In the HOWDesign forum thread about making a business case for Mac vs PC, one writer pointed out that if your employer is paying for the computer, you have to look at it from the employer's persective. As a self-employed professional, I'm both employee and employer - maybe that's why I'm looking so closely at this buying decision!
I thought this writer made a good case from the employer point of view:
1) Less viruses doesn't matter to the employer because they are already spending money (presumably) on virus control systems to support their PC base. One machine that is less vulnerable doesn't really mean any specific, material benefit to them.
2) Ease of use: Mac people think macs are easier, PC users think PC's are easier. Since Windows XP, they are both about the same and there is no data in either direction. It doesn't take long to make the transition, so businesses don't really consider it an important factor.
3) Multitasking and video production: Same thing. There are stats and figures all over the place, but no conclusive evidence that PC's or Macs are better at multitasking or even video production. In the past, Macs had stronger video production but almost all video production... that's performed outside the US is done on a PC. This is a verifiable fact. The reason? PC's can do the same thing for less $.
4) Businesses want productivity, and have to manage the bottom line. So, if [the mac proponent] arguments were true there would be lots of Macs in business. Instead, Windows loses market share to linux/unix machines but it's very rare that a Mac takes the place of a PC in a medium to large business. It's hard to imagine why this would be the case if Macs had any real benefit.
So I'm starting to think that I'll stick with PCs even for video production. Apparently the differences between Macs and PCs are becoming less and less significant, and the arguments for using one or the other in business are mainly based on personal preference.
What do you think? Have I missed any compelling reasons for switching to Mac?
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Barbara...
I've always been a PC user. Deep inside, though, I've always wanted to know how to use a Mac--to see what all the buzz was about, and to learn, once and for all, what's so amazing about it.
So, I bought one.
Recently answering a question like yours in the AssistU community, I wrote something I thought might help you. Here it is:
My Mac mini is set up alongside my PC, and I toggle back and forth between systems via a KVM switch so that they share the same keyboard, monitor, and mouse (when I'm on the Mac, the keyboard is mapped as a Mac keyboard, and when on the PC, as a PC keyboard, so I have all the keyboard functionality of anyone using either system). It's very cool, and I love how it works.
Since my want was to learn Mac, I've not tried to emulate Windows with it; my setup is my homage (if you will) to both systems (rather than trying to make my Mac be like a PC). A friend's system will boot in either direction, too, as can any new Mac with the Intel Core Duo--which I can see as being a cool way to get to be able to work with clients on any platform, without having to work cross platform. But as for using Mac only? I'm not a fan.
Having spent time with the Mac, I am still strongly drawn by the elegance of the design. I was also impressed by how easy it was to set up. It's absolutely "cool" and offers a lot of creative "stuff" (like widgets, a built-in RSS feed-reader, video chats, etc.), and ways to "play" and do cool "life" things. But, overall, I am even more convinced than ever that there's a reason that Mac has only 2% of the marketshare of business computer users. Here are some I've experienced so far:
1. Very little new web technology is being adapted for use with Mac; companies have no reason to sink money into a platform that so few people use. That's not gonna change.
2. Good software for Mac that is not graphic/music/creative-intensive is slim. Products created for Mac based on Windows versions (like Office) are light years behind the PC versions of the same software.
3. Not that anyone except me cares about AOL but AOL for Mac is a dinosaur, as compared to AOL for PC. No one using AOL for Mac can claim to be productive given the way it works.
3. The OS sure doesn't seem any more overtly stable to me than Windows. Mine routinely loses my wireless network, my dock has disappeared three times, it's restarted itself right in the middle of my typing something for no apparent reason, I get more browser error messages when I use it (whether using Safari or Firefox--it doesn't seem to matter) than I've ever gotten on my PC, and I've spent more time in the last month than I would have cared to on the phone with Apple Care.
Bottom line, there is no trouble-free system.
IMO, as a business person (meaning... for the kind of business use we need a computer for), you are so far better off with a PC. I base that statement solely on all that you can do with it but that you will never be able to do with a Mac.
Some die-hard Mac fans may want to crucify me for that statement, but I actually wonder how many of them have used a new PC, and have seen, first hand, what can be done with a PC that they cannot do. To me, the evidence is incontrivertible, but you'd have to use a Mac for awhile to judge that for yourself.
Stacy
Posted by: Stacy Brice | August 28, 2006 5:56 PM | Permalink to Comment