Choosing between a PC or a Mac isn't as simple as picking between two pairs of socks. Whichever you pick, you're still essentially getting socks. Not so when choosing between operating systems.
Although at the end of the day they're still both computers, they are vastly different when it comes to user interface — the icons you see onscreen and how they're arranged for optimum navigation — and user experience — how efficient the user interface is when it actually comes to using it. Both systems handle much of the same things you'd expect on a computer, including word processing, scrolling through files, or even as simple viewing images. However, they handle these things differently.
For example, you'll find a lot more options on a Windows 10-powered PC, and there will likely be more configurations you can toy around with to customize the experience exactly how you want it. However, that also means Windows 10 can easily get too complex for the average user, sometimes to the point of alienation.
On macOS, on the other hand, things are more clear-cut and straightforward. The buttons are placed exactly where you'd expect them to be, and there are no silly elements that risk confusing a user — they're there, to be clear, but they're stowed away to keep things crisp and clean. Arguably, at its current iteration, macOS offers a much more polished overall experience, and that's thanks to Apple's excellence in design. "They just work," as the longstanding mantra about Apple products goes.
So, which one is the right operating system for you?
Windows 10 vs macOS
For so long, Macs have been regarded as the more simple, easier, and better-designed operating system, with Windows 10 being a less glamorous and less straightforward but easily adaptable option.
Lots of things have changed over the years, however. Now, both these systems are so feature-aligned that the above notion doesn't really ring as true as it did several years ago. Anything you can do on a Mac, you'll probably find a way to do on PC, and vice versa.
Yet both of them are still massively different.
The devil, as they say, is in the details. Though both are now pretty similar, they each have a number of quirks that either make the experience of using each easier or a little bit worse.
At the end of the day, these things won't even matter, of course, since the most important thing you should consider is what you'll be using the computer for.
Windows 10 vs macOS: Software
First of all, you must first think about what kinds of software you plan on running on your device. Especially if they're things you use for your job, they should run without a snag on your operating system of choice. Windows 10 is arguably the better option in this regard since it's compatible with so many apps. Not that macOS isn't. The software ecosystem is just a tad bit narrower on a Mac, so you'll likely run into programs that simply won't work at all. There are workarounds to this, of course — virtual machine, anyone? — but they're not something a typical user might understand readily — or willingly.
The main drawback when it comes to app compatibility is that Windows 10, in effect, becomes more susceptible to viruses. That doesn't mean macOS is immune to bad agents; it's simply a less frequent target.
Windows 10 vs macOS: Hardware
Perhaps the biggest difference between the two operating systems is their hardware. For many years, Apple's laptops were the gold standard for exceptionally designed machines, design-wise and strength-wise. But problems have been popping up lately, including overheating units and faulty keyboards.
The point being: if you want to use macOS, you'll have to buy a Mac. They simply don't run elsewhere, at least not officially. And because you can't install macOS on other devices, you can't choose which specs you want on your machine except Apple's pre-configured models. You can't swap out certain parts, and you don't have a wide range of options when it comes to customizations. MacBooks are a done deal. Warts and all.
On Windows 10 devices, you have a lot more flexibility. You can have a say on the processor, RAM, storage, and all sorts of options to make a laptop that fits your preferences. It's designed to work on different types of hardware too, which means it can be installed on a laptop, a desktop, a tablet, and even a 2-in-1.
Conclusion
Both Windows 10 and macOS are incredible operating systems with their own set of strengths and weaknesses.
If you want a no-fuss system "that just works," one that requires very minimal setup and guides you as you're using it, go for a Mac.
If you're willing to sacrifice the straightforwardness and polished experience Macs offer and instead opt for the flexibility, easy adaptability, and expanded customization of Windows 10, go for a PC.
