Mac vs. PC

One of the most common computing debates today asks, “What is better, PC or Mac?” It’s an endless debate, and honestly in most cases there isn’t much merit to it. I have personally used both platforms and am versed in Windows, Mac OS and Linux operating systems (and I know Paul is also).

So, while there may be specific reasons for personally choosing to use Windows, Mac OS or some form of Unix/Linux, there aren’t many compelling reasons to adopt a standard approach for business. Choosing an environment and operating system depends on your personal preference and what your needs are; for example, designers tend to choose Mac OS due to their support for high-quality design applications and aesthetics, while software developers may prefer Linux due to high levels of customization and uniform compatibility.

Many businesses tend to think that all computers need to be of one specific type or platform. I have personally seen large businesses do this, and although I don’t agree with it I do understand the reasons (mostly cost and configuration issues). A small business usually doesn’t have these types of issues, and can actually be more robust and successful by having a mix of machine types and platforms (Etnacom is proof). A common misconception is that there might be extra configuration or specialized software needed during setup and operation. In reality most basic networking tasks (such as file sharing, instant messaging, e-mail and anything requiring a web browser) are platform-independent can be done natively on both platforms.Also, platform diversity actually enhances overall network security, since most worms and viruses propagate among machines of the same platform. By diversifying the network, it is much more difficult for malicious activity or an outage to completely halt operations.

At Etnacom, we embrace personal preference. I choose a Mac because of its roots in Unix. Paul has he his operational and managerial reasons for using both a PC running Windows and a second PC running Linux. Our wider range of knowledge allows us to better address our customers’ needs because between the two of us, we can work a wider variety of issues and capabilities across platforms.