In this article we will outline the main points of contention for Web Development between the Mac and Windows operating system and debate which device does it better!
Command Line
Your Mac will last for a long time, and if it breaks, you know exactly where to take it. Apple I've owned several Macs, but the first one I got to use at home was an iMac my mom bought for our. Why programmers think Mac OS X is the best OS to use. Dmitri Zagidulin, a distributed systems engineer, sums up the change: 'Go to a tech conference or developer event.
The Unix command line is widely considered by many to be the superior command line over Windows alternatives.
'There is nothing you can't do through the Unix command line! Learn it well, and you will wield some serious power. Watch a skilled senior dev navigate their terminal - it can be a mind boggling experience that will consist of lots of 'You can do that?!' - Source
Software Reliability
Mac has a finite number of hardware/software configurations for software developers to account for, which means that software developers are able to more consistently create applications that work in the Mac environment with less bugs/glitches.
Whereas the Windows operating system can run on tons of machines with different hardware/software configurations, therefore Windows applications can never be 100% compatible with every hardware/software combination out there as this would simply take software developers to much time to test and debug their applications on every configuration.
Operating System Popularity
The Windows operating system is four times more popular than the Mac operating system.
Software developers obviously want to cater to the largest market in order to sell the most amount of software copies possible. It is because of this very reason that Windows, has much more applications available to it than the Mac operating system. This gives users on Windows more tools to work with and choose from when developing websites.
However, there is also a downside of Windows being the more popular operating system. This is that there are also more viruses and other malicious software that Windows devices have to avoid. This is because, malicious software developers make malicious software for Windows in mind for the same reason that software developers create more applications for Windows, because they can target largest market of users. Therefore you could say that for this reason, Windows is less secure than Mac.
Support
'Drivers... what drivers? Everything has a magical way of just working out of the box on a Mac.' - Source
Mac has no need to find drivers because the software is built to work with the hardware. Whereas often Windows machines need to find their own drivers and if the drivers are no longer supported for certain pieces of hardware in the Windows machine then compatibility issues can arise.
Macs also have long-term support which means that free updates to the next generation of operating system is common. But for Windows machines you will often have to pay for the update, for example updating from Windows XP to Windows 7. Not to mention that all Macs also come with one year free 24/7 technical support! And 3 years if you purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan.
Virtual Machines
The Mac operating system can run a Windows virtual machine, however a Windows machines cannot legally run a Mac virtual machine.
This is something to take into consideration whether you plan on doing a lot of VM work or not.
Cost
Macs are generally more expensive than Windows machines, unless you custom build your Windows machine and kit it out with the latest top of the range hardware. Don't believe me? Just take a look at the cheapest MacBook Pro, costing around £1,250!
Having said that, Macs often lose their value over time slower than most Windows machines, so despite the initial cost of a Mac being relativity expensive, if you decide to sell your Mac 2 or 3 years down the line for a newer model, you will not lose as much money as if you were to sell your Windows Machine 2 or 3 years old.
Build Quality
Because of the fact that Mac has a finite number of hardware/software configurations, Apple has perfected this line of products over the years and therefore when you purchase a Mac from Apple, the build quality of the device is often high.
Macs often come equipped with great track-pads such as the Magic Trackpad 2. High quality aluminium chassis which provide heat efficiency, keeping your machine cooler. And anti-glare, touch-enabled screens which is perfect for working outdoors.
However, when you purchase a Windows machine, the story is somewhat different. That's not to say that all Windows machines are of inferior build quality, it is that you are not always guaranteed the same consistent level of quality between Windows products. This is due to the how many Windows products there are available compared to Mac. And the fact that Windows machines can be created and sold by other companies/individuals other than just Microsoft.
Summary
When it comes to making the choice between Mac vs. PC for Web Development, it is at the end of the day a personal preference.
However, having said that, there are multiple factors to take into consideration (as discussed in this article) when deciding what device to purchase, as after all you will be stuck with your choice for a good 2-3 years, unless you are made of money of course.
Have we helped you decide which device to purchase? Let us know on Twitter!
References:
Hi Everyone,
I have a question please:
In general, is a Mac computer better for a web developer, in terms of performance, over a normal PC?
