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There is no official
policy on what kind of computer you should have (and there shouldn't
be). Here are the advantages and disadvantages of both types, as they
stand today. Draw your own conclusions based on your needs.
Like the Betamax
Vs VHS, Hover Vs Mower, Coke or Pepsi, the Mac Vs PC debate lingers
on even though it seems Windows has won hands down. As the facts have
changed and the marketing battles have been fought, the Windows versus
Mac OS software and hardware battle has been raging for well over a
decade. Ever since the original Apple computer, which was released in
1981, the personal computer has gone through something of a revolution.
The actual argument
has been the over the merits of each other's operating system.
For sheer horsepower
right now the Macs have the edge, with new G4's hitting the market,
but which system is faster goes back and forth all the time, so comparing
overall speed is irrelevant.
Brief
Windows History
1981
- PC-DOS 1.0 ships
with the new IBM PC.
- Microsoft ships
MS-DOS shortly afterwards and licenses MS-DOS to all comers.
1983
- Apple Computers
releases the Lisa computer, which at $10,000 bombs but success was
to come with the more affordable Macintosh computer in 1984 which
set the standard for GUI's (Graphical User Interfaces).
- The Macs GUI
offered folders and long file name features that only came to Windows
with version 2.0 and fully with Windows 95. Microsoft was still relying
on a text-mode interface.
1985
- The Microsoft
Corporation releases the first version of its Windows operating system.
- The next two
years saw it improve and upgrade its system that allowed international
users to use it and offer compatibility with other hardware, such
as printers. But not enough software is written for Windows 1.0, and
it fails to take hold in the marketplace.
1987
- Windows version
2.0 introduced a new user interface, which included the use of overlapping
windows as opposed to the "tiled" windows, found in Windows
1.0.
- Windows 2.0 also
improved upon the keyboard and mouse interface, particularly for menus
and dialog boxes.
- Windows moves
from an Intel 8086 processor with 1MB of memory to Intel 80386, which
allowed the operating system to open more than one program at a time.
- Windows version
2.1 was renamed Windows 286.
- Excel for Windows
2.0, the first viable GUI spreadsheet for the PC, enters the market
to challenge Lotus 1-2-3.
1988
- IBM's OS/2 1.1
ships with a GUI, but it still has insufficient support for popular
DOS applications and existing hardware.
- OS/2's problems
encourage Microsoft to continue Windows development and IBM continues
to develop OS/2.
- IBM complains
that Microsoft is focusing on Windows, and the two part ways for good.
- Apple takes Microsoft
to court over the 'look and feel' of Windows. Apple claims that Windows
was copying its own OS user interface but Apple lost the suit in 1992.
1990
- Windows/286 and
Windows/386 were merged to make Windows 3.0.
- Developer enhancements
encouraged vendors to start the software boom.
- The OS dominates
the market thanks to widespread third-party hardware and software
support and preloading by PC vendors.
1992
- The battle between
IBM's OS/2 and Windows hots up but OS/2's lack of widespread driver
and third-party software support, means Windows emerges as the market
leader.
- Windows version
3.1 was released with significant changes including support for multimedia,
which enabled sound and music to be played.
1993
- Windows NT is
introduced. Though rough around the edges it enabled developers to
write powerful programmes.
- Support 32-bit
programming and Pentium microprocessors.
1995
- Windows 95 is
launched after numerous delays and unprecedented prelaunch hype.
- Windows 95 provided
a new user interface look, which was then transported, to Windows
NT Version 4.0. This was the first version of Windows that didn't
require the user the install DOS first. The user interface catches
up with the Mac.
1998
- Microsoft launches
Windows 98, the last major version of Windows running on top of DOS.
- Windows 98 integrates
Internet Explorer 4 and supports numerous new device types, from USB
to ACPI power management. Future consumer versions of Windows will
be built on the NT kernel.
Brief
Mac History
1976
- Friends since
high school and dropouts, computer designer Steven Wozniak and Steven
Jobs team up to form the Apple Computer.
1977
- Apple II is released.
It was the first PC to come in a plastic case and include colour graphics.
Sales were helped when a floppy drive was released in 1978.
1980
- The Apple III
sees the light of day. This marked a turning point in the company's
history, as it started to employ thousands of people and brought on
board experienced investors determined to turn Apple into a "proper"
company.
1981
- Steve Wozniak
is involved in a plane crash and Steve Jobs becomes chairman of Apple
Computers in March.
- Steve Jobs begins
work on Lisa, which would redefine personal computing.
