Why aren't Macs considered PCs?

[linksku]

A personal computer (PC) is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator. - directly from Wikipedia
I don't see why Macs don't fall under the category of "PC". I think of Macs as a brand of laptops. Most people think of Macs and PCs as two completely different products. Why?

[NogDog]

I think "PC" first came into use with the "IBM PC", which early on in its life became closely coupled with Microsoft (MSDOS and then Windows), so people tend to think of "PC" both as an acronym for any "personal computer" and also as specifically a "MS Windows personal computer". And, of course, the juggernaut which is the Apple publicity machine has pushed the term "Mac" both to differentiate themselves from other PCs (Windows, Linux, whatever) plus to keep their brand name recognition high -- and people who buy Apple products like to help that juggernaut by repeating what it tells them to. ;)

So, yes, Macs can be considered a subset of PC (personal computers), as long as it's understood which definition and connotation of "PC" is being used. :)

[aj_nsc]

Marketing misnomer is all....they're PCs, Apple has just done their damndest to push it out of your head that they fall into the same category of anything that runs windows.

[wh666-666]

While I agree that macs could be considered part of the PC group, I would say to linksku that the reason why they are considered two different products is because invariably they are to some extent ....

Macs have always, to some end, tried to stop users upgrading (without paying their hiedous inflated prices) and personalising their macs.

[svidgen]

Among other differences, Apple also has strict hardware guidelines (from what I understand). So, a "Mac" is basically a promise that your hardware and software configuration have been tested extensively together -- the software has been developed for the specific hardware it's running on.

Most software crashes are driver issues. And that's largely eliminated on a Mac.