What Is the Difference Between an Apple Macintosh and an IBM Computer?

The main difference between an Apple Macintosh and an IBM computer is found in the operating systems that the computers use. 

There are several key differences between Macintosh and IBM (non-Macintosh) computers; but, as stated above, the most important is the operating system.

Apple Macintosh Computers

• Macintosh computers, referred to as Macs, are manufactured by Apple and run on an operating system called OS X.
• Apple has developed and carefully guarded this system; because of its patent, OS X is legally only allowed to be used on Mac computers. 
• Apple as a company has worked very hard to make sure that it is the only supplier of Mac hardware and software, and to ensure that Mac software only works on Mac hardware. 
• This means that you can’t just go buy a Mac software program and run it on a computer that is not made by Apple. 
• Other systems, such as Windows, eventually released software for Macs, but it took a while for this to happen. 
• The OS X operating system on a Mac does not take up as much memory as the Windows operating system on a PC.  Because of this, Apple computers are preferred for editing video, photography, and doing other graphic arts work.

IBM Computers

• IBM no longer makes a PC, having sold their personal computer business to Lenovo. However, non-Macintosh computers are often called "IBM" computers.
• IBM computers are most commonly referred to as PCs, which stands for personal computers.  This is because the original personal computer was made by IBM and IBM coined the phrase "PC."
• However, unlike Apple, IBM did not patent its product, so lots of other companies took IBM’s idea and made similar personal computers. 
• Now many companies manufacture PCs, including Lenovo, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Toshiba and Acer. 
• While Macs technically are personal computers, the terms PC and Mac have been used for so long that it is generally understood that PC means any computer that is not an Apple Macintosh.
• The most commonly used operating system for PCs is Microsoft Windows, though other systems, such as Linux, do exist.  For a long time Windows only ran on PCs, but now there is a Mac version.

• Most PCs are used for business purposes, which is what Microsoft Windows was designed for.

Cost and Quality Differences

Aside from the operating system, cost and quality are also key differences between Apple Macintosh computers and IBM computers.

• Because Apple is the only company that makes Macintosh computers, there is no competition to drive down their price.
• This means that Apple can charge more for both its computers and their software, and Mac products are known for being more expensive than PCs. 
• Macs are also known for lasting longer and for not getting as many viruses as PCs, because quality control is strong (after all, there is only one company making the machines) and because many more viruses are written for PCs than for Macs.
• Many people will use the saying “You get what you pay for” when referring to their Macs; they think the price is well worth it.   

Model Choice Differences

Macintosh computers are available in only a limited number of models, again because Apple is the only company who makes them.

PCs, on the other hand, can be found in a wide variety of models and prices because many different companies manufacture them. 

It is much easier for owners of PCs to open up the machine to access the hard drive, video card, and other parts of the computer if there is a problem, because regular tools will do the job.  In keeping with the guarded ways of Apple, special tools are usually needed to open up a Macintosh machine.

So, now you know the key differences between an Apple Macintosh computer and an IBM computer and you can make an informed buying choice for your next machine.