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Mac: Everything good about Windows - with a few exceptions -
was copied from Macs, so why not go with the original instead of an
imitation?
PC: There's more software available for PCs.
Mac: Most PC software isn't worth much; the good stuff is
cross platform. How much do you need, anyway?
PC: PCs are cheaper.
Mac: Macs last longer.
PC: PCs are used in the real world.
Mac: School is real, too, and lots of graphic design and
publishing people use Macs.
PC: Not everyone is going to be a publisher.
Mac: Have you heard of this new thing? It's called the
Internet. Everyone is a publisher.
PC: But training students on Windows gets them ready for what
they'll use on the job.
Mac: By the time students get to the "real" world, their
Windows training will be useless. Windows will change within the
academic career of a high school or college student - guaranteed - it's
part of the business plan. Why not learn a variety of systems so you
can be more adaptable and flexible?
PC: PCs are easier for an administrator to administer over a
network.
Mac: Macs are easier for a user to assemble into a
network.
PC: AppleTalk is chatty and eats up bandwidth on my
network.
Mac: A standard 10Base-T network is hardly taxed by dozens of
AppleTalk machines, besides which, I don't need your stinkin' router -
gimme a hub and leave me alone.
PC: Macs haven't changed in 16 years.
Mac: PCs have changed - fundamentally - four times in the
same span of time. DOS to Windows 3.1 to Windows 9x to Windows
ME/2000/NT represents 4 fundamental changes. Macs have had one
fundamental change, to OS X, in 16 years. For each situation, one
of these points might be the deciding factor.
Each of these points is debatable, and every Mac vs. PC debate ends
with readers flaming each other with such witticisms as "you're an
idiot" and "Macs Suck Macs Suck" and "Windows 2000 = Mac 93" and "Two
buttons or DIE," so let's just assume that we dedicate a few moments of
silence to let that particular spasm pass, and move on. You're here,
you're reading this article, and we can guess which side of the fence
you're on.
Jeff Adkins is a science teacher who isn't afraid to state his preferences in computing platforms. In his classroom he has everything from a beige All-in-One to a a G4 XServe, and they all work together nicely. He calls himself the "poster child for technology integration" in the classroom. He was the 2006 Outstanding Educator of the Year for the California Computer Using Educators (CUE) organization. He also maintains a site for astronomy teachers at www.AstronomyTeacher.com.
Mac of the Day: PowerBook 170, Oct. 1991 - At 25 MHz, the PB 170 was at the top of the original PowerBook line.
List of the Day: The iPhone List Low End Mac's forum for discussing and supporting Apple's iPhone.
August 30 in LEM history: 99: The truth about USB speed - 00: Could Eazel kill the Mac? - Mac OS 8.1 on a IIci and LC III - 01: Beyond MHz and GHz - Getting a handle on email - Thanks for the IBM PC, Dad - Apple's anniversaries - 02: Mac OS X v10.2 - iBook video out - 04: Things that freak out my students - 06: Nvu and SeaMonkey can't replace Home Page - 07: DVD-RAM support
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