Small businesses are finding it harder to decide whether to use a PC or Mac computer. Until recently, the decision was easy – business uses PCs. With the explosion of iPads and iPhones usage, business is beginning to use Macs more frequently although PCs still dominate the market.
When choosing any computer, performance is determined by the speed and quality of the CPU or processor, its main memory or RAM and the applications used. A faster processor allows the computer to complete more commands although a “single core” processor only beats a “quad core” if you are running only one application. If you run multiple applications at once, the quad core is the better choice.
RAM or random access memory is another determinant in computer speed. Measured in gigabytes (GB), most computers need at least 1GB although 4GB is better if you want to avoid upgrading your computer anytime soon.
The hard drive is where your files and applications are stored. If you work with large applications like Quickbooks, most users need a minimum 160GB although 500GB to 1 TB (terabyte) is recommended to avoid storage constraints over time.
Remember to back up your computer daily. Buy an external hard drive that connects to your computer or use an offsite service such as Carbonite.
If you are very price sensitive upfront or like a more customized computer, the PC will be your choice. Mandatory PC add-ons like virus protection make the price difference less significant as Apple integrates their virus protection in the operating system. As Macs typically last longer than PCs due to higher grade components, the price difference decreases over time.
In the end analysis, it all comes down to which computer you are most comfortable with. Casual users can save money with PCs while technologically proficient users will typically prefer Macs.
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