Mac vs. PC

The most frequent question we get at Sherif, The Computer Guy is “What computer should I get?”
The answer is simple… it depends.

Start by asking yourself a few questions.

• What will be the main use of your computer?
• Are you just surfing the net and answering a few emails, or are you editing the next J.J. Abrams movie?
• What’s your budget?
• How long do you plan on keeping it? Keep in mind, the lifetime of a computer is 5 years—tops. Running the latest OS will be too difficult with a machine older than 5 years.

Now for the first big question… Mac vs PC

This comes down to the user preference and budget. Gone are the days where creatives are strictly Mac and the rest of us are PC users. Most programs run on both systems. Let’s take a deeper dive.

One of the misconceptions about a Mac is that they don’t get viruses. This is false, but they do get A LOT less. This is because most viruses are written for PCs due to the amount of PC users.

Mac’s are known for a sleeker user interface user and attractive product design.

PC’s have more customization options than Macs. PC’s cost less, because there is more competition and more manufacturers. A PC with the same specs cost ¾ the price of a Mac.

Make sure you know all the programs you will be running and if they can be used on a PC or Mac. There are some programs that will only run on a PC, such as Microsoft Access. While Keynote will only run on a MAC. There are online versions of these programs, however they are limited. Our techs can help guide you to which programs run on which system.

Crossing platforms is another thing to think about. If you are use to a PC and want to switch to a Mac or vice versa, it can be a bit of a learning curve. Luckily, we have you covered. We offer one-on-one classes for first time Mac or PC users.

The second thing to decide is a desktop vs laptop. This all depends on what you will be using your computer for, and where you’ll be using it. Will you be doing a lot of travel? Then a laptop is for you. Do you like writing on your porch while sipping your favorite beverage? A laptop will give you the freedom to do this. Perhaps screen size is important to you, desktops allow for large screens and plenty of viewing room.

Now, on to the nitty gritty… the specs.

Processor.
Stick with an Intel® processor. Trust us, it’s worth the extra money.

Intel® 3 is your basic processor for those users who are using office software and internet.
Intel® 5 is for users who do slight video or photo editing.
Intel® 7 is for professional users who do heavy video editing and work with large file formats (graphics) in Adobe Applications.

Memory
The minimum you should look for is 6 gigs of ram. If your budget allows for more, get it. The more the better!

Hard Drive
Solid State HD are a popular choice and a good one. There are no moving parts which makes the machine run faster. Another plus for our laptop users is that it prolongs the battery life. When choosing the size of your hard drive try to get at least 1 terabyte. Bigger IS better here, folks! And don’t forget, you should always have a cloud based back-up solution for your files and photos. Read more about choosing a cloud provider here , in our earlier blog.

Still undecided? Help is on the way! Give us a call for a consultation. We can help you chose which system best fits your needs, transfer all your files to the new system and provide you an overview lesson on how it all works.