Comments on: Even During a Recession, Small Businesses Still Should Consider Macbooks http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/ Business and Technology with Common Sense Thu, 24 May 2012 21:21:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4-beta4-20883 By: Sam Levine http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45830 Sam Levine Thu, 16 Oct 2008 22:56:28 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45830 TCO can be hard to quantify, but I'm always glad to see people give a it a try. If you do happen to work in a Windows shop and don't need all of the features of Adobe Acrobat, I'd suggest looking at a lower cost or free solution. One free product someone might want to look at is at http://www.freepdfcreator.org TCO can be hard to quantify, but I’m always glad to see people give a it a try.

If you do happen to work in a Windows shop and don’t need all of the features of Adobe Acrobat, I’d suggest looking at a lower cost or free solution. One free product someone might want to look at is at http://www.freepdfcreator.org

]]> By: dcpatton http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45829 dcpatton Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:09:57 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45829 Interesting article and comments. A couple of things to consider: 1. Open Office 3.0 for the Mac or Google Docs2. The faster startup (boot and hibernating) and lack of crashing OS can really increase productivity over time on the Mac. That can be very important for a small business. Interesting article and comments. A couple of things to consider: 1. Open Office 3.0 for the Mac or Google Docs2. The faster startup (boot and hibernating) and lack of crashing OS can really increase productivity over time on the Mac. That can be very important for a small business.

]]> By: cyberpage http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45828 cyberpage Thu, 16 Oct 2008 05:22:44 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45828 I really like the approach you've taken into prove the price specifications, cause at the end of the day, it is a yesterdays fact, that Mac is more expensive than PC, nevertheless you have succeeded on proving this concept wrong now a days.Great site by the way, this is my very fisrt time here and I already like it.Iaax Page<a href="http://iaaxpage.blogspot.com">http://iaaxpage.blogspot.com</a> I really like the approach you've taken into prove the price specifications, cause at the end of the day, it is a yesterdays fact, that Mac is more expensive than PC, nevertheless you have succeeded on proving this concept wrong now a days.Great site by the way, this is my very fisrt time here and I already like it.Iaax Pagehttp://iaaxpage.blogspot.com

]]> By: Peter Davis http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45827 Peter Davis Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:57:50 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45827 I didn't know you were a fanboy. When did that happen? I didn't know you were a fanboy. When did that happen?

]]> By: thatedeguy http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45826 thatedeguy Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:58:04 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45826 You can create PDFs with a little program called PDF Converter 5 Pro from <a href="http://Buy.com">Buy.com</a> for $99. Throw in a copy of OpenOffice software and the Dell is cheaper than the Apple. I don't buy it. You can create PDFs with a little program called PDF Converter 5 Pro from Buy.com for $99. Throw in a copy of OpenOffice software and the Dell is cheaper than the Apple. I don't buy it.

]]> By: Aaron Brazell http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45825 Aaron Brazell Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:20:17 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45825 Totally agree that many companies should not consider the Applesolution. That said, most 'no' answers are based on the pricepoint ofhardware and in many cases, the TCO is actually cheaper and should beconsidered. Totally agree that many companies should not consider the Applesolution. That said, most 'no' answers are based on the pricepoint ofhardware and in many cases, the TCO is actually cheaper and should beconsidered.

