Often times, I am asked what are the differences between Mac and PC from curious clients thinking about making the switch. Many people have experience with either one or the other but hardly ever with both. Most people I speak with think of Mac and PC as two different worlds of computing and are afraid to venture into the other. Though, that might have been accurate 10 years ago, today Mac and PC are very much alike. This post is for PC users interested in switching to Mac as their everyday computer.
Consider This Before You Switch From PC To Mac
Before purchasing a Mac consider there will be a slight learning curve. If you have the time, patience, and are excited to learn new things then switching to a Mac will be a great experience for you. My opinion is if you have a background working with a PC, you shouldn’t have too much of a problem switching to Mac. Both the Windows and Mac operating systems have a friendly user interface. Spending just 10 minutes in front of a Mac most people catch on pretty quick on how to drive around and do things.
What Are The Major Differences Between PC and Mac?
There are several differences in design and the operating system but under the hood, Mac and PC are very similar in hardware. New Mac computers now use Intel processors. Both Mac and PC have standard components; RAM (memory), hard drive (storage), and now Intel chips.
First Look At Mac
When working with a Mac, you’ll first notice the clean and elegant design. In my opinion, Mac computers are designed and engineered very well! Apple products like the Mac Air highlight features of ultra-thin and lightweight design, 12-hour battery life, and super-sharp display.
Mac OSX Basics: Learning To Get Around
The operating system of today’s Mac is OSX. The operating system (OS) is the graphical user interface (GUI) you see when interacting with your computer. One thing you’ll notice right away is the dock located at the very bottom of your desktop screen (see image below). The dock is where your most favorite applications should and will live. I could go on another 500 words or so just about the dock but this is something that will be described in detail later on in future posts.
Mac Menu Bar
Another unique feature with Mac is the way you open and close applications. For instance, when you launch a program like Safari (Mac internet browser), you will notice your menu bar at the very top of the screen. When an application is selected, this menu bar is updated with that application’s specific menu items. To close Safari, make sure Safari is open and selected, then go to the top left of the menu bar and click Safari –> Quit Safari. Simple right? You could also use keyboard shortcuts like {command+Q} to close applications but keyboard shortcuts will be something you learn later on.
PC Software For Mac
Many of today’s popular PC software programs are available to Mac. In fact, you can even run Windows on your Mac using a Mac program called Parallels. Popular PC programs like Microsoft Office are also available to Mac and in my opinion, they run even better!
Last Thoughts Before You Switch
Understand that moving to a Mac can be a little stressful at first. Have patience. There is tons of free help on the internet on how to get started with using a Mac to the complete basics. Don’t throw away your PC just yet. I think the best way to switch to Mac is to make it a gradual change. Lastly, don’t forget we’re here if you have any questions or concerns. We have helped people from all over the world switch to Mac and learn how to use Mac computers. Don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel for free tips and tricks related to Macs!
