M1
|
Functions |
Windows XP |
Mac OS |
|
Machine and peripheral management. |
On windows, this is done in the Control Panel. Found under Accessories. Easy to find and easy to use, just easier on a Mac due to the layout of the System preferences. the control panel allows you to actively edit the settings which allow you to use these settings, via the GUI. |
On the Mac, this is done in System Preferences. Under the hardware sub-heading. The Mac is much easier to use for settings like these as it’s all found in a file on the dock, called System preferences. |
|
Security. |
Also found in the Control Panel. Under security. The Mac is much easier to use than Windows for this task as it’s all in one location. Security settings on a computer are fairly basic, with the firewall and passwords easy to edit, but not so easy to find, the function is found in the control panel. Making them prone to Viruses. You can also have external back ups, like plug in hard drives, which you can use to back up your computers settings and documents.
|
Also done in system preferences, under the security icon. Again easier on the Mac. On a Mac, you simply go to System Preferences, then security and can easily edit all the functions, to what you want them to be, and can password certain files so only the people that know the password can access them. Mac’s don’t work with xc files, which can contain lots of viruses, therefore limiting the chance of them getting a virus. Time machine is a built in back up that works both with your Mac and an external drive, letting you know if anything goes wrong you have everything backed up. |
|
File Management. |
Easily used, in folders such as My Pictures, My Videos etc... I find Windows XP easier for controlling and finding files. |
Found in Macintosh HD shortcut on the desktop. This is trickier than it is on Windows, as I find this to be a tedious task. |
|
Device Drivers. |
If you get a new piece of equipment, like a mouse, you may have to download a new device driver to be able to use this mouse. |
Whereas on a Mac, you rarely have to download a new device driver as it recognises nearly all devices, apart from the odd few. |
|
Features |
|
|
|
Ability to customise. |
Easy to customise things like backgrounds, simply find the image you want on the internet, right click and select ‘set as background image’ or save as, and do it that way. |
Whereas on a Mac there are many images you can use without having to search the internet, with different categories, such as nature photos, this feature is also found in System Preferences, therefore is easy to get to. Spaces allow you to easily customize spaces you want to be able to visit quickly and easily, by creating a panel with your selected places. Hot corners is a utility that allows you to hover the mouse over the corner of the desktop and bring up programmes of your choice in a box, allowing you to easily access them. |
|
Support for connectivity of portable media. |
If you don’t have the right software on your computer, your computer won’t be able to support or interact with the media you’ve plugged into the computer. |
Whereas on a Mac everything is done via ITunes and rarely any other programmes are used. This makes using portable media really easy to manage and transfer files to and from. |
|
Stability and reliability. |
Windows computers are known for getting virus and malfunctioning, due to the security settings on most of them. You can stop this by getting good security, such as MacAfee etc. |
However on a Mac, viruses are stopped before they are downloaded due to the security software on them, which detects viruses and stops the download or however they are being transferred to the computer. |
|
Ease of management. |
Windows computers are known for there ease of management, as you can find all of the files on the computer, under the My Computer section, found in the start menu.
|
Whereas on a Mac, the management of files is rather complicated, as they are in a not so well known location called McIntosh HD. This makes the task of finding the files seem to drag unless you know what they’re called. If you know what they’re called you can search the name of the file, you can do the same on a computer. Expose, shows all open windows allowing you too easily access the window you want without Having to sift through all your open windows. |
|
Associated utilities. |
Associated utilities such as cleaner, allows you to delete your internet history and search history. |
The Mac allows you to do the same, but you can do more than just delete temporary search data, but you can also easily edit settings which block certain access to websites. I feel that the Mac has more in depth settings, therefore I prefer it. Boot Camp which allows you to run windows operating systems on a Mac allows easier access for people new to using Macs, and that want to use windows. |