Apple prides itself on design...
Apple spends years working on how its products look. The company is all about the details, even the internals of its computers are beautifully constructed.
...but Microsoft is catching up.
In just the last couple of months, Microsoft introduced the Surface Pro 4, a svelte device that comes closer than ever before to the promise of a tablet that can replace a laptop.
More momentously, Microsoft released its first-ever laptop: The Microsoft Surface Book, a gorgeous $1,499 laptop that the company claims is twice as fast as a MacBook Pro. Plus, the Surface Book's screen detaches to become a laptop on its own.
Plus, a lot of manufacturers like Dell and Asus have taken their design cues from Microsoft and generally upped their game, releasing Windows laptops and tablets that are at least a little easier on the eyes.
There are still plenty of ugly Windows PCs out there, depending on the make and model. But finally, some real options are starting to emerge.
Macs are usually more expensive than Windows PCs.
On average, Macs tend to be noticeably more expensive than their PC counterparts, even for comparable specifications. Windows superfans call this the "Apple tax."
Exceptions like the Surface Book or high-end gaming PCs aside, an average Windows laptop costs around $500. For comparison, the lightweight MacBook Air laptop is Apple's cheapest, starting at $899.
Meanwhile, you can get a Windows 10 laptop for as cheap as $150, which is a fraction of what you would pay for a Mac.
Windows is better for hardcore PC gamers.
Hardcore gamers prefer Windows, largely because PCs are so customizable.
Seriously competitive players obsess over everything from the graphics card to the processor to the amount of memory inside their computers, constantly tweaking and buying new hardware to stay current.
Macs, meanwhile, are almost impossible to upgrade easily. And unless you shell out big bucks for the most decked-out Mac models, they're underpowered compared to comparable Windows gaming machines in the first place.
Most importantly of all, while Mac is more of a gaming platform than ever, it still can't match the depth and breadth of the game selection for the Windows PC — a legacy stretching back to the nineties.
You get better customer support with a Mac.
When your Mac breaks, you can book an appointment and take it to your local Apple Store. There, a specialist can help you out with your Mac. If the problem can be fixed in one session, there's usually no charge.
Microsoft has its retail stores, with its Genius Bar-like Answer Desk. The customer service at the Microsoft Stores is great.
But unlike Apple, Microsoft doesn't make all of the computers it sells, which means that they sometimes have to send it back to the manufacturer for repairs. And there simply aren't as many Microsoft Stores as there are Apple Stores.
Macs tend to be safer against malware and viruses.
Security company AVG writes that since there are still fewer Macs than than Windows computers out there, Apple's platform simply presents a smaller target for attackers.
But that won't last for too long, the company writes, and we've seen evidence of this as an increasing number of viruses have surfaced on Mac computers in recent years.
Apple also says it's added new types of encryption and security features in the recent OS X El Capitan release to keep your computer safe.
And, since Apple's Mac operating system is built on Unix, it's a little more secure by default than Windows, Macworld reports.
The two operating systems look entirely different.
Microsoft Windows 10 and Apple's OS X operating system look completely different from one another.
With Windows 10, Microsoft tried to merge the user-friendliness of Windows 7 with the touchscreen-friendliness of Windows 8. Generally speaking, it works. And you can switch between a traditional desktop and a "tablet mode" that gives you a grid of apps.
Mac OS X has a cleaner, less busy look. At its most basic level, you have a desktop, a dock for accessing all of your favorite apps, and a taskbar across the top of the screen.
PCs offer more choice.
There are many different PC manufacturers, giving customers lots of different options and brands to choose from.
Microsoft may be in the hardware business now, but companies like HP, Acer, Lenovo, Dell, and many others still make the vast majority of Windows PCs in the world. This offers variety and features that can fit anyone's budget or preference.
With Windows 10, Microsoft tried to make one operating system that can run on laptops, desktops, tablets, smartphones, and eventually, the futuristic HoloLens holographic goggles.
Apple makes both the Mac hardware and the OS X operating system software, so you only have a handful of options if you want to buy a Mac.
If you want to get really technical, it is possible to build your own "Hackintosh," or a traditional PC that runs Apple's operating system. Here's a quick guide if you want to learn how to do it.
Some Windows computers come with touchscreens.
Since Windows 8, Microsoft has been pushing the touchscreen as the future of PCs. Windows 10 takes that focus and runs with it, making it better than ever before. It's why a lot of Windows 10 PCs ship with touchscreens.
While Apple says that its new, gigantic iPad Pro tablet can replace a laptop for a lot of users, its actual MacBook laptops and iMac desktops still don't have a touchscreen at all — and if Apple is to believed, they may never get them.
Windows runs on tablets, too — not just laptop and desktop computers.
Windows 10 is available on devices of all sizes from giant all-in-one computers to laptops to tiny 8-inch tablets. OS X is only available for Apple's laptops, desktops, and all-in-one computers.
Get used to different keyboard shortcuts if you're planning to switch.
If you are getting ready to make the switch anytime soon, getting used to the different keyboard shortcuts may be one of the hardest obstacles to overcome. Even taking a screenshot is different on Windows than it is on a Mac.
With Windows 10, you can press the Windows key and the print screen key to take a screenshot, but you'll need to use another program like Paint to do any cropping, unless you install separate apps.
On a Mac, you can hold the Command, Shift, and 4 keys to take a screenshot that lets you crop whatever you want from your current screen.
Macs and iPhone are the best team.
Because Apple makes both the iPhone and the Mac, the two make a great team.
If you own an iPhone, your text messages sync over to the Mac with the built-in Messages app. You can even respond to your texts from your Mac. And if you have an iPad, the conversation can keep rolling there, too.
Other nifty iPhone/Mac features include Airdrop, which lets you quickly shunt photos and other documents from phone to desktop, and Handoff, which lets you open a link from your phone in your desktop browser (or vice versa).
Meanwhile, on Windows 10, you need to install Apple's iTunes to sync music. And you don't get any of those sweet extra features.
BONUS: Want the best of both worlds? Macs can run Windows!
Macs have the ability to run Windows either through a virtual machine or directly on the system.
Every Mac has a built-in program called Boot Camp that lets you install Windows on your machine. If you want, you can divide space on your hard drive between Windows and Mac OS X so you'll have both operating systems on the same computer.
This is an update of articles originally written by Lisa Eadicicco and Kevin Smith.