Mac vs. PC: The Ultimate Lab Test for New Desktops & Laptops

Popular Mechanics ^ | May 2008 | By Glenn Derene

[Swordmaker]

This computer rivalry has been elevated to a cultural divide on par with Pepsi versus Coke. Taking it beyond personal taste, PM crunches the numbers—with some surprising results (and detailed benchmark scores).

We all know the stereotypes. Apple’s popular commercials have painted the picture in stark terms: There are two types of people, Mac people and PC people. And if the marketing is to be believed, the former is a hip, sport-coat-and-sneakers- wearing type of guy who uses his computer for video chatting, music mash-ups and other cool, creative pursuits that starchy, business-suited PC users could never really appreciate unless they tried them on the slick Apple interface. Then again, Windows PC enthusiasts probably think that Mac guy is a smug slacker with an overpriced toy that can’t do any serious computing anyway. Funny thing is, both stereotypes are wrong. With a 7.5 percent market share, Macs are no longer just the computer choice of artists and unemployed writers. (Apple is, in fact, the fourth largest computer manufacturer in the world.) And now, more than ever, the guts of both platforms are remarkably similar. Both types of machines use Intel proc­essors (although some PCs can be configured with processors from AMD). Both buy memory, hard drives and graphics cards from the same small pool of suppliers. The underlying operating systems have distinctly different flavors, but in terms of functionality, Microsoft Windows Vista and Mac OS X Leopard have surprisingly similar built-in multimedia, Internet and productivity applications.

Yet what makes the platforms feel so dissimilar is their approaches to these applications. Internet Explorer versus Safari, Windows Media Center versus Front Row, Photo Gallery versus iPhoto, Backup and Restore Center versus Time Machine—these system components from Microsoft and Apple are designed to accomplish essentially the same goals. To users, however, the position and movement of the virtual knobs and levers make all the difference.

These things are largely matters of preference and style, but you can still make a reasonable attempt to quantify them, and we did. We tested two all-in-one desktops and two laptops—one Mac and one PC per category—and assembled a panel of testers with a range of experience and preference that ran the gamut from expert users to my wife’s stepfather, who, by his own account, had never actually turned on a computer. Our testers were asked to set up the computers right out of the box and explore the machines through everyday tasks such as Web surfing, document creation, uploading photos, downloading Adobe Acrobat files and playing music and movies through Media Center and Front Row (the entertainment software suites integrated into Vista and Leopard, respectively). Our testers were instructed to divorce themselves as much as possible from their previous technological preferences and rate their experiences with each computer’s software and hardware.

Usability surveys are like taste tests—a useful look at the subjective appeal of a device. (Is it fun? Is it easy? Would I be happy to live with this thing?) But beneath their packaging, computers are data-crunching machines that can be run like racehorses. So the second component of our test regimen was about pure performance.

Our computers were closely matched, but in the interest of full disclosure, we’ll spit out the caveats: The Gateway One PC had a processor that runs 400 MHz slower than its iMac competitor (not a heck of a difference in this age of dual-core chips), but it also had two extra gigabytes of DDR2 memory. In the laptop category, our Asus M51 had a 2.2 GHz processor, compared to 2.4 GHz for our MacBook. But the Asus had a larger screen, a more sophisticated graphics card and an extra gig of RAM.

All that extra RAM may seem to give an advantage to the PCs. Vista, however, is a noted memory hog, so throwing more RAM into PC computers is probably less of a perform ance booster for manufacturers than it is a new baseline hardware specification.

Before we pulled out our stopwatches, we turned to two industry-standard, cross-platform benchmarking tools—Geekbench from Primate Labs and Cinebench from Maxon—to get third-party results. We ran both benchmarking programs on our Mac and PC desktop and laptop computers before our testers got their dirty little hands on the equipment to ensure that no confounding software could poison the results.

