Apple Or Microsoft Heres Our Comparison
As an IT specialist, we understand that getting the best hardware and operating system for your business is crucial. There are two major ones we can take a look at today Microsoft and Apple. Both have advantages and disadvantages which set them apart from each other. To make things as easy as possible, weve set about our comparison below between the two.
Compatibility
Microsoft Windows has the biggest market share in computing. This means that it is more likely to be compatible with other programmes and software.
Microsoft have released a version of this for Mac and it looks very similar to the Windows version. This means that well-known software such as Microsoft Office can be on Apple devices. For more unique or specialised programmes, Apple users might have a hard time finding one compatible with an Apple Mac.
What many Apple Mac users can do is install Parallels. This allows the Microsoft Windows operating system to run on their system. Very few business software packages are compatible on an Apple Mac natively.
Its important to decide which operating system is right for you. It is best to consider what you will be mainly using your computer for and what programmes you would require.
Durability
Microsoft is more open in this regard allowing Microsoft Windows to be installed on virtually any hardware. As a result of this, you have more flexibility in the type of device you want to use.
Security
Cost
Repairs
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 Vs Apple Macbook Air: Which Laptop Wins
Battle of the portable flagships
Apple vs. Microsoft. It’s a feud as old as modern computing itself. Initially fought on the software front, the battle of these two giants is now a clash of metal against metal. Microsoft’s newest weapon is the Surface Laptop 3, a traditional clamshell laptop with a superslim chassis. With a 13.5-inch screen, the Surface Laptop 3 makes for the perfect opponent against the MacBook Air, Apple’s massively popular portable laptop.
On paper, the Surface Laptop 3 already has advantages over the MacBook Air. The Surface’s U-series CPU should offer faster performance, and its USB Type-A port is still super useful. On the flip side, the MacBook Air weighs less and has a smaller chassis.
But which of these two flagship laptops the Surface Laptop 3 or MacBook Air is right for you? This is how they stack up.
What Its Good At:
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Integrating with other Apple devices. As with most Apple tech, the killer feature here is the convenience. Whether its controlling slide presentations from your Apple Watch or quickly backing up iPhone photos to your laptop hard drive, Apples product integrations just make life simpler.
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Reliability. No laptop is perfect, but MacBooks are about as good as it gets when it comes to stability. If you need a machine that wont force you to spend much time troubleshooting, a MacBook is one of your best options.
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Holding its resale value. Its never difficult to sell a MacBook when youre upgrading, and even older MacBooks still fetch reasonable prices. If you need a machine that will eventually help you pay for your next one, a MacBook is the only way to go.
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Comparison: Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 Versus M1 Macbook Air Macbook Pro
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On Tuesday, Microsoft launched its Surface Laptop 4 range, but the improvements don’t seem to be enough to counter Apple’s M1 MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro.
Launched on Tuesday, the new Surface Laptop 4 collection takes off from the Surface Laptop 3, with it providing users a thin and light notebook. One that is also equipped with a touchscreen, a signature element of the Surface lineup.
The new range is split into two tiers, consisting of the 13.5-inch and 15-inch models, with each also offering consumers the choice of Intel or AMD processors. It also appears to be a continued play by Microsoft to take on Apple’s MacBook Air and MacBook Pro lineup.
AppleInsider got hold of the Surface Laptop 4 to compare it against Apple’s lineup.
Desktop And Window Management
This take could just be due to my greater experience with Windows, but whenever I work on a Mac, Im frustrated by how program windows are managed and arranged. As mentioned in the Taskbar vs. Dock section, clicking on a Dock icon doesnt always open the programs windows.
Microsoft’s OS makes it easier to arrange windows on the screen. Want an app to take up exactly half the screen? Snap it to the left or right edge. How about have it display on a quarter of the screen? Snap it to any of the screen corners. If you run apps side-by-side, the border between them can be resized. If you want to show or switch to the desktop behind any running apps, click to the very far right of the taskbar. The conveniences go on.
Both operating systems let you create multiple virtual desktops. Windows now combines the desktop switcher with the Timeline feature . This does clutter the Task View screen, but it can be damned useful if you’re trying to get back to a webpage or document for which you’ve forgotten the location.
And finally, my favorite Windows window-management trick: Hold and shake the mouse key on a window title bar to minimize everything else.
Winner: Windows 10
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Windows Pcs Are Updated With New Specs Much More Frequently
If you want a slim laptop, Apple’s best choice is either the MacBook or the MacBook Air. The problem with the MacBook is that it might not have enough power. And the problem with the MacBook Air is that it runs on 2015 specs.
And then there are computers like the Mac Pro, which hasn’t been updated since 2013 and is way too expensive to buy today considering its old specs.
Meanwhile, Windows computers are constantly updated with new specs when they become available.