- Jobs taken off
that project and works on the Macintosh PC.
1983
- Jobs brings in
John Sculley, the president of Pepsi Cola at the time to take Apple
further.
1984
- On January 22nd,
1984, during the Super Bowl, Apple showed its now infamous commercial
introducing the Macintosh computer. Ridley Scott directed, depicting
an Orwellian future of PC's which was shattered by a woman running
through a stadium and smashing the old to bring in the new Mac.
1985
- Jobs and Sculley
do not get on and their arguments came to a head when Jobs tried to
oust his CEO in a boardroom coup. Sculley was tipped off and gained
the confidence of the board. Jobs resigned and Sculley took over.
- Apple accuses
Microsoft using copying its GUI when Bill Gates releases Windows 1.0.
Gates signed a statement that said Microsoft would not use Mac technology
in Windows 1.0. That did not necessarily mean he could not use it
in future versions.
- Apple introduces
the LaserWriter printer, which makes the Macintosh a success again,
offering a cheap solution for the publishing world.
1987
- Apple introduced
the Mac II which was expandable. Shipping 50,000 a month, it seemed
it would oust Windows as the defacto OS.
1990
- The predicted
dominance did not materialise with a saturated PC market that had
pre-installed Windows OS in them. No one was running Mac OS apart
from the Mac.
- With the release
of Windows 3.0, virtually every computer could run the new OS from
Microsoft.
- Apple tried to
fight back by licensing the Mac OS. Rumours that Apple would port
their OS to Intel based machine proved fruitless.
1991
- Apple releases
its first generation of PowerBooks.
- Apple were working
on the first Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) called the Newton.
1993
- The Newton proved
to be a failure.
- Sculley replaced
by Michael Spindler.
- Sculley resigned
a few months later.
- Spindler introduced
the Power Mac family of computers, based on the PowerPC chip, which
was made in partnership with IBM and Motorola (AIM).
- The new processors
meant Apple could compete with Intel processors.
1994
- Spindler licensed
the Mac OS to several companies but the restrictive nature of the
arrangement meant only a handful would take up the offer.
1995
- Apple was having
problems in building computers to meet demand with $1 Billion worth
of back orders.
- The release of
Windows 95, which copied the Mac GUI, took advantage of the situation.
1996
- Apple tried to
change tact and sell low end cheap PC's but with no success.
- Spindler was
sacked to make way for Gil Amelio, after posting a loss.
1996
- Amelio splits
Apple into 7 separate divisions.
- Apple posts $740
million loss for Q1 1996, but turned things around by bringing that
loss down to $33 million for Q2, beating all estimates.
- By Q3 Apple in
profit again.
- Apple acquires
NeXT, Steve Jobs company, which he formed after leaving Apple. It
also meant the man was back at the company he co-found.
- NeXTstep to become
the basis for Apple's next-generation OS, Rhapsody.
- The Newton became
a wholly owned subsidiary.
1997
- Amelio resigns
after posting another loss.
- Fred Anderson,
Apple's CFO, was in charge of day to day operations and Steve Jobs
was 'interim' CEO.
- Jobs cancels
the Newton spin-off which was to be discontinued a few months later.
- Job promises
new Macs at Expo.
- Larry Ellison,
CEO of Oracle, joins the board of directors.
- Apple announce
alliance with Microsoft who would invest $150 million in Apple stock
which would give them a 5 year cross-license partnership and final
settlement in the GUI saga.
- Microsoft announces
Office 98, the Mac version of its popular word processing, database
and presentation tools software.
- Jobs pulls the
plug on the Apple clone market.
- Apple starts
to sell computers both over the web and the phone.
- Apple announces
the new line up of machines the PowerMac G3, and the PowerBook G3.
- Apple's online
store is third-largest eCommerce site on the web, within a week.
- Apple is back
in profit after more than a year by $44 Million.
1998
- Apple releases
the iMac, all in one internet ready computer for the home.
- Apple announces
Mac OS X will be released soon.
- The new PowerMac
G3 made with the same bullet proof see through plastic on the iMac
is released in various configurations.
1999
- The iBook. Is
launched based on the principles of the iMac - stylish, low cost easy
to use PC for the home user.
- Jobs announces
the PowerMac G4, a significant new professional desktop machine.
2000
- Jobs drops 'interim'
from his title and becomes full time CEO for Apple.
- Apple unveils
the new PowerMac G4 Cube, to great applause. Housed in an 8inch clear
enclosure and no fan, Apple triumph with another innovation in design.
