Mac vs. PC: Does It Really Even Matter Anymore?

The personal computer revolution of the 70s and 80s, noted distinctly by the rise of now tech giants Apple and Microsoft, fueled an era of Mac vs. PC arguments. Macs are better! PCs are customizable! Macs were cool but expensive, while PCs were clunky but cheap. Back then, all these arguments were persuasive because there were very real differences between the two platforms, and they each had their own distinct advantages and disadvantages.

However, in today’s world where all computers are so powerful, and the software that runs them is so good, does the Mac vs. PC argument matter anymore?

Macs are not as expensive as they used to be. I know this because I was able to enter the world of Mac hardware in 2008 when the iMacs dropped to a price point that was within the boundaries of what I could afford. They were still more expensive than PCs, but then there was more functionality, particularly in terms of creative software applications. It was also possible to run Windows on it so in effect, I could run two computers on it. With today’s Macs, you can very easily run Windows side by side with OS X via virtualization, and it’s seamless and quick, without any lag time. You can have the best of both worlds at the same time.

PCs have also improved. Manufacturers still put “crapware” on their machines to offset costs, but it is possible to wipe all that out and have a pure Windows experience that is vastly superior to the “blue screen of death” days we all loved from the 90s to the mid-2000s. With the arrival of Windows 7, the operating system war and the whole Mac vs. PC debate didn’t seem relevant anymore because that OS was very good all round.

Using Windows these days doesn’t seem like a chore. I used to remember having to fiddle with drivers and settings on a constant basis back in the Windows 98 and XP days. Not so anymore. I barely think about how Windows is running, which is as it should be. Like the Mac OS X experience, Windows has matured in to a capable, powerful and mostly bug free operating system.

The Mac vs. PC debate, which had its last push during the Vista era, is no longer relevant. Sure, the “I’m a Mac, I’m a PC” ads were hilarious, but they took unfair advantage of perceived Windows faults of yesteryear, which probably weren’t entirely fair. Regardless of what system you choose these days, you’ll be on a winner.