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Should I Buy a PC or Mac for My Child in School? Know the Differences

April 29, 2020 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

When our child is ready for a laptop for school, we may be wondering ‘should I buy a PC or Mac?’ Read these differences between the two to help your decision.

The everlasting debate between PC and Mac devices has been largely a matter of personal taste. But as computers make their way into standard school curriculums, it’s time to accept the reality that they aren’t all built the same.

For example, some schools and universities may only support one type of operating system. In that case, your subjective preferences shouldn’t influence your ultimate decision. But when your learning environment accepts both options, which is the best for your child?

Should I buy a PC or Mac? You’ll get a different answer depending on who you talk to. Let’s outline the differences between these devices and help you make your own informed decision.

  1. PC or Mac: Price

Apple doesn’t outsource the creation of Mac devices. They are an all-in-one package with limited opportunities for customization. You’ll have a hard time shopping around for low-range Mac computers.

And in general, Macs are more expensive than PCs. The iMac is the Apple equivalent of a desktop PC. The cheapest iMac on the market costs over $1,000.

In contrast, you can find a pre-built desktop PC for around $400 to $500. Though it’s important to mention that all Apple devices come with built-in monitors. A monitor for your PC will set you back an additional $100.

The story is the same for laptop computers. The cheapest MacBook on the market sits around $1,000. In comparison, you could find a functional laptop PC for $200 to $300.

It’s important to consider a warranty as it pertains to price. All Mac computers come with a one-year warranty and an optional warranty of three years for an additional surcharge.

Pre-built desktop PCs usually come with a one-year warranty, though some manufacturers may offer more or less. If you build the PC by scratch, PC parts tend to come with at least a three-year warranty.

  1. PC or Mac: Software

The software itself is the big difference between PC and Mac operating systems. Although the devices are both computers, they follow different trains of thought and logic.

For example, clicking the red “X” on your PC will close the window. But on a Mac, the equivalent action will minimize it in your dock. You’ll have to learn new shortcuts, like how to Ctrl-Alt-Delete on a Mac.

These subtle differences are why most people say the choice of operating system is completely subjective.

However, a significant portion of the software is exclusive to one type of computer. Your child’s school system will inform you if their software works on both types of devices. Luckily, the most pervasive applications such as Microsoft Office and the Adobe Creative Suite are available on both operating systems.

As a rule of thumb, most software creators provide support for PCs over Macs. With a program such as Apple Boot Camp, it’s possible to run the Windows operating system on Mac devices. With this setup, your child will have access to any type of software.

  1. PC or Mac: Virus Protection

Safe web browsing habits are learned. With years of computer experience under our belts, we know to avoid common sources of infection, such as a flashing, mysterious download button. But your child will have to develop this intuition over time.

This is all to say that virus protection is a significant consideration for any young person’s computer. Macs come pre-installed with a robust antivirus system. And since Macs are a smaller part of the computer market, fewer hackers create viruses for these devices.

Thanks to Windows 10, desktop PCs finally come with their own built-in virus protection. Windows Defender gets the job done, but you may have to use a third-party program to supplement some of its shortcomings.

For years, it’s been well-known that Macs encounter fewer viruses than their PC counterparts. But times are changing. Macs are taking more of the market share — and more attention from malicious coders.

From 2018 to 2019, the number of virus threats on Macs increased fourfold. In fact, Macs now encounter twice as many threats as PC users. The owners of Mac computers can no longer surf the internet with an air of invincibility.

  1. PC or Mac: Prevalence

PCs are more popular than Mac computers. From libraries to offices, the vast majority will use the Windows operating system rather than Mac OS. The prevalence of Windows determines more than virus risk and software support.

After all, your child is still learning the basics of computers. The operating system you choose will create the foundation they build on in the future. And that matters seeing as PCs and Macs behave so differently from each other.

If you want to ensure your child is comfortable with computers, it makes sense to choose PC. However, many creative professionals use Macs for tasks like painting, sound, and graphic design. If your child is interested in these professions, then choosing a Mac just makes sense.

  1. PC or Mac: Lifespan

Most people report that Macs have longer life expectancies than PCs. This is thanks to Apple controlling and manufacturing every component to their own standards. Apple computers definitely cost more, but you’re likely to get your money’s worth.

When things do go wrong, you have to take your Mac to the Apple Store for a proper repair. If your PC is on the fritz, you can sometimes make the repairs on your own or bring it to any computer repair outlet. The Apple Store is almost always more expensive.

Should I Buy a PC or Mac?

At the end of the day, there’s no right or wrong answer. Instead of asking “should I buy a PC or Mac,” ask, “what would my children like?” After all, this computer is for them.

If they’re happy with it, then so are you.

Looking for more general life advice? Stay tuned into our site for the latest.

 

Filed Under: fatherhood Tagged With: buying a computer, computer, computers, education, mac, macintosh, pc, tablet, Tablet computer, technology

Giveaway – Unleash the Power of Your New Windows 7 PC with System Mechanic 9.5

September 10, 2010 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

About the Product iolo technologies, the PC tune-up experts recognized as the fastest-growing company in the U.S. by the 2009 American Business Awards, today announced new version 9.5 of System Mechanic®, its flagship product and the #1 best-selling PC tune-up software according to NPD. Microsoft-certified for Windows 7, Vista, and XP, System Mechanic 9.5 boasts enhanced technology tailored specifically for Microsoft’s latest operating system, as well as new features that take advantage of Windows 7’s user-friendly functionality.