These benchmarks are reliable indicators of performance, but the numbers feel somewhat meaningless to ordinary users. Which is why we created our own suite of tests to meas ure the speed of everyday tasks. We logged boot-up and shutdown times, and launch times for the Internet browser and media player built into each operating system, as well as for common applications such as Microsoft Word and Adobe Photoshop. We tested how long it took for each computer to rip a CD and install a few big software suites. The laptops were forced to play the longest movie we could find (Saving Private Ryan—2 hours, 49 minutes) until they wheezed, sputtered and shut down. Finally, we put all four computers through a stress test. We ran three video sources (a YouTube clip, a DVD and an .avi file), DivX encoding, instant messaging, Word, Adobe Acrobat and a spyware scan simultaneously—then retimed our launch of Photoshop.

The results gave us a clear winner in the performance categories, but the big surprise was how little difference we found in user preferences. Turns out, both platforms are capable and easy to use, but only one was the victor.

---

iMac | $1499

SPECS
Hardware	20-in. screen, 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1 GB DDR2 RAM, 320 GB hard drive, built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, 8x CD/DVD burner, remote control, ATI Radeon HD 2600 graphics card.
Software	OS X Leopard, iLife '08 (iTunes, iPhoto, GarageBand, etc.), Front Row, iWork (30-day trial).
USER RATING
Design
Ergonomics
Internet surfing
Digital photo management
iWork
Front Row (movies, music, etc.)
Overall

SPEED TEST | Click here for detailed benchmark scores
Boot	Average startup	28.7 sec.
	Average shutdown	4.0 sec.
Install	Microsoft Office	4 min. 17 sec.
	Adobe Creative Suite 3	31 min. 44 sec.
Program Launch	Safari (Internet browser)	3.3 sec.
	Microsoft Word	4.2 sec.
	Adobe Photoshop	4.0 sec.
	Stress-launch Photoshop (w/ 8 apps running)	21.36 sec.
	CD rip	3 min. 35 sec.

Gateway One | $1800

SPECS
Hardware	19-in. screen, 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 3 GB DDR2 RAM, 500 GB hard drive, built-in Wi-Fi, 8x CD/DVD burner, remote control, ATI Radeon HD 2600 graphics card.
Software	Windows Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Works 8.5, Media Center, Microsoft Office (60-day trial).
USER RATING
Design
Ergonomics
Internet surfing
Digital photo management
Works
Media Center (movies, music, etc.)
Overall

SPEED TEST | Click here for detailed benchmark scores
Boot	Average startup	1 min. 13 sec.
	Average shutdown	44.3 sec.
Install	Microsoft Office	6 min. 25 sec.
	Adobe Creative Suite 3	25 min. 45 sec.
Program Launch	Internet Explorer	6.3 sec.
	Microsoft Word	5.2 sec.
	Adobe Photoshop	5.5 sec.
	Stress-launch Photoshop (w/ 8 apps running)	40.0 sec.
	CD rip	3 min. 35 sec.

---

MacBook* | $1299

* As tested on an Apple MacBook containing an Intel Penryn processor. Because the new Penryn version of the MacBook was not available at press time for the May 2008 print edition of PM, the test results appearing in the magazine reflect the previous version of the MacBook. to see the non-Penryn MacBook results that appeared in the magazine.

SPECS
Hardware	13.3-in. screen, 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo (Penryn); 3GB DDR2 RAM, 160 GB hard drive, 8x CD/DVD burner, built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Software	OS X Leopard, iLife '08 (iTunes, iPhoto, GarageBand, etc.), Front Row, iWork (30-day trial).
Weight	5 pounds
BATTERY TEST
With the DVD drive spinning and screen at full brightness, the MacBook made it through our movie, but fell short of Apple's stated 6-hour battery life: 3 hr. 34 min.
USER RATING
Design
Ergonomics
Internet surfing
Digital photo management
iWork
Media Center (movies, music, etc.)
Overall

SPEED TEST | Click here for detailed benchmark scores
Boot	Average startup	41.6 sec.
	Average shutdown	3.9 sec.
Install	Microsoft Office	2 min. 57 sec.
	Adobe Creative Suite 3	34 min. 54 sec.
Program Launch	Microsoft Word	5.3 sec.
	Adobe Photoshop	4.1 sec.
	Stress-launch Photoshop (w/ 8 apps running)	16.2 sec.
	CD rip	5 min. 49 sec.

