Mac vs. PC, Part 2

After depressing any Apple fans who subscribe yesterday, it is now time to discuss areas where Apple's products excel.

Security, Part 2
PC users have heard it over and over from Mac fans:  Macs don't get viruses.  Macs certainly can get viruses (the first virus was written for Unix, which formed the basis for OS X), but OS X is naturally more secure.

Yes, OS X has some features that make it more difficult to write an effective virus.  However, a Mac's biggest security feature has been its low share of the overall market.  It is much easier and more profitable to attack Windows.

Apple also reviews iOS apps for malware before approving them for the App Store, although there is some dispute over how thorough Apple is with its screening process.  While Google has promised to be more effective at screening Android apps,

Mobile Software
Macs are well behind PCs in the software field, but iOS has a great variety of apps available.  Some of this may be because Apple was the first to get into the consumer smartphone market, and some is because there are a relatively small number of iOS devices.  It is much easier to test an iOS app on Apple's limited number of iPhones than to test an Android app on the large number of Android devices.

The one complaint I have with iOS apps is the fee that Apple charges developers.  While large companies like Facebook and Google won't have a problem paying the fee, small developers might choose to ignore iOS all together or to charge for an app they give to Android users for free.  I know of several free Android apps I use that charge you for the iOS version.

Stability
Because Apple develops its own hardware and software together, OS X and iOS are much more stable than Windows and Android.  Both Windows and Android have to be designed so that it can be run on a large number of hardware platforms.  OS X and iOS are both designed specifically for one hardware profile:  the one developed by Apple.  (It is possible to install OS X on a non-Apple computer, creating something popularly called a "Hackintosh".)  Apple's ability to develop hardware and software together means its products will generally experience fewer crashes and glitches.

Arts
Yesterday, I mentioned that if my life had taken a different course, I would probably be a Mac user. I studied music in college and did a substantial amount of composing and arranging music.  If I were still doing this today, I would almost certainly be a Mac user.  If there is one academic area where Macs excel, it is the fine arts.  If you are considering a career in this field, expect to need a Mac at some point.

Intangibles
A few other reasons to like Apple.  First, Apple makes nice-looking products.  I distinctly remember seeing a Mac as a kid and thinking about how cool it looked compared to the old, boxy computers we owned.

Second, I have heard good things about (although I have not personally experienced) Apple's customer care services.  I know people who have broken their screen and had Apple repair it for free, even though they should have been charged a fee under the Apple Care plans.

Finally, Apple's devices can be counted on to hold their value.  I know one couple that always purchases the newest Apple devices and then sells the previous model.  They usually end up receiving most of the cost of their new devices from the sale of their old ones.