Differences Between Microsoft Windows And Mac Os X
- Difference Between Windows And Mac
- Differences Between Microsoft Windows And Mac Os X 7
- Compare Microsoft Windows And Mac Os X
I am sure you know what Mac and Windows are! Yes, they are two competing operating systems (OS or O/S) in use today. Both of them have amassed popularity for different reasons. Both of these operating systems have a following of their own. Before understanding the differences between Windows and Mac, let us take a quick look at each of them. 2020-2-28 What is the difference between Mac OS X 10.7 Lion and Windows 7? – Mac OS X 10.7 Lion and Windows 7 have many key differences between them. – Although, Windows 7 supports IA-32 and x86 architectures, Mac OS X 10.7 Lion only supports X86-64. Nov 02, 2011 The overwhelming market dominance of the Windows operating system has shaped the way consumers relate to and think about OS’s and GUI’s – “taskbar” “start menu” and “desktop” all entered the common lexicon following the immense popularity of Windows 95. OS X is known for its excellent, intuitive user interface. Jun 13, 2019 Apple Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows are the operating systems. Apple Mac OS X is derived from FreeBSD known as “OS X” developed by the Apple. Apple Mac OS X is customized by the Apple for its own line of PCs known as “Macs”. While Microsoft Windows is developed by the Microsoft for any type for any PC.
2020-3-30 Mac vs. Linux Three operating systems – Windows, Macintosh, and Linux – dominate the world of computing today. But what sets them apart? History The first Windows system was released in 1985. Originally, it was just a graphical user interface on top of MS-DOS – a state of affairs that lasted until the. In addition to the previous differences, the booting time for Macs in much less than Windows; Mac OS X starts up from a cold boot in about 25 seconds, whereas Windows can take up to minutes. Mac also has near-instant suspend and resume, which allows the computer to start from where it was left of in the previous session.
Every day, we are bombarded with information comparing one operating system to another as if to provide some new breakthrough revelations in order to further widen the divide between users. Frankly, these two operating systems have more in common than they do in difference. Each has its own set of pros and cons, but they share many of the core features that define a desktop operating system in a modern era.
Let’s take a moment to move past the this vs. that way of thinking. If I were a first-time switcher to OS X, I would be better served by having the similarities pointed out to me rather than the differences. It’s these common features and capabilities that make the transition easier, after all.
So, what do these two titans of the operating system world have in common?
Robust External Accessory Support
Both OS X and Windows have a robust set of integrated drivers that enable a wide range of external accessories to work flawlessly out of the box. Printers, mice, keyboards, joysticks, webcams, and even those troublesome scanners can typically be used on either OS X or Windows on a plug-and-play capacity.
Despite popular packaging, there really isn’t a difference between a hard drive made for Windows and one made for OS X. You may have one pre-formatted with a Mac-specific journaled file structure or one set to NTFS for Windows, but all you really need to convert the clean (new) drive for use on either operating system is a quick reformat.
External peripherals have been commonly made to work with universal drivers for nearly a decade now. A webcam manufacturer may have their own preferred software for Windows and/or OS X, but it’s rare to find one made today that doesn’t operate from these universal device drivers pre-installed with Windows and OS X for the past several years.
Included Software
Both OS X and Windows come with bundled software to help carry out basic maintenance and security tasks out of the box. You can partition a drive, update the OS, pull up a basic document editor, and use a calculator without having to install any additional software.
Difference Between Windows And Mac
You also receive an included browser which many people use to download other browsers of their choice, most of which work on both OS X and Windows.
Contrary to popular belief, OS X does not come with iLife. iLife is bundled with new Macs.
Available Productivity Applications
Microsoft produces its Office Suite on both Windows and OS X. Likewise, LibreOffice and other open source alternatives almost always do the same, making all the same productivity options available to users of either operating system.
While some of the supported video and audio editing programs may differ, both have a significant catalog of multimedia applications available for users. Adobe Premiere CS6, for example, is made to work on either operating system just as well. Where iMovie might be the popular choice for consumers on OS X, Windows Movie Maker is just as available for Windows users.
Gaming
You can argue until your face turns blue that one platform has more games available to it than another, but you’ll have a hard time convincing anyone that one operating system is more capable of running them.
OS X and Windows each have significantly optimized operating environments that support common gaming engines. I’ve seen games perform exceedingly well on OS X, despite the platform having a reputation for not being a good gaming platform. Steam has opened its market to Mac users with a great number of titles being available across both platforms.
There are plenty of Mac gamers out there. Microsoft remote control for mac pro.
Common UI Elements
The Dock in OS X is a lot like the task bar in Windows. It houses common application shortcuts and gives you quick access to running applications, complete with a preview and ability to close things from it rather than having to rely on a hotkey or exit button on the application. The real difference between the two (since Windows 7) is that one looks different from the other, and that puts people on edge.