Asus M51SR | $1299

SPECS
Hardware	15.4-in. screen, 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB DDR2 RAM, 250 GB hard drive, ATI Radeon HD 2400 graphics card, 8x CD/DVD burner, built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Software	Microsoft Vista Home Premium, Works, Media Center, Office (30-day trial).
Weight	6.5 pounds
BATTERY TEST
Many users liked the Asus’s 15.4-in. screen, but that large display is a drain on the battery. The Asus couldn’t make it through our 2-hour, 49-minute movie: 1 hr. 30 min.
USER RATING
Design
Ergonomics
Internet surfing
Digital photo management
Works
Media Center (movies, music, etc.)
Overall

SPEED TEST | Click here for detailed benchmark scores
Boot	Average startup	1 min. 51 sec.
	Average shutdown	25.4 sec.
Install	Microsoft Office	4 min. 46 sec.
	Adobe Creative Suite 3	21 min.
Program Launch	Microsoft Word	6.2 sec.
	Adobe Photoshop	5.2 sec.
	Stress-launch Photoshop (w/ 8 apps running)	25.5 sec.
	CD rip	3 min. 9 sec.

---

The Verdict: Apple

Mac: In both the laptop and desktop showdowns, Apple’s computers were the winners. Oddly, the big difference didn’t come in our user ratings, where we expected the famously friendly Mac interface to shine. Our respondents liked the look and feel of both operating systems but had a slight preference toward OS X. In our speed trials, however, Leopard OS trounced Vista in all-important tasks such as boot-up, shutdown and program-launch times. We even tested Vista on the Macs using Apple’s platform-switching Boot Camp software—and found that both Apple computers ran Vista faster than our PCs did.

PC: Simply put, Vista proved to be a more sluggish operating system than Leopard. Our PCs installed some software faster, but in general they were slower in our time trials. Plus, both PCs showed weaker performance on third-party benchmarks than the Macs. Our biggest surprise, however, was that PCs were not the relative bargains we expected them to be. The Asus M51sr costs the same as a MacBook, while the Gateway One actually costs $300 more than an iMac. That means for the price of the Gateway you could buy an iMac, boost its hard drive to match the Gateway’s, purchase a copy of Vista to boot—and still save $100.

Detailed Benchmark Scores: Desktops

Benchmark Test	iMac 20-in screen; 2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo; 1GB DDR2	Gateway One 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo; 3GB DDR2
Geekbench
Overall	3180 (2651)	1903
Integer	2766 (3398)	2324
Floating Point	4460 (2675)	1713
Memory	2299 (1720)	1597
Stream	1916 (1819)	1707
Cinebench
1 CPU	2619 (2429)	1979
2 CPUs	4840 (4641)	3739
Graphics	4819 (3834)	2913

*Scores in parentheses are for Macs running Vista in Boot Camp.

Detailed Benchmark Scores: Laptops

Benchmark Test	MacBook 2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo; 1GB DDR2 (Out of production)	MacBook 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo (Penryn); 3GB DDR2	Asus M51 2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo; 2GB DDR2
Geekbench
Overall	2885 (2465)	3156 (2657)	2445
Integer	2536 (3099)	2734 (3421)	3102
Floating Point	3959 (2429)	4395 (2660)	2444
Memory	2156 (1730)	2378 (1785)	1636
Stream	1809 (1850)	1853 (1717)	1772
Cinebench
1 CPU	2409	2741 (2561)	2214
2 CPUs	4468	5216 (4838)	4198
Graphics	2027	2040 (835)	2495

*Scores in parentheses are for Macs running Vista in Boot Camp.