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Logging In And Getting Started
Both systems offer login options that go beyond the traditional act of simply signing in on your desktop. If you have a MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar, you can easily sign into your Mac using your finger. Or you can log in with your iPhone or Apple Watch if they are close enough to the computer.
But Windows 10 offers Hello with several biometric login options. Face login is probably the coolest, and is available on most higher-end PCs, including all Surface devices. Windows Hello also supports fingerprint readers, available on laptops such as the HP Spectre 13. If you dont have hardware that’s compatible with either of those features, Windows will also accept a PIN.
Once youve booted the OS, Windows has the Start button and menu to access your most-used apps, settings, and documents. There’s nothing similar in macOS, but you can pin frequently used apps to your Dock, head to the Applications folder, or set up your desktop with icons for your most-used programs and files. You can also use Launchpad icon to page through and start apps.
Winner:Windows 10
The Best Budget Laptop In 2021
You dont need to spend $1,000 to get a laptop that looks and feels premium. The HP Envy x360 2020 is the best budget laptop you can buy, thanks to its sturdy and compact build, chic convertible design, and excellent performance.
Part of what makes the Envy so great is that HP has ported over a number of elements from its excellent 2019 flagship, the Spectre x360, including the thin-and-light chassis and nearly bezel-free display with an 88 percent screen-to-body ratio. The touchscreen is bright and looks great. . And HP has added a row of convenient hotkeys to the keyboard, including kill switches for the microphone and webcam.
But the most exciting feature is inside: the new Envy x360 is powered by AMDs Ryzen 4000 series. The Ryzen 5-4500U in my model did an outstanding job with a fairly heavy load of multitasking. And AMDs integrated Radeon graphics delivered good gaming performance comparable to what youd expect from a lower-powered discrete GPU.
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Macbook Air Vs Surface Laptop : Design
Sleek and sophisticated but showing their age, the MacBook Air and Surface Laptop 4 are portable and sturdy ultra-thin laptops that could use some updates.
If you’ve seen a MacBook Air in the past few years, then you know how the newest model looks. It has the same slim wedge-shaped design as before, available in traditional Gold, Space Gray and Silver color options. It remains a remarkably slim and lightweight laptop and the unibody aluminum chassis was built with precision craftsmanship. The notch on the front edge is a nice touch and the top-firing speakers are preferred to down-firing ones.
However, the MacBook Air could use a refreshed design with thinner display bezels, and I wouldn’t mind a few more color options . As it stands, the MacBook Air, at 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches and 2.8 pounds, is about the same size as the Surface Laptop 4 despite having a smaller screen.
The Surface Laptop 4 is very much in the same boat. It has a premium design with a simple, understated chassis made of solid aluminum. What Microsoft does better than Apple is offering standout colors, like the Ice Blue finish on our review unit or the striking Sandstone shade. Some of these come with a soft-touch Alcantara deck, adding some flair to an otherwise straightforward design.
Yes, the Surface Laptop 4 also needs thinner bezels, but between its unique colors, Alcantara fabric deck, and the convenient IR camera above the screen, it gets the win over the Air.
Winner: Surface Laptop 4
Macs Are Easier To Buy
There are fewer models and configurations of Mac computers to choose from than there are Windows PCs if only because only Apple makes Macs, and anyone can make a Windows PC.
Certain PC brands can have dozens of computers for sale, under the same product names and model numbers. Unless you really know what to look for, picking a Windows PC can be daunting, especially if youre browsing on sites like Amazon.
But if you just want a good computer and dont want to do a ton of research, Apple makes it easier for you to pick. Just pick one that matches your budget and it will do great for you.
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Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio Vs Macbook Pro: Ports
Having a nice array of ports available is just nice to have, no matter what you’re planning to do with your new laptop. It’s especially important for professionals who regularly need to do things like hook up to an external display or pull assets off a digital camera, as having the right ports means you won’t have to deal with adapters and dongles.
If you care about having options, the Surface Laptop Studio offers a disappointing port lineup. You get two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports on the left side of the laptop, and a headphone jack and Surface Connect port on the right side. Not only is this a meager allotment that effectively forces you to invest in a USB-C adapter or two, it hamstrings your options by locating both USB-C ports on the same side. If Microsoft was set on a dual USB-C setup I’d have much preferred to see one on each side, for more convenient access.
Earlier iterations of the MacBook Pro had a similar problem, and Apple apparently listened to criticism because the 2021 Pro offers the wealth of port options usually reserved for mid-sized Windows laptops. Both sizes of MacBook Pro offer the same ports: a MagSafe 3 charging port, a headphone jack, an HDMI out, an SD card reader, and 3 Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports spread across both sides.
There Are Far More Windows Pc Options To Choose From
Apple is the only company that makes its own Mac computers, and you have fewer choices when it comes to designs and specs. Having fewer options can make it easier to pick a computer, but it doesn’t always suit someone with more advanced requirements.
You don’t get much choice when it comes to the processor and RAM with Macs, for example, which dictates how much power the computer has and how smoothly it’ll run.
