If you’ve ever had a look around the Fordham classrooms, you may have noticed just how many students have MacBooks. In fact, if you’re reading this article online, odds are you’re reading it on a MacBook. I think it’s safe to say that the overwhelming majority of Fordham students own a Mac, but if you’re a PC user like myself, I see you and respect your choice to opt out. 

Speaking from personal experience, Mac users will often ask PC users why they chose a PC. Answers range from “It was cheaper” (to which the Mac user will often say “But the Mac is better and easier to use”) to “It’s a better computer” (to which the Mac user will say “No, it’s not”). I initially got a PC for college because they were much cheaper and I thought they were better computers than Macs, but after I had to replace my first PC because it mysteriously started refusing to connect to WiFi, stumping both Fordham IT and Best Buy customer service, I honestly am not so sure. Maybe I just picked the wrong PC.

That’s the thing about PCs. There are many brands that manufacture them, so when buying a PC the customer has hundreds of options. On top of that, PCs are more customizable than Macs are. Many Mac users like that they do not have to customize their laptop or install additional software to make it more secure, but it is possible to build a PC that is more reliable and secure than a Mac. However, this does take work, while a Mac comes all setup and secure. Diehard PC users like this flexibility, as it allows them to customize their computer to suit their specific needs. Programmers seem to be split on the issue of Mac vs. PC, but gamers prefer PCs because they use the Windows operating system, which supports more applications than MacOS. 

When I asked one of my friends if there was anything I should include in this article, she said, “Talk about how Macs are prettier.” While PCs, on the Windows operating system, are more customizable and support a greater number of programs than MacOS does, Macs are more intuitive to use and have better graphic design. Also, I have found it impossible to find a case for my PC (an HP Envy in Natural Silver, in case you were wondering) that doesn’t look like one of those Otterbox cases that your parents make you get after you break your first phone. When I see people with beautiful Mac cases, I can’t help but think, “You don’t know how good you have it,” except chances are they do know how good they have it, and they won’t hesitate to let you know once they find out you have a PC. 

Yes, I know my laptop is not equipped with Apple Photos, nor does it have iMessage. Sometimes this frustrates me, but do you really need to be able to text from your laptop? Texting from your laptop is not actually different from texting from your phone, and I think that Mac users who do so during class need to come to terms with that. It’s still disrespectful. One thing that I do wish my PC was capable of is AirDrop, but there are alternatives that are PC (and Android) compatible. At least my computer has a USB port, unlike the more recent Macs, and a fan, unlike the MacBook Air. Also, it has a touchscreen and the hinge of which has 360 degrees of motion, so I can open my computer as far as I want and turn the laptop into a tablet. A Mac could never, probably because Apple is trying to get users to buy an iPad as well. 

So, are Macs or PCs better? I’m no tech expert, but it seems like the answer depends on what you are looking for in a computer. If you are somebody who wants a customizable laptop that starts at a much lower price point, a PC is for you. If you want a laptop that pairs easily with an iPhone and don’t mind paying a premium cost in exchange for a more intuitive and aesthetic interface, the Mac is for you, as long as you don’t mind the lack of a USB port. I am sticking to my pro-PC guns — partially because I’m not going to buy a third computer, partially because I’m kind of oppositional and partially because it doesn’t really matter what laptop I use. All I do on my laptop is use applications like Chrome and Spotify. 

Eleanor Smith, FCRH ’26, is an American studies and history major from St. Paul, Minn.