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In the world of computers and mobile devices, there seems to be a pretty clear divide between people who use Windows PCs and Android devices on the one hand, and die-hard Apple fans on the other — who have Macs, iPhones, iPads, and all the rest.
There are some pretty clear reasons why you might opt for a Windows PC instead of a Mac. For one thing — and maybe most importantly — Macs are notorious for being a lot more expensive.
For people who use their computers for playing video games, Windows PCs are a better choice as well — as they run many more games than Mac computers do, and can be modified to have new graphics cards installed and all the rest.
But if you ask any diehard Apple fan whether or not a Mac is worth the higher price point, they are bound to tell you “yes” — and in certain fields like Graphic Design, and for students in many disciplines, Apple products are almost completely dominant.
So, what actually are some of the benefits of getting a Mac and stepping into the Apple ecosystem?
A much tidier, sleeker, and more sophisticated feel
Macs are famous for their streamlined, iconic, and “minimalist” aesthetic — which includes, by default, a clean desktop area that features no icons (unless you go out of your way to add them there), and a control bar that you access most of your computer’s functionality through.
Macs also feature great trackpad gesture control, and all sorts of shortcuts for rapidly and effectively navigating your computer and accessing its various features.
While you may still want to look into services to help you free up your disk space as time goes on, Macs are — by default — much more elegant in their design than Windows computers, and this applies both to the software side of things, and also to the hardware side of things.
This may, initially, seem like a small thing — but the implications for your overall sense of well-being, stress management, and clarity of mind while using your computer can be quite dramatic.
Probably no veteran Windows user can honestly say that they haven’t, at least from time to time, felt completely overwhelmed and irritated by their cluttered desktops and the often non-intuitive and chaotic nature of the operating system.
Consistency between devices
Talking about buying a “Windows PC” is so vague that it tells you pretty much nothing at all about the kind of experience you can expect once you’ve got the computer setup.
This is because the Windows operating system runs on all sorts of different machines, created by all sorts of different companies, to all sorts of different standards, and at all sorts of different price points.
Particularly if you’re not the kind of person who naturally loves to research specifications and user reviews, to try and get a sense of what the best comparative product is, this can be a real headache.
Even if your computer has great specs and runs well at first — it may end up overheating and breaking after a short while, because — unbeknownst to you — that particular manufacturer cut certain corners, or dropped the ball with that particular model.
One great thing about Macs is that they are highly consistent. Apple controls both the hardware and the software side of things, and only releases a limited number of different ranges.
You don’t need to do too much research to know what you’re getting, and you can be pretty sure that your experience of the product will be the same as the experience of everyone else who bought that product.
Brilliant integration between different Apple products and services
One of the most powerful selling points in favor of getting into the “Apple Ecosystem,” is the fact that Apple’s various devices work seamlessly together — to an extent that can often be breathtaking to behold.
When you have a variety of Apple devices linked to the same iCloud account, and have backup and synchronization settings enabled, you can work between devices virtually without a hitch — and can do away with a huge amount of the stress and micromanaging that so often accompanies Windows devices, and especially Linux devices.
Take a picture of something fun that you’ve seen in public on your iPhone, and it will be waiting for you in your Mac’s photo roll by the time you next sit down at your computer.
Begin reading an interesting article on your Mac, but need to rush out to catch a train? No problem. As long as you’re using Safari and have the right setting enabled, you can just open the webpage again in one click on your iPhone and continue to read once you’ve taken your seat.
Or how about Calendar integration? The native Apple calendar can seamlessly sync between your different Apple devices, so that your notifications always display as and when required, on your desktop, or your phone, or your tablet. Likewise with the Apple Reminders to-do list app, the Apple Podcasts app, and more.
A longer product lifespan
Many Windows computers — and particularly laptops — are notorious for running well for a time, only to become more or less completely defunct within a couple of years.
One of the most well-appreciated aspects of Apple devices is that they tend to have very good longevity. Today, you can still find plenty of 2014 and 2015 era MacBook Pros and other Apple products available for sale on eBay and other websites — and other than perhaps needing their battery replaced, they perform just as well as if they were released last year.
There are plenty of people out there who will tell you that they’ve had their Mac for 5+ years and that it still works great. Good luck finding many Windows users who can make the same boast.
In addition to the fact that the hardware lasts and performs well over time, Apple is also very good at supporting their older products with the latest software updates for a good number of years going forward.
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