Blog PC vs Mac – What works best for your clinic?

There was a time that the question above was easily answered. For businesses, Windows was the clear champ for a long time.

Today’s landscape is quite different. Apple has grown in leaps and bounds, firmly demonstrating its capability as a trusty work companion to professionals of all sorts – from creative people such as designers and writers, to CEOs of startups, SMEs, and big corporations.

Still: different people and different businesses have different needs. Which system would work best for you? Plato is device-agnostic, meaning that our software will work perfectly fine regardless of which you choose – what we’re talking about here is what best fits your preferences and helps to ensure efficiency and productivity for your clinic.

Let’s take a look at the best of what each system has to offer:

PC:

Cost & Customizability: PCs, in general, are cheaper than Macs. This goes beyond the initial cost; repairs and upgrades for PC systems tend to be cheaper and easier to do. Think of PCs as a box of interchangeable components – just about any part can be swapped out for something newer or better, allowing for incremental, affordable upgrades of your system over time.

DICOM: A lot of DICOM viewing software were made to be used on PCs, so there’s more choice in this area if you use a PC.

Printing: As with the DICOM viewing software, there is a wider range of label printers to choose from for PC users.

Choice: Of course, there are many options when it comes to getting a PC. Trusted brands such as Lenovo, Dell, and HP offer diverse product ranges that you can peruse to find the best fit for your requirements.

Familiarity: PCs have a longer history of being used in the workplace, and is likely to be what your staff learned when they were first presented with a screen and keyboard.

Mac:

User-Friendly: Apple’s products, from its iMacs to its iPhones, are well-known for their ease of use. Take it from me – I went from having never touched a MacBook in my life, to being totally comfortable with it within a month. Macs are that intuitive and easy to pick up, even for complete beginners.

Security: Macs are also well-known for having robust virus protection (likely a result of being manufactured by just one company). You’re less likely to face security issues if you use a Mac.

Reliability: In addition to being secure, Macs tend to be pretty low maintenance machines as well. Unless you’re constantly spilling water on it or dropping it, investing in a Mac can take you a long way.

Pre-loaded software: While you might want to install a few more programs to get it to your desired operational state, Macs have a decent full suite of productivity software and apps that are good to go right out of the box, saving time and hassle (and money!).

Branding: It’s a fairly superficial point, but Apple’s computers are known for its sleek and attractive design. Having your clinic run via a Mac could serve to boost its image, both to your patients as well as any corporate partners who visit.

As you can see, both systems have their respective strengths. Selecting one will come down mainly to your specific needs and/or preferences.

Whichever you decide meets your requirements best, be assured that Plato will be there for you. Our software works well and securely on either system. All you have to do is to make sure you pick the one that you and your staff will be comfortable and confident using day in, day out!