Mac and Windows devices both have their devoted adherents who seem eternally ready to defend the

merits of their favorite platform. So which is superior? Which should you use? We’ll let you answer that

question for yourself, but before you make a decision you should be aware of the various differences

between these long-running competitors.

• Mac users treasure the dependable functionality they get from their devices. Because all features of the device—hardware and software—are designed by Apple, there are no system conflicts from third-party components.

• In 2012, Consumer Reports’ Product Reliability Survey gave top marks to Apple—by a comfortable margin.

• Windows devices are significantly less expensive than Macs. With the larger selection of Windows products on the market, it’s also easier for shoppers to find the specific model that suits their budget.

• Mac users like to argue that the higher costs of their favorite devices come with higher quality.

• Macs clearly have the upper hand in the area of customer tech support services. In fact, a 2013 Consumer Reports survey found that Apple topped all other computer companies for tech support satisfaction—whether online, by phone, or in person. Consumer Reports judged support services on a variety of criteria, including tech knowledge and ease of contacting technicians.

• Windows users have access to a vast array of software on the market; Mac users tend to make do with what they can get. It’s worth pointing out, though, that Macs come with a large number of built-in apps.

• For heavy gamers, Windows offers far more choices, but Mac still provides viable options.

• Note that Mac users have the option of running Windows on their devices, which can increase their range of available choices substantially.

• Macs tend to be more user-friendly. For example, Macs allow the users to uninstall programs with ease, while the procedure is more elaborate with Windows PCs.

• The advent of Windows 8 has further underscored the differences between the two competitors. Windows 8 has been widely criticized for its unwieldy design, but the Mac world has seen no comparable controversy.

• Even so, people who are accustomed to Windows can find it difficult to get used to Macs.

• Windows systems are less secure than Macs. This is partly due to Windows’ relative popularity, which gives hackers a larger pool of attractive targets.

• The UNIX-based OS X used by Macs benefits from a modular design that allows it to resist many types of cyberattacks. These threats tend to work by exploiting default administrative privileges commonly found on Windows devices.

• It’s not true (as some claim) that Macs are immune to viruses and similar hazards, but they clearly have Windows beat where cybersecurity is concerned.

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• http://www.zdnet.com/consumer-reports-apple-still-tops-in-reliability-7000007770/

• http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2013/04/apple-is-tops-when-it-comes-to-computer-tech-support/index.htm

• http://www.netmarketshare.com/

• Macs and Windows devices both have their champions, but the differences between them are substantial. Windows is more popular and benefits from a huge selection of software, but Mac features superior security and technical support.