[Swordmaker]

Head to head comparison of Mac v. PC (Vista) by Popular Mechanics... PING!

Shhhhhh, don't tell anyone but.... Mac wins.

Thanks to Spktyr for the heads up...

Mac Wins Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[Vinnie]

I’m sitting here fuming this AM. Well, every day at some point.
Why?
My virus scan program caught me at a most inopportune time again.
I’m typing away ( I look at the keyboard while typing, I know ) and the virus program has the box all tied up.

Stop typng, nothing appeared on the screen anyway. Wait to download the latest patch, scan the box, blah, blah, blah.

I HATE IT.!!!!

Should be using my Mac Book Pro.

[ByteMercenary]

While Popular Mechanics is not really the last word in computer technical publications, this is an interesting comparison. It should come as no surprise to a more than casual user that a unix based OS would outperform almost any Windoze system. Even the now-bloated RedHat Linux is sleek compared to Vista.

We use *nix almost exclusively in our office with only two machines with W2K on them. One is a ‘honey pot’ and the other is a firewall. The real work is done on *nix systems, mostly Suse.

[doodad]

As a support person for both systems and some other things, my only beef with the Macs is the users. They really don’t know how to *do* anything when it is not as expected. They don’t know how to troubleshoot and just throw their hands up. I had one tell me it was just a tool. Fine, but don’t pretend it is a crisis when you don’t even try.

/rant off. Whew I feel better.

[KoRn]

"the virus program has the box all tied up."

I use AVG, and I can run a full virus scan at anytime, and not even know it's running because it doesn't slow down my machine at all. How much RAM do you have and what kind of AV scanner are you using? I'm running on 4GB of DDR2.

[Vio24]

I recently purchased the following:

HP Pavilion Slimline s3400z PC
- Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (32-bit)
- AMD Athlon(TM) 64 X2 4400+ dual-core - 2.3GHz
- FREE UPGRADE to 3GB DDR2-800MHz dual channel SDRAM from 2GB
- Integrated NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE
- No Modem
- 250GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
- LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
- 15-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB, headphone port
- Integrated 5.1 Capable Sound w/ front audio ports
- No additional security software (60-day Norton Internet Security trial)
- Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
- HP keyboard and HP optical mouse

I have a 19” Dell flat screen monitor already. The above speced unit cost me $430 including freight (tax not included). Since I use the thing for surfing the web and email 99% of the time, the value appears to be with this unit vs the more expensive alternatives shown above.

[Vinnie]

512megs of RAM and Trend Micro.

I can run a scan in the background, slows down the comp. but it will run.
However it interrupts me to ask me whether I want to download, etc.
If I have it on automatic, I really get frustrated.

Hopefully by the end of the summer I'll have a Mac desktop and say adios to MS and virus scans.
Typing this on the Mac laptop, getting ready to go to work.

[ovrtaxt]

Too bad they didn’t include a comparison with an XP machine too. I’d bet the XP comp would blow Vista out of the water.

Thanks for the post. That price comparion has me thinking now- I may finally switch to a Mac with that in mind.

[RachelFaith]

You could buy Vista for your iMac and STILL SAVE $100 !!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA !

Or you could keep yer head in the sand and tell yerself PCs are better and Macsa re too expensive !

[texas booster]

Another comparison that drains my resolve.

Time for a new system for daughter who is in school to be an architect specializing in interior design.

Is there a version of AutoCAD for OS X?

Is there a version of Photoshop for the Ma ... umm, never mind, I think I know the answer to this one.

Will she even need an Office type program?

Will it run Folding@home, so her Dad will have hope when he is even older and grayer?

This could be interesting.

[KoRn]

"Hopefully by the end of the summer I'll have a Mac desktop and say adios to MS and virus scans."

