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Which Mac Is Right For Me

When you buy a Mac, you’re buying a philosophy as much as a piece of computer technology. The same company produces the hardware and software, and the computers share an aesthetic sensibility with Apple. phones and tablets. Mac offers just six computer styles with a limited choice of configurations—a “best. The best Macs are among the top computing devices out there, and on this list, you'll find the right one for your needs and budget. Read on to find our picks of the best Macs you can buy today.

After announcing the Apple Watch in September of 2014, launch time has finally arrived. Apple in March announced that pre-orders for the Apple Watch will begin on April 10, with an official launch taking place on April 24.
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Apple product lines for its iOS devices and Macs are relatively simple, consisting of a few models from which to choose. Picking an Apple Watch is a little more complicated, with the different models, a couple of watch sizes, and multiple band options. The prices start at $349 and go all the way up to $17,000 -- a very wide range.

This guide walks you through the considerations you need to make when buying an Apple Watch. If you're not sure which one to buy, this guide will lead you in the right direction.

Model differences


The first step in buying an Apple Watch is to pick one of the three available models. Each model's case is made of a different metal, but the actual hardware and software used inside the case is the same.
Apple Watch Sport: This is the watch for athletes and active users, combining strength with a light weight. It's also the cheapest available option.
The case is made of anodized aluminum that's available in silver or space gray, and Apple says it created a new alloy of 7000 series aluminum that's 60 percent stronger that standard alloys. Apple doesn't specify the exact alloy number, but 7000 series aluminum tends to be among the strongest aluminum alloys; some are almost as tough as steel.
Apple uses Ion-X glass to protect the display on the Sport collection. Ion-X isn't as hard as the sapphire crystal used in other watch models, but it is lighter, and Apple says it is especially resistant to scratches and impact.
Apple Watch: This is the watch Apple is positioning as the everyday solution, as seen by the collection sharing its name with the larger product line. It's not as light as the Apple Watch Sport, but it's stronger overall. There's a wide variety of bands from which to choose -- we'll get into that in a bit.
It has a stainless steel case that's available in a polished silver form or in space black. Apple says it uses 316L stainless steel, a type of steel that has good corrosion resistance, and Apple says it cold-forges the steel to make it 80 percent harder than usual. The steel case is heavier than the Sport's aluminum case, but total weight will vary based on the band you pick. Some bands, like the fluoroelastomer band for the Apple Watch Sport, are heavier than other bands, like the leather Modern Buckle.
Apple uses sapphire crystal to protect the display. Sapphire, which is heavier than the Ion-X glass used in the Sport collection, has a Mohs hardness rating of 9 -- diamonds are the only substance that's harder.
Apple Watch Edition: This is the one for serious watch aficionados who have no problem plunking down thousands of dollars -- it's not just a smart watch, it's also a status symbol. The case is made of 18-karat gold that Apple claims is harder than standard gold, and it's available in yellow or rose gold. This watch also uses sapphire crystal to cover the display.
Apple says the gold watch is available in limited quantities and in a limited number of high-end luxury stores. It's possible you may not be able to check out the Apple Watch Edition in a regular Apple Store, as it is not yet clear which retail Apple Stores will be carrying them. If you want to see one of Apple's $10,000 watches in person, you may need to visit one of the luxury pop-up shops or perhaps a flagship Apple retail store.

Bands


This might be the most important decision you make about the Apple Watch. Apple offers a set of band options for each model, and in some instances, the type of band you choose will affect the price. If you're worried about how each band fits on your wrist, Apple has a handy Apple Watch Sizing Guide. Listed below are the bands that you pick at the time of purchase.
Apple Watch Sport: Apple offers only fluoroelastomer (a soft but durable rubber) bands with this model. You do get to pick from five different colors: black, blue, green, pink, and white. And Apple gives you two bands in separate sizes (small/medium and medium/large), so the watch is guaranteed to fit all wrists.
Apple Watch: The selection of bands is wider for this model. There are six bands to choose from: Link Bracelet, Milanese Loop, Modern Buckle, Leather Loop, Classic Buckle, and a Sport Band like the one that comes with the Apple Watch Sport. These vary wildly in price, with the Modern Buckle and Link Bracelet carrying the highest price tags at $249 and $449, respectively.
Apple Watch Edition: Apple's approach to this watch limits the choices and sizes from which you can choose. The 38mm and 42mm models are available with a black or white Sports Band. Two 38mm models come with either a Rose Gray or Bright Red leather Modern Buckle band. And two 42mm models comes with either a Midnight Blue or black leather Classic Buckle band. You can, of course, purchase additional bands to go with your Apple Watch Edition, but many of the bands won't match well due a custom-colored Digital Crown.
Since watches are as much a fashion accessory as a practical tool, Apple sells its watch bands separately. Below is a price guide to the bands sans watch.
If you buy an Apple Watch Sport and you want to buy an additional band, you might want to see how a band looks with the watch first. The Sport has an aluminum case, so will you be okay with the way it looks with a stainless steel Milanese Loop, or the stainless steel buckle of the Classic Loop? It may be a trivial nit-picky thing for some, but for others it's a detail that matters. (The same can be said of the gold Apple Watch Edition. There's no gold Milanese Loop or Link Bracelet, nor are there leather bands with gold buckles available after market.)
There are a few other things to keep in mind when choosing a band. Some of the bands are quite light (Modern Buckle and Classic Buckle) while others are very heavy. The 42mm Link Bracelet weighs 75 grams, which is a good bit heavier than the Classic Buckle, which weighs only 16 grams. Some of the bands are also going to be more resistant to water than others. You won't want to get one of the leather bands wet, but the Sport Bands will handle moisture with no problem. The Watch itself has a water resistance rating of IPX7 -- you can wash your hands with it on or exercise while wearing it, but you won't want to go swimming without taking it off.
You can see a full chart that lists all of the different Apple Watch combinations, sizes, and weights by clicking here.

