Mac's or PC's?

Many years ago when we were putting in the first computer lab for our school, we had to choose which platform to use. The choices, as now, were Mac's or PC's. (Yes, some of you might be saying that all laptops, regardless of operating system, are PC's.) But we chose to use the Microsoft Windows. Why? It came down to two points - cost and availability of software. As with most choices in education, we had to look for the biggest bang for our buck. Years ago, IBM (at least I think it was IBM) made the decision to allow third party companies to produce compatible hardware for their computers. This meant that competition could kick in and prices would be cheaper. In order to buy an IBM compatible computer, you didn't need an IBM computer. You could have it made by someone else. You could make it yourself with individually selected parts. Or you could go with a big brand like IBM. But most of the IBM computers ran Microsoft Windows. And, because of the that, other software companies were able to start producing Windows based programs. So, my school chose IBM compatible PC's. Ironically, at the same time, most school districts in the nation were going with Apple products. I remember working on an Apple II. I had an Apple IIc at home with a color printer. (The old days.) The reason schools were going with Apple was because the company was putting itself out there for the educational sector. Apple was producing a lot more educational software than other companies. It was giving discounts to schools. And those were the days when education had a lot more money to invest in their classrooms and new techniques/strategies. But by the mid-1990's funding was starting to dry up. The people I worked with and myself were learning as we went. So we got the cheapest computers we could buy (they didn't even have hard drives), ran a network, loaded the software and watched what would happen. Fast forward to 2014. It is still a PC or Apple/Mac world. I am not going to deal with Android or Chrome. Chrome, no way for a school wide network. Android is not there yet. I don't know how many schools are now PC but I suspect most out there are still Apple/Mac schools. And, unless you use a program that allows you to run Windows in your Mac or the Mac OS in your Windows, you are still looking at a choice. So what are the advantages of Apple products? The biggest argument in their favor is quality. Macs are made well and they are great products. Ask anyone who had worked with either and he or she will tell you there are less hassles with Macs. I can start tweaking a PC and make it crash in no time at all, too many glitches. It takes me a lot longer to crash a Mac and I have only done so a few times. (Can you count the number of times your PC has frozen, stalled, crashed, buffered, or whatever on you? I can't.) And these days Apple has almost as many different software products as software for Windows machines. (Sorry, Linux users. This is not your fight.) Of course, for years Apple has led the tablet wars with the iPad. (Actually, Apple launched the first salvo with the iPad and waited for the others to try and catch up.) Ipad is still the best tablet out there, in my humble opinion, regardless of the lack of USB and printing limitations. But the others are getting better and Surface Pro 3 is leading the way by creating a tablet that is really a full computer in disguise. Apple has so many great apps. Android is hard on their heels. But Apple is still generally more expensive than comparable PC products. So, back to the question...Mac or PC? If I had unlimited funds, I would go with Macs. They are well-made, durable, reliable and Apple has established a good foundation in the educational arena. But money is never unlimited. The other reason we went with PC's years ago was that most businesses at the time were using Windows. Look at the checkout counter the next time you are at the store. It is probably a Windows based machine. In business offices Windows has been winning for years. So we wanted our students to have a basis in Windows based computing. Today, Apple may be making inroads into other areas besides education and creative design but it is mostly a Microsoft world and that is primarily because of one thing, cost. So, you have to decide if the quality of the product and long term investment is enough to decide on an Apple foundation. But, then again, long term is not something you want in the computer world. Buy an Apple product and it is already out-dated when it leaves the store. Don't believe me? Check the history of the various versions of iPhones. Anyone still using their 1st generation iPad? So you may invest the money long-term and then find your Macs or iPads are out of date and no longer will run the software you need. I know I keep adding a lot of ideas to the mix but you really have to decide for yourself based on what you have to spend, what you need, and where you plan to take your program in the future. Personally, I would love a Mac but I just can't afford one. So I am still hammering out this blog on a PC laptop. (All opinions in this blog are based on my own information and experience of 20+ in computers and education.)