Another Day With My PC

There are many things that you should consider when buying a computer. For many, these things range from peripherals to processors. If you have wads of cash to spare, then you would definitely not settle for anything less than a Creative GigaWorks S750 or a Harman Kardon SoundSticks II for speakers, and the latest Intel Core 2 Duo chip for your PC’s processor.

There’s a very important consideration, though, that lies beneath the glam of the unit, and I’m not talking about the processor. The PC-Mac rivalry isn’t just about which unit has the coolest shell design. Rather, it’s about which architecture can best serve the needs of the user.

Of Frameworks and Platforms

In order for you to be able to distinguish between a PC and a Mac, let me give a brief background as to their origin. While the term “PC” generally refers to any computer, it also has a technical meaning. IBM gave birth to the PC, and as such, the term refers to computers that are based on the IBM design. On the other hand, the Macintosh (Mac) is a computer built by Apple.

The two were made from different blueprints. The PC is based on the Intel model, while the Mac follows the Power PC architecture designed by Apple, Motorola, and also partly by IBM. Since they were made from different frameworks, the two computers cannot run applications designed for a particular architecture. In other words, you cannot run PC-based software on a Mac and vice versa.

An Attempt to Unify

There really isn’t a competition between the two. For one thing, the PC has long captured the market and is the preferred class or architecture. There’s a growing fondness for the Mac, though. However, the Apple fad isn’t strong enough to unseat the PC as the unit of choice.

While the PC and the Mac could definitely coexist, a good number of users of both platforms are clamoring for the unification of the two. Thus, in 2006, Apple boss Steve Jobs announced that the Mac would depart from the Power PC architecture and would already follow the Intel blueprint. The development now makes it possible for Windows to be able to run on the Mac.

The shift was not well received by die hard Mac fans, though. They consider the Macintosh as a novelty that shouldn’t be modified by the PC. This is one of the reasons why the compatibility issue still exists and that Windows still hasn’t invaded the Apple desktops.

Both Vulnerable

Some Mac fans claim that their unit is less vulnerable to malware attack. This may be true, but not due to the reason that their architecture or OS is more barb-wired than the PC. It could just very well be that hackers favor Windows as the object of their affection since it is the most popular operating system in the world. Macs do need protective software like the PC, such as registry cleaners and antivirus programs.

You should definitely consider the compatibility issue when choosing between a Mac and a PC. If you want to play it safe, choose a PC-based unit. It’s the architecture that is widely accepted and used around the world.

Have you noticed Apple’s fast ascendancy in various fields?

While it hasn’t beaten Nokia and Motorola just yet in the mobile phone industry, it has definitely won the ears of millions of people around the world with the iPod. Its notebook is still considered as a novelty items by many, but it’s fast gaining ground in its attempt to unseat heavyweights, such as IBM, Toshiba, Fujitsu, and Acer as the most wanted brand in portable computing.

I wonder if Apple’s OS would soon end Windows reign. Many doubt it, especially since the OS X has yet to reach a number of countries outside the United States. While I also share the same sentiment, I’m not totally closing the door on Apple. When the iPod was released a few years ago, I thought that the hype was just a fad. I was wrong. It totally shook the music industry and rearranged the order of things, with Apple on top of course.

Many expect the same kind of support for the iPhone. Unfortunately, a few technical, as well as business limitations, may have watered down the market potential of the gadget. But I’m sure Apple will think of something in order to entice people into dropping their N95 or Razr for the iPhone. The same thing is true for the OS X. It’s just a matter of time when Apple will start concentrating on its OS and make a bid for the distinction as the widely used operating system in the world.

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