Deciding between a MAC or a PC can be difficult. Try not to be driven by advertsing hype. Make sure you choose the OS that best suits your computing needs.

Very often your decision maybe driven by software that can run on each platform. The table below is not an exhaustive list, but identifies some of the popular software used by our students that run either on a Macintosh only, a PC only, or both.

MSB Students Please Note: Presently the McDonough School of Business only supports Windows due to program compatibility. Please contact them for details.

Really want a Macintosh?

Note: Microsoft Windows can run on current Intel chipset based Macintosh computers from within the Mac OS using VmWare fusion (to purchase go to eAcademy.georgetown.edu) or can be dual booted using Boot Camp which is included with Mac OS 10.5+ For more information check out: Boot Camp Site). Either option requires the purchase of a Windows OS license available at Microsoft Student Deals. 

Both Windows and Macintosh OS

Georgetown Applications:

SPSS (Statistical software), GU Safe Connect (VPN), Oracle Calendar (GU Calendar Client), Symantec Endpoint Protection (Antivirus/Malware)

Standard Applications:

Microsoft Word (Word Processing), Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Powerpoint (Presentation), Microsoft Outlook (E-Mail), Chrome (Internet Browser), Firefox (Internet browser), Thunderbird (E-Mail client), Adobe Acrobat (Document Viewer), Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere - Creative Software), FileMaker Pro (Database).

Macintosh OS Only

Georgetown Applications

N/A

Standard Applications

Pages (Word Processing), Numbers (Spreadsheet), Keynote (Presentation), Final Cut Pro (Video), Logic (Audio)

Windows Only

Georgetown Applications:

SAS (Statistical software), Minitab (Statistical software)

Standard Applications:

Microsoft Publisher (Desktop publishing), Microsoft Access (Database), Microsoft Visio (Business), Microsoft Project (Business), Corel Word Perfect Suite (Word Processing).