"What is a Macintosh?"Go to: First reason / Why a Mac? / Try a Mac / Which Mac? / Index
So, what's a PC? PC stands for 'personal computer'. So on one hand, you could say every small, desktop or laptop computer could be called a PC. But in 1981, IBM launched their personal computer, imaginatively called the IBM PC. It was based around an Intel CPU, and ran an operating system from Microsoft. It closely followed that virtually every other computer manufacturer went on to design computers that adopted compatibility with IBM's PC. From this point on, the acronym 'PC' became more or less synonymous with IBM PCs and their 'clones'; based on an Intel compatible CPU, and capable of running Microsoft's operating systems. To this day, most personal computers are an evolution of this standard. They are PCs. So, what's a Macintosh then? Apple's brand of personal computer however – starting with the original 1984 Macintosh – were different. They weren't clones of IBM's PC. They didn't use Intel CPUs – Motorola provided them – and they certainly didn't run Microsoft's OS – they provided their own. So while they were indeed personal computers within the strict definition of such, they were not PCs within the commonly adopted definition. This distinct difference from the rest, meant they were a platform by themselves. Hence, they simply became known as 'Macs'.
Since 1994, Macs had used PowerPC CPUs from Motorola and (ironically) IBM at their heart. This continued the tradition that Macs were still very "different" from most other PCs; technically as well as compatibility. Then came the big Intel transition But then in 2006, the architecture of the Macintosh range began a further transition. For the first time ever, Macs were being built around Intel CPUs. Just like PCs. The side effect of this is that physically, Macs and PCs – design and minor technical hardware differences aside – became largely compatible with one another. As such, this long standing dividing line between Macs and PCs, suddenly became 'fudged'. Was a Mac personal computer now also a PC? Hardware wise, for all intents, yes they now pretty much are. But of course, the difference still applies that Macs are designed to primarily run, and is bundled with its own unique OS – i.e. Mac OS X – and not a Microsoft provided one – i.e. Windows. But one big difference now is with its internal architecture being much like a any other PC, it now has the potential to run either or both with Apple's and Microsoft's collective blessings. Which is nice. It does however remain, that this is not so with other PCs. This page takes a closer look at this in more detail. The Mac is dead – Long live the Mac So what does this mean when referring to PCs and Macs as different computer platforms? Some may argue they aren't; that Apple is now just another PC vendor no different from any other. But I think from a consumer's perspective, that would be confusing. I believe the most rational way to define a computer platform, is what OS it will be pre-installed with, or most likely be intended to be used with. For most brands or home built PCs, that will be Windows. They are PCs. For Macs however, it still stands alone as the one mainstream PC brand that is intended to be used with its own OS; Mac OS. So while there will inevitably be some overlap more than ever before, it should remain defined as a separate computer platform from the rest to emphasise this major defining difference. All Macs are still Macs. But all Macs are PCs too. But not all PCs are Macs. See? Simple! [ahem] Go to: First reason / Why a Mac? / Try a Mac / Which Mac? / Index
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It sounds simple enough, but the answer is surprisingly open to semantic disagreement. But it is important. So to answer, it helps if you know what a PC is.
