[DM-MUG] Why use Macs Q & A

Wed Feb 21 14:02:36 CST 2007

I agree.

I have 20+ years experience purchasing computers; starting with  
Commodore Vic 20s. The Mac with OS X is the best I have seen for use  
in large mixed environments or for home use. I can confirm the lower  
cost of ownership for Macs is a very real. I was able to support  
three times as many Macs (1800 networked computers and 200  Windows  
systems plus networks and servers with five technicians. If the ratio  
had been switched, i would have needed twice the technicians. Most of  
this was due to:

1. far fewer system failures (blue screen of death vs  kernel panics)  
see (b) below for more.
2. software was was easier to install and had far less concerns about  
software  conflicts - I could allow end users to install software  
instead of setting systems to be locked down (school environment), at  
the same time I had the ability to control software licenses. End  
users often used twenty or more different applications.
3. Risk from spyware, viruses far lower - this may not last if Macs  
become targets, but restoring systems is far easier - most  
importantly preserving users data is easier, don't have to wipe and  
restore.
4. user training is much easier, spend more time showing Windows  
trained users that the same task on OS X is easier
5. connecting to networks was far simpler. Windows XP on a closed  
wireless network is a major effort (especially when the IT folks lock  
the system down)
6. The hardware stands up to heavy use. This is a big issue when  
there are multiple users (e.g. labs). Buy cheap, get cheap. Pay for  
it in the long run.
7. There is little difference in purchasing price when comparing  
comparably configured systems. Macs usually have features from the  
start that many PC companies have to add.
8. Future: OS X opens the door to truly innovative open source  
applications.

In a highly controlled environment - when end users are treated like  
dolts for fear they will "screw" something up, then the above does  
not really make much difference. But, if technology is truly a tool  
of the mind and end users are allowed to go beyond the basics, get a  
Mac. Then you don't have to hire the type of technician portrayed in  
the Office Depot add, true Mac techs smile and are happy to help folks.

"Job security is not in how busy you are fixing things, but in how  
well it works." said by a former technician supervisor that uses Macs.

William

William Schoenenberger
Des Moines, IA
Retired
wjschoenenberger at qwest.net

On Feb 21, 2007, at 12:30 PM, Victoria L. Herring wrote:

>> Subject: [MacLaw] Re: Lawyer considering Mac v. PC
>>
>> There are plenty of reasons, but here are what I feel are the most  
>> compelling ones:
>>
>> a) Interoperability. OS X works right out of the box on networks  
>> of Macs, PCs, Linux, and
>> can authenticate against Active Directory with a couple of checked  
>> boxes and some simple
>> input from your IT department. Your friend could bring his new  
>> MacBook(Pro) into the
>> office, plunk it down on his desk, plug it into the office  
>> network, and be pretty much up
>> and running with every server, client, and printer in the place.  
>> Oh, and it looks really cool,
>> too.
>>
>> b) Stability. It's a rock. There are, naturally, fanatics on both  
>> sides of the Mac/Windows
>> divide, who trumpet the indestructability of their respective OS,  
>> and they're pretty much to
>> be ignored. Windows boxes crash, sure, and so do Macs. The  
>> difference is that due to the
>> wonders of actual protected memory, that when your copy of Word  
>> locks up on the Mac,
>> you're probably not going to have to reboot the system and lose  
>> everything else you're
>> working on. Tragically, not so on Windows. Oh, and the OS itself  
>> is pretty much only going
>> to crash due to hardware damage/failure. It's really, really hard  
>> to break OS X.
>>
>> c) Virtualization. Parallels, Parallels, Parallels. Eighty bucks  
>> gets you an entire, practically
>> full-speed PC environment. Throw in a copy of Windows XP/Vista/ 
>> Your Linux distro of
>> choice, run the setup, and you're able to use all your existing  
>> Windows software. Later
>> builds include a feature called "Coherence" which basically gives  
>> you the ability to
>> transparently run your Windows applications from the Mac side of  
>> things.
>>
>> d) Cost. Lower cost of ownership, less need for support, the  
>> hardware is generally better
>> constructed, and the laptop itself is going to cost the same or  
>> less than a comparable
>> Dell/Lenovo, and certainly a lot less than a Vaio.
>>
>> Dave Ball
>> Random Consulting LLC
>> ACTC/ACHDS
>> http://www.randomconsult.com
>> >
>> >
>> > Alfred Saikali
>> > Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP
>> > 201 S. Biscayne Blvd., Suite 2400
>> > Miami, FL 33131
>> > (305) 358-5171
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>> >
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> -- 
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