What makes a Mac a Mac and a PC a PC...?

[bbrosemer]

I have been wondering why do we still refer to PC's and Mac's there is now no more distinction hardware wise, however I think a Windows, OS X base machine is more of an appropritate way to refer to the machnines, or linux based, Im just looking for something that distinguishes a Mac from a "PC" other then the OS someone please fill in because PC and a Mac are one in the same now.

 

[Shadow]

Well, Mac = OS X, PC = Windows. Simple as that.

 

[kretzy]

Well I think the design of them is a major factor. Macs are sexy, PCs are generally not. Many people will say that looks are a waste of money and time and that's fair enough but personally, I like things that look nice so it doesn't bother me.

 

[Satori]

I have been wondering why do we still refer to PC's and Mac's there is now no more distinction hardware wise

.

Surely we call them macs because that's what apple calls them? Just a thought.

 

[slackersonly]

OS X
Premium Brand over Commodity Brand
Design Factor
1st Party Software
Communities Like This One
Job's Ability to Hype Like Noone Else

 

[bbrosemer]

just wanted everyone to know dont get me wrong I love my Mac, just I really feel that its a PC with OS X, I mean no one calls a thinkpad a thinkpad just becasue lenevo does but instead calls it a PC because that is the norm, is a mac not a Personal Computer..?

 

[livingfortoday]

I call mine a Mac because it's not a chubby dorky guy with glasses.

 

[JBot]

Well I think the design of them is a major factor. Macs are sexy, PCs are generally not. Many people will say that looks are a waste of money and time and that's fair enough but personally, I like things that look nice so it doesn't bother me.

So the only difference between to two are the looks of the case. clearly.

PC (Personal Computer) refers to a machine made by IBM. Meaning the machine is run on an IBM Microprocessor. On a pc, you can run Windows, or unix based os' such as linux, solaris, and freebsd.

Macintosh computers refer to a machine based on the PowerPC architecture developed by Apple/IBM/Motorola (AIM).

Taken from wikipedia:Intel Core Duo consists of two cores, a 2 MiB L2 cache shared by both cores, and an arbiter bus that controls both L2 cache and FSB access. Upcoming steppings of Core Duo processors will also include the ability to disable one core to conserve power.

Now the line between mac and pc is becoming thinner and thinner, as now you can run both os' off the same mobo.chipset.logicboard? whatever you care to call it.

atleast i think people call mobos logicboards.

 

[generik]

Well, you heard it from generik first!

The only thing that makes a mac a mac is that a mac is really a pc with a big brother chip.

Sorry, can't resist, I like calling the TPM module a big brother chip.

 

[benthewraith]

@JBot,

Yeah, motherboards are called that in the PC world.

To the guy that said that OS X=Mac and PC=Windows, what does Linux = ? What does Solaris 10 ?

 

[generik]

@JBot,

Yeah, motherboards are called that in the PC world.

To the guy that said that OS X=Mac and PC=Windows, what does Linux = ? What does Solaris 10 ?

You really have to admit that my response was the most concise. A mac is genuinely a PC with a big brother chip

It is a crass way of putting it, but hey, it is true!

 

[GFLPraxis]

I have been wondering why do we still refer to PC's and Mac's there is now no more distinction hardware wise, however I think a Windows, OS X base machine is more of an appropritate way to refer to the machnines, or linux based, Im just looking for something that distinguishes a Mac from a "PC" other then the OS someone please fill in because PC and a Mac are one in the same now.

Two things:

1) Manufactured by Apple
2) Run Mac OS X

The same reason we call a VAIO a VAIO- it's a Sony product. A Mac is an Apple product. A Mac also runs or is capable of running Mac OS X.

 

[generik]

TA Mac also runs or is capable of running Mac OS X.

You forgot to mention that it is because of the presence of a certain chip

There really is nothing otherwise that'd stop MacOS from working on a PC with the exact same components.

 

[bbrosemer]

You really have to admit that my response was the most concise. A mac is genuinely a PC with a big brother chip

It is a crass way of putting it, but hey, it is true!

