Reasons to buy a PC over a Mac
Although the name PC ( Personal Computer) is very broad, when looking for reasons to buy a PC we are going to focus on laptops and desktops that run on Windows operating systems, as they are the most popular.
PCs are becoming increasingly popular with graphic designers. In recent years, improvements in the power, quality and stability of PCs have made them a solid alternative to Macs to meet the needs of Graphic Design professionals.
Although Mac users continue to be slightly more satisfied according to the satisfaction index published by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), it can be seen how that difference decreases every year. And there are very good reasons to buy a PC instead of a Mac, as we will see below.
10 Key reasons to buy a PC over a Mac in 2024
1. The sale price
If you are starting out or do not want to make a strong investment in your computer equipment, this reason is enough to buy a PC instead of a Mac.
Windows PCs have a lower price than similarly featured Macs. With few exceptions, the price difference becomes even greater the more powerful the computers we compare are.
This has meant that, to reduce costs, many 3D design studios and audiovisual production companies that traditionally used very expensive Mac Pro, have switched to PCs in recent years.
2. More configuration possibilities
PCs are characterized by the number of options and configuration possibilities on the market.
There are dozens of PC brands and models to choose from, with different features and prices. In addition, there are stores that allow you to configure all the elements of the PC so that you can build your custom PC for a fairly reasonable price.
In this way you can choose the exact components you need, according to your needs and budget; the processor, the RAM, the hard drives, the graphics card, the sound card, the type of fans of your CPU and even the design of the tower or the cables, everything is configurable.
3. Innovative designs
Those who are wondering why design may be one of the reasons to buy PCs instead of Macs should look at the high-end PC laptops that have appeared in recent years, also known as “ultrabooks“.
Brands such as HP, Huawei, Microsoft or Dell are betting on these ultrabooks that combine design, power and performance. Thanks to this, we are seeing more and more PCs like the HP Specter or the Microsoft Surface Laptop, which have nothing to envy the MacBook Pro.
4. Lower price of possible repairs
No matter if you buy a PC or a Mac, at some point it will need a repair. In this sense, PC repairs are much cheaper than those of Macs and, without a doubt, it is one of the reasons to buy PCs.
The price difference in repairs is due to a question of supply and demand. There are many technical centers where you can have a Windows PC repaired and, on the other hand, there are hardly any centers authorized by Apple to repair a Mac.
There are also multiple insurance options for PCs that you can hire at the time of purchase for a large price more reasonable than AppleCare + insurance from Apple. Some of these insurances have a fairly extensive coverage and others even include accidental damage.
5. Compatibility with more computers
If you use Windows PC, it is very strange that you have any compatibility problem with any other user, since even Macs can receive files from Windows computers.
On the other hand, you will not always have the same ease when sharing Mac files with a Windows PC. Although macOS is an increasingly open system, it is easy for you to find that you cannot share your Keynote presentations correctly or other similar problems
6. More programs available
Since most users in the world have Windows PCs on Instead of Mac. Software companies availability more software for the Microsoft operating system.
More options available does not always mean higher quality, but it does mean that you will always have a greater range of programs to choose from.
7. The quantity and quality of the games
If, in addition to designing, you like to play video games in your free time and you want to use your computer for it, then this should be the first reason to buy a PC instead of a Mac.
It is not that you cannot play video games on Macs, with a good Windows PC, on the other hand, you can play more class A video games with a lower investment, access a lot of games with Xbox Game Pass and use the peripherals of your Xbox on your computer.
8. Windows 11
Windows 11 is a fast operating system, which consumes few resources and has almost nothing to do with its previous versions.
Microsoft has learned from its predecessors and also from Apple. Windows 11 is an operating system stable and very secure that is also frequently updated.
Don’t be put off by the bloatware that comes pre-installed on some PCs or its countless notifications. Spend a couple of hours unplugging and uninstalling those distractions at first, and you’ll have a great user experience the rest of the time.
9. Touch screens
For those who like to design by hand or for whom illustration tasks are part of their job, the touch screen can be essential.
Most Windows PCs come with touchscreens, which doesn’t exist on Macs. But keep in mind that not all touchscreens are the same, nor are the accuracy and response times to strokes.
If you have the possibility, experience the touch function of the computer you want before buying it, so as not to be surprised. Either way, if you like a specific computer but don’t like how its touch screen responds, you can choose to purchase a graphics tablet separately.
10. The ports and connection slots
Designers usually need to connect various devices such as external hard drives, cameras, graphics tablets and other accessories, for which we need extra ports and connection slots.
Due to its cable reduction philosophy, Apple has eliminated almost all ports on its computers. A decision that, although it seems correct in the long term, does not seem to take into account the current needs of design professionals.
Fortunately, most Windows PCs have multiple ports and connection slots. If you can choose one that already has the ports you will need, you will save yourself a lot of headaches.
If you still need to buy an adapter to have more ports, choose quality adapters and forget about cheap adapters. The latter tend to be easily damaged when you do professional use and can damage your computer if they overheat.
Choose the Windows PC that best suits you
Windows PCs have gained ground thanks to improvements in the quality, stability and design of these computers, which means that there are many attractive options on the market.
It is easy to waste days and days looking through the number of models, brands and features available in the market, so we recommend that you establish a clear list of priorities and stick to it as much as possible. In the article “How to choose a laptop for Graphic Design” you will find more information.
These 10 reasons to buy PC are not enough for you?
If you still have the doubt between choosing Mac or PC for Graphic Design because these reasons do not convince you or do not seem attractive enough, you may want to take a look at this detailed article that we have prepared with 10 reasons to choose a Mac over a PC.
