Woah hold on, what’s ChatGPT?

First off, what is ChatGPT?

Well, let me tell you:

Chat GPT is a computer program that can have a conversation with you, just like a human. It can understand what you say and respond back in a way that makes sense. It's like a really smart robot that can talk to you. This robot is built using something called "neural network" and it is trained using lots and lots of examples of real people's conversations. So it knows how to talk like a human. And a version of this robot called GPT-3 is even smarter as it has been trained on more examples than the others.

The above output is after I asked ChatGPT “what is ChatGPT” and then proceeded to clarify “write it for a middle schooler”. It’s essentially an AI chatbot that tells you info when you talk to it.

Asking ChatGPT “Why Windows is Better than macOS”

So at first, ChatGPT didn’t want to write anything about 10 reasons why Windows was better than MacOS. It literally told me “I'm sorry, but I'm not able to provide a list of reasons why one operating system is better than another. Both Windows and macOS have their own set of strengths and weaknesses, and what works best for one person may not work for another.”

But after a couple more attempts, I got it to give a list of advantages Windows has over macOS.

Is ChatGPT right? Let’s see…

This is what ChatGPT told me when I asked it to give me 10 advantages Windows has over macOS:

Wider software availability: Because Windows is more widely used, there are more software programs available for it than for macOS.
Compatibility with legacy software: Many older software programs, especially those written for business use, were designed for Windows and may not be compatible with macOS.
Greater customization options: Windows allows for more customization of the user interface, such as changing the theme and taskbar layout.
Easier virtualization and remote access: Windows is better supported by virtualization software and remote desktop tools, making it easier to run Windows on a virtual machine or access a Windows desktop remotely.
Gaming: Windows has a larger collection of PC games.
Cost: Windows computers and software are generally less expensive than Macs and macOS software.
Greater hardware compatibility: Windows computers can often use hardware components from a wider range of manufacturers than Macs, which can be more proprietary.
Greater control over the file system: Windows provides users with more direct control over the file system, which can be useful for advanced users and IT professionals.
Greater choice of software and hardware vendors: Windows devices are available from a wide range of manufacturers, providing more choices to users in terms of design, price, and specifications.
Greater flexibility: Windows operating system is more flexible when it comes to running different applications, different versions, and different languages.

Close but…

While this is a good list, let me write my responses to each of the claims:

Wider software availability - Just because an operating system HAS wider availability, is this an “advantage”? Most, if not all MAIN applications are available on a Mac. There are programs like Parallels and VMWare Horizon that let you run Windows apps on a Mac. SO does this make Macs able to run MORE applications? (since they can run Mac, Windows AND Linux) I actually think the opposite might be true.
Compatibility with legacy software - Yes it’s true. Legacy software is mostly compatible with Windows, due to it being the mainstream for far longer than Mac, especially in the business space. However, is this a good thing? Most old software has newer versions that are better and more optimized to speed up your productivity. For everyday people, macOS will run pretty much everything you use, unless you are running software from the Windows Vista era.
Greater customization options - I don’t really believe this is true. You CAN make Windows look more different than a Mac computer, but it’s not built into the OS and requires some special technical knowledge. In terms of modifications to the built-in OS tools, I’ve actually found macOS to be superior, with apps like Alfred, Quickshade, Shottr, and Bartender to name a few.
Easier virtualization and remote access - As stated previously, this isn’t true. MacOS can virtualize macOS, Linux, and Windows, whereas Windows can only run Linux and Windows. Remote access is also possible through Remote Desktop apps and VNC ability.
Gaming - Yup, Windows has Mac beat here. While you can play some games (and the games that do run great), there are not nearly as many.
Cost - Upfront, this is usually too. But due to how much longer (and reliably) Macs last you, I think you would find long-term the cost is at least the same if not cheaper. PLUS the value of the devices holds a lot better than Windows devices.
Greater hardware compatibility - Yes this is pretty much true. MacOS can only (legally) run on Mac hardware. This isn’t necessarily a downside though unless you want to tinker with computers.
Greater control over the file system - Um. Not sure what this means, you definitely have full control over the file system. Just like in Windows, it’s not immediately apparent to a user if they aren’t familiar. The reason for this is, most of the time, everyday users won’t need to be accessing this.
Greater choice of software and hardware vendors - This is true. Hard to argue, but again, is this a feature? Just because the software and hardware choices HAVE wider availability, is this an “advantage”?
Greater flexibility - In some ways, this can be true. But I think the “flexibility” you are thinking of is more related to unfamiliarity with macOS, or merely the fact that macOS functions in a different way than Windows. The flexibility can be a downside as well because a user may be presented with too many options AND it poses potential security vulnerabilities.

In Closing

As ChatGPT says: “Both Windows and macOS have their own set of strengths and weaknesses, and what works best for one person may not work for another. It depends on individual needs and preferences.”

I recommend finding what’s best for you, but I wouldn’t be afraid of trying a Mac for your next computer. You will find it to be far more feature rich and useful for you than you might expect. It will have everything you need to get your job done and become a useful device for you to utilize.

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Seeya tomorrow,

Malachi Corliss