I agree entirley with generik that is the only thing left making a Mac a Mac hardware wise, dont give that its manufactured by apple garbage the only make the case and the logo, everything else is a bunch of parts from all over put together.

 

[JMG]

Macs are made by apple... but they are also PCs.

 

[thegreatluke]

GENERIK - Leave this thread. If you hate Apple so much stop using a Mac and stop using MacRumors.



Mac = Made by Apple, can run Mac OS X*
PC = Made by other companies, usually comes with Windows preinstalled

*Generik, so you can stop reminding us, yes, a Mac comes with a chip designed to allow Mac OS X to run. But because a PC doesn't have this chip, when Mac OS X boots up, it looks for it and it won't run. So this PC can't run OS X.

Before, a PC was defined as "running on Intel hardware." However, that doesn't quite work anymore.

 

[After G]

thegreatluke, I don't think generik hates Apple. I think rather he doesn't like the TPM chip. I can't believe people would accept DRM so easily. And yes, I've heard the arguments about books having built-in DRM and such.

Back on topic, it's awesome software + good hardware design + excellent user interface that makes a Mac. If you're missing any of these, it's not a Mac. Oh yea, and all the other stuff that has been said before.

 

[solvs]

Sorry, can't resist, I like calling the TPM module a big brother chip.

You mean it spies on you without you knowing and takes you away to a secret prison to be executed if you speak against it? Here I thought it just a way to make sure you're running their OS on their hardware. I guess Steve would make a more attractive 100 ft head than Bill Gates, but I still see him as the one swinging the hammer, evil greedy DRM and all. Of course, it could very well be a voyeuristic TV show that' sucks and is boring, so maybe that's still apt.

 

[Nermal]

I refer to them as Macs and Windows PCs. I never just say "PC" because a Mac is a PC.

 

[Lixivial]

You really have to admit that my response was the most concise. A mac is genuinely a PC with a big brother chip

It is a crass way of putting it, but hey, it is true!

Uh. No, that's neither a unique nor a concise way of putting it. It's only partially true (but with the amount of rhetoric in that small package, it's closer to false), and you're really diving off the deep end. No, the concise way of putting it is that a Macintosh is an Apple-branded PC that officially runs OS X. You can tack on the DRM bit if you feel inclined, but the "officially" is what makes the statement concise.

Other manufacturers are implementing TPM in their products, as well.

You may have had a point had you actually mentioned DRM in that same sentence, but even then you'd be far out there.

 

[Nar1117]

All Macs are PC's, but not all PC's are Macs.

 

[kyleaa]

just wanted everyone to know dont get me wrong I love my Mac, just I really feel that its a PC with OS X, I mean no one calls a thinkpad a thinkpad just becasue lenevo does but instead calls it a PC because that is the norm, is a mac not a Personal Computer..?

I can't remember the last time I have ever heard anyone call a computer a PC, except on these forums. But I do hear people call thinkpads thinkpads all the time. I find it very common for people to refer to computers by their manufacturer or their product line.

 

[MACDRIVE]

If a Mac were an airplane it would look like this:

 

[generik]

If a Mac were an airplane it would look like this:

It would like like that at the price of this:

http://www.lakehurst.navy.mil/nlweb/images/aircraft-carrier-in-motion01.JPG

 

[generik]

Uh. No, that's neither a unique nor a concise way of putting it. It's only partially true (but with the amount of rhetoric in that small package, it's closer to false), and you're really diving off the deep end. No, the concise way of putting it is that a Macintosh is an Apple-branded PC that officially runs OS X. You can tack on the DRM bit if you feel inclined, but the "officially" is what makes the statement concise.

Other manufacturers are implementing TPM in their products, as well.

You may have had a point had you actually mentioned DRM in that same sentence, but even then you'd be far out there.

The doesn't matter, the point is as far as hardware is concerned, the PPC days are over, the alternate architecture days are over, as far as I am concerned, a Mac is a PC.

Well designed silent small and cute one at that, but still, it is a PC. None of your rabbiting detracts from this fact.