I notice a lot people use Mac's and wanted confirmation whether it was due to a Mac's performance, or because of how they look and their brand appeal?
Thanks,Gareth
There's no real performance difference, you should use whatever you feel most comfortable using.
Ok, thanks James. I hoped this was the case but just wanted confirmation.
Thanks,Gareth
For pure web development, check out the Chromebooks, too. I haven't used one myself for any kind of development (and I can't use it for Android dev), but the super affordable price might be worth it if you can get away with web-based dev. Here's an review from a few months ago:http://www.infoworld.com/d/open-source-software/why-i-left-my-macbook-chromebook-205705
I'm very excited by the Pixel and think this will be a viable option by the time I'm ready for my next computer.
Hi Gareth,
For web development really it doesn't matter what computer you have. Although each system with you are asking a Mac vs a PC you are dealing with two ver different environments. Yes, they functions similar but can be very different (windows vs OSX). Also you have to look at software. What software do you have is it for a pc or a mac.
I have always used a PC up until 5 years ago and I bought my fist Mac and I tell you I will never go back to a PC. Now if I still need to run something in 'Windows' I loaded bootcamp onto my Mac and can run my windows app without issues. So yes you can have the best of both worlds.
Think about what you want to do and what you might do. Do you want to get into iOS programming? Then you would need a Mac. Are you trying to save money well with PCs you can get one pretty cheap as there are so many manufacturers out there trying to compete with costs. Which sadly brings down the quality of the machines. Where as Mac has no Mac competition and they build a very High Quality machine.
Hope this helps.
Micahyah
Thanks Ben & Micahyah,for your helpful feedback,
Ben: I checked out that review plus the new Chromebook Pixel and they look fantastic, both quality and price! I will definitely consider this when I upgrade my laptop, thanks.
Micahyah: That is good to hear your feedback, especially as I noticed on the Treehouse mobile developers course that you need an Apple computer to start iOS programming - I wasn't aware of this.
I think for now, I will continue with my PC as it does the job sufficiently and also decide after I've completed the mobile dev course, because then I can determine whether it is iOS or Android dev I want to pursue and thus which computer and/or laptop to buy.
Many thanks for your rapid feedback - absolutely loving the Treehouse experience - nothing like it anywhere else!
Cheers,Gareth
Key things to remember is you want a system that is fast enough to handle any program you throw at it. If you are using Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Indesign etc, you are going to want a strong processor with a good amount of Ram at least 8gigs. You also want your computer to have a strong graphics chip. I personally use a macbook pro and I upgraded some of the components to handle the intensive apps I use but you can get a quality PC that will function just as well. Just remember to review the specs of any machine you consider.
- You need a good amount of Ram, 8 gigs or more.
- You need a strong Processor like an Intel 5 or 7 with 2.5ghz or more
- A big hard drive, 750gig or more
- Solid Graphics Chip
- Laptop ( Good Battery Life )
Hope this helps.
Thanks Joel - that's brilliant advice!
I will refer back to this when in the market to upgrade computer.
Many thanks again, I really appreciate it :)
Gareth
Is Mac Better For Developers Windows 10
Hey Gareth How are you?
Now I am in the same situation, I would like to buy a new computer but I don't know which one (Mac or Pc)
What did you choose? How is the performance of your computer?
Cheers
Is Mac Better For Developers Free
Hi Darwin,
I'm good thanks and hope you are too.
I haven't progressed from this thread, in other words - I am still using my old Dell laptop! Not good!
However, when I do go to purchase a proper desktop machine, I think I will opt for a Windows PC. My reason is that I am simply used to it and it is significantly cheaper. I wouldn't mind trying a Mac one day but only when I've got the spare cash.
I should add that my old work PC (HP), which was a high spec one at the time, was very good and more than adequate for my needs. I guess it comes down to your budget and taste.
Hope this helps,Gareth
I did my own research and I came to the same conclusion, With around $1,300 I can get a better computer.
Thanks for replaying.
No probs Darwin, glad to help.
All the best, Gareth
Would you all say the processor in a MacBook Air is good enough for web development? The processors say 1.3 or 1.7 with 'turbo boost' of up to 2.6 or 3.3, but I'm not entirely sure what the turbo boost means.
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