Windows Notebook Vs. MacBook: What's The Difference? Which One Should You Pick?

From processors to (lack of) ports, here are some quick differences between a MacBook and a regular Windows notebook.

Apple announced its latest range of MacBook Pro models recently. Almost predictably, this has again triggered off the debate among geeks as to how they compare with existing Windows notebooks, and whether one actually needs a MacBook Pro or Air. Well, do you? What makes a MacBook Air or Pro different from a similarly configured Windows notebook? Let us work that out for you. 

(For the sake of simplicity, we will be using the term "MacBook" to refer to both MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models).

MacBooks look different…but not as much as some would have you believe 

There is a very popular line of thought that claims that MacBooks are all about sleek and premium design. While there is no doubt that both the MacBook Air and Pro are carefully crafted using premium materials, the fact is that they no longer stand out in a crowd as they once did. 

The ultrabook revolution in 2015 saw a number of other brands literally pick up the silver gray and tapering edges and black-keys-on-a-metallic-frame design of the then-MacBooks. 

Since then, there is not much to differentiate a high-end Windows notebook from a MacBook in terms of design, barring that iconic Apple on the top (which too has ceased to glow now). 

MacBooks are still very well designed and are a treat to the eyes, and there is even a Midnight black and Starlight colour option now, but stand-out design is not really their forte, thanks to the Windows notebook clone army.

MacBooks use a different OS 

This actually is the REAL difference between a MacBook and a Windows notebook — each uses a very different operating system. 

MacBooks run on Apple's macOS while Windows notebooks run on Microsoft's Windows operating system. While both operating systems (the software which runs a computer is called an 'operating system') have a graphic user interface and essentially do the same things like run applications, enable you to move files and so on, both of them work very differently from each other. 

As a result, you will need to spend some time learning the interface when you first move from a Windows notebook to a MacBook or vice versa. The trackpad and keyboard layouts are also slightly different on Windows notebooks and MacBooks — MacBooks have a Command button and some even have a touch bar. Some Windows notebooks come with a touchscreen, while all MacBooks have "regular" displays.

MacBooks use different processors

This is something that has changed over the past couple of years. For quite a while MacBooks and Windows notebooks ran on similar processors from Intel. However, in November 2020, Apple decided to go with its own processor, under the M series. 

This has resulted in Apple having a slight edge over Windows notebooks as the brand makes both the processor as well as the software that runs on it and is able to optimise each for the other. This process is a bit more complicated for Windows notebook manufacturers, who often have to take a chip from Intel or AMD and software from Microsoft. 

It is because of this that MacBook devices update more smoothly and often to newer versions of macOS, as compared to Windows. 

MacBooks use different versions of apps and software

With different software and different processors, it is hardly surprising that MacBooks use different versions of software, which often even tend to work a little differently. For instance, the MS Office you purchase for a Windows notebook will not work on a MacBook, and vice versa. You will need a different version of the software for your MacBook. 

This can turn out to be a bit of a financial issue in India, where software for the Mac platform is either difficult to find or is more expensive than its Windows variant. You can often get versions of Windows software over the counter, but Mac software is more difficult to get in India. 

MacBooks rock multimedia, Windows is game(r) for gaming 

This is one of those curious occurrences which might seem as a bit of a generalization, but it actually rings true. MacBooks in general tend to handle multimedia a whole lot better than Windows notebooks. This is one of the reasons why they are often used by content creators for editing videos and audio. 

Move into the gaming zone, however, and the Windows notebooks have a clear upper hand. This is mainly because there are Windows notebooks designed for gaming (such as Asus' ROG series and Lenovo's Legion series), while there is no MacBook dedicated to gaming.  

Most high-end Windows notebooks also tend to come with dedicated graphics cards, making them more suitable for gaming. Round that off with the fact that more games are available for Windows than for macOS, and Windows notebooks triumph in the gaming zone.

Ecosystem issues

Apple devices have a more tightly integrated ecosystem as compared to Windows. As a result, all Apple devices tend to play nice with MacBooks. So if you have an iPhone, iPad or even AirPods, you will see them working very smoothly and almost seamlessly with MacBooks. 

Windows notebooks generally are a bit limited in this regard, although they are much better at working with third-party devices. 

Macbooks generally have fewer ports 

MacBooks might come packed with a lot of processor, software, and multimedia power but they tend to be limited in terms of connectivity. Unless you go for the higher-end MacBooks, you will find yourself often limited to a limited number of ports and missing features like memory card slots, HDMI ports and even USB Type-A ports. 

This is in direct contrast to most Windows high-end notebooks that pack in ports like confetti. If you need a device that will need to be connected to other devices frequently, a Windows Notebook is perhaps the better option. 

MacBooks generally tend to perform better over the long run (and often have a better resale value)

Thanks to their better hardware and software integration and smoother update process, MacBooks as a rule tend to perform better than their Windows counterparts over a longer period of time. Apple also has an excellent track record when it comes to keeping its older devices in fine running shape. 

As a result, MacBooks also generally tend to have a slightly higher resale or trade-in value as compared to most of their Windows notebook counterparts. 

MacBooks are more expensive…wait, are they?

This brings us to one of the most popular beliefs about MacBooks - the fact that they are considered to be very expensive, much more expensive than their Windows notebook counterparts. Like many beliefs, there is a grain of truth in this, but it is not totally true either. 

As MacBooks have different processors and software, comparing them directly with Windows notebooks is literally a bit like comparing apples and oranges, albeit of the notebook-y sort. A new MacBook (the Air) might start at a price of around Rs 85,000, but it packs in a level of power and performance that often matches and even exceeds that of most Windows notebooks in its price. 

While it would be naive to claim that MacBooks are super affordable, they are like the iPhones in the sense that they do a lot of what others cannot, albeit at a price.

Whether you should opt for a MacBook or a Windows notebook depends totally on your requirements. A MacBook is no longer the unique design wonder it once was but it remains a formidable option for anyone who is looking for a powerful device, especially for editing, creating content and long-term use. 

That said, Windows notebooks have closed the gap on MacBooks in terms of design and often offer better gaming and more universal connectivity options. We would say a MacBook is a no-brainer for those in the Apple ecosystem even now, but if you are in an Android world, you might want to consider opening the door for a Windows notebook in your life.