Before college, having a Mac or PC was not usually a topic of debate. At least at my school, no one ever brought their computers to classes and as far as I know, most students just used their parents’ home computers. However, what kind of laptop or desktop a student has in college has become somewhat of a power symbol.

There is a clear divide among college students in the realm of computers. There are those students that use PCs and those who use Macs. There are students with tablets and those with an iPad. Some students may use their Android phone to play music through headphones and others use iPods.

As for me, I have just become Apple product-free as I have given away my iPod Touch. I found that having a smartphone and an iPod is redundant. My HTC Evo can hold just as much music and I can use Pandora or Slacker Radio to play even more music. I realize many iPhone owners also use their phone as a music player, but it still begs the question: Why would you pay more for an iPhone when Android phones provide just as many resources for a fraction of the price?

I am a firm believer that if you are not a graphic design major dealing with visual work or in music production, you do not need to buy a nearly $2,000 MacBook Pro for schoolwork. Even so, any major can find what they need on a PC.

I will say Apple products are indeed pretty. Their iOS operating systems are also a thing to look at but, to me, Macs are just $2,000 Facebook machines. You do not need a Mac to perform simple internet browsing or coursework.

Gaming on a Mac is also hard to do. PCs can be customized with graphics capabilities and still be cheaper and more compatible than a Mac. I know people who have built their own gaming PC for $1,000.

Some argue that, over time, PCs can become slower than Macs. However, my three-year-old Toshiba is still just as fast as a three-year-old Mac because I update my computer as much as possible.

Since the introduction of the iPad, people have been faced with the tough decision on whether to fork over $500 or to wait for another tablet alternative. Now, many new tablets have come out that are just as good, if not better, than an iPad. I am a recent owner of a Samsung Galaxy tablet, and I am in love. Its 1080p display is gorgeous, it runs on Android, it is incredibly easy to use and costs a fraction of an iPad. While it may only have Wi-Fi and no data carrier, I find that not to be a problem as the entire campus is connected.

As for iPhones, I get that they are incredibly easy to use and look great. Apple laid the framework for smartphones and set industry standards. But since their introduction, countless Android models have come out and are a fierce competitor to iPhones. After owning an Android device for over a year now, I can safely say there is nothing that appeals to me about an iPhone. The Android app market does not force app developers to have their app approved before it becomes  public, unlike the Apple App Store. There have been countless times that I have mentioned a cool, free app for Android and it will only be a free trial for the iPhone. Also, the call and text quality for iPhones is just not on par with Android. With antenna problems and crazy autocorrect errors, if I had an iPhone, I would go crazy.

Siri has been a recent addition to the iPhone that I will give credit to. Even though the user must have the most recent iPhone to use Siri, it’s a great program that will probably get better over time. However, I do not doubt that Android phones will soon have something similar. Even so, Android phones already have the ability to do voice to text, search and navigation.

All in all, Android and PC companies have products that rival Apple products in almost every facet possible. Apple has created a culture of “Fanboys” who are dedicated to the brand and the look, but I can guarantee any devout Apple user will find love in non-Apple products if they give them a chance.

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