Apple’s share of the PC market is a little less than 8 percent but that number doesn’t reflect the quality of Mac computers.

Macs and the macOS operating system (OS) have pros and cons compared to Windows PCs. Let’s look at the Mac advantages and disadvantages to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.

Advantages of the Mac Computer

Mac systems have had a reputation of being easier to use than Windows for most of its nearly 35-plus year life. Apple used this in their marketing for years, with the “It just works” slogan and the Mac vs PC ad campaign of the mid-2010s.

Windows has come a long way but macOS still gets the edge in usability.

Apple makes the hardware and software for Macs so they can tie the two together much more effectively than the Windows market, where the OS has to support dozens of manufacturers’ computers. This becomes obvious when you install new devices like printers, keyboards, and mice.

You rarely need to install special driver software on the Mac. It typically recognizes the new device and configures it automatically.

More Stable Operating System

macOS is a more stable OS than Windows in a couple of ways. For one, it can run for weeks on end without having to reboot your Mac. You need to restart Windows every few days or you’ll start to run into problems and slow performance.

There are also far fewer viruses, adware, and malware on macOS. That’s not to say they don’t exist but most of them are more “proof of concept” than real threats. Even if you open an infected MS Office file on a Mac, it’s not going to do any serious damage.

macOS is built on a Unix core, which gives it a long history of security features. Again, it’s not completely impenetrable but the risk of your Mac getting compromised is much lower than a Windows PC.

That Unix core also gives the Mac some advantages over the filesystem. It uses a journaling system that makes it easy to find any type of file on your Mac. You can read more about how the built-in search works in macOS on this website.

Long-Term Support

Apple updates macOS every year and they have a good track record for supporting older hardware. You can generally install new versions of macOS on computers that are 7 or 8 years old.

And even better, those older Macs still perform well with the newer operating systems. In some cases, new versions of macOS run even faster than the older versions on that older hardware.

You’re Not Limited to macOS

Maybe the biggest advantage of all to Mac computers is that you’re not limited to running macOS. Most Macs can also run Windows so you can have the best OS for your needs.

Apple makes some of the highest-quality computers on the market. There are a lot of Windows users who buy Macs because the quality and support are so good, then use them to run Windows.

You can also run other operating systems like Linux if that’s more your speed.

Windows PCs, on the other hand, can’t run macOS. Opting for a Mac gives you the most versatility of any brand as far as choosing an operating system is concerned.

Disadvantages of the Mac Computer

The Mac does have a few disadvantages compared to Windows PCs, mind you. The biggest is the cost.

Macs are more expensive than comparable Windows PCs, at least as comparable as they can get. If you look at two laptops with the same basic specifications, for example, the Windows laptop is typically less expensive.

Sometimes considerably less.

The build quality and support may not be as good as Apple’s though, so you need to look at more than just the numbers.

Macs Are Less Upgradable

Another disadvantage of the Mac that is a by-product of the way it’s built is that it’s not as upgradable as most Windows PCs.

With the exception of the Mac Pro, which is designed to be upgradable but comes at a premium cost, most Macs have few or no user-upgradable components. If you want to add storage, RAM, a better video card, or a faster processor, there’s simply no way to do it.

If you’re the type of person who likes to upgrade your PC piece-by-piece over several years, a Windows system is likely the best choice.

Gaming Support is Lacking on the Mac

If you’re a hard-core gamer, you’ll have trouble finding the latest A-level titles on the Mac. Most games are only available for Windows and if they are released for the Mac, it’s usually quite a bit later.

This is where the Mac’s ability to run Windows can come in handy. If you want the advantages of a Mac but still want to play games, you can boot into Windows and have them all available to play.

Not As Much Support for the Mac

Apple’s smaller market share means there are fewer people using a Mac and by extension, there are fewer people familiar with it. If you’re running macOS, you might find it’s a little more challenging to find someone who knows how to use it when you need help.

That support extends to software as well. Most major apps like MS Office, Google Docs, and Adobe’s Creative Suite are available for both operating systems but more specialized software is generally only available for Windows.

Once again, you can always install Windows on a Mac so while you may not be able to use the software in macOS, that doesn’t mean you can’t still run it on a Mac computer.

Mac Advantages Outweigh the Disadvantages

As you can see, the Mac advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Especially considering some of the disadvantages come down to needing Windows to run certain software. If you choose a Mac, you can still run Windows and access all those apps, giving you the best of both worlds.

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