Pc Mac Macintosh Computers example essay topic

INFO 1 Let's see, this would go back to about 1977. I was in 10th grade at the time and was already a fourth-year computer geek. Our high school had just got in another computer to put alongside of the two teletypes (yeah, teletypes, punch cards, punch tape, and 100-baud modems). Gasp! It was the brand-new Apple IIe! We almost immediately abandoned the teletypes.

After the first overheat, we had to bring in a big window fan for it, since no- one had made a power supply with a built-in fan yet. It wasn't until 1981 that IBM released their first PC. If memory serves me correctly, it had a 8088 4.77 Mhz CPU, 16 K RAM, 40 K (?) ROM, two 5 1/4 " 160 KB floppy disk drives, a video / printer card (I still have one of these), and an audio cassette connection (tape drives were still used for data backup). All this for about $1,500, I think it was. Some of us geeks who attended or hung around CSUN back then were finally able to sort out the differences between the two platforms: The assembler language instruction set was different (that is, pure programming code), the main CPU chips were different (IBM used the 8086 and 8088, the Apple uses a 6502 chip) the BASIC computer language had different commands, and the Apple IIe had sixteen colors and programmable sound, something the IBM didn't have. I think the original quote from IBM had been that no one considered color and sound important.

Wasn't the first time those guys were terribly wrong. However, the IBM supported third-party hardware and was considerably easier to physically work on than the Apple. Over the next decade or so, the only thing Apple and IBM could agree upon was not to agree on anything. Thusly, we have the wildly divergent technologies we still experience today. Incidentally, Apple came out with their much-friendlier GUI (graphical user interface) early in the 1980's. People using PC / DOS or MS / DOS had to know a lot of near-UNIX style command line code to get things running on that platform.

Any wonder why Macintosh had more than half the market? One other thing: You may have seen a bumper sticker that says Windows 95 = Macintosh 84. Gospel truth. Things didn't get much better in the 1990's, either.

Microsoft finally released their Windows 3.0 in the early 1990's and 3.1 not too long after that. 3.1 was stable enough to use in a workplace environment, but still had to be fired up from a command-line DOS prompt. Wasn't until Windows 95 that the Windows environment could finally be launched as part of a direct system start-up procedure. Yikes! Was I rambling on a bit?

Sorry about the history lesson there... heh... In a nutshell: The PC and Macintosh evolved along completely different lines to get to the same end as end-user home computers. The CPU and IC chips used were different from the beginning, IBM (and then Microsoft) and Apple (and then Macintosh) had completely different ideas about what their users wanted, and the programmers and hardware engineers who loved and supported these systems went about doing this in completely different fashions from one another (ask about their dress codes and you could pretty much figure it out from there). Hopefully this was a good enough answer to your question. If it wasn't, well, then you " ve got yourself some first-class computer geek trivia... INFO 2 What is the difference between Macintosh and PC?

While they are both types of general purpose computers, they do have their differences. The primary difference between them are the types of central processing units (CPU) that they use and the operating systems (OS) that they run. The Macintosh computer line uses a CPU built by Motorola. All computers need an OS and the OS must have instructions that match those required by the CPU. So the Macintosh uses a Motorola CPU with Macintosh OS for its operating system. The Mac can, alternately, can run a version of UNIX for an OS.

In the PC world, the CPU can be from Intel, or one of its clones, AMD or Cyrix. There are more choices in what OS to run which ranges from DOS (now becoming obsolete), Windows, UNIX, OS/2, or LINUX. What application software you can run on a computer, such as word processor or games, is dependent upon the OS you are running. You cannot run Macintosh software on a PC or vice versa. Emulators do exist that can make this possible, but there is usually a tremendous performance degradation. INFO 3 Compatibility - What's the difference between MAC and PC?

There are two main platforms with which a majority of digital files are created upon. One is MAC (anything created on a Macintosh computer, G-3, G-4, PowerMAC) and the other is PC (Hp, Compaq, Gateway, IBM, etc.) MAC - (Macintosh) Macintosh computers can read media (disks) imported from a PC. When opening PC files on a MAC you typically will run into problems with your fonts since in many cases they are created specifically for either MAC or PC use. PC - (Personal Computer) If you have a MAC disk or file you will not be able to open them on the PC without additional software. The MAC disk uses a different format (language) which is not easily interpreted by the PC. If you need to transport MAC files to a PC, use a PC formatted disk.

