There seems to be a lot of debate over what is better, Mac or Wintel (Windows / Intel) PCs. This is a question that can’t be answered as it comes down to personal preference and budget…yes, budget, but more on that in a bit. Both platforms are capable of doing everything you would want. From a hardware capability perspective, they are the same.

Personal preference is completely subjective. Macs, some would say, have a cleaner look and are more innovative with their designs. The downside? You are limited to 2 notebook designs and 3 desktop designs…period. However, for Wintel PCs, the design choice is seemingly infinite. From slick little cubes to industrial looking monsters, there’s no end to the possibilities.

What about actual components? For the most part, the components are the same for both. Macs now use Intel processors, both use the same hard drives, RAM, video cards, etc. You could even plug a Microsoft mouse or keyboard into a Mac and it would work fine. Component selection should not be a deciding factor when making a choice.

Now, the kicker…budget. with all things being equal, the difference comes down to price. From a company that wanted to bring personal computers to the masses, it has become a company that brings computers to the “upper crust” of society. Disagree? Let’s see. I wen to Apple’s website and priced out a standard 20″ iMac with a 2.4Ghz Core 2 CPU (standard), 1 Gb RAM (standard), 320Gb hard drive (standard)…total $1499.00. I then went to Dell and priced out a comparable system. The Inspiron 530s desktop with a 2.3Ghz Core 2 CPU, 3Gb RAN (standard), 320Gb hard drive (upgrade) and a 20″ digital monitor with integrated webcam (upgrade)…total $999.00 ($819.00 with rebate). That’s a 44% price difference.

Remember, this post is about hardware only. When it comes to stability and security, there is a difference between platforms, but that is software. In this regard, Apple is a favorite, but that can be debated as well.

Like I said at the beginning, from a hardware perspective, it comes to personal choice. The most important thing is to buy the best you can afford.

Tags: Apple, Dell, OEM, hardware, what’s better, PC, computer, Mac