"I can't open any windows, I'm using a Macintosh!"

Just to set the record straight, Microsoft stole the windows concept from Apple. Microsoft was just smarter for calling their product what Apple's product had been all along.

Of the two major consumer computer types, it amazes us how defensive both camps can be over their chosen platform. By staunchly refusing to acknowledge the existence of the enemy, users and service providers miss out on the benefits both have to offer.

When it comes to choosing which kind of computer to purchase, buyers rely on their personal preference, rather than on the facts. Since everyone's preference is to save money, the inclination is to buy a Windows computer because they are generally cheaper. But therein lies false economy. Drawing from data gathered over 10 years and 100 of our clients, consider the following...

• Macintosh users are 75% more productive than Windows users
• Macintosh computers have an average life span of 6 years.
• Windows computers have an average life span of 3 years.
• Windows computers are 99% more susceptible to virus infection than Macintosh computers.
• It costs $600.00 a year to professionally support a Windows computer.
• It costs $300.00 a year to professionally support a Macintosh computer.
• Windows products are 35% less expensive than Macintosh products.
• 50% of the available software can only run on Windows.
• 90% of the software that only runs on Windows are games.
• Aside from many games and specialized accounting, CAD, and Audio software, Macintosh can perform 100% of the tasks that Windows can.

What do the statistics mean? Simply, unless you have a specific need to run specialized software that only works on Windows, then buy Macs. Consider that the cost to support PCs is twice that of Macs. Therein lies the real reason Windows computers are generally considered to be so called "business" computers. Not because they're good for your business, but because they are good for the business that is supporting you. Yes, there is a conspiracy in the computer industry. It's called, "Make the computer so complex and hard to use that consumers are held hostage to our support." Ever wonder why a computer isn't like other products that you buy and never have to keep going back to the company that sold it to make it work?

We are not part of that conspiracy and we don't discriminate. In our opinion, a computer is a tool. HOW you use the tool is what makes the difference. We use both Macintosh and Windows computers for different jobs. Since we are highly proficient in both platforms, we understand that each has their place in the office and in the home. How many times have you called for support and they tell you, "Uh, we don't do Windows" or "Duh, I don't know about Macs"? When you call us, the first thing we ask is, "Which computer are you using?" All we want is to make sure that you are happy with the computer you have. One may cost more than the other either up front (Mac) or during support (PC), but one of our mottos is, "cost is forgotten, success is remembered." So focus on your long range goals, not the immediate dollar.

The point is, both platforms have strengths and weaknesses. The ability to capitilize on the strengths while minimizing weaknesses is the key to making your computer an efficient tool.

But don't take our word for it. Here's what others have to say.

http://www.halcyon.com/kegill/mac/why/truecosts.html

http://www.halcyon.com/kegill/mac/print/ease1.html

http://www.halcyon.com/kegill/mac/why/winner.html

Hmm, we just noticed that the links above are dead, probably because the web authours couldn't pay their hosting bill. Read about Servers and Got Connections?.

When it comes to megaherts (the clock speed of the central processing unit), it the real world it makes little difference if you have a 300 this or a 1.4 gigahertz that. The fact is, most software runs at a set speed regardless of the speed of your computer. And while one application is faster on a Mac, another application may be faster on a PC. It's impossible to buy a computer that is the fastest, because it depends on what you are doing. Furthermore, perceptual issues determine how "fast" a computer seems moreso than the raw clock speed of the computer. For instance, Microsoft Office may seem to be faster on a PC than a Mac because it launches more quickly, but the Mac is faster when it comes to spell checking a document or calculating a spread sheet. Again, don't take our word for it. Here's an every day guy who did his own real world tests.

http://www.barefeats.com/pentium4.html

The real world has the final say. In all likelihood you don't own the latest, greatest, fastest computer. You never will. We've all seen the commercial of the smug shopper driving home with his new T5 computer who stops at the light and glances at the billboard where guys are putting up an add for the new T6. We should all buy last years model because this years model is old before you take it out of the box. "But I need that extra 100 megahertz!" No you don't. Only the most hard corp, supremely skilled computer user who is focused on one or two applications needs every once of speed. What average home and business users need is pretty basic.

As it relates to Macintosh v. Windows, if either one runs at anything higher than 300 megahertz and has a decent amount of RAM plus a hard drive large enough to store the operating system and applications*, they're both highly functional and competitive.

Personal note from the author - I'm writing this HTML document using Dreamweaver on a PC computer because my Mac sitting next to my PC is recording some cool music playing on an Internet radio station. When the Mac is done recording I'll close Dreamweaver on the PC and open the HTML document in Dreamweaver on my Mac to edit the links. While I'm working on the Mac, I'll start downloading some other cool music MP3s using iMesh on my PC. Everyone should have two computers at their desk. A Mac and a PC. I get soooo much done that way, and I never ever worry about what I can do or can't do. I can do it all, all the time! Sound crazy? No way, because everything is networked properly and works seamlessly. I enjoy the best of both worlds. It's like a super computer. I wish I could fit a third computer on my desk so I could just glance over and read my e-mail without ever stopping! Hey, if I just get rid of the telephone... there, now I have room for the third computer. Lets see, shall it be a $299.00 new PC or a $500.00 used iMac? Hmmm.. how about this old laptop I stopped using five years ago. That'd be perfect for e-mail. I'll just link the inbox to my stored e-mail folder on the home server in case I ever check mail from one of the other computers. Don't want to have stored messages trapped on one computer you know. There! Oh, what's this? A color jpeg from my mom. Darn, this laptop has a black and white screen. Here we go, I'll just download the picture to the home server and now open it up on my Mac Cinema display. Hey, nice painting job, Mom! Oh, what's this? Video clip from the architect. No problem. I'll just download the .avi file to the server and open it on.... Hmmm, should I open this in Quicktime on my Mac or Windows media player on my PC. Choices... I love choices!

     *You don't need a huge hard drive if you store all of your files on a server. (See To Protect And To Serve)

Top