Sizes


Apple offers two different sizes for each watch: 38mm and 42mm. That's measured vertically, not horizontally. You can see the actual sizes of the Apple Watch using the Apple Store iOS app.
The two sizes also have different screen resolutions. Both are Retina displays, but the 38mm watch has a 340-by-272 pixel screen, while the 42mm watch is 390-by-312. The Apple Watch's software interface isn't affected by the screen size -- a bigger screen simply means bigger on-screen elements.
The size you pick comes down to your personal preference -- though keep in mind that the Modern Buckle Apple Watch comes only in 38mm, and the Leather Loop Apple Watch is only available in 42mm. The Apple Store iOS app has a section where you can see actual-sized pictures of the Apple Watch. You can display the 38mm or the 42mm watch face on your iPhone screen and get an idea of how big it is on your wrist.

Prices


Combine the model, size and band, and you can calculate a price.
Apple Watch Sport: Since it comes only with a Sport Band, the pricing for this model is easy. It's $349 for 38mm, and $399 for 42mm.

Which Mac Is Right For Me Quiz 2017


Apple Watch: Since there are more band options, there are more prices for this model. Here are the prices for the Apple Watch models.
Apple Watch Edition: Here are the prices for the eight Edition models.

Accessories


Each watch is bundled with a magnetic charging cable. If you want to buy an extra one, it's $29 for a 1 meter cable, and $39 for a 2 meter cable.
The charging cables are the only accessories currently listed in the Apple Store. You can be sure that third parties are jumping on the Apple Watch bandwagon with bands, stands, battery replacements, and a lot more.

Get ready to order


At the Apple Watch event, the company said that the first wave of watches will be available in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, United Kingdom, and United States. Circle April 10 on your calendar: That's when Apple will start accepting pre-orders and when you'll be able to try on a watch at the Apple Store.
The watch will then start shipping on April 24. On this date, the Apple Watch will be available at Apple retail locations, select department stores, and boutiques worldwide.

Which Apple Watch should you buy?


There's an excellent variety of Apple Watch models, and since they all have the same functions, it really comes down to your personal taste and your budget. The Apple Watch Sport is ideal for athletes due to its sweat proof fluoroelastomer band, and it's also the ideal choice for those who want to get an Apple Watch at the lowest cost. It's the watch with the most colorful bands.
The Apple Watch is the watch you can wear everyday, appropriate for both work and casual outings. It can also handle the rigors of the active user or athlete, though it's heavier than the Sport when not paired with a leather band. The Apple Watch Edition is the watch for those with deep pockets who are looking for a luxury option.
Whichever watch you choose, keep one thing in mind -- this is a first generation device. We don't know its product cycle and thus we don't know when an upgrade is coming. Apple could choose to release an all new version of the device next year, and thus far, there's no indication that existing watches are upgradeable.
Before you shell out $10,000 or even $1,000 on an Apple Watch, make sure you're comfortable knowing that this isn't a product that has the same long life as other watches. There are going to be technological advances and they're going to be major, so make this purchase knowing that you'll need to upgrade at some point.
For in-depth details on the features of the Apple Watch, how it works, the materials its made of, and more, visit MacRumors Apple Watch: Everything We Know.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 6

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Today’s computer shopper has a choice of two great software platform standards in Windows and Mac, but lines have blurred between the types of hardware, which generally share Intel® CPUs.

Today’s computer shopper has a choice of two great software platform standards in Windows and Mac, but lines have blurred between the types of hardware, which generally share Intel® CPUs.

Which Platform Is Right for You?

  • Consider if you like the Mac hardware and software aesthetic or would prefer the roll-your-own configurations that come with PCs.

  • Decide whether you will use touch and voice input capabilities.

  • Determine what software you’ll use and where you’ll keep it—on your computer or in the cloud.

  • Consider whether your future needs might require upgrades and additions to the computer.

