Mac vs. PC: Here are the real differences

The burning rivalry between Mac and PC is one of the most storied rivalries in the history of technology – ruining friendships, bringing down corporations and inspiring some very creative commercials — but do we truly understand the fundamental difference between a Windows PC and a Macintosh? I’m sure many of you do, but for those who don’t have a grasp of the finer details, Computerphile has put together a short video primer explaining how Macs and PCs differ.

Professor Tom Rodden begins by discussing computer systems in their most basic form. You start with the physical hardware, then an operating system, then the applications on that operating system and finally the windowing system which the user directly interacts with. Of course, the way we interact with our computers has changed drastically over the years, but the basic interactions remains the same.

Moving on to the advent of the Macintosh computer, Rodden explains that historically,Microsoft has been a software company. The Surface tablets are the first hardware built by Microsoft in quite some time. Apple, on the other hand, controls both the hardware and the software in its computer business. This means that Apple can “optimize and protect” its computers in ways that Microsoft can’t.

Apple’s operating system can therefore make presumptions about the hardware it will be functioning on because Apple can extensively test its operating system with every piece of hardware it releases. Microsoft doesn’t have this luxury, as dozens of manufacturers create hardware for Windows. This is where device drivers come into play, and why certain accessories or programs might be incompatible from one Windows computer to another.

The obvious downside to siding with Apple is that you’ll only ever have one machine to choose from. This leads to inflated prices, which is why an $1,099 iMac is seen as a bargain. OS X and iOS are both regularly lambasted for bring closed off in comparison to other mobile and desktop operating systems as well. You have more freedom on Windows to customize both hardware and software than you ever will on a Mac.

All of this may sound redundant to those of you who understand the technical distinctions between Macs and PCs, but everyone else should take a few minutes to watch the video above.

SOURCE:

YOUTUBE (COMPUTERPHILE)

Tim Cook reflects on second anniversary of Steve Jobs' death

Apple CEO Tim Cook used the eve of
second anniversary of Steve Jobs'
death to write an email to all Apple
employees, reflecting on the moment.
Cook told employees that Steve would
be "proud of all of you" and everyone
should honour Jobs' memory by
"dedicating ourselves to the work he
loved so much." Here's the full copy of
the letter obtained by 9to5mac .

Team-
Tomorrow marks the second
anniversary of Steve's death. I
hope everyone will reflect on
what he meant to all of us and to
the world. Steve was an amazing
human being and left the world a
better place.I think of him often
and find enormous strength in
memories of his friendship, vision
and leadership. He left behind a
company that only he could have
built and his spirit will forever be
the foundation of Apple. We will
continue to honor his memory by
dedicating ourselves to the work
he loved so much. There is no
higher tribute to his memory. I
know that he would be proud of
all of you.
Best, Tim

In 2012, Apple remembered Steve Jobs
with a video tribute
and a message from Cook on its
homepage.
On Saturday, two years to the day
that Steve Jobs passed away, Cook took
to Twitter to share thoughts more
personal in nature, saying he would be
using the day to reflect back on his
friendship with Steve and the "dents"
Jobs made in the universe.

Second anniversary of Steve's
death. Going on a long hike today
and reflecting on his friendship
and all the dents he made in the
universe.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) October
5, 2013

The remark is an obvious reference to
one of Steve Jobs' iconic quotes, who
once said, "We're here to put a dent in
the universe. Otherwise why else even
be here?"

'Steve always searched for fatherfigure': JOBS director

Director Joshua Michael Stern says the late Apple Inc co-founder Steve Jobs was constantly in search of a father figure. Stern has helmed forthcoming movie "JOBS", based on the life of Steve Jobs, who brings revolution with his technology. Actor Ashton Kutcher plays the lead role in the biopic. 

One key facets of Jobs' life that underlies much of the film was how he dealt with being put up for adoption by his biological parents. "Steve always searched for father figures - always felt abandoned on some level by his father," Stern said in a statement. Perhaps related to that, was Jobs' never-ending search for a creative partner he felt he could trust - be it engineering genius Steve Wozniak, investor Mike Markkula, or marketing virtuoso John Sculley, suggests Kutcher. "All three men represent different aspects of that, and somewhere along the way it didn't work out with each of them, to put it mildly. We all spend our lives looking for partners," Kutcher said. 

"As a sort of backbone of this movie, you've got a guy who wants to create something, who wants to change the world, who wants to make a difference, and is looking for the right partner to do that with," he added. "JOBS" explores Jobs' life from the keenness and self-discovery of his youth to his rise as a veritable icon that changed technology as we knew it. It chronicles his darkest days, biggest triumphs, his dreams, hopes and passions and his aspiration to change the world and question the impossible. " JOBS" is set to hit Indian theatres Aug 16.