- Sales slow down
as the whole of the PC industry is affected.
- Apple post their
first loss in 3 years.
- The G4 Cube fails
to spark and is reduced in price to try and get it of the shop shelves.
2001
- Apple announce
an upgraded range of G4's with the industry first writable DVD 'Superdrive',
on the high-end machine.
- Jobs says that
he wants the Apple computer to become the digital hub of the home
and office for the new 'Digital Lifestyle'.
Different
computers for different jobs
As you will notice
from both the brief histories, both operating systems rely on reliable
vendor software. At the end of the day, it is not the hardware which
dictates how useful a computer is (although it is good if you can afford
the best to aid the work you do) but the software.
People work on computers
to do work that has an end result. That result depends up on how good
you have used the software and not how great your hardware is.
It used to be the
case that most people found using Windows more convenient because there
was more software written for that operating system. As the Mac increases
in popularity due to its easier functionality and the growing popularity
of alternative operating systems, such as Linux, software vendors are
starting to port versions for more than one system.
The magazine and
newspaper industry has traditionally relied on Macs because of the main
high-end graphics software titles, which were made for the Mac. This
is probably down to the Mac having a user interface more suited for
graphics professionals and Apple's policy to make desktop publishing
simpler. Now that is changing as the software, helped by the GUI, which
started with Windows 95, is now available for PC's.
The major complaint
against Macs was that there wasn't enough software for home users. Now
that Office 98 and now 2001 is available for the Mac and the growing
number of titles expands monthly, there is no excuse to say there isn't
the choice for Macs anymore.
Albeit, it hasn't
reached the levels for PC choice yet, but the trend is changing. The
iMac saw to that.
But
what do industry professionals say?
Name: Trevor
Cummings
Age: 29
Job: Audio/Visual Engineer
"I work in
film/tv; If you want to have file compatibility right now you have to
deliver your music in Mac pro tools format, or at least Mac sound designer
II, so you end up needing a Mac of some sort around the place regardless
of preference.
"For other
things you may have to use a PC...so in the end the solution is to forget
the flame war and use both and be happy.
"But I am still
using a Mac 9500 from 1995, whereas I need would need to have an up
to date PC to do most of the stuff. The Mac simply lasts longer and
ironically, is more suited to upgrading than a PC. With the many different
manufacturers who produce parts for a PC, it can be a nightmare to upgrade
but with a Mac it is easier. They are built to last and seems to concentrate
more on delivering good specs across all features but a PC seems to
sell itself totally on its processor speed. For a professional speed
is a factor but not the only one."
Name: Andrew Dickinson
Age: 39
Job: University Lecturer/Editor
"I guess I'm
in a bit of an odd position in that I use both the Mac and PC OS' in
work, both at the University and in the TV editing side of things.
"As far as
Mac's go, the University primarily does not use Macs and I guess some
of that goes back to the expense of kitting out the whole University.
(cheap PC's and all that).
"From a personal
point of view I'm a windows user by necessity at work and by choice
at home. If anything its the choice of tools rather than the hardware
or OS that forces that.
"Things are
changing. Programs available for the PC are now available for the Mac
at all levels and across loads of disciplines. Personally I do find
the Macs a little more user friendly, at least the OS version I use
is.
"As an educator
all I can say is that the mechanics of using programs are getting very
similar across platforms so for me it doesn't matter if I'm saying right
click or apple click, its a mindset thing. If you know a program you
can often find your way round on a different system because you are
familiar with the software.
"I'm a pragmatist
at heart. Put me on the spot and I would always choose a PC and windows
though."
Name: Mathew
Steenson
Age: 24
Job: Online Journalist
"For my work
I use a PC because I have no other choice. At home I have a new PowerMac
G4, which has been an amazing machine for me. It's fast and very stable
and I have not had a crash since I bought it. Macs can read PC files
and PC media, so its not a problem to use a PC formatted zip disc at
work which I can then bring home and plug straight into the Zip slot
on my Mac. "
"So what are we left with? It all comes down to what you find yourself
comfortable with and what you want to do with your computer.
"The lines
between the two operating systems are constantly narrowing."
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Mac
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PC
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Specifications
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The
internet ready entry level Mac (iMac G3/400MHz) is an awesome machine
for its target user. With built in CD-RW and 15 inch screen, it
is perfect for the home user on a budget. The powerful processor
and free software to make movies and music, makes it an ideal choice
for those who aren't interested in the specs and want as few wires
as possible cluttering up the room.
