Mac People vs. PC People: What Your Gadget Says About You

Hunch, the latest project from Flickr co-founder Caterina Fake, just published an infographic chock full of data from a survey of 388,315 of the site's users. Even though Microsoft hasn't made a successful jump to the mobile space (see: endless iOS vs. Android fanboy fights on the Web), the inescapable Mac vs. PC argument is showing no signs of fading here in 2011.

Before diving in, keep in mind: Hunch's users are generally pretty tech savvy and on the leading edge of adopting new tech.

Hunch's blog notes, "We found that people who choose one or the other -- and 75 percent of the 400,000 people we asked did self-identify as either more Mac or PC -- exhibit very distinct demographics, personality traits, and aesthetic/food/media choices."

With Hunch finding that PC users prefer McDonald's fries while Mac people opt for bistro-style, this could get ugly. We've picked out some of the most interesting data points, but don't miss the full list here.

• Mac users are 22 percent more likely than PC users to be ages 18 to 34, while PC people are more likely to be 35 to 49.
• 36 percent of self-identifying PC users are liberal, while 58 percent of Mac people are.
• 67 percent of Mac users have a degree from a four-year college (or higher) compared to 54 percent of PC users.
• The cult of Mac is 13 percent more likely than PC users to say they're "unique and different."
• PC users are 38 percent more likely to say they have a better grasp on mathematical concepts; Mac users are 12 percent more likely to say the same for verbal skills.
• No surprise: Mac people label themselves "design enthusiasts."
• PC users opt for the classic Americana of tuna fish, hero and patty melt sandwiches, while Mac users choose hummus, Bánh Mi and shawarma.
• Interestingly, PC users are more likely to compare discussion about computers to "struggling with a foreign language," while Mac people are 21 percent more likely to consider themselves "computer-savvy gearheads."

Also check out Hunch's data on what your email address says about you.

VOTE:

Quick Poll

Are You a Mac Person or a PC Person?

PC

Mac

Neither

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Comments

[Pandoras Folly]

04:23 PM on 04/25/2011

always wanted to try running an all Mac network. any one have experience with their servers?

[trav3ler]

08:20 PM on 04/23/2011

Hah, Mac users think they know how to use a computer. That's a great joke.

Let's sit every Mac user down in front of a Linux-based computer and take bets on how long it takes before their brains melt.

[wilray]

06:14 PM on 04/23/2011

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/324cbe11af/little-asian-pc-girl-vs-mac-parody

[giono]

05:33 PM on 04/23/2011

silliness..........

[CBPatriot]

12:10 PM on 04/23/2011

This entire thread is hilarious. Why isn't it in the comedy section, HP???

I voted "neither" because I am not a silicon-based life form.

Carbon-based person, last time I checked.

What would be interesting to me would be to find out what percentage of computer users are PC vs. MAC users, broken down by gender and age.

Again, this is all foolishness. Which platform you choose says nothing about you, it just plays into how others view you.

[psb42]

09:51 AM on 04/23/2011

Why can't we all just get along.........?

[Dave Bee]

03:15 AM on 04/23/2011

that last one is hilarious and speaks perfectly to the overall delusions of an Apple cultist. On a computer that offers them little to no options for interchanging their own parts or fixing their computers themselves, save taking it to the apple store, they still consider themselves "tech savvy". Maybe they don't know that simply spending lots of wasted money on apple products doesn't count as being tech savvy? Absolutely priceless.

[mariusvinchi]

04:33 AM on 04/23/2011

Obviously you have limited experience with a Mac. I can change any component in my system quite simply. Do some take their systems to Apple? Yes. No more than PC users take systems in for service.
I have PC's, Macs, Iphone4, IPad, Blackberry, and a HTC Android. With the exception of the Android, I prefer Apple products from a UI, aesthetic and overall experiential perspective.

[BlueDog1]

10:58 AM on 04/23/2011

Obviously you have never run a Enterprise Network, Apple stuff in Corp. environment represent less than 2 percent of the embedded base across the world.

Apple is not compatible in a Enterprise network, storage, back up, virus, OPS updates, desk top applications, VOIP, etc, etc.

