More Reasons to look at the choice of PCs

How to Pick a Perfect PC

Apple's got the style; AMD and Intel promised the power. Which one's right for you?

Well now Apple has Intel Power, and if the reports are true, it appears that running Windows is not not just a crippled occassional option, but a truely optional opportunity.

This article is based on one by the former senior editor at PC World and Business 2.0, Laurianne McLaughlin

Following the long term strategies of key education providers in Blackpool, you'd be well advised to consider what both Blackpool 6th Form College and major parts of the Blackpool and the Fylde College are Macintosh users.

Apple of Your Eye?

While PC shoppers constantly compare power and prices, some of Apple's hardcore fans think that Apple represents all that is good with the world, and Microsoft represents all that is evil. Nonsense, of course, but this article will skip that political debate. But for people who want to know what's going on with Apple systems, there's plenty to consider............for anyone wanting to use a computer.

First, have Windows-based PC makers given Apple system owners any big reasons to switch lately?

 No.

Apple still does exceedingly well in the areas that won the company fans in the first place--ease of use, intuitiveness, and system design, for example.

"Apple hides a lot of complexity," says Roger Kay, director of client computing at IDC. "An Apple system does what you expect it to do."

Windows PCs still produce cryptic error messages, present upgrade hassles, and crash more frequently than most Apple owners are used to--though Windows XP is a considerable improvement over Windows 98 or ME.

Apple owners face fewer aggravations than the typical PC owner. A key reason: Apple systems work with a smaller universe of peripherals and applications, but this is improving fast. Its worth noting that its almost certainly because of Apple adopting the technology, standards such as USB were popularised.
The same is true of built in CDROM, Graphical User Interfaces, the mouse, the digital camera, the pda, now its legal music downloading............ etc, etc.....

Apple examine and solve glitches more easily than Microsoft can for all Windows users, Apple owners are faced with fewer surprises when installing new gadgets, for example.

"Under one roof, Apple can test so many [product] combinations," Kay says. "The testing can be fairly exhaustive." So jobs like setting up a home wireless network often prove simpler with Apple equipment.



The Argument for Apple

In days past, some people rejected Apple because certain applications weren't available in the latest and greatest version, or perhaps at all, for the Apple OS. But now there's Microsoft's Virtual PC, an emulation program that lets you run an occasional Windows application on an Apple machine, with some slowdown (performance will vary by application.)

As for performance, it's rarely the decisive factor for people considering an Apple system: Ease of use is usually the prime reason. Nonetheless, Apple  kicked its speed ambitions up a notch with its new PowerMac G5 line, which uses the 64-bit IBM PowerPC 970 processor - the same processor as used in the new X-Box and the coming Playstation 3 and Nintendo game machines. Apple's G5 machines were initially aimed at professionals like graphic designers, demonstrate Apple's determination to participate in the performance race, but now Apple has moved to the Intel processor.  Not only is it just one processor, but 2, in the form of the Intel Dual Core.

Apple has now brought that Dual Core into its consumer lines such as the iMac and even the Mac Mini. Suddenly things are really changing.

With Apple, there's no need to investigate the reputations and support policies of several PC vendors. You're buying from Apple--which excels at customer service and support, according to PC World's most recent annual reliability and service survey.
In the survey, in which readers rate vendors on issues like hardware problems and tech support effort,

Apple won top marks among all desktop PC makers on service measures.

Need one last reason to consider Apple? Think bugs and worms: While PC users have been cursing loudly for the past year about numerous nasty viruses that have quickly spread round the globe (thanks in part to Microsoft software), Apple users don't need to worry much about this problem. Virus authors seem to see Microsoft as a bigger and better target."