Also, Macs are often marketed as machines perfectly suited for professionals, such as photo and video editors, but you can buy Windows PCs that are far better suited for those types of professionals than any Mac.
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Macbook Air Vs Surface Laptop : Battery Life
You will easily get a full day of juice out of either of these laptops, but the MacBook Air dominated in our battery test with a staggering runtime of 14 hours and 41 minutes. It almost out-endured the Surface Laptop 4 by four hours despite Microsoft clocking in a respectable 10 hours and 46 minutes. Both notebooks top the 10:22 average.
Winner: MacBook Air
Windows Laptops Have More Reliable Keyboards Than Apple’s Latest Macbook Pros
Lastly, several MacBook Pros and MacBooks users have reported that Apple’s latest Butterfly-design keyboard can be unreliable. I’m one of those customers with an affected keyboard, and I wrote a post in which I left all the mistakes caused by my defective keyboard design.
Windows laptop keyboards aren’t immune to their own problems, but a repair isn’t usually a big deal. Just swap out the affected key or clean under keys using a can of compressed air. For the issues with Apple’s butterfly keyboards, Apple’s repair teams sometimes have to replace large, expensive sections of the laptop. My most recent repair involved replacing the entire logic board, which includes the motherboard, processor, graphics chip, RAM, and storage. The top section of my laptop where my keyboard lies was also replaced, which also included the battery. All that for a single key my “G” key that wasn’t working properly. Apple has yet to comment on this issue. It’s a design flaw on Apple’s part, if you ask me, as repairing such a mundane issue shouldn’t have to be so complicated.
Thankfully, my laptop was under warranty, so the repair was free. But it can cost upwards of $700 to get a single defective key repaired on a new MacBook or MacBook Pro, according to Apple Insider.
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Great Laptop Okay Tablet
A more comfortable keyboard, a flexible kickstand, and a desktop operating system make a Windows tablet a better option than the iPad for writers, developers, or people who use lots of external accessories, and this ThinkPad is a better choice than the Surface Pro 7 right now.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $1,200.
Recommended configuration
| Weight : | 2.4 pounds |
Upgrade pick
This iPad has a huge, 12.9-inch screen thats better for multitasking or serious creative work such as digital illustration or audio editing.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $1,200.
The 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro is a few hundred dollars more expensive than the 11-inch model, but its worth the investment if you want an iPad with a bigger screen. The additional space is especially useful for multitasking, or if the iPad is your primary drawing tool and you need the biggest canvas you can get. In this model, Apple is also using a fancier screen that produces deeper blacks and brighter highlights than you get on the 11-inch model. But as with other iPads, this models support for external monitors is limited, and Apples first-party keyboard options are expensive.
As of June 2021, some versions of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro will take four to six weeks to ship, due at least in part to the global silicon chip shortage affecting most manufacturers. Take that into consideration when planning a purchase.
Budget pick
Buying Options
You Can Easily Switch Out Parts In Windows Pcs And Most Laptops To Customize Them For Your Needs And Give Them Extra Life
Apple computers are less customizable than many Windows PCs and laptops. For many, the original hardware inside their Apple computers will work fine, and most probably don’t want to tinker around with upgrading parts. But anyone who does want to tinker around will have limited options with Macs.
Plus, you can build your own PC with exactly the parts you want. It’s surprisingly easy, not to mention satisfying.
You can build your own “Hackintosh” computer, but you’re limited in what parts you can use, and macOS is a pain to update and maintain on computers that aren’t made by Apple.
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Macbook Air Or Macbook Pro
Apple makes two notebooks, the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Both do well in our ratings, but theyre aimed at different audiences.
The Air starts at $1,000, comes in one size , and is a smart choice for everyday use. Its capable of running a wide variety of apps, whether thats a web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Safari a word processor like Google Docs, Pages, or Word or a spreadsheet program such as Excel, Numbers, or Sheets.
And with the M1, you can now run iPhone and iPad apps. Its a neat featureI enjoy using my preferred podcast app, called Overcast, on my MacBook Airbut because the Mac doesnt have a touch screen, the experience is slightly clunky.
At 2.8 pounds, the computer is lightweight but not uniquely so. The 13-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 and the 13-inch Dell XPS 2021 also weigh in at 2.8 pounds, while LGs 14-inch Gram is a feathery 2.2 pounds.
In terms of specs, the Air starts with the Apple M1 processor, 8 gigabytes of memory, and 256GB of solid-state storage, a type of storage technology thats faster than traditional hard drives. Its battery can last as long as 13 hours on a single charge, according to our tests.
Although the MacBook Pro lineup has been refreshed in the past year, with Apple fully dropping Intels processors for its own, the basic calculus remains the same: These are hugely powerful notebooks for users who need raw power.
In short, youll spend less time waiting and more time doing.
As for Apples desktops, read on.