Application windows can be minimized and maximized using buttons along the top of the window, though those buttons may be located in different places. Software looks and runs the same as it would on either operating system.
If anything, the only real difference between the two operating systems are the hotkeys used to do things like copy and paste, and even those can be remapped to match either operating environment. There are some advantages to one over another here and there, but whether or not these are pros or cons is up to the user to determine for themselves.
App Store
Windows 8 introduces an app store for Windows. This would be another commonality with OS X as the Mac App Store has been around since Snow Leopard. Both of these stores help the user manage existing and purchased applications as well as to discover new apps they may not have otherwise known about.
Viruses
Contrary to popular belief, Macs can and have had viruses. Malware and spyware are problems for Mac users as they are for Windows users, and the introduction of synced universal browsers have opened up a whole new can of shared concerns as hackers figure out ways to cause mischief.
The only reason OS X hasn’t been the primary target for this malicious software as of yet has been its lower market share among corporations and budget consumers. Once this market share evens out, you’ll find out just how vulnerable OS X can be.
OS X and Windows generally fare about the same in hacking contests such as PWN-To-Own where hackers are timed to see who can infiltrate a given system and take control of it the fastest. Even some of the more popular Linux distros are not immune to malicious attack.
Final Thoughts
Should you buy a Mac? Should you buy a PC? Honestly, it doesn’t matter. Each one will help you get done the vast majority of the things you need to get done throughout the day. In the end, it comes down to personal taste and needs.
The biggest problem I find while writing articles about either of these platforms is the constant bickering and nonsense that fills the comment threads associated with them. People have some strange desire to look down on (or talk down to) people who make different choices than they do when it really doesn’t matter at all.
I’ve written articles, edited video, updated my social media status, and gamed on both of these platforms extensively over the past decade and over that time I learned that either one is equally capable of getting the job done. It’s just a matter of what specific software you use, and where you prefer to use it.
Keyboard by Petr Kratochvil
Operating System
The Mac operating system — earlier called OS X and now renamed macOS — has traditionally been viewed as more stable than Windows. The main reason for this was that Apple produces both the hardware (Mac computer) and the software (Mac operating system); so they have better control over the integration of the entire system. Apple is also known to use only the best parts for its computers.[1]
Since the Windows operating system can run on hundreds of different types of computers, variations in hardware configurations within those computers can cause stability problems. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of PC manufacturers and so there is a wide variety in hardware quality of PCs.
Another reason for Macs being traditionally more stable is that since PCs are the more popular choice in the desktop market, most hackers and computer virus makers target PCs. As the popularity for Mac computers increase, it can be expected that the incidence of hacker and virus attacks will increase.
It should be noted that you can run Windows on a Mac but cannot run macOS on a PC. Apple has also released a software kit called Bootcamp for running Windows on the Mac. Other software virtualization applications used to run Windows on Macs include Virtualbox and Parallels.
Another factor contributing to a better user experience on the Mac is that there is no software cruft i.e., there are no third-party applications that are pre-installed on your Mac. PCs usually come with several 3rd-party apps pre-installed. For example, antivirus software from McAfee or Symantec, or DVD reading/writing software. Some of this software can be downright dangerous for the security and privacy of the user; case in point: Lenovo's Superfish scandal. Interestingly, this feature of Apple devices also applies to the iOS vs Android debate; Android devices ship with 'crapware' (3rd party applications that many people don't ever use) while iPhones and iPads ship only with Apple software.
User Interface
The most noticeable difference between Macs and PCs is in the user interfaces. While many computer users will proclaim one or the other “superior” or “best,” this is ultimately a matter of personal preference. Highlights of the UI in Mac OS X include Launchpad (a screen full of app icons for easily launching your favorite apps), hot corners that can be customized for various types of views, a 'dock' that has icons for your favorite apps, full screen mode for apps, and 'spaces' that create as many desktops as you like so you can minimize clutter. With Windows 8 UI highlights include a touch-friendly 'metro' interface that contains 'live tiles', rectangular boxes of varying sizes on the screen that represent an app and get refreshed with the latest content from the app. Several apps utilizing the 'metro' interface are full screen apps like in tablet computers.
Security
Macs have a reputation of being more secure than Windows PCs. In the 90s and early to mid-2000s, Windows was plagued with adware, malware and viruses that were mostly a result of users downloading compromised software, opening malicious email attachments or other malicious files downloaded from the Internet. Macs had a lower market share so malware-makers and distributors focused on the Windows platform.
Today the situation is not so lopsided. Windows security and Microsoft's Defender anti-virus program have made great strides and made Windows a safe platform. Macs have had security problems of their own, like the admin login vulnerability discovered in November 2017. And because of the growing popularity of the Mac platform — especially among high-value targets like computer programmers — malware-makers are increasingly homing in on Macs as targets.
