Business owners have a lot of options when it comes to the technology they use throughout their organization. One of the first decisions to make when building out a tech stack, though, is whether your business is going to rely on a foundation of PC or Apple computers. To help you find the most suitable solution, we break down the timeless battle: Mac vs. PC for small business.
There are few tech conversations as divisive as the clash between PC and Mac users. PC stands for “personal computer” as it’s non-brand-specific. This means there are a wide variety of PC hardware manufacturers from which users can purchase. Popular PC providers include HP, Lenovo, Dell, Alienware, and Acer, but there are many more.
Macintosh computers, on the other hand, belong to the Apple brand, meaning Apple is the one and only Mac manufacturer.
There are a plethora of considerations when pitting Mac vs. PC for small business up against one another particularly because no two organizations are exactly alike. In this blog we look at the key features of both PCs and Macs to highlight their differences and help you decide which is better for your business.
As you develop your tech-stack, you’ll need to protect your network against malicious actors and cybercriminals. For a deeper look at what this involves, and what falls to your IT team, watch Impact’s Modern Business Requirements webinar, The Difference Between IT and Cybersecurity Standards.
The Popularity of the PC
The PC is wildly popular on a global scale with somewhere around 2 billion active units in use. In stark contrast, the number of global Mac users is estimated to be around 100 million.
The three main factors that contribute to the popularity of the PC are accessibility, compatibility, and customizability.
Accessibility
As mentioned earlier, there are a huge variety of manufacturers when it comes to the personal computer. Already, this means that there are simply more options regarding use-specific performance, brand, and most importantly, price.
PCs have a much wider range when it comes to cost, with low-end PCs coming in around $200-$250. This is an extremely affordable price point for those that don’t have a ton of expendable income to dedicate toward their computer.
On the other side of the coin, high-end PC laptops like the Asus Rog Strix Scar 18 gaming laptop can run users nearly $4,000.
The spectrum of price points for PCs can be extremely attractive to businesses who are just finding their feet.
Compatibility
Another reason that PCs are so popular among businesses is their easy compatibility features. Since there are so many different brands of PCs running so many different operating systems, cross-compatibility is a major emphasis in the PC world.
PCs are easy to synchronize with a massive array of other technologies spanning across both hardware and software options. The majority of the software in the world is actually designed for PC, which gives PC users a wider breadth of options when it comes to the programs they want to run on their devices and the hardware stacks they’d like to deploy.
The high compatibility on PCs makes them very user and business-friendly, and allows for unique tech stacks that can meet the specific needs of your organization.
Customizability
Lastly, PCs have an incredible capacity for customization. PC users have almost complete and total control over their PC build. From the operating system they run, to the graphics card, and even internal programming.
On the software end of things, PCs continue to lend flexibility to their users. There are a lot of programs that aren’t compatible with Mac computers. And on top of that, PCs offer users the ability to create any number of custom applications and programs.
How Mac Stands Out vs. PC for Small Business
It may seem like Mac is quite behind the business curve. However, Mac is far from being left in the PC wake. The Apple Macintosh is a household name and carries a certain amount of clout. It is often regarded as the staple in computer performance, and is heavily preferred by artists, creatives, and designers.
Mac is popular with the creative crowd due to its heightened performance when it comes to anything design, image, or art related. Additionally, Macs are extremely user-friendly with a wide array of built in features specifically designed to ease and streamline the user experience.
Additionally, while Apple Macs have a fairly significant starting price (especially compared to PCs), if cared for properly, they require less additional support and have fewer add-on costs which brings down the total cost of ownership. In fact, IBM reported in 2022 that they saved between $273-$543/mac deployed.
Finally, while Macs offer users a lot less customization, their inherent build is high-quality and they deliver on an incredible user experience. The top-tier user experience Macs deliver is largely due to the stunning aesthetics, the organic and streamlined navigation, and the built in trackpad controls.
The IT & Cybersecurity Factor
When comparing Mac vs PC for small business, it’s integral to think about the IT and cybersecurity requirements for a smooth operation.
As mentioned earlier, PCs have a higher natural compatibility with each other, which can make it straightforward implement a comprehensive IT stack that meets your exact needs. That said, PCs are also less secure against cyberattacks.
The main reason that PCs are more vulnerable to cyberattacks than Apple Macs is, again, rooted in the numbers. With 2 billion active PCs in use around the world, the large majority of viruses and malware are programmed to target PCs.
It isn’t just the volume, though. Certain PC operating systems, like Windows 10, are notorious for being riddled with cyber vulnerabilities.
“Windows [is] such a common target not only because it's the most common operating system in the world with the most targets available: It's also prone to security issues. According to the CVE database, which tracks known system vulnerabilities, Microsoft had more than 660 dangerous security gaps, and 357 of them were attributed to Windows 10.”
While PCs are more vulnerable to cyberattacks than Macs, it isn’t impossible to secure your network if you are using PCs. You may just need to invest a bit more into your cybersecurity posture. By investing in a cybersecurity partnership, or building a cybersecurity team in-house, you can build a comprehensive cybersecurity defense that secures your entire network.
