When referring to Apple computers I am talking about the whole line of products which consists of Macbooks,Ibooks, and the Imac. However, to say that there are no viruses at all for free Macbooks would be a stretch. There are some, but when compared to another user who has a computer on a different operating system the likelihood of getting one is slim. Reasons for this are that the free macbook operating system, such as Mac OS X, is built using a system called the Unix Kernel, which is one of the oldest most secure operating systems available. Also, as stated above other more well known companies who have millions and millions of users are broader targets for virus writers, so they go for the easy target leaving your free macbook safe and sound.

Another reason your free apple laptop is safe from the invasion of virus writers is because a large number of them are not familiar with an Apple’s operating system. An Apple computer is a great choice for anyone looking for a new computer. Whether you are a student needing a computer for school or a professional needing one for work you can be sure that an Apple laptop will get the job done. Not only can they offer you protection from viruses they also offer a very simple operating system.

While other computers require multiple steps to do the simplest of operations a macbook offers a very user friendly vibe letting you do what you need to do with one or two clicks. In addition to a very user friendly interface a free apple laptop will save you money on virus protection software, which can get pretty expensive and will require you to update regularly. When people say there are no viruses for macbooks they are not completely right. However, the chances of getting one are very, very slim compared to another computer from a more well known company.

The chances of you ever coming across a virus on your free macbook are about the same as finding a needle in a hay stack – the needle being your macbook and the hay being the number of other computers by more well known companies. It just goes to show you that going with the underdog is sometimes the best option.

So what is the current situation in this lively stand off? Well, recently Apple has officially taken the reigns as the largest tech company in the world, leaving Microsoft trailing in the wind. This has given members of the Apple world, often considered the under dog, the thumbs up they need to argue even more rigorously: Pro APPLE! The technology giant responsible for popular items such as the iPhone has pulled ahead of its long time rival after the official release of the iPad. Microsoft and Apple’s rivalry to provide technology forward products have resulted in the creation of wonderful products such as the iPod, Zune, Win Phone 7 and the popular iPhone.

Apple founder Steve Jobs claims bragging rights over Microsoft founder Bill Gates after three decades of trailing the competition. The close of the New York Market revealed Apple’s value at an estimate $222 billion dollars compared to $219 billion dollars. So maybe not such a major TKO or knock out, but definitely cause for celebration, when you been the underdog for so many years.

Apple has received the advantage by tapping into the tablet technology market, which Microsoft has yet to touch. Microsoft enthusiasts are ever hopeful. They cling to the hope of seeing the rise of the titan once more in the technology field. Many consumers and gadget lovers are waiting in anticipation to become a part of the next big thing that Microsoft will release to combat this major win by Apple. Many outside of the tech world allege that the rivalry is much more serious and dangerous than many people know. Everyone remembers that Microsoft was sued by the government and many allege that their founders desire for a monopoly in the world of technology has led to some very unethical practices. However for those who are simply tech heads they love the battles and anxiously await the next best thing. No matter what side your own or how you research the subject, the rivalry between Apple and Microsoft has provided technological wonders beyond our wildest dreams and expectations.

Microsoft has dominated the technology market over three decades. The bundling of hardware, software and the standardized use of Microsoft Office made Bill Gates the triumphant leader in the battle for consumer attention. Albeit, by some accounts, unethically. Steve Job’s previous attempts to take control of the market failed to conquer the titan Microsoft until the eclipse of the iPhone. Many iPhone users will tell you that for them the battle was won once and for all at this point in technology history. However, the creation of the advanced smart phone with a touch screen, application access and sleek appearance also gave Apple the standing ground and hard hitting punch to being the battle for NASDAQ market values. Microsoft reciprocated with the creation of the Zune, permitting users to transfer information through infrared technology, touch screen capability and limited application access. This was a moderate success and Apple was still reigning in the minds of many.

A major buzz was created over the new touch screen tablet by Apple caused uproar with consumers. When I say uproar, I truly mean it. The media was totally consumed with first time owners of anything apple and would pay good money if you could write or blog about it. Technology and computer enthusiasts lined the streets to own the new break in technology. Upon the release Apple’s of this work, sales jumped by more than 36.5 billion and created a waiting list for consumers whom exceeded store demands. When was the last time this happened with the release of anything in the world of technology? Apple truly has something special with the iPad. Since the launch of this item there has been careful debate of the next step for Microsoft. The former technology leader has fallen more than 13.94 percent in the NASDAQ standings while Apple has risen 32.88 percent. Shareholders rejoice at the change and potential investors have renewed their faith in the rise of the under dog. Where there are investors innovation will continue to follow and we expect to see even more from Apple because of this surge.

