Macs Vs. Traditional PCs: Are Macs Really Better?

I've been hearing for years, all about the superiority of Apple's Macintosh computers over traditional personal computers, mainly from Macintosh users. It seems that once you purchase a Mac, you automatically become a Mac fanatic. Mac is even running a series of commercials highlighting the differences between Mac and PC; Mac is portrayed as a young smart guy while PC is a middle aged nerd.

I've considered buying a Mac over the years, but only got as far as the price tag before changing my mind. So far, traditional PCs have pretty much handled all my needs satisfactorily, I basically use it for word processing, web surfing, and play with some very basic graphic software. I'm not a gamer or software programmer, so I have been wondering if it's worthwhile for me to invest in a Mac.

My latest computer is starting to send me the little signals that usually mean: "Any day now, I'm going to seize up and die, taking all your files with me." So it's time to start computer shopping again. I seem to be going through PCs at an alarming rate; I usually need a new one every three or four years. This time I decided to thoroughly research the differences between Macs and traditional personal computers to see if quality comes with the high price tag.

Operating Systems. For the most part, traditional PCs use Windows as their operating systems. I've been using Windows for years (BTW hate, hate, hate Vista) and by now I can pretty much do all the regular maintenance tasks and even handle some emergency situations such as: crashes, system freezes, and lost files.

Macs have they're own operating system developed by Apple. Internet searches regarding the Mac OS have yielded me hundreds of web pages filled with techie gobbledygook on how to navigate the system. This frightens me; will I be able to learn how to use Mac's operating system? This could be a negative for Mac.

Word Processing. As a freelance writer, word processing is the most important function that my computer does; I have to be able to write, store, and access my files easily and quickly. I've been using Microsoft's Office for years, and am pretty proficient in all its programs. Even after a week or two of fumbling around, I managed to get a handle on Word 2007. However, I'm always open to new word processing programs; in fact I use Google's Documents application often.

Mac has Pages '08 which looks pretty interesting with all sorts of tools, templates, and other goodies that MS Word doesn't have, but the big question is it compatible with Word? The answer is yes, it can import and export in Word format, PDF, and all other popular formats. This is a plus for the Mac side.

Stability. Traditional PCs have been rapidly falling in price over the last few years and with that there also seems to be a decline in durability. My last few PCs have only lasted 2 or 3 years before crashing and burning, and I don't consider myself a demanding PC user. All of my friends with Macs rave about the computer's durability and stability and some of them have had their Macs for years and they are still going strong.

One of the things that I hate most is switching over my folders, files, and applications whenever I change computers. It would be wonderful not having to worry about an unstable computer. After searching a lot of computer geek forums, the general consensus is that Macs are a lot more stable than the traditional personal computer. This is a big plus for Mac.

Price. Price is a huge factor for me when it comes to purchasing a computer today and Macs are considerably higher priced than PCs that have the same general power and memory capabilities. Most of the Mac fanatics that I know, argue that the high price is worth having a stable computer that will last for years. On the other hand, they acknowledge that I really don't need a Mac for what I do; a regular low-end PC can adequately handle my needs.

After all the comparison and price shopping, I'm still not sure what computer I'm going to buy next. It would be cool to own a Mac just because they have the reputation of being so techie but the practical side of me says that I don't really need a Mac and I really can't afford one either. I'll probably stick with the traditional PC, flaws and all, although in my heart, I lust for a Mac.