Versatile products, sleek designs and quirky commercials have pushed Apple into the upper echelon of the personal computing world and advertisements have made it easy for students to believe one is better than the other, but the choice of Mac versus PC is cause for a much deeper discussion.
Apple threatens to climb the beanstalk of technology and take the throne Bill Gates has guarded for two decades. But the software giant is resilient and yet to be slain.
"Recently there's been a trend for more students to buy Apple computers over PCs," said Raymond Volpe, program director for UBMicro IT Support Services in The Commons. "They've been bought about twice as much as PCs."
According to Volpe, Apple computers are more flexible in their uses and application to students' needs. Despite a commercial preference to PCs in many businesses, a Mac can nearly always meet a student's academic requirements.
"Because a Mac can run a Windows operating system a student can still use programs like Microsoft Word on an Apple machine, so in most cases a student can keep their Apple without worrying about course demands," Volpe said.
PCs do not have the same adaptability and so the owner cannot use Apple specific software, the graphics packages for example, Volpe said.
"UBMicro has sold both Apple and Microsoft computers for a long time and we offer support for both," Volpe said. "The additional technology available for Apple computers, iPods and iTunes for example, make it more attractive to young adults as it has greater versatility."
According to Volpe, while the business world has a heavy investment in PCs and Windows, Apple is trekking into the home, education and small business areas.
"I personally prefer Macs....mainly because they're pretty," said Christine Biltucci, a junior anthropology major. "If I'm honest, they have a lot of problems and aren't as useful as PCs."
According to Biltucci, Macs suffer as much from hardware problems as PCs in her experience and require close to as much attention for their well-being.
"I have to send off my Mac for repair every six months or so. I got a PC desktop as well but I still prefer my Mac, it's easier to use and carry around," Biltucci said.
Kerry O'Connor, a junior environmental studies major, says Macs may be more aesthetically pleasing but PCs are cheaper, more user friendly and have a wider help base.
"People buy Macs because they're pretty and they think they're a better product," O'Connor said. "Also there's less shopping around. People can go to an Apple store and get everything they need. To get a good deal and all the accessories for a PC you have to do a lot more work."
According to Michael Rodgers, a graduate mechanical engineering student, people who buy Macs generally believe themselves to be more artistic and intellectual than PC users.
"I get the impression that some Mac users are slightly arrogant," Rodgers said. "I definitely prefer PC and I've never really considered changing. I don't agree with some people's view that it's a non-conformist product either."
Rogers said he would consider buying a PC laptop for the versatility.
"I don't think one computer series will ever totally push the other out of the technology market. I don't think either company has the market power to push the other out of their niches," Rodgers said.