Apple missed the train when Bill Gates did Steve Jobs.....................

[thebuzzmanisone]

12:04 AM on 04/24/2011

waste money much?

[baomike]

03:16 PM on 04/23/2011

It may be overall delusions for the Apple cultists but it's obliviousness with the Microsofties.
Pox on both their houses.

[LightShadow62]

02:50 AM on 04/23/2011

Mac users are 'computer-savvy gearheads'?!?

The only computer-savvy Mac users I know built their own Windows or Linux machines before getting a MAC. Of those I know who have always had Macs, most can barely hook up a USB device and use the machine as it comes without any changes or additions.

[cabrobst]

08:03 AM on 04/23/2011

I find my iMac perfect as it came for surfing the net, playing games, and other things I do. I just want it to get content to me and let me put content out without hassle. Apple's lack of malware and excellent quality speaks to me.

[LightShadow62]

10:57 AM on 04/23/2011

You have bought company line that Apple can not get malware which is absolutely false. The major anti-virus software companies would not waste money producing products for the MAC platform if there was not a problem. There are not as many attacks on Apple systems simply because MAC does not control anything of interest or worth to hackers.

The only real difference in Apple hardware is the packaging and the marketing. Apple buys its components from the same suppliers as everyone else; companies like Intel, Nvidia and Samsung. The few components that actually carry the Apple name were not created from scratch by Apple but were made by businesses that Apple acquired then called their own.

As for looking at content without hassle, I have done that since the days of DOS and continue to do so with all of my Windows and Linux machines.

[Aimee Bellefleur Hogan]

02:43 AM on 04/23/2011

I have used both Macs and PC's and I like them both. But, having your personality defined by a piece of equipment? That is just silly.

[MaxPowerXP]

12:51 AM on 04/23/2011

What does being a PC person or a Mac person say about you? Anyone who uses either to define their personality needs to get out more.

[atila]

09:12 PM on 04/22/2011

I'm a mac user but I'm pretty far away from being a "computer savvy gearhead"

[Morgantheaxe]

12:10 AM on 04/23/2011

Oh don't try and fight it. An ihater defined you therefore your brainwashing must be blocking you from seeing what you actually are. I bet you didn't know you were brainwashed either.

[Lauren Kottwitz]

09:02 PM on 04/22/2011

•The cult of Mac is 13 percent more likely than PC users to say they're "unique and different."


THAT is hilarious. Yes. A SEA of "unique and different" people with identical products, identical mindsets, identical hipster-wear, identical smugness.

[wilray]

11:45 PM on 04/22/2011

LOL. F&F.

[Morgantheaxe]

11:51 PM on 04/22/2011

Oddly most mac people I know tend to be far from smug. In fact most are just down right nice people. However I have seen quite a bit of vitriol dirrected at them for not conforming and buying what you would like them to spend their money on.

[Vince Silvia]

05:50 PM on 04/22/2011

Mac...the overwhelming choice for people who know frak-all about computers.

[cabrobst]

08:05 AM on 04/23/2011

I know my Apple don't get viruses.

[Vince Silvia]

06:01 PM on 04/25/2011

Only people who know frak-all about computers actually worry about viruses.

[SF TKF]

05:49 PM on 04/22/2011

Hmmmmmmmm, I fit the "profile" of a Mac user . . . and yet, aside from my iPod, my house is all PC/Droid. Guess I must be confused about my own needs and desires.

[Morgantheaxe]

11:52 PM on 04/22/2011

Nope you are just fine. This article was an ihaters attempt to put us all in boxes.

[JuanGuapo]

04:53 PM on 04/22/2011

HuffPost should have put "Both" as an option but I guess you could say I am a Mac user sometimes. I even have the sticker on back window of my car (helps find it in parking lots!) but I use a Windows notebook instead and have an iMac as our home desktop.

I like Apple products but not so much a fan of their "culture" or product qualtiy. The last few times I've been in their store, I wasn't impressed with the most important thing of all--customer service. You make an appt to see a "genius" but you're actually making an appt to wait to see one. As for product quality, well.... http://bit.ly/fmGggW (Pics)