INFO 4 It's kind of like the difference between English and French: They get the same thing done but in very different ways. For one, the two systems run on different hardware. Also, software designed for one system will not run on the other without an emulator program like Soft Windows or Virtual PC, and even then performance suffers. But let's start with the most basic information: An operating system is the first, underlying program that runs on a computer. It tells the computer how to read disks, write files, communicate with other pieces of hardware, and communicate with the user.

Other programs, like word processors and spreadsheets, run on top of the operating system. Generally speaking, operating systems are specific to the hardware they run on. The Macintosh OS only runs on Macintosh computers made by Apple. (Apple briefly licensed other manufacturers to use the Mac OS -- Motorola, Power Computing, and others -- but killed the licensing agreements when Steve Jobs returned as acting CEO of the company.) The Windows OS only runs on computers specifically designed to run Windows software, which are known as PCs or PC compatibles; these are made by many manufacturers. They all have a certain kind of processor, based on a certain instruction set, called the x 86. Aesthetically, the difference between the two is not great.

Both use a GUI, or graphical user interface. That means they have menus that drop down, windows that open and contain programs and documents, the ability to run multiple programs at the same time, and a standard user interface for the programs they run, which makes it easy for a user to move from program to program. Many people prefer one OS over the other, but that's just an opinion. The fact is that PCs outsell Macs by something like 20 to 1, so there is much more hardware and software variety for Windows than there is for Macs.

Prices are generally lower for Windows hardware and software because there is a larger market for it. Another advantage to using the more standard OS -- Windows -- is that you can share data more easily and help other users. The disadvantage is that Microsoft completely dominates the Windows marketplace, and as a result, there's been some loss of innovation. So perhaps there is more innovation happening on the Mac side. Generally the Macintosh is recognized as having inspired the look of Windows 95 and 98, but the Mac interface was in turn heavily influenced by the Xerox Star's user interface. INFO 5 Macintosh vs. the PC Macs and PCs are like apples and oranges.

Both are computers, and perform similar functions, but they look and operate quite differently. However, like apples and oranges, comparisons between the two are highly subjective. Whether to use a Mac or PC is matter a personal taste and the operations you require. IBM named its first computer a PC, which stands for "personal computer". A Macintosh isn't a personal computer, but rather a "person's computer". Although PCs and Macs are programmed to perform similar tasks using hardware, each computer requires different software.

Hardware includes external devices such as monitors, connectors, cables, consoles, speakers, keyboards, printers and a mouse. Hardware necessities include a keyboard and monitor, whereas an add-on includes a scanner. Software is the computer brain of both the PC and the Mac. Software instructs the hardware of its tasks and how to perform them.

Computers are designed to house short-term storage on the hard drive. In addition, both the PC and the Mac use disks for long-term storage. PC and Mac disks have different formats. There are two kinds of disks available to users.

Floppy disks have 1.4 MB of information and zip disks have 100 MB of information storage, with MB standing for "megabyte". Zip drives work the same floppy disk drives, but are not standard on most PCs. Mac's have a built-in zip drive, whereas PC's only offer it as an option. The single-processor Mac is faster than the cheapest single-processor PC. PCs are usually less expensive than Macs and there are more PC's on the market. For example, Gateway and Dell are two different PC providers.

Another difference between the PC and the Mac is that the Mac tends to be easier to use and troubleshoot. Most PC users need to consult a computer technician when experiencing difficulties, whereas Mac users are usually able to troubleshoot without outside assistance. Macs tend to have more consistent applications than the PC does, and those applications are pre-packaged with built-in Apple standards. PCs have more options and lower prices. The purchasing difference between PCs and Macs is that Macs have the built-in features that PCs don't have. PC buyers must either buy a pre-packaged deal or buy computer software on their own.

Macs have the capability to read PC disks with a built-in format translator, whereas PCs need special software to read Mac disks. Mac parts are also harder to find because often they must be ordered from an Apple dealer. PCs have parts that are usually cheaper and easier to find. PCs are also easier to upgrade because their software options are separate and there is a larger selection.