Kworld Trend / Mac or windows laptop which is better for programming in 2024? The debate over MacBooks vs. Windows laptops has been raging for decades, but it’s never been so intense or important. New advances in chip technology are pushing even entry-level MacBooks toward high-performance targets, and shifting away from cheap plastic evens the playing field between these two platforms. Windows 11 and macOS are both intuitive and clean operating systems. But where they differ is in one key element: their ecosystems.
Mac or Windows laptop which is better for programming in 2024?
The war between Windows laptops and MacBooks has been going on for decades. The Windows vs. macOS debate is getting hotter these days due to the power of Apple’s M-series processors, which have had a seismic effect on the computing landscape. As our internal benchmarks showed, MacBooks with Apple silicon like the M1 chip and M2 chip often run circles around laptops running Microsoft’s operating system.
But that doesn’t mean that Apple MacBooks running macOS Ventura are objectively superior. This may be the case for some people, especially those who are invested in the Apple ecosystem. But I would argue that Windows 11 laptops are better suited to a variety of users. Below, I’ll go into what I mean by detailing 5 ways Windows 11 laptops have outperformed MacBooks (in my opinion).
Build quality
There is no denying that Apple is hitting physical hardware out of the park. From a purely aesthetic (and subjective) standpoint, MacBooks are great. They look great. They feel good. This minimalist industrial design looks as if it’s worth $2,000 or more. Since the debut of the M2 MacBook Air in June 2022, every MacBook has followed the same design.
Don’t forget the actual quality you’ll get with your Mac. Take hinges, for example. You can unlock any Mac with one hand. The screen simply opens while the base sits intact. Also, the screen remains stable wherever you leave it. There is no wiggle. There is no decline. Apple has installed the hinges, and no Windows OEM has even come close.
You’ll also get an amazing keyboard now that Apple has ditched the awful butterfly keys. You will appreciate this keyboard if you are a programmer or a typist. There is nothing else like it available on a laptop. The same goes for the Mac’s trackpad, which is the best of any laptop. Haptic feedback, accuracy, swipe gestures.
But Windows laptops have an edge when it comes to build quality: versatility. Windows laptops share the same kind of industrial design language as MacBooks, be it the Asus ZenBook, the Dell XPS line, or even Microsoft’s own Surface laptops. Combined, you get a lot more choices in design and color than you do with MacBooks. Some even have decent trackpads, like the Surface Laptop, though they’re still on the same level as the MacBook.
What you won’t get on any Windows laptop is the same attention to the hinges. This isn’t a game changer, but just be prepared to use your hands to unlock your computer.
MacBooks are generally the laptop of the lot when it comes to build quality, at least when you consider the full range of MacBooks and how regular that quality is.
Apple ecosystem
The Apple ecosystem consists of all hardware and software that Apple designs and builds. Almost all of Apple’s devices, apps, and operating systems are part of the ecosystem: iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Mac, iCloud, Apple Music, and so on.
So, when people talk about the Apple ecosystem, they’re actually referring to how well all of these products work together. It’s the ecosystem that makes it possible for you to start a task (like reading an article) on your iPhone and then pick up right where you left off on your Mac or iPad.
This seamless switching between Apple devices is a major reason why MacBooks are better than Windows laptops. While other laptop manufacturers have tried to create their own ecosystems, none have been as successful as Apple.
The unique benefits of the Apple ecosystem, thanks to the company’s years of user experience research and development, have resulted in MacBooks offering a more integrated and seamless experience than other laptops. Mac or windows laptop which is better for programming in 2024?