Good for you! I'd sooner die than to buy a new PC and end up running Vista.

[nonliberal]

I bought an IMAC. 24"screen and all the bells and whistles. I had been a PC guy (my office still uses PCs but I upgraded from Vista back to XP) until I bought my Mac.

I now have a 24" monitor but a 19" television.

[bcsco]

I’m running AVG on a laptop with 1.25 Gb of RAM and have no problem with it scanning in the background.

[jwparkerjr]

What an interesting observation! I worked several years at a large newspaper that was combined in one building with a major NBC TV outlet and an online organization. I was in the news photo department of the paper so I had occasion to work with people in every department of all three organizations. We were one of the first major groups to embrace ‘convergence’, the idea that everyone could share everything and everyone would be better off. It's a concept that must have been dreamed up by a liberal. It looks great on paper, better when described by the CEO and absolutely heavenly when presented as a multimedia production on a 50 plus inch plasma display. In practice it turned out to be much like most liberal ideas and programs, easier said than done.

I'll not bore everyone with the details but it was a disaster. None of the components was ever as good as it was before.

There were both Mac and MS systems all through the building. Your grasp of the difference in the users is the most accurate description I've seen. I cringed anytime I answered the phone and found myself talking to a Mac user. MS users were frequently problematical too, especially the photographer of 30 years being forced to move from film to digital, but as a whole the MS user was easier to deal with.

Thanks for the observation. Certainly brings back memories!

I could have been more tolerant of the problem users if they had simply acknowledged that their trouble stemmed from having little or no understanding of what they were trying to do and had abandoned any hope they had of solving the problem to the vagrancy's of the computer. Never a good place to be. They were always very defensive and often downright nasty.

PS I recall the day corporate announced they were abandoning the Mac platform and would be moving to strictly MS systems. I will leave the reaction of the Mac users to your imagination. Think big.

[The_Victor]

Or you could keep yer head in the sand and tell yerself PCs are better and Macsa re too expensive !

I can get an HP quad core ~4GHz, 320Gb HD, 1Gb memory, for $649 at Fry's Electronics. Who has their head in the sand?

[OneRatToGo]

The Gateway One PC had a processor that runs 400 MHz slower than its iMac competitor (not a heck of a difference in this age of dual-core chips), but it also had two extra gigabytes of DDR2 memory. In the laptop category, our Asus M51 had a 2.2 GHz processor, compared to 2.4 GHz for our MacBook. But the Asus had a larger screen, a more sophisticated graphics card and an extra gig of RAM.

So the MS machines had slower processors and somehow the Macs outperformed them. What a surprise!

I sit here typing this on my Quad PC running Vista with 2GB of RAM watching TV on my USB tuner with my email running and AVG scanning the PC without one single bump.

[VanDeKoik]

Am I the only one who sees a close similarity between vocal Mac users and Obama supporters?

They act as if they are God’s gift to humanity.

They routinely speak as if they are all knowing, but usually never say much of substance other than how great it is that they support what they support.

They look at anyone that is not the same as rubes “clinging” to backwards ideologies.

When you poke holes in there land of make-believe they accuse you of being a bigot.

They put logo stickers in the back of their car windows, so they can find each other and gush over how cool it is that they are who they are.

They think they are the change that they’ve been waiting for.

[Damifino]

I work in engineering; the ee simulation and modeling software isn't made for Mac and won't run (integrative) in emulation.

Every comparative test I see like this is centered around a user that surfs the web, downloads music, video and chats with friends. It's funny, when I think of a Mac user, I think of someone that uses their machine (I suppose Mac users don't call their personal interface device a machine) as an entertainment outlet, more like a TV. It's probably a stereotype, but it is my perception.

[dangerdoc]

An occasional tech post is interesting but:::::

Have you posted anything not Apple related???

Have you even responded to anything not Apple related????