There’s no doubt that financial market trading is an increasingly popular pastime, with this having been borne out clearly by the growth of the foreign exchange. Make no mistake; this market sees an estimated $6.6 trillion traded globally every single day, with this sum having increased markedly in recent times.
Of course, this growth has largely been inspired by technological advancement and innovation, which has helped to remove the barriers to entry that once surrounded the world’s financial markets.
The rise of online and mobile trading platforms offers a relevant case in point, as this allows investors to access the market at any time or place. But should you trade on a PC or Mac device?
Also read: Why You Should Opt for Online Trading
The Benefits of Windows Trading
Historically, one advantage of trading on Windows has been the platform’s compatibility with the major trading platforms.
According to one study commissioned by EZ Trading Computers, 72% of the largest and most popular trading platforms are Windows-compatible, compared with just 28% for native Mac alternatives.
On a fundamental level, PCs are also considerably cheaper than Apple Macs, with even traders who use a single device able to save as much as £500 when operating on the classic Windows platform.
This is particularly important when you consider that more seasoned and prolific traders will often operate using multiple computers, whilst seeking to control all of these with a single keyboard and mouse.
This enables you to distribute the workloads between the computers, and favouring PCs makes it possible to achieve significant savings without compromising on the quality of your network.
PCs are also widely considered to be more versatile, while you’ll find that the set-up and installation for this type of device is incredibly quick and straightforward. Windows will also automatically access the Internet and download drivers for specific programs, which affords PCs a huge advantage over Macs.
What are the Benefits for Macs?
While Macs may not be particularly affordable, they tend to boast a higher level of reliability and performance which at least partially justifies the increased cost.
More specifically, Macs have a deserved reputation for being true workhorses that rarely break down, while the high quality hardware is incredibly advanced and single-vendor controlled directly by Apple.
This advantage also translates into everyday usage, as Macs don’t crash as frequently as PCs and negate the need to download high levels of protective software such as anti-adware, anti-spyware and antivirus programs.
Interestingly, the superior quality and reliability of Macs also leads to better user satisfaction and customer support, with this having been borne out by various studies over the course of the last decade.
At the heart of this is Apple’s impeccable service record, which is quite simply the envy of every PC manufacturer on the market. To this end, traders should note that most Macs come with a one-year limited warranty and 90 days of complimentary phone support, so you’re not alone if you experience any issues.
MT4 Performance on Both Platforms
In some respects, the landscape has changed of late, thanks to the emergence of the superior MetaTrader 4 trading platform in 2005.
The reason for this is simple; as the MT4 is genuinely compatible with both Mac and PC devices and a viable choice for users across the board.
In general terms, increased reliability and power of the Mac may afford this device an edge for MT4 users, particularly when you also consider the natural features that come as part of the Apple ecosystem.
