MEMO

October 7, 2022

From: Juan Antonio Ramirez

To: Dr. Viktor Wang
Subject: WR2 Compare and Contrast Two Computer Systems

I am writing a report that aims to compare and contrast a Personal Computer (PC) laptop and a
Macintosh (Mac) laptop. These two kinds of portable computer devices run with different operating
systems. This means that each kind of device works under specific software that has its own specific
language in order support the computers’ basic functions. This also means that this operation system
must be compatible with certain software and hardware in order to work properly.

For practical purposes, I will compare my work PC laptop, a Dell Inspiron 14” with what I found
to be a popular Mac Laptop used by students, the MacBook Pro. In order to provide a visual comparison
of these two computers requirements and specifications I will provide a chart below:

Image 1
Computer Model Dell Inspiron 14 MacBook Pro
Operating System Windows 10- Pro Education MacOS
Processor Intel Core i5 -2.60GHz Apple M1 Pro 8- core
RAM 16 GB Up to 64GB
Display 14 inch display 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR display
Storage Capacity 2TB Up to 8 TB
(ROM Memory)

Now what does this mean? In order to properly compare both of these computers, an
explanation of each of these points must be done. The operating system is important because in order
for a computer to read and run any hardware or software, these must be able to communicate with
each other. This is what is known as computer language. Some computer software whether installed or
ran online is not compatible with these operating systems. In the case of the 3 education software I
selected on WR1 (PowerSchool, Google Classroom, and InkWire), all of them are compatible with both
Windows 10 – Pro Education and MacOS.

All software applications indicate minimum processor requirements in order to work efficiently.
Processors are a computer component that process the information used by the computer, whether it is
video, music, font, pictures, etc. Generally, videos and music take more information capabilities;
therefore video games require higher processor requirements. Both computer comply with the
minimum requirements to run all three educational software’s I chose on WR1 assignment. When we
compare both of the computer I chose, seems that the Mac Pro laptop has higher capabilities than my
Dell, this means that the MacBook can work faster, this might help the computer not to freeze at times.
 RAM stands for “Random Access Memory”. Computers usually sell the computers with a set
amount of RAM, but people can add more up to a limit set by the manufacturer. RAM can be considered
short term memory where the data is located as the processor needs it. Basically, information recently
used is stored there for easy access while the computer session is on. The importance of RAM is
essential for the optimal function of a computer. Some software requires a minimum amount of RAM to
run properly, the 3 education software I selected on WR1 do not require high amounts of RAM and both
computers comply with the minimum requirements.

Both computers have a display of 14”, the biggest difference is that the MacBook Pro has a
Retina XRD display which helps the computer user because the images are not pixelated. This means
that the quality of the images are displayed extremely crisp. This is a great advantage because at times,
being on a computer the user eyes can get tired.

Lastly, the memory storage also known as ROM (Read Only Memory) is the memory that the
computer use to store all the information installed or saved in the computer. Both computer options I
chose are not really affected by this kind of memory because all the three education software of my
choice run online and the information is saved in the corresponding i-cloud and are accessed on the
computer through the internet. Files from these educational programs can be downloaded into the
computer and they could be saved in the ROM storage.

After having compared the Operating Systems and the basic computer requirements from the
MacBook Pro 14 and the Dell Inspiron 14, it can be said that both computers are good choices for
educational purposes. On the other hand, an article from The Collegian indicates that 71 percent of
college students prefer MacBooks over Window PCs. The main reasons are that MacBook Pros run fast
paced applications better, it has better security and data protection, and it is easy to learn and get the
hang of it. Overall, this justifies paying more for a MacBook which costs are higher than PCs.

Reference

Kansas State. TheCollegian. Here Is Why 71 Percent of College Students Prefer MacBooks Over Windows
PCs. Branded Content. Dec 21, 2021. https://www.kstatecollegian.com/2021/12/21/here-is-why-71-
percent-of-college-students-prefer-macbooks-over-windows-pcs/