There has been much debate on which computer brand is better, Apple’s Mac or Microsoft’s PC? There is no quick answer to this because a lot depends on what the buyer intends to do on the computer. Much of the Mac vs. PC debate actually centers on how useful these computers are in performing specific tasks.

For college students, deciding between Mac vs. PC can be difficult because they have a wide range of things they would like their computers to do from simple word processing, email messaging, and internet surfing to watching movies or even gaming. In addition, college students are also looking for reliability and cost-efficiency in their choice of computers.

In deciding which brand will suit your needs best, consider the different components of computers. First, let us take a look at the processors. This is where the main difference between the two used to lie. Previously, a Mac uses a PowerPC chip (G3/G4/G5), which is developed by Apple, IBM or Motorola while a PC runs on either Intel Pentium or Intel Celeron processors. In 2006, Apple switched to Intel processors because these require less power, do not tend to overheat and are faster than PowerPC chips.

Because Macs and PCs now both use Intel, integration has become possible. This means one can run MAC and Windows operating systems on the same computer but this is still being tested. You would want fast and powerful processor performance if you would be running sophisticated or complex programs such as those used by engineering, design or computer science majors.

Another important consideration is the hard drive. This is the storage space of the computer and the amount of data you can store range from 40GB, to 60GB, 80GB or 120GB. Today, a minimum of 60GB is recommended for PC users and 80GB for Mac users. Moving on to the computer’s memory, the standard on desktops and laptops, regardless of brand, is 512 MB. That should be enough to allow you to run multiple applications without slowing the computer down.

Still another component that is integral to the performance of your computer is the operating system. Windows XP is recommended for PC users and Mac OS 10.4 for those with a Mac. These operating systems have their own advantages and disadvantages that you should look at carefully before deciding which to buy.

Compatibility is one issue in the Mac vs. PC debates because there are more PC users than Mac users so classrooms, labs, libraries and other facilities in colleges normally use PCs and not Macs. It is important to note here, however, that colleges and universities provide support for both systems and they certainly do not require that students use PCs only for them to be able to access the school’s network. In addition, you can open Windows Word documents and PowerPoint files in Macs.

It might seem to you know that there wasn’t really much to the debates surrounding these computer rivals and that they do not really have any significant difference between them but they do. When it comes to security and reliability, the Mac OS wins over Windows XP. Because Windows is more popular, the system is greatly at risk of being infected by viruses, spyware, adware and all other kinds of malicious files that can enter a PC without the user even knowing it. Macs, on the other hand, seldom have security issues.

One area where PCs have the advantage is price. Macs cost more than PCs because aside from the security aspect, there are fewer people who use Macs. So, for budget-conscious students the PC is the obvious choice. There are many PC brands out there that can offer you both affordability and excellent performance. If money is not a problem and security is your priority, then go for a Mac.