When it comes to the Mac versus PC debate, I can easily see both sides. I can argue both sides. But the question I keep coming back to is what am I paying for?
Sure Mac is king when it comes to photo, music, or video editing. The fact is I simply don’t do much of that. Yes, my camera is practically an appendage if I leave the house for more than 24 hours. And yes, my music catalog is ever-expanding as a result of my iPhone. But I simply do not do much editing. I may take the redeye out of a photo every now and then but that is about the extent of it (and there are programs for PC that more than suffice). And as for my music, iTunes if available on PCs too. There is also the fact that I am used to PC. We’ve had a PC in my house since I was in kindergarten at least. Yet, Macs are supposed to be organic, the computer for everyman. Macs are less susceptible to viruses and crash less often than PCs, a fact that Apple was quick to exploit in their “I’m a Mac” ads. (I chose to include a British version of the ad because my love for Mitchell and Webb knows no bounds.) Longevity is important. My last two laptops, both PCs, died painful and early deaths due to hardrive errors and vista bugs. The air of promise in the Mac ads is that I can rest assured my purchase will last. Plus, Macs simply are sexier. They’re sleeker, slimmer, shiner, and hipper than PCs. They’re a status symbol.
But is that what I’m paying for?
For a long time, Windows seemed unable to come up with an effective counter ad to Apple’s “I’m a PC”. But lately their advertising execs have clued into the fact that one of the main things they have going for them is price. In one ad, a man has been charged with finding a laptop for under 1,500 dollars. He checks out the Macs noting their sexy figure, but wonders if people are paying for status and logo; fair point, well made my bargain hunting friend. Macs are expensive. The cheapest laptop is 1,000 dollars and features a 13” screen. There is also the fact that all my accessories, and most of those on the market are PC first and Mac compatible if forced to. I like the ease of having a PC, the familiarity, the applications, the availability of help. Put me in front of a PC and I know what I’m doing. Give me a Mac and I spend the first 10 minutes figuring out the mouse, where to find things, and re-learn the configurations. As the girl at the center of another Windows ad said, “maybe I’m just not cool enough to own a Mac”.
I can’t decide. I see both sides. But one thing is for sure. Before I drop 1,400 dollars (at least) on a new computer, I want to be sure I’m paying for more than a logo.
