Students extole virtues of Macs
Apple introduced its new iMac in January, and Steve Jobs, CEO of the company, said it will usher in the next era of personal computers, providing a hub for digital devices.
Jobs said in Time Magazine, “We are surrounded by camcorders, digital cameras, MP3 players, Palms, cell phones and DVD players. Some of these things are plenty useful without a personal computer. But a personal computer definitely enhances their value. And several are completely unusable without a PC – PC meaning a Mac, in our case.”
The original iMac was introduced in May 1998, and caused a 400 percent increase in Apple stock during the next two years, according to Time Magazine.
The stock has since dropped in value, and today Apple makes 4.5 percent of new personal computers sold in the United States and 2.8 percent of those sold worldwide.
Jobs said in Time that this new iMac, “is the best thing we’ve ever done,” and expects a new surge of Apple converts.
This trend seems to be beginning at USU, as more computer labs on campus get Macs.
Still, Natalie Smith, a senior in English who works as a computer lab assistant on campus, said most students prefer to use PCs.
“Macs are better for graphics, but PCs are more common in the business world, so people like them,” Smith said.
Her coworker Michelle Hickman, a sophomore majoring in elementary education, said 90 to 95 percent of the students she sees prefer PCs.
Many students recognize the benefits of both types of computers.
Allison Hopkin, a senior landscape architecture student, said she uses Macs for art-related computing, but PC’s for everything else.
PCs have benefits as well. Stanford’s survey said because there are more available, PCs have competition which results in lower prices and more choices.
PCs also have more available software, Loy Moser, a senior majoring in theater, said.
Software is often released first for PCs, and second, if at all, for Macs and other operating systems, according to Time Magazine.
Perhaps the biggest benefit to PCs is the versatility.
Jake Hoopes, a junior business information systems major, gave the analogy of learning a second language.
“If I didn’t speak English, and I had the choice whether to learn English or Swahili, I’d choose English because you can use it so many more places,” Hoopes said.
The Stanford study states that more than 90 percent of businesses worldwide use PCs.
Plus, as Kevin Ten Eyck, a senior majoring in landscape architecture, said, “PCs have better games.”
Graphics are one of the strongest aspects of Apple computers, and a study done by Stanford University Residential Computing cited Macs or Mac compatible systems as being better for graphic design because of superior speed, software and color-matching capabilities.
Another lab assistant and junior graphic design major, Mark Krogh, said he only uses Macs for graphic work.
“I’ve done graphics on a PC. It drives me crazy,” he said. “As far as graphic capabilities, Macs run circles around PCs.”
The University Reserves computer lab contains Macs specifically for graphic design and music majors, Moser said, Mac tends to lead in both areas.
Senior Laura Bohn, a landscape architecture student, said she was raised with Apple computers so she prefers them. She also said they are more reliable and user-friendly.
Krough also said the user interface is much easier for beginners.
“The GUI (Graphic User Interface) is immaculate and installation is much simpler and faster,” Krough said.
In addition, Macs have cross-platform compatibility, meaning they can read PC-format files, whereas PCs require special software to translate and are easier to troubleshoot, according to Stanford’s study.
Moser said more people do not use Macs because they are afraid.
“They are afraid because it’s not mainstream. Apple’s motto is ‘Think different,’ but people don’t want to do that,” Moser said.
He also said more people in the University Reserve Graphics Lab recognize the benefits of both types of operating systems.
“Some colleges are passionate about PCs, but here people recognize both. There are many people who will only use PCs, but most Mac-users are familiar with both and can see the benefits. A lack of exposure makes them close-minded,” Moser said.