“In its extensive, soon-to-be-published research that details the aging of the three popular operating systems, iolo Labs has identified a number of new areas in Windows 7 that accumulate system clutter and other problems over time and can result in a dramatic loss of performance and stability if not properly maintained. In fact, our research clearly indicates that Windows 7 can age and slow down over time through regular use at about the same rate as Windows XP and Vista, but in ways that are new and different to this operating system,” said JJ Schoch, iolo technologies’ VP of marketing. “With improved technology and tools based on iolo Labs’ ongoing research, System Mechanic 9.5 knows how to find and prevent these new types of problems in Windows 7, ensuring a long and efficient life for your new machine.”
Some of the new features in System Mechanic 9.5 include:

  • Total Registry Revitalizer: Newly discovered problem areas in Windows 7 are detected and resolved with System Mechanic’s updated registry cleaning and repair technology. This technology can be found in System Mechanic’s Registry Tuner, as well as the Total Registry Revitalizer, which repairs, compacts, defragments, and backs up the registry in one step.
  •  PC Cleanup PowerTool™: System Mechanic’s PC Cleanup Power Tool has been enhanced with new methods of locating and removing junk files and clutter unique to Windows 7.
  • Jump Lists: System Mechanic 9.5 now supports this new popular feature of Windows 7. More advanced than shortcuts, Windows 7 Jump Lists let you get inside your favorite programs and ‘jump’ directly to the functions you use most. System Mechanic’s Jump List lets you optimize your PC with a click of a button, giving you fast access to system analyses, repairs, and some of the program’s most frequently used optimization tools.

Additional enhancements in System Mechanic 9.5 include:

  • Hundreds of new Tune-up Definitions™ for even more effective tune-ups: Since its official launch in June 2009, iolo Labs has been busy studying and analyzing Windows 7 performance degradation trends and patterns. The research team has discovered hundreds of new ways to optimize and repair the operating system, which have been included in the latest set of Tune-up Definitions, offered as free weekly updates to all System Mechanic users with an active service plan. Successfully making System Mechanic even more effective over time, the newest Tune-up Definition updates give the product the knowledge to intelligently identify even more causes of performance and stability degradation, resulting in more effective repairs and optimizations than ever before.
  • PC Health Status Gadget: Designed for both Windows Vista and Windows 7 machines, System Mechanic’s PC Health Status Gadget provides real-time status reports on a computer’s health, a running feed of the repairs and optimizations performed by System Mechanic, as well as drill-down access to any detected problems and system warnings. It also gives you a quick and easy way to access the most commonly used functions in System Mechanic, such as Memory Mechanic® and EnergyBooster™.

System Mechanic 9.5, compatible with Windows 7, Vista and XP, can be used on up to three PCs. The program remains as effective as ever on Windows XP and Vista systems, offering a comprehensive set of PC tune-up tools for all the most popular operating systems in use today.


About Iolo TechnologiesCrowned the Fastest-Growing Company in the United States for 2009 by the American Business Awards, iolo technologies, LLC (www.iolo.com) produces award-winning software that repairs, optimizes, and protects Windows computers. A privately held firm founded in 1998 and headquartered in Los Angeles, iolo has presence in 33 countries, more than 23 million users worldwide, and hundreds of awards from industry analysts and media. The iolo product line includes System Mechanic®, the #1 best-selling PC tune-up software; System Mechanic Professional®, an all-in-one suite of both PC tune-up and security tools; Search and Recover™, a powerful data recovery tool for retrieving deleted files and photos; DriveScrubber®, the #1 best-selling utility for permanently erasing data from hard drives; as well as System Shield®, and iolo AntiVirus™, Internet security software.  For more information see www.iolo.com.

My Take on the Product
My computer has been slower than a Brontosaurus lately and I was not for certain as to why this was the case. I reached out to the folks at Iolo as I had heard some great things about the product. I was impressed with what it claimed to do and I said to myself that if this worked then, I would be ecstatic to have my computer back to normal without having to completely reboot the computer to its original specs (who has time to reload everything).

So I got a copy of the software and tried it out and immediately it found about 16 problems. While it took a little while to get all of the issues solved (do not defrag your computer while you have other processes running). Once everything was run, I did find that the computer sped up and I was impressed with how well this ran!

I have to say that this program was so easy to use, and you will find it to work similarly. I would definitely say that you should check this out today!

Giveaway

How would you like to win a copy of this software? I will be giving away 3 copies to lucky readers!

