By Justin Muszynski
In a day and age where everything is done on computers, it’s hard to find someone that doesn’t own or have access to one.
CCSU is no exception. Whether you’re checking your email, uploading photos to Facebook or simply doing a paper, absolutely everything requires a computer these days.
However, a certain rivalry in the computer business has intrigued us all that simply can’t go unnoticed. Therein lies the most important question of all: Mac or PC?
Joshua Johnson, a Mac owner, says that having owned a couple PCs before, he chose to invest in a Mac. He seemed to have a chronic problem where all of his previous computers ran significantly slower after only owning them for less than half a year.
“I’ve owned a couple PCs and every single one seemed to get slow after a couple of months,” said Johnson. “Plus Macs don’t get viruses; that’s big for me.”
“I think I’m going to swear by Macs,” said Johnson after being asked if he’ll ever buy another PC.
Kevin Randino, a ResNet tech, warns students against buying into the ‘Macs don’t get viruses’ myth.
“People think Macs don’t get viruses, that’s entirely false,” said Randino. “Macs account for about 10 percent of the entire computer market. They get viruses all the time that just aren’t designed to attack them. If you were to develop a virus, you wouldn’t target Macs either.”
Sohail Khan, a PC owner, says he’s used a PC his entire life and doesn’t feel any reason to change now. He doesn’t think he would gain anything by owning a Mac.
“I’ve always used a PC, I’m much more comfortable with them,” said Khan. “Learning a whole new operating system would be a little difficult. I think Apple appeals to a lot of students simply because of their [brand] name. I see a lot of them on campus.”
Randino, who says ResNet does not actually have the statistics to show definitively how many students own a Mac versus a PC, was able to check how many students were logged on to the network at a particular time and see how many were using which. What he found was an overwhelming dominance of PCs.
“Currently there are 570 PCs logged onto the network and only 14 Macs,” said Randino. “This is only a snapshot of what’s going on, but I would say it’s a significant reflection of which computers are more prevalent.”
While there may be many more PCs on campus, this observation may not tell the story in its entirety. Sarah Burton, a PC owner, says she bought her Dell about four years ago due to financial reasons.
“Financially, a Mac wasn’t in my price range,” said Burton. “I honestly haven’t had any problems with my Dell besides it being a little slow, but it is pretty old. If I could though, I would definitely buy a Mac.” She added, “PCs just require too many security updates.”
Miranda Toth, on the other hand, feels that a Mac is a worthwhile investment. While it might cost more upfront, it could save you money in the long run.
“It’s definitely worth it to buy one,” said Toth. “The amount you’re going to have to pay for anti-virus software could cost you more overall, with a Mac you don’t need one.”
Sherry Pesino, the manager of the Instructional Design and Technology Resource Center at CCSU, owns both but prefers a Mac. She said that both work perfectly fine and the school supports both platforms; it’s all a matter of personal preference.
“I just prefer a Mac because that’s what I’ve used since I was in school,” said Pesino. “A lot of people like the look of the Macs, and while I do believe there are probably more PCs on campus I would guess a lot of students would have them if they weren’t so expensive.”
Jennifer Rosenthal, a PC owner, is a perfect example of what Pesino says is the reason why Macs are a minority on campus.
“I’ve always wanted a Mac,” said Rosenthal. “It was just a lot cheaper to not buy one. My Dell overheats a lot, the Macs seem really cool but the main reason I don’t have one is financial.”
Michael Minelli, who loves his Mac, encourages students to put the extra money forth and get one because he says there isn’t anything better out there.
“It’s the sh**,” said Minelli. “Macs are the new wave, and a lot of people like them for a reason: they’re the best.”
While most students at CCSU may own PCs, many seem to want a Mac but don’t want to spend the extra money. The battle rages on.