Should You Buy a PC or Mac for College?
Yes, this week we’re diving into those waters: the classic PC versus Mac debate that spawned countlesshilarious commercials from Apple and John Hodgman a decade ago. (I’m sure Microsoft will ask to disagree with Apple’s interpretation, but I think everyone will agree on the Zune should never have been a thing.)
This week’s Lifehacker Tech 911 question comes from a reader trying to choose between two heavyweights for her next big computer purchase. There is a little twist to this decision: she wants to buy this computer for school – I’m surprised that doesn’t happen yet, but I guess everyone starts as soon as they start. As Kimiko writes:
“Which is Better for College: PC or Mac? Many people talk about PCs because most universities use PC compatible software that is cheaper to license, whereas Macs are often incompatible or open source. Thanks for your input. “
PC or Mac? It depends on the circumstances, but let’s look at this.
Let’s talk about terms first. Mac is also a PC – of course, it is short for Personal Computer. I believe the nomenclature we should be using in this conversation is Windows versus Mac, but even that is a little deceiving. After all, a Mac can run the Windows operating system; However, a regular old third-party laptop running Windows cannot run macOS. At least it can’t do without the hackintosh headache, but I won’t go into details for now.
So my first reaction to your question is that if you know you need a computer that can run both Mac and Windows applications, you need something from Apple. Full stop. This is the easiest way to ensure compatibility with, well, everything, and configuring Boot Camp to run Windows on your Mac – although it’s sometimes tricky – isn’t very difficult to do. Switching between the two operating systems is as easy as holding a button while your Mac boots up.
The problem with Macs, however, is that you are going to pay Apple Tax. Even with the educational discount – please don’t skip the educational discount if you’re a student, teacher, or parent looking to purchase Apple hardware for yourself or your child – you’re still looking at an expensive laptop. A third-party Windows-only laptop that runs just as fast will surely cost you less. Sure, it won’t look that good, but you will save money on an equally fast system. You just won’t be able to run macOS.
Also keep in mind that the Apple MacBook – and I’m assuming you’re looking for a laptop, not a Mac desktop – will be more expensive to update when you choose. Unfortunately, Apple isn’t as lenient about self-updating its laptops as it is about its desktops .
There is no guarantee that you will be able to update your third-party laptop yourself if the need arises. And there’s also no guarantee that buying a Windows-only laptop won’t cost you a dime. Overall, however, you can find great Windows-only laptops – ultrabooks, budget laptops, gaming laptops, and so on – that will allow you to upgrade later with a better or larger hard drive and more memory. And if that’s what you want to use for the next four years, these are great options.
I’m not sure if I have a great answer to your software related question. It has been a while since I walked through academic halls – as a student or employee – but I remember there were pretty generous discounts and / or free access to software for both macOS and Windows. I recommend checking out what your university’s IT department (or someone else) has to offer right now. If all the software you need is available for, say, Windows only, that might slightly affect your purchasing decision. If the critical software for your specialty only runs on the Mac, you’re done.
But there is also the issue of technical support. Quite frankly, Apple’s tech support options are generally much better, faster, and easier than most other computer manufacturers. I mean, you can’t just walk down to a Toshiba store – when the pandemic is over, of course – and get help with your system or allow a longer repair process right here.
With other laptop manufacturers, you’ll have to make phone calls, go through tech support, and ship the system back yourself (ideally after you wait for the listed manufacturer to send you the box and label for the RMA), and so on. And don’t make me talk about Windows troubleshooting nightmares, and all laptop makers love to dump them on their devices and …
But don’t forget about Google
If you’re already a part of the Apple ecosystem – for example, you are the proud owner of an iPhone – then the MacBook is an indispensable companion for all the useful sync options you can take advantage of. I’m not saying you should sit in class and text your friends using the Mac Messages app, but you won’t get that kind of support on a Windows-only system. Likewise, if you’re an Android user, the Your Phone app in Windows 10 can be your new best friend. Living a dual-platform life with Android and macOS is a little more frustrating.
We also forget about the third guest at the dinner party: Google and Chrome OS. If you can even get a Chromebook right now (there are not enough of them), this could be a viable option if you just need a laptop that can handle the basics: notes, emails, documents, spreadsheets, and so on. If you need any special software like the Adobe suite, custom engineering software, or some powerful audio editing application, you’re out of luck. But if you want something light and cheap to use for your studies, Chromebooks can be a worthy alternative.
However, I have both a MacBook and a Windows laptop, and I use them interchangeably. I bet it won’t help your solution, but I really wouldn’t have a problem sticking with one or the other in the long run. In fact, I did it – took a MacBook on a longer vacation or took a Windows laptop when I knew I was going to play somewhere.
That speaks to the best advice I can probably give you right now: Identify the basic things you’ll need to do with your next laptop, determine which platform best supports them, and get started. At its core, Windows-only laptops are no worse than MacBooks; it all depends on you much more than on the equipment.