Outside of programming alone, there is a war between which is a better operating system whether its the silky smooth MacOS or the more supported Windows OS but now won’t weigh in on this debate as this article will purely focus on which is better for programming, Mac or Windows to help you decide.
Quick Answer For Which Is Better For Programming Between A Mac and Windows PC or Laptop
It depends on what kind of programming language you are wanting to program in, if it’s for apple related software then you should definitely go for a Macbook or iMac.
If you are programming software for windows based operating system then go for a Windows PC or laptop to be able to test and run the coding projects you have made directly in your Windows OS.
Now that was just a TL: DR type answer above as programming goes far deeper than that so let’s dive in.
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Why Choose Mac With Its MacOS Over Windows For Programming
As you know MacOS is based on Linux and Unix and has the best reliability and stability when it comes to using any Linux-based operating system.
This means a lot when you are halfway through a long coding session and have not saved your work then and you see a BSOD (Blue screen of death). Well, luckily this only happens on Windows operating systems which we have all become accustomed to and maybe lost some work due to this.
With MacOS this won’t happen and you can rely on your trusty Macbook or iMac not to pull any funny business while you are deep in some coding project, as the last thing you want is to lose work and get pushed back. (We know how this feels).
So if reliability is your thing then you should lean more towards a Mac to do your programming on and if you are used to a more Linux-based environment and bash scripting.
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Why Choose Windows 11 & 10 For Programming
Here at Tech Spec Dude, we wouldn’t say Windows is the most developer-friendly of operating systems but it does have the most software you may need as a programmer or developer over its rival *The Mac*.
While Windows 11 and 10 operating systems take all the market share currently we mostly look upon Windows for its ease of use and gaming capabilities but this is not to say it’s a slouch when it comes to programming.
Unlike Mac with its Unix-type terminal, with Windows, you get to use Windows Powershell if you know your way around it, and if you do it’s good to stick to it.
Now with Windows, you will find some more IDE (Integrated Development Environment) built for the OS as well as fewer bugs and maybe faster program releases of the IDE you decide to code with.
With there being hundreds of different IDEs the best Windows IDEs can be found below for the Windows operating system.
- Visual Studio
- Netbeans
- Jetbrains
- Pycharm
With the above IDEs, your Windows PC will work like a charm when programming, and the added benefit of using Windows is you can game or enjoy all the things you cant do on a Mac such as seamlessly switch between your Windows desktop and Windows tablet to streaming Xbox games from your Xbox console.
Another big decision on which you should get will be your budget.
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Budget For Both Windows PC And Mac For Programming
Yes, budget comes into play a lot here as with Windows you get many different manufacturers such as Dell, Acer, Lenovo, HP, and more that all have different prices and low entry barriers when it comes to picking up your programming laptop.
But with Apple being the manufacturer of everything Mac-related so Macbooks, iMacs, and Mac Minis the price can be rather steep when we are talking about entry-level programming laptops, etc.
If you are looking to get a brand new Mac you can expect to pay $2000 for a good-performance Mac while a Windows PC or laptop can be purchased for not even a quarter of that price and have good performance.
You will find even Windows PC and laptops can get up to $2000 and over but we are talking very high-end-based laptops that if you put them pound to pound at $2000 Vs a Mac, the Windows will come out on top performance-wise with its hardware at that price.
You can also get custom-built PCs that are cheaper and have the latest processors in such as the i7 or i9 with 64GB ram for less than some of the latest Macs.
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Other Programming Things To Take Into Consideration
Now some programming stacks might call for a Mac and some other stacks a Windows OS so be sure to check if the language is native to either the MacOS or Windows operating system or if it’s a neutral one where it’s not based on any of these operating systems.
Also, be sure to check if you have an IDE you prefer to use and if its works better on Macs or Windows-based machines.
Conclusion
When it comes to programming it’s always good to have in mind which machine is better for programming between a Mac and a Windows-based PC or laptop.
We would recommend if stability is your main concern then go for a Mac such as iMac, Macbook, or Mac mini.
If you are looking to use your PC outside of coding and programming work such as gaming or want it to be more compatible with the latest software being built then go for a Windows-based PC or laptop.