Mac 101
If you’re looking for something different in the computer IT world, or maybe you just hate Microsoft? An Apple Computer and Mac OS may be for you.
Brief Introduction
Apple has been around developing Mac operating systems slightly longer than Windows. The kernel is based on a UNIX platform which is also the basis for other OS's such as Linux. Mac OS's have used many different processors in the past such as Motorola, PowerPC, and presently Intel microprocessors (Parsons and Oja 2008).
There have been many versions of Mac OS such as Classic Mac OS in 1984; the first GUI (graphical user interface) desktop from Apple. Other versions include System 6, System, 7, Mac OS 8, OS 9, and present versions of Mac OS X like "Leopard" seen below:
1
Macs are known for an easy-to-learn point and click GUI that runs smoothly (Parsons and Oja 2008).
Advantages/Disadvantages
Macs have great advantages over Windows PC users:2
- Easy to Use
- Reliable
- Secure
- Superior graphical, and editing software compared to Windows.
- Low instance of errors and glitches due to memory protection from UNIX
- Beautiful GUI Desktop Display
- Easily backwards compatible with prior generation hardware or software
- Dual Boot Software makes it easy to dual boot with virtual Windows, Linux, or both
As with all things though, it does have its disadvantages:
- Expensive. Macs can easily cost more than double the price of a PC
- Somewhat limited software available. For example, there are fewer games out there for a Mac compared to Windows
- Only used by about 8% of the world.
Interested?
I, in fact own an iMac and it is my main computer. What really attracts me to Mac is how clean, customizable, and user friendly the GUI is. I find that that applications seem to run a lot smoother and more efficiently. Programs rarely crash, and run faster; taking up less physical memory in RAM.
Here's a screenshot of how my desktop looks (click the image for the full size):
A Mac is a strong computer choice to consider that's easy to use, has a beautiful graphical user interface, and will last for years to come.
Sources:
1 Merrett, Andy. "OS X Leopard First Day Review." Techdigest. 27 Oct 2007. 20 Dec 2008 http://www.techdigest.tv/2007/10/os_x_leopard_fi.html.
2 Parsons, June, and Dan Oja. Computer Concepts. 10th edition. Boston: Thomson Course Technology, 2008.
