Mac or Windows: how to solve the dilemma and choose between the two operating systems

Some might say there are two kinds of people in the digital world: those who use Windows and those who use Mac. And, in a way, it’s true. A few years ago, Linux was also a more or less (rather less) widely used operating system, but today Windows and Mac OS are the operating systems par excellence.

So when it comes to buying a computer or even a laptop, be it MacBook Pro, Lenovo Ideapad or Lenovo Legion, the dilemma of which operating system to choose arises and it’s not always easy to solve, as we’ll see. The most important thing is to get clear on what our priorities are and what our budget is.

The first difference between Windows and Mac OS, which is not a small one, is Microsoft and Apple’s relationship with computer manufacturers. While Microsoft “allows” other hardware manufacturers to use Windows as the operating system for their computers, in addition to using it on their own hardware, Apple reserves Mac OS X for the Macbook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac or Mac Pro.

This Apple exclusivity means that the price of Mac OS computers or a MacBook Pro laptop is high, so we won’t always be able to afford a Mac OS computer if our budget isn’t as high as its price.

On the other hand, Windows computers can sometimes be found at very cheap prices, such as the Lenovo Ideapad and Lenovo Legion, and we can even consider building our own computers out of hardware components and installing Windows ourselves afterwards. Windows comes at a cost, while Mac OS X is free for Apple users. However, for those who buy a Windows computer, the operating system will in practice be free, as it is included in the price of the computer, as well as in subsequent upgrades.

Lately, however, and returning to the subject of computer prices, the prices of manufacturers such as Microsoft for both laptops and Surface Studio-type All In Ones are on par with Mac computers. In any case, there’s more price diversity in the Windows universe than in the Mac.

IF YOU WANT A MAC, IT’S GOING TO HAVE TO BE WITH MAC OS, MORE OR LESS

This hardware exclusivity means that if you want a MacBook Pro laptop, it will have to be equipped with Mac OS. But in practice, Apple “allows” Windows installation using Bootcamp technology whereby we can create a Windows partition on the Mac to boot from.

Other options include using a Mac OS virtualization tool, such as Parallels, to run Windows, albeit with limited performance due to the resources allocated to the virtual machine.

Another option is to boot from an external hard drive on which you have installed a version of Windows To Go, although it is not obvious to create this type of configuration. In any case, there are options to run Windows on a Mac, which is not the case in reverse.

USER INTERFACE DILEMMA

Leaving aside the hardware side and focusing on the differences in the operating system itself, the differences between a MacBook Pro and a Lenovo Ideapad or Lenovo Legion, for example, in terms of user interface are also relevant.

Mac OS X has its origins in a Linux distribution called BSD and has been a change from Mac OS 9 since 2002. The windows system, access permissions management, file access permissions, and basically all the “basics” of the system are familiar to users who know Linux, including the command console, which is incredibly easy to use on the Mac to perform advanced tasks.

There are “alternative” options to run Mac OS X on Windows computers, but these require advanced knowledge to “adapt” the Mac OS to native Windows computer hardware.

However, in its most recent releases, Apple is moving away from its Linux origins, eliminating “low-level” features and opting instead for an “easy-to-use” operating system. In fact, Mac OS has always been easier to use than Windows in general, especially before Windows.

Since the arrival of Windows 10, Microsoft has tried to simplify the user interface, mimicking Apple in aspects such as dialog boxes for system setup. And even offering the ability to install a Linux command console for more “professional” users, but without complicating the desktop side. You can see this on a Lenovo Ideapad or a Lenovo Legion.

In both operating systems there are interesting combinations of keyboard shortcuts to speed up certain actions, advanced search tools, file manager, images, and integration with personal assistants such as Cortana in Windows and Siri in Apple.