p. Britain’s Times ran a “(extlink)story”:http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-8088-882668,00.html where they had a PC user and a Mac user switch for a week and then write about their experience. Overall, the article seems well written, with the overall conclusion that the Mac has an edge, but it’s probably not enough of one to justify switching from a PC if you’re already very familiar with Windows. p. Perhaps the best way to sum up the article is the following lists which were appended after each users comments.

h4. Why buy a PC?

Everybody else does
Windows is installed in around 90 per cent of PCs worldwide, ensuring that nearly all external devices are compatible with Windows.

Easy to upgrade
Most Windows machines are designed to be taken apart so that the components can be replaced.

Cheaper initial cost
The cheapest no-frills Dell desktop PC costs £372. Apple doesn’t do no-frills systems, and its cheapest desktop offering is £649.

You use it at work
If it’s what you use at the office, you’ll probably want to use it at home.

You like to tinker
Thanks to the plethora of devices available, Windows PCs can be tinkered with like no other, leaving you to sort out any resulting problems.

h4. Why Buy a Mac?

Reliable
Macs are designed and built by Apple, the same company that makes the operating system, so hardware clashes are unknown.

Versatile
With additional software, Macs can run other operating systems. Windows PCs cannot run the Mac OS.

Lower cost of ownership
Surveys of computer users typically find that Mac users spend less time and money on maintaining and trouble-shooting their machines.

You use it at work
If it’s what you use at the office, you’ll probably want to use it at home.

You hate to tinker
You just want a computer that works when switched on, and have no interest in what goes on “under the bonnet”.

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