Mac Vs. PC: Which is Better for a College Student?

When new college students go to get a laptop for school, one of the first things they consider is whether they want to purchase a Mac or a PC. Which operating system (if either) is superior has been a topic of contention in computing spheres, and the debate is likely to rage for as long as Macs and PCs exist and are on the market. Is either better for students? Let's look at this objectively.

Something that students have to consider is whether or not they will be required to run any specific software for their courses. For example, computer science majors may have very specific requirements as far as what they need to do assignments. English majors probably do not have to worry about this. See what your school has to say about any requirements or recommendations for computers. If you can get either type of computer, then let the analysis begin.

The first thing that many people consider when talking about Macs is their cost. For college students, cost can be a deciding factor when purchasing a laptop for school. Yes, Macs do cost slightly more than PCs right out of the box. But Apple generally has an online student offer that can lower the price of a new Mac down by $100, and often they throw a new iPod and printer. If you sell the iPod and printer, you can bring down the cost of the lowest-priced MacBook to about $800, roughly equivalent to the price of many new PCs. Consider this route if price is a concern and you want a Mac.

The nice thing about PCs is that there tends to be more software available for them, so if there is a particular task that you want to address with your computer, you'll probably be able to find software to help you. While the amount of software and freeware available for Macs is growing, being able to find software for any purpose is still not a sure thing. However, for the purposes of daily computing in college, either a Mac or a PC will suit students perfectly.

PCs, in general, require more maintenance with regard to viruses and spyware. Smart computing will allow most college students to avoid or address these problems. However, a virus at the wrong time could spell disaster for a college student. Macs tend not to have these problems. Again, the Mac has a slight advantage over the PC as far as viruses and spyware are concerned, but the PC is still a valid device.

Macs are slightly easier to use as far as installing programs and deleting them, but most youths have used computers enough in their lives to be familiar with the way in which PCs are used.

Really, whether a college student gets a Mac or a PC depends on cost and preference. For those that can't choose, there are programs that allow Macs to run Windows natively. Just make sure that you are happy with your decision, because it is likely that you'll be using the same computer for several years.

Have any thoughts on the Mac vs. PC debate? Feel free to leave them in the form of a comment below. Thank you for reading!