10 reasons or justifications as to why a new Apple Mac computer is more efficient and advantageous than a PC.

As a professor, the following are just some reasons I prefer a Mac over a PC.

1. $$ Macs are cheaper in the long run 

They last longer.  This is evidenced by the fact that Macs have a greater trade in value after 3 years than most PCs.  One need only check Google to see that a 3 year old mac sells much higher than a 3 year old computer in all most all online retailers

2. Apple Macs are the best in the industry for support 

Survey after survey from independent companies such as Consumer Reports (CR) consistently show Macs on the top of the list in tech support, hardware and software. Mac World proudly reports that “based on CR reader surveys awarded AppleCare a score of 86 points, dwarfing the competition; Lenovo/IBM came in second place with just 61 points. Both Apple’s phone-based and online support scored the magazine’s highest possible ratings, which no other company achieved in either category. Readers also reported that 80 percent of their technical issues were solved by Apple’s tech support, while the next best companies—IBM and Dell—solved issues only 57 percent of the time.”  Seehttp://www.consumerreports.org/cro/computers/buying-guide.htm and http://www.macworld.com/article/1160089/apple_laptops_dominate_consumer_reports_rankings.html

3. Security and viruses on Apple over Microsoft

When compared to any PC running Microsoft Windows, all Apple Macintosh computers are much more secure and less vulnerable to viruses and other malware. See this article from eSecurityPlanet arguing why Mac is more secure than windows http://www.esecurityplanet.com/views/article.php/3658121/Is-the-Mac-Really-More-Secure-than-Windows.htm

4. GarageBand

Apple has its own Podcasting internal software connected with itunes University which makes it easier and more effective for me to teach my students and create distance lectures for them. Brain Bertuci, of podcasting.about.com writes “GarageBand is only for Macs, which is a shame, because it strikes a near perfect balance between power and intuitiveness.. .. GarageBand  … contains all of the capabilities needed for producing the most complex, scripted podcasts. If you’re lucky enough to own one of the newer Macs, just plug in a USB microphone, and you’re literally ready to g0.” See  http://podcasting.about.com/od/recordingequipment/tp/TopSoftware.htm

5. Time Machine

The back up for Macs is the very best in the industry. Apple’s Time Machine is not only elegant and simple it is amazingly accurate. I can not only back-up, but I can go back in time to find a document I deleted.

6. For Graphic Design

Major worldwide companies like Pixar, Walt Disney use Mac for their animation—Even our own Graphic Design program at Olive-Harvey college, one of the seven City Colleges of Chicago exclusively uses a Mac Lab—there is a reason for that. I plan to use the very best software to design logos, posters and ads and even animation for our events at the local college. The following programs work best on the MAC –which is constantly reported by graphic designers worldwide: TextMate, BBEdit, Final Cut Pro, After Affects, Logic, Reason etc.  InDesign, QuarkXPress, PhotShop

7. The App Store

Apple’s App Sore, which comes with every Mac, makes it easy to find, install and even uninstall over 10,000 apps for Mac alone. This is a brilliant resource for me. Last December, the App store passed 100 million downloads, making it the “largest and fastest growing PC software store in the world”. SEE http://www.macrumors.com/2011/12/12/mac-app-store-hits-100-million-downloads/

8. Apple Customer Support

If there is a problem, we do not need to contact hundreds of other vendors or companies to figure out who is responsible.  Apple is a one stop shop for technical issues unlike Sony, or HP or most any other company, and as mentioned above, it scores the best in this area among others. Sources: http://www.powermax.com/customer_resources/top_ten

9. Easier to troubleshoot Macs.

It’s usually pretty easy to figure out what’s going wrong with a Mac. There are three applications that help — all in one place and easy to find in the Applications/Utilities folder: Activity Monitor, Console, and Disk Utility.

10. iBooks and iMessage

Apple makes it easier for me to publish my notes into ibooks for my students and publish material for the academic world like no other system.  iMessage allows me to communicate with my students, family and friends, in instant messages right from my computer without compromising my personal phone number in an attractive manner.  This is a reliable and wonderful feature.

Now, what can a we do on a Mac do that we cannot do on a PC?  I leave that question open to you all! Looking forward to your insights. 

What do you think?