Apple’s value has taken a fruitful turn for the best in the recent months and shows no signs of slowing. Microsoft engineers are left baffled but rejuvenated for the competition. As consumers we truly love the rivalry. We are enjoying the new gadgets and advancements that have trickled into the market and solved our need for organization, speed, etc. Waiting for the next technological break through may be as challenging as waiting for tomorrow. Bill Gates and Microsoft engineers have always risen to the competition and provided some of the best products on the market. Microsoft sits in the background and waits with patience as Apple enjoys their moment of glory on NASDAQ.

Both of the two applications include software for what the average computer user needs to do most on their PC, and these programs are what will be compared first. In Microsoft Office 2008, there is Office Word, for word processing documents, PowerPoint, for creating presentations, and Excel, for managing spreadsheets. The corresponding applications in iWork 2009, Apple’s latest iteration of the program, are Pages, Keynote, and Numbers.

In one manner, it is difficult to compare iWork and Microsoft Office. This is mostly because Office is essentially the industry standard for word processing, and many businesses and schools require the word macro-enabled formats, or are standardized to the software. It is difficult to get away from Office, and some people who prefer to use iWork report that they need Office anyway just to stay compatible. While Apple programs can save in Microsoft’s formats, the compatibility for more specialized features, such as macros, may not be perfect. However, here the programs will be compared based on functionality and features, ignoring Microsoft’s dominance.

Both pieces of software include all of the basic word processing tools. This includes features such as page layout, editing fonts and sizes, bold, underline, etc. Both also include far more templates than anyone could ever need. Apple’s Pages includes easier navigation for adding pictures and other media from Apple-created tools, whereas Microsoft Office offers easier navigation for adding media in other situations. Which interface is better (Word’s ribbon or Apples toolbars) is a matter of personal preference. There is no tool to view pages files outside of the Apple ecosystem (on a Windows or Linux computer), but one can easily translate the document to a pdf or a Microsoft Word format.

The next two pieces of software in the suites are Microsoft’s PowerPoint and Apple’s Keynote. In this case, both programs offer extremely similar features. The only major difference is that Keynote is extremely tightly integrated into the Apple ecosystem, as one can control a presentation using an iPod, can export presentations to Apple’s iDVD software, and has compatible software for the recently released iPad. Microsoft’s software is perhaps slightly more basic in terms of included themes, transitions, and video editing, but is far more extensible as it is widely used, so such features can be added if necessary. Keynote is likely the better of the two pieces of software for making extremely impressive presentations quickly, but PowerPoint is perfectly adequate and useful for those who want to ignore more professional features. As before, the interface (ribbon vs toolbar) is a matter of personal preference.

The final pieces of software is the spreadsheet software in each suite. Microsoft offers the ubiquitous excel, while Apple offers Numbers. The difference between these two pieces of software is more stark than anything in the previous software. Excel is clearly aimed at the professional. There almost is no competitor for the software in business, and Excel’s functions are arcane and very difficult to learn, with more than anybody could ever possibly use. Numbers, by contrast, is easy. It offers far fewer features than excel, but everything is simple. For example, instead of having to understand lists of complex formulas to draw up a spreadsheet, the interface is a simple drag-and-drop for formulas. Excel is for the professional who is doing real-word deep analysis, while Numbers is for the layperson who is keeping track of something with a spreadsheet or only needs to do smaller analyses.

Both suites offer internet functionality as well. Very recently Microsoft began offering a free version of Microsoft Office online which is extremely easy to use to edit documents made on the desktop. Apple has the website iWork.com, which includes the ability to upload documents, control who can see them, and download those documents. Both of these services are free to use and include collaboration features, competing directly with Google’s Google Docs service.

One thing that Microsoft Office offers for which iWork has no counterpart is a large amount of other software. In the Professional versions of Microsoft Office, Microsoft now includes Entourage, an email/scheduling/calendar program, Publisher, a program for designing professional documents, such as brochures and banners, SharePoint, collaboration software, and many more programs.

Most of these programs are aimed directly at businesses, which make this the likely choice for any business that needs such features. Small businesses, which do little collaboration definitely do not need these features. It should be noted that many of these other programs have different names in their Windows iterations. In many cases, Apple has answers to this software in the form of software that comes bundled with a Mac.

It also should be noted that one benefit of using Apple’s software is the one-size-fits-all mindset. Microsoft Office for Mac has four different versions, possibly with more when the next version comes out. The software included is different for every version. iWork has only one version, so one definitely knows what he or she is getting.

In conclusion, it is the opinion of the author that a student or business professional should get Microsoft Office, while anybody else can get along perfectly well with the cheaper iWork Office suite. For the best balance in many cases, one should get both.