left the word processor open).
5. It is possible to run Windows too
   Although the procedures are a little bit advanced, being able to run Windows is bonus for the time being. The software required to allow Windows to dual boot on an Apple machine is still in beta stages. There is virtualization software as well (eg. Parallels Desktop for Mac), but in my experience, you will need lots of RAM to run it. It really slowed my iMac to a crawl, which only had 1GB of RAM, while I was working on other things as well.

Cons:

1. Some software needed for courses aren’t available for Mac
   If you’re going to take a course which needs programs that are only available for Windows, it’s probably best you stick with a PC. Even though Macs can run Windows, the experience of running Windows on a PC instead of an Apple laptop is much better. Apple still has one button for the touchpad on their laptops, and trying to right click with it while running Windows isn’t going to be easy. It’s also likely that if these needed programs are Windows only, the industry is going to be Windows only.
2. It takes some getting used to
   Mac OS X does do things differently to Windows. I’ve come across various users who made the switch not knowing what they were going to need to learn to adjust and have just expressed their hatred towards the platform. If you are really used to running Windows and get frustrated with computer troubles easily, you need to be able to adjust to Mac OS X. It does take time to get used to the way Mac OS X handles various things.

Other Comparisons:

• Stability
  Most people say that Mac OS X is more stable compared to Windows. I used to say this as well, but in reality, if you maintain Windows really well, both operating systems are equally stable. I’ve had my fair share of application freezes with Mac OS X.

How did I switch?

During the summer of 2005 prior to starting university, I decided to take the plunge by switching and purchased a brand new iBook G4. Buying this laptop during the summer was probably one of the smartest things a switcher could do, since I had loads of time then to get accustomed to the ways of Mac OS X. Unfortunately Macbooks were released shortly after, but I’m not kicking myself for not waiting, my iBook is still a great laptop.

To those who have never used Mac OS X before and would like to switch for the upcoming year, you might want to do what I did and purchase an Apple laptop or desktop months before the next school year starts. Apple usually has some back to school promotions right before the school year. Buying at the beginning of the promotion is the best time since you might get a free iPod with your purchase, and having your hands on your new computer early will give you adequate time to get accustomed to the ways of the OS. It does have its differences to Windows.

“<insert OS here> is better”

If you feel that the OS and computer you are already using fits the needs of your lifestyle quite well already, there is no reason to fix what isn’t broken. Just stick with what you already like and have already.

So, anybody thinking of switching?