Unless you
make your own PC, you will tend to find the entry level PC's have
a lower spec than its Mac counterpart and without the software.
But you can get a decent Pentium III machine running on at least
500MHz for about £500 without the monitor. Software is cheaper
and plentiful for PC users.
The PC hardware
market is fiercely competitive, with a vast number of vendors.
For the consumer, this means lower prices and more choices. The
latest and greatest technology is available sooner, and as cheaply
as companies can sell it.
The point
is, as technology is moving so rapidly, by the time you have started
to read this article, no doubt something better has just come
this way.
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Performance
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| Computers
today are so fast that most people don't notice the difference on
everyday applications. Also, mathematical benchmarks are not necessarily
a good indication of real-world application speed. Plus, there are
lots of things besides the processor (video, disk, memory, etc.)
that affect the speed of a machine. |
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Ease
of use
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Macs
seem to win over novices, as they seem easier to figure out. The
graphical user-interface is simple and intuitive helped by the plug
and play method of setting up. All you need to do to get on the
internet is get the machine out of the box and plug it into the
phone line..and presto!
Installing the OS also seems painless. No blue-screen-of-death.
Since Windows 95, PCs are now as easy to use as Macs. Context-sensitive
right mouse button provides relevant options and makes learning
new applications easier. |
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Standardisation
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| All
Macs are made by Apple, and conform to the same standards. Upgrades
are therefore more reliable but can be very expensive.
Many companies
make and sell PCs, with varying degrees of reliability. This can
make upgrading a nightmare for some.
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Jobs
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Typical
Careers which relied on the Macintosh
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| Job:
Mac Operator |
| Responsibilities:
Mac Operators work usually in pre-press - For experienced operators
you must be proficient at colour correction, assembly (including
trapping) and output of four colour pages. You will be expected
to have some knowledge of PhotoShop, QuarkXpress and Illustrator
with a thorough knowledge of at least one. |
| Salary:
Expect to be highly paid with average salary in the £30K
mark. The more experienced get even more. Starting pay can vary
though depending where you are in the country and whom you are working
for. Generally pay starts at between £15 to £20K |
| Qualifications:
You would complete some sort of graphics qualification in design
or art. A level entrants are welcome but may be required to go through
further training on the job. |
| Job:
Video Editor |
| Role:
Sounds glamorous but you would have made a lot of coffee and lugged
around a lot of videotapes before you get to this position. Most
broadcast editing systems are done on Avid software. This is a powerful
TV and film editing system, which is installed on a high end to
a Macintosh. The Mac was the only vendor this software was installed
on as they were considered to be more powerful and robust. But over
the last few years Avid has expanded its output onto the PC system
running on NT, which is powerful enough to handle the software.
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| Salary:
Video Editors Salary can very according to experience. The actual
person who edits the film on the screen is actually the 'cutter'
with the actual editor overseeing the project. Starting from £15,000
for an assistant rising to well over £40K for experienced
professionals. |
| Qualifications:
experience is more important than paper qualifications, but you
would be expected to have completed some form of technical qualification,
such as HND Video Production first. You will probably have to start
as a 'Runner' before you are offered any technical position. The
bigger organisations, such as the BBC, offer training programmes
that introduce to the world of editing at an earlier stage. |
| Job:
Graphic Designer |
| Role:
Depending on what media you want to work in, this can be a very
lucrative career. A good knowledge of art and design with a creative
streak wont go amiss. Print and press can involve in working on
leaflets to newspapers. The broadcast industry is one of the biggest
graphics industries in Europe with the UK a talent ground for employers
from all over the world, especially the US. The web world has taken
design onto another level and has increased the opportunities for
more jobs within the design arena. |
| Qualifications:
Once again, a design based qualification will help those who want
to enter print and online but experience of broadcast will give
those wanting to enter TV a grateful push. |
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| Job:
From the low scale in print to the mega bucks of broadcast, creative
skills are seen as a precious commodity and the rewards can be very
handsome, with a typical Boris Specialist earning in excess of over
£50K a year. |
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| All
the above jobs are equally applicable to those who have only used
a PC or Wintel machine. It is just that the above careers have traditionally
used Macs but the PC is making in roads into the creative field. |
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So that's
it in a nutshell. The Mac v PC debate is coming to an end as the importance
moves away from hardware to software. Its what you do with your computer
that is important and how it relates to what you want to do with your
career. Mac may look appealing but without the performance it would
have RIP'd long a go. PC's goes from strength to strength and offer
a more than adequate and in some cases better, alternative.
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