Much has been made over the years about the rivalry between Macs and PCs with opposing crusaders queuing up to sling metaphorical and technological barbs at one another. It would seem that the latest advertising campaigns too are hell-bent on making people choose whether to be a Mac or a PC. But do we really need to choose?

If, as a designer, I were asked to choose between the two I would choose the Mac. Not because it looks more elegant, stylish and innovative than its PC rivals but because it is, in my opinion, a much more powerful and suitable machine upon which to create and design. The Mac is a design industry god, and long may it remain so. The intuitive ease of use, quality of image ad text handling and all round system stability make it second to none for a designer.

That said, I also appreciate the appeal of the PC too. It is cheaper, easier to repair when things go wrong and because of the marketing muscle of the likes of Microsoft, it has become the business world’s standard. It is a more open accessible system that allows the knowledgeable user to alter and develop a system that suits them whilst the Mac is very much more closed. There is a far wider range of programs and games available for the more flexible PC than the Mac and when it comes to market domination they still win the percentages war.

Being the owner of a beautiful, reliable iMac and a more practical, functional PC laptop I get the best (and it has to be said the worst too) of both worlds. The Mac is a master of anything visual and creative, from design projects through to family photos and video manipulation. The Mac (in my case an iMac) makes you feel good, just by looking at it, and the way it operates makes you feel at home too. But it comes with a fairly hefty price tag too.

The PC on the other hand was cheaper to buy, is more compatible with the PC dominated net world and there was a greater choice of machine and configuration. There is almost an ‘ad-hoc’, less precious feel to PCs that perhaps make them more approachable in a buyers market where the more expensive Mac might appear an expensive step too far. With the arrival of Windows 7 with its Live Taskbar feature the PC has taken a step closer to the Mac in that it allows you to cruise through all your open windows – something that is already fairly old-hat for Mac users.

On balance I would have to admit to being a Mac lover, but having dipped my toe into the PC world (well someone has to talk to our web team) I think the best approach is to embrace the best that each world has to offer. Macs are very much design industry orientated and as such are a brilliant creative tool, the PC in general has wider appeal and has become a vital universal business tool. The best aim would surely be to quit arguing and pick the best tool for the job.

When it comes down to it I’m not a PC or a Mac, I’m me.