All you need to do 1) Subscribe to the Dad of Divas Reviews Site  and 2) Leave a note on Dad of Divas on Facebook about a miracle that you have witnessed in your own life. (Leave username in comment below). The contest will run for one week and will end on September 17, 2010.
Bonus Entries
  • Blog about my Giveaway by linking back to this post (1 entries per blog post. Please leave each entry in separate comments with your URL link in order for it to count)
  • Grab my badge to your sidebar

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    • Share this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook or any forum, including the name of the prize and a link to this post. Here I’ll make it easier on you, copy and paste this:” @dadofdivas is giving away 3 copies of Iolo Technology System Mechanic 9.5 – http://dadofdivas.blogspot.com/ ” (Then leave the link to your post. One entry per place per day)
    • Become a fan of Dad of Divas on Facebook (Leave username in comment)

    Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

    This contest will run until September 17, 2010 at approximately 11:59 pm Eastern.

    Winner must be a resident of the U.S or Canada.

    Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

    Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.
    All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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  • Filed Under: product review Tagged With: computers, product testing, software, technology

    #SeagateStorage Provides Great Memory for One’s Computer

    July 3, 2010 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

    More check-ins at Wal-Mart Supercenter
    Powered by Whrrl

    All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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    Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: computers, memory, storage

    Fathers Day Gift Idea for Dad of Divas – Help Generations Connect, Close Digital Divide

    June 17, 2010 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

    The Presto Printing Mailbox and Presto Mail Service lets you send email to those who don’t use a computer. Presto’s services take an email message and turns it into a beautiful, easy-toead print out – letters, photos, attachments and all! The recipient doesn’t have to do anything or even need to own a computer. The messages are sent and printed automatically per the schedule you choose. Gone are the days of printing photos and sending them via snail mail.

    In addition to photos and emails, Presto services allow family caregivers to set up reminders about appointments and medications that are sent directly to their loved ones.

    Presto’s latest feature, DailySmile, further bridges the gap between Grandpa and his Facebook generation kids and grandkids. Now when you upload photos to Facebook you can tag a photo for Presto that will then be added to a DailySmile photo queue, which will deliver the tagged photos one per day. Think how much joy this feature can bring on a daily basis to people who love to get updates from their family and friends!

    More information about Presto can be found at http://www.presto.com/

    Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: computers, fathers day

    ThermaPAK Prevents Laptop Overheating

    June 11, 2010 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

    This laptop cooler offers special HeatShift material that shifts from solid to gel as it absorbs heat. 

    Laptop overheating is a common problem for tech savvy dads and ThermaPAK is proud to offer eco-friendly solutions for laptop cooling needs.  Some unique features of our product are:

    • Portable – Each laptop cooler is lightweight, requires no refrigeration and has no messy cords, making it completely portable
    • Stylish – Slim HeatShift coolers are available in three different colors: black, pink and white
    • Eco-friendly – ThermaPAK competitors use fans to cool down your laptop while HeatShift technology requires absolutely no energy

    Simply go to ThermaPAK.com and enter the special code: dadsgrads2010 and receive $10 off a purchase of $30 or more.

    Heatshift Technology

    Are you tired of?
    • Your lap burning from the heat of your notebook computer?
    • Your laptop computer shutting down due to overheating?
    • Your laptop computer components being damaged by excessive heat?
    • Your battery time being drained by a USB fan based laptop cooler?
    • Your inability to pack your laptop cooler when traveling because of its depth, heavy weight and general bulkiness.
    • The noise generated by your USB fan based cooler?
    • The USB cable from your cooler to your laptop getting in the way?
    • The rough, rigid edges of your laptop cooler?

    ThermaPAK’s patented HeatShift Technology™ is the culmination of nearly a decade in researching thermal dynamics. At the core of HeatShift Technology™ is a unique blend of phase changing material (PCM) created by our research and development engineers. This formula has proved successful in cooling laptops up to 6°C (11°F), with the following benefits:

    Heat DissipationBenefits
    • Requires No Refrigeration
    • Requires No Laptop Power (which extends battery life)
    • Mobile and easy to carry (approved for airport security)
    • Can be used for notebooks of all brands sizes
    • Performance comparable to USB fans

    The unipocket design used in the HeatShift Technology™ ensures maximum heat distribution from the notebook computer. Its design also creates air channels beneath the computer for proper ventilation and air passage.

    How It Works

    A device that transfers heat by conduction AND convection provides the maximum amount of heat exchange. Conduction is heat transferred directly from one object to another by physically touching. Convection is heat transferred by the movement of liquid molecules from warmer areas to cooler ones. HeatShift Technology™ pads utilize both conduction and convection to cool your laptop – and your lap! For more information about the effectiveness of HeatShift Technology™, please refer to our labratory results and notebook cooler product reviews.

    My Take on the ProductI have definitely run into the issue of a laptop getting to hot to lay on your lap. In the past I have placed my own laptop on a book or some other buffer to keep my legs from getting burned (or so it felt like). I have to say that in hearing about this product I loved the idea and wanted to try it out. In using the product it definitely does live up to its potential. I used my laptop for a few hours and in placing it on this product, I did not have an issue with the heat that I had in the past. I have to say that if you are a user of laptops, and you use them for long periods of time in a place where you are keeping them on a spot that should not be heating up, this is a great product that will solve many of your problems. Check it out today!

    All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

    Filed Under: product review Tagged With: computers, product testing, technology

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