Mac vs. PC: Which one should I choose?

As an avid Mac user, I never thought about buying a PC or any machine with a Windows operating system. That is, until my second week of MBA classes. I love my Mac for its long battery life, user-friendly operation system, portability, and honestly, for its design. But, in order for your Mac to work with some of the programs needed for classes, a few modifications will be necessary. In Operations Management we use several Microsoft Excel 2007 specific add-ons that are not compatible for Macs. For Management and Marketing we have the option of using ExamSoft, a program that allows you to take essay tests on your computer. This program also does not work on Macs. But, no fear, there are options to make your Mac compatible in the PC world of MBA school! First, you will need some sort of virtualization or hard drive partitioning software such as Parallels or Bootcamp. These programs help you install and run Microsoft Windows XP or Vista on Intel-based Macs. Then, you will obviously need to purchase Microsoft Windows XP or Vista to install on your computer. Finally, you will need to purchase Microsoft Excel 2007 in order to run the add-ins needed for Operations Management. I suggest just buying the entire Microsoft Office suite so you can use Word and Power Point too. All of these programs can be purchased at the Supe Store for a student price, which definitely helps cut the cost of upgrading your Mac. All in all, I’m happy with my Mac and glad I didn’t have to make the switch to a PC. If you already have a Mac and don’t intend to purchase a new computer for the fall semester, I suggest just upgrading the one you have. But, if you’re already a PC user I suggest using your current PC or buying a new one.