Irrespective of whether you're on a Mac or PC, it is not advisable to open files from unknown sources or any files downloaded via email or on the Internet that seem suspicious. If you're on Windows, it is further recommended to not use anti-virus programs other than Microsoft's Defender because they introduce security vulnerabilities of their own.[2]
Uses
Mac computers are most widely used in the creative professional market, including in journalism and desktop publishing, video editing and audio editing, but have also made inroads into the educative and scientific research sectors. Macs are also popular with computer programmers — a majority of web and app developers tend to use Macs.
PCs are also used with some of the video and audio editing and research purposes but are found largely as the Home or Office Computer. PCs are also widely used in gaming due to a wider variety of games available for the Windows platform.
Market share
Apple's share of the U.S. personal-computer market nearly tripled from 2004 to 2008 but hasn't gone up significantly since then, and stands at around 8.5 percent in August 2009, according to IDC. (Source: Associated Press)
In Q1 2008, worldwide PC shipments were around 70 million (up from 61 million in Q1 2007) whereas worldwide Mac shipments were around 2.3 million (up from 1.5 million in Q1 2007). Historical charts for PC vs. Mac shipments are available at http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/137350.asp
The market share of Mac for the July-Sept 2007 quarter was estimated at 3.2% for worldwide sales. While of PCs ( including major companies like HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer and Toshiba) was a total of around 56%.(Refer: http://www.systemshootouts.org/mac_sales.html)
Interoperability
PCs and Macs can usually share peripherals if they connect via USB, FireWire, or Bluetooth, three industry standards available on every Mac. Most popular applications for Mac and PC use the same file formats, making it simple to exchange documents with friends and coworkers or move existing files from a PC to a Mac.
Applications
Macs major applications include Ilife and Time Machine while the PCs most widely used application includes MS Office. Some popular games provided on a Mac are Mac Crack Attack, 3D Klondike while on PC are Solitaire and Virtual Pool.
There is a variety of software available for PCs, which are better than a Mac machine for use as gaming machines since most high-end games are created for the general PC. PCs and Macs can usually share peripherals if they connect via USB, FireWire, or Bluetooth, three industry standards available on every Mac. Most popular applications for Mac and PC use the same file formats, making it simple to exchange documents with friends and coworkers or move existing files from a PC to a Mac.
Gaming
Traditionally PCs have had the upper hand when it comes to gaming because more publishers developed games for the PC platform. Dollar for dollar, PCs have also provided more powerful processors and speed is an important criterion when it comes to gaming. Some popular games that are available only on PCs are Age of Empires III and Crysis. Games that have both Mac and PC versions include Call of Duty 4: Modern warfare, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, LegoStar Wars II, Starcraft and World of Warcraft.
Productivity Software
Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite & Cloud are available for both Windows and Mac platforms. Other productivity software like OpenOffice and StarOffice is also available for all platforms. Apple's iWork office suite, which includes Pages (word processor), Numbers (spreadsheets) and Keynote (presentation maker) are only available on the Mac and iOS platforms.
Mac vs. PC War
Macs were hugely popular when the Macintosh was introduced in the mid-80s. They pioneered the GUI and the mouse. With Windows 3.1 and the wildly popular Windows 95, Microsoft gained a large market share. In the 1990s, Windows grew by leaps and bounds and Apple went downhill. After Steve Jobs was brought back to Apple, he introduced the iMac and revived Mac sales. Microsoft bought a 5% stake in Apple with a $150mn investment in non-voting shares in 1997.
Apple's Macs have always had a small but passionate fan base. In 2007, Apple released Mac vs PC ads showcasing the “cool” factor of Macs. These have been parodied online, often with a 3rd character (a woman) for Linux.
The Mac vs. Key of microsoft office 7. PC ads
In September 2008, Microsoft responded to the Apple campaign with a campaign of their own to break the PC stereotype.
A MAC into a PC (and vice versa)
By installing software like Boot Camp, or a virtualization solution, such as Parallels Desktop, a Mac can function like a PC machine. In other words, a MAC can run Windows on it.
Differences Between Microsoft Windows And Mac Os X 7
Apple does not allow the use of its operating system on non-Apple hardware. So a Windows PC cannot run Mac OS X. However, the Hackintosh project allows users to run Mac OS on any supported Intel-based PC.
Price
The MacBook Air starts at $999, whereas the MacBook Pro costs $1,199 and up, depending on the model. See MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro and MacBook vs MacBook Pro.
Current prices of various models and accessories are available on Apple.com and on Amazon.com.
PCs usually cost significantly less than Macs with comparable hardware. This is mostly because PCs are manufactured by a large number of hardware manufacturers, resulting in increased competition and lower prices. A wide selection of PCs with varying costs is available on Amazon.com.