As a private PC user, you may have asked yourself this question: Should I buy a Windows PC or a Mac? With a view to the price and the applications that you want to use on the computer, the answer is often not difficult.
Regardless of whether you just surf the Internet, write e-mails and use word processing programs or buy a computer for gaming, Windows is the first choice as the operating system. But many professionals and home users rely on Apple’s macOS. These can pay off, especially in companies. What are the major differences and which operating system is best suited for which company?
WINDOWS CHEAPER, MAC MORE DURABLE?
It is often believed that Windows PCs are cheaper, but Macs are more durable and will continue to do their job for years. Why is that? A closer look behind the scenes of both systems provides information:
The scope of services of the two operating systems Windows and macOS are roughly identical. So far, Microsoft has offered its Windows operating system for a fee, and in different variants. For home users, the Home Edition as a 32-bit operating system was sufficient, for companies the professional version with 64 bits was a must. With Windows 10, Microsoft then provided a free upgrade for all users of Windows 7 and 8 that had to be downloaded by the end of July 2016 and has since been updated automatically without having to install a completely new operating system. When buying a new PC, however, there are one-off costs if you want to install Windows on it. Apple, on the other hand, has always offered its operating system for free. However, it can only be installed on Apple computers, which in turn are more expensive to purchase. The hardware components are precisely matched to the operating system, which leads to better overall performance. PCs that are suitable for Windows do not have such high requirements, but they are more vulnerable and more likely to crash. On the one hand, however, you can better adapt the Windows operating system to your own needs, and Microsoft also makes it easy for Windows users to select the hardware components. Subsequent replacement and upgrading of individual components such as RAM memory, graphics cards or hard disk drives is usually not rocket science on Windows PCs. With Apple, on the other hand, at least the MacBooks cannot be upgraded, with the iMacs you can at least expand the RAM memory. But the parts run “like clockwork”, and often for years, because the Subsequent replacement and upgrading of individual components such as RAM memory, graphics cards, or hard disk drives are usually not rocket science on Windows PCs. With Apple, on the other hand, at least the MacBooks cannot be upgraded, with the iMacs you can at least expand the RAM memory. But the parts run “like clockwork”, and often for years, because the Subsequent replacement and upgrading of individual components such as RAM memory, graphics cards or hard disk drives is usually not rocket science on Windows PCs. With Apple, on the other hand, at least the MacBooks cannot be upgraded, with the iMacs you can at least expand the RAM memory. But the parts run “like clockwork”, and often for years because the updates from Apple’s operating system ensure that the computer then runs even better and becomes faster rather than slower. However, there may well be compatibility issues with older applications when an update is installed. However, the peripherals from Apple are ideally matched so that all components harmonize perfectly with each other.
For years, there was no need to install an antivirus program on Apple computers because there were no viruses vulnerable to the macOS operating system. This has now changed a little because Trojans and malware have now also found their way into Apple’s operating system. Nevertheless, Windows PCs are much more susceptible to malware. Virus scanners use significantly more resources on Windows computers than, for example, the onboard program XProtect on a Mac.
PROS AND CONS FOR COMPANIES
Anyone who, as an entrepreneur or freelancer, is faced with the question of which of the two operating systems and hardware is better suited for their own purposes must ask themselves other questions in addition to the basic distinguishing features. In most cases, it actually depends primarily on how the computer is used in the company.
When it comes to the availability of both common and company-specific software, the Microsoft operating system is clearly ahead. A large number of programs, ranging from word processing, merchandise management systems, or accounting software, are only available for Windows. Although Microsoft’s Office packages are also available for Mac, problems can occasionally arise with other programs. SAP and some accounting programs are now available as cloud solutions and can therefore be used independently of the operating system, but the above-average performance of a Mac computer is not required for most applications. For example, anyone who works with the appropriate programs in the commercial area and always keeps the Windows computer “in good shape” So if you install updates regularly and use a well-functioning virus scanner, you should be fine with it. Even if all the programs you want to use are available for the Mac, there may be restrictions on the selection when you add extensions or switch to other software solutions.
Smaller companies with only a few PC workstations are more flexible than larger ones when it comes to choosing the operating system and the corresponding hardware, and you can sometimes choose Apple computers out of sheer conviction. But in the meantime, the manufacturer with the apple regularly throws new devices onto the market, so they have lost their durability over the years. This is how newer MacOS versions on old Macs rarely work, which means that you have to switch to newer models every few years to stay up to date. Microsoft, on the other hand, still supports older Windows versions years later and provides regular updates.
As far as the network capability of both operating systems is concerned, there are hardly any compromises in either case. You can even connect Windows and Mac computers to a network. However, IT professionals are reluctant to run both systems simultaneously on a network. Although many file formats are now compatible with each other on both systems, a few years ago there were still considerable problems with the administration of the rights of both systems in a network. This is now a thing of the past, but with larger networks and the use of servers, the network administrator has to pay attention to one or the other during setup so that everything works smoothly afterward. For this reason, Windows computers are increasingly used in larger networks, which are easier to handle in terms of network technology. Especially in larger companies, the IT infrastructure should be well thought out and professionally planned. Wrong decisions, also with regard to the operating system, can cost the company dearly.
An argument in favor of Apple is given when iPads and iPhones are used in the company. Mobile device management is a top priority at Apple and enables uncomplicated management of mobile devices and communication with a management server located in the cloud.
Macs are also often used in the creative field instead of Windows PCs. Graphic design agencies, for example, need computers with particularly good graphics properties and high performance when editing images. The macOS from Apple is almost made for this. It’s not just Apple screens that offer impressive graphics, the graphics cards and other hardware components of Apple computers also get along very well with multimedia applications. Although Windows computers also offer the appropriate computing power to edit photos or create graphics, Macs are often more durable and can be used for several years without the performance deteriorating noticeably.
But other branches of the company are now increasingly relying on Apple, especially in the USA. Google and even IBM are also included. In Germany, the publishing giant Axel Springer has been using Apple computers almost exclusively for a number of years and seems to be doing well with it.
Nevertheless, creative agencies do not necessarily have to work on Macs. Since gamers clearly prefer Windows computers because most games do not even exist for macOS, a lot has happened in terms of performance. Although these so-called gamer PCs are more likely to be used in the private sphere, this does not mean that computers with equivalent properties cannot also be used for video editing or image processing. Also, corresponding monitors for the professional sector are available for Windows PCs. In terms of performance, Windows PCs are basically in no way inferior to Macs, but when it comes to creative work, people tend to rely on Macs because of experience and also a little for reasons of prestige. The applications required for this, such as Adobe’s Creative Suite, have always been available for Mac and have proven themselves for Apple’s operating system for years.
You can use this checklist to do a quick test of whether a Windows PC or a Mac is more suitable for your company:
PER WINDOWS:
✔ Predominant use of office applications (office, accounting, merchandise management systems)
✔ Cooperation in the network
✔ Good price-performance
ratio ✔ Extensive range of software solutions
✔ High compatibility and distribution
PER MAC:
✔ Better performance through optimally coordinated hardware components
✔ Free operating system
✔ Good workmanship and attractive design
✔ Excellent graphics
properties ✔ Fast computing power
✔ Low susceptibility to viruses, rare crashes
Editorial Team