In computing circles, “PC vs. Mac” has long been a topic of debate—advocates on both sides felt so intense that it was better to steer clear of the subject unless you were up for a furious debate. While Macs and PCs still both have passionate followings, the differences between the two types of computers have dramatically lessened over the years. The result is your decision comes down to subtle preferences—but you really can’t go wrong with either choice. It has become less a matter of hardware and software than of style and personal taste.

The Ecosystem: Do You Think Less Is More or More Is More?

When you buy a Mac, you’re buying a philosophy as much as a piece of computer technology. The same company produces the hardware and software, and the computers share an aesthetic sensibility with Apple* phones and tablets. Mac offers just six computer styles with a limited choice of configurations—a “best of the best approach” that eliminates the need to wade through an excessive amount of options. If you don’t like deliberating over RAM, disk space, and other hardware components, Mac does much of the work for you.

With PCs, roughly a dozen major manufacturers produce the hardware, and most run the Windows operating system. You can have hundreds of choices of style and configurations, allowing you to find exactly what you want, though it may take more time and deliberation. Whether more is more or less is often in the eye of the beholder.

Price: Look Beyond the Price Tag

Macs have long carried a reputation for premium pricing compared to PCs, though advocates would say that was simply the cost of higher-end components that provide better performance and reliability.

Making an apples-to-apples comparison on price for PC vs. Mac has always been difficult, though, because PCs and Macs typically have different pre-installed software and components, such as graphics cards, ports, and processor speed. The standard model Macs tend to offer less memory and hard drive space, so you need to take the specs into consideration.

Because of their lower cost, PCs have often been the choice for people who needed basic computing functions, like word processing and web surfing, while creative professionals who perform tasks such as design or video editing have been willing to shell out extra money for the apple of their eye. That said, the premium for the Apple know-how has shrunk to a couple of hundred bucks, making price a smaller consideration.

Maintenance: Are You a Troubleshooter?

Just as Macs offer a narrow number of choices, the systems tend to stay as they are – typically only the hard drive and RAM can be upgraded. PCs, coming in so many models from so many vendors, usually allow any of the individual hardware components to be switched out, from the central processing unit (CPU) to the displays. Whether that matters may depend on how you use the computer, how long you plan to keep it, and whether you are adept at handling some of your own maintenance.

Because Apple makes both the hardware and software, you have one primary place to turn when you have an issue, and issues can usually be resolved quickly. With PCs, different vendors make the hardware and software, and problem solving can be more complicated. Partly for this season, Apple has always received high marks from Mac owners for customer service.

Software: Your Choice May Be Up in the Clouds

In the past, it was easy to pick a Mac or PC based on the type of software you needed. Business productivity tools were domain of the Windows operating system, while editing, photo and other creativity apps were clearly a Mac world.

And though the PC tends to dominate in the workplace, many software programs for professional use—including Microsoft* Office and the Adobe* Creative Suite—have versions for both operating systems. The software has also become a smaller issue as many people no longer load software on their computer but maintain subscriptions for software they can access via the cloud. If you stream videos on YouTube, for example, your browser doesn’t care what type of computer or operating system you’re using.

Playing Games: Close the Window on This One

Gamers have always flocked to PCs, and that won’t change anytime soon. PCs can now stream games from Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and the number of titles available on a PC dwarf the Mac. So if gaming is more than just fun and games in your house, the PC wins hands-down.

Getting Touchy-Feely: PCs Emphasize Speech and Touch

For all the passion of Mac users, PC advocates can now honestly say they have a more touchy-feely relationship with their computers. Recent versions of the Windows operating system have embraced touch and speech, such as the new feature Cortana* in Windows* 10, which enables voice commands to schedule appointments. Apple has integrated its voice recognition software, Siri, into its desktop models but has been resistent to introduce a touch feature into its operating system, OS* X.

So if you prefer speaking to your computer, or moving your finger across the screen, to a keyboard and mouse, PCs offer a clear advantage.

Security: Mac Still Gets the Nod

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At one time, PCs were known for frequent crashes, but the Windows operating system has become significantly more reliable. While Mac hardware and software is denoted by its stability, the difference here has lessened.

The odds of getting a virus or malware with a PC remain higher than with a Mac, but this is more about the numbers game than technology. About 7.5% of the computers in use are Mac, according to IDC, so hackers spend more time and creativity attacking PCs.

That said, a sprinkling of Mac-attacks have begun to appear, such as last year’s Keyranger ransomware which attacked the OS* X operating system and encrypted all files on a hard drive until users paid an extortion fee. The proper antivirus program and other safeguards will keep either system safe, but PCs will be at greater risk.

The Choice:

PCs and Macs do offer some clear-cut differences; which of those differences are the most important is something that each person has to decide for his or herself. Due to price and availability, PCs tend to be the winner, while Macs remain the choice for the more elite or anti-Windows computer users. Either way, you can’t really go wrong. It truly is the golden age of computers.

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