]]> By: Jared Goralnick http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45824 Jared Goralnick Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:55:23 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45824 Aaron, can't disagree with you more this time. But I'll first and foremost disagree on your comparisons for software and support.iWork doesn't compare to MS Office 2007 in a business environment. If one were to get a Mac in a corporate environment, they'd likely still buy Office for any interoperability with, say, everyone else at the office. So that nixes that software...plus licensing agreements should make the price of Office much lower for a corporate user.Adobe Acrobat. Like everyone said here, on fewer than 1% of PC is the the paid version of Acrobat installed. Microsoft got sued by Adobe for having free (and awesome) PDF creation utilities built into Office in 2007, but they put it in on their anyways with a web download. It has extensibility that's superior to the built in PDF writing on the Mac, too. For advanced PDF manipulation, both PC and Mac users would have to buy the identically priced Acrobat Standard or Professional for the Mac/PC.Also, Dell offers onsite Next Business Day support, but I don't believe Apple does. Correct me if I'm wrong. If one doesn't have a support contract for servicing their machines from an outside provider, this is a BIG BIG deal in businesses. I don't want to spend half my day and schedule time with Apple Geniuses onsite...then wait for the part, etc. I've done this and it's not fun. Dell shows up the next day with the part or ships it, plain and simple.Also, in a corporate environment that already supports PCs, they have standard SLAs with a separate MNS shop or through in-house tech support, which may or may not support Macs. So it should be a negligible cost to add a PC to the network, but may be a significant cost for a Mac if no one else knows how to support it. The support costs of integrating Macs + PCs that is often overlooked can be high. Not a fault of the Mac, but a cost nonetheless.The common argument to this is that one can install both Windows and Mac OS X on a Mac. But now the TCO is no longer an argument.If one buys a Mac it should be because they prefer a Mac or software that's only available on a Mac, plain and simple. But in an environment that's predominantly PC's, it's definitely not a cost saving. Aaron, can't disagree with you more this time. But I'll first and foremost disagree on your comparisons for software and support.iWork doesn't compare to MS Office 2007 in a business environment. If one were to get a Mac in a corporate environment, they'd likely still buy Office for any interoperability with, say, everyone else at the office. So that nixes that software…plus licensing agreements should make the price of Office much lower for a corporate user.Adobe Acrobat. Like everyone said here, on fewer than 1% of PC is the the paid version of Acrobat installed. Microsoft got sued by Adobe for having free (and awesome) PDF creation utilities built into Office in 2007, but they put it in on their anyways with a web download. It has extensibility that's superior to the built in PDF writing on the Mac, too. For advanced PDF manipulation, both PC and Mac users would have to buy the identically priced Acrobat Standard or Professional for the Mac/PC.Also, Dell offers onsite Next Business Day support, but I don't believe Apple does. Correct me if I'm wrong. If one doesn't have a support contract for servicing their machines from an outside provider, this is a BIG BIG deal in businesses. I don't want to spend half my day and schedule time with Apple Geniuses onsite…then wait for the part, etc. I've done this and it's not fun. Dell shows up the next day with the part or ships it, plain and simple.Also, in a corporate environment that already supports PCs, they have standard SLAs with a separate MNS shop or through in-house tech support, which may or may not support Macs. So it should be a negligible cost to add a PC to the network, but may be a significant cost for a Mac if no one else knows how to support it. The support costs of integrating Macs + PCs that is often overlooked can be high. Not a fault of the Mac, but a cost nonetheless.The common argument to this is that one can install both Windows and Mac OS X on a Mac. But now the TCO is no longer an argument.If one buys a Mac it should be because they prefer a Mac or software that's only available on a Mac, plain and simple. But in an environment that's predominantly PC's, it's definitely not a cost saving.

]]> By: ajturner http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45823 ajturner Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:30:42 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45823 My Point was that users wouldn't buy the overpriced MS Office Pro for exactly the reasons you pointed out. They would buy the much cheaper Office Home. I am a Mac user - but I think your overall summary is a little skewed. My Point was that users wouldn't buy the overpriced MS Office Pro for exactly the reasons you pointed out. They would buy the much cheaper Office Home. I am a Mac user – but I think your overall summary is a little skewed.

]]> By: chrisbachmann http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45822 chrisbachmann Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:11:22 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45822 There's a plugin for Office 2007 that will save to a PDF. It's free from Microsoft's site. I'm not sure why it wasn't in the official release, but it's easy to get and install. There's a plugin for Office 2007 that will save to a PDF. It's free from Microsoft's site. I'm not sure why it wasn't in the official release, but it's easy to get and install.

]]> By: jjthomas http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45821 jjthomas Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:58:39 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45821 Actually, lack of true Exchange support--be it small or large business--is the big factor here. Additionally, any smart small business manager has already locked up some sort of licensing agreement for their business to make Office more cost-effective. IMAP capability does not give you fully-featured Exchange features. Exchange is a groupware solution, as you know. Turning on IMAP merely means I can get email, it does not mean I get my calendar and its appointments. In some sense, that's a business FAIL. As Rob said, there are many other free alternative PDF creation products available for Windows--including a fairly well-featured open-source product. Actually, lack of true Exchange support–be it small or large business–is the big factor here. Additionally, any smart small business manager has already locked up some sort of licensing agreement for their business to make Office more cost-effective. IMAP capability does not give you fully-featured Exchange features. Exchange is a groupware solution, as you know. Turning on IMAP merely means I can get email, it does not mean I get my calendar and its appointments. In some sense, that's a business FAIL. As Rob said, there are many other free alternative PDF creation products available for Windows–including a fairly well-featured open-source product.

]]> By: Aaron Brazell http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45820 Aaron Brazell Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:57:08 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45820 What's the market share? To be fair, I can't answer that either, but my gut instinct, and I think you have to agree, is that companies who do need PDF creation tend to use Adobe Acrobat. What's the market share? To be fair, I can't answer that either, but my gut instinct, and I think you have to agree, is that companies who do need PDF creation tend to use Adobe Acrobat.

]]> By: Kevin Dewalt http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45819 Kevin Dewalt Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:53:31 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45819 Sorry Aaron, I have to respectfully agree that this is a straw man as well. Use Google Apps and you don't need most of things on the Dell list. And, yes, I know companies that are using CutePDF. I can't wait until a non-OS laptop comes out with a keyboard, screen, broadband access, and Chrome. Sorry Aaron, I have to respectfully agree that this is a straw man as well. Use Google Apps and you don't need most of things on the Dell list. And, yes, I know companies that are using CutePDF. I can't wait until a non-OS laptop comes out with a keyboard, screen, broadband access, and Chrome.

]]> By: Aaron Brazell http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45818 Aaron Brazell Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:53:28 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45818 Again, I don't know of any companies who use a free PDF creator over Adboe.Maybe if they are in the non-profit space. But Acrobat is justified as "costof doing business". Plus, it's the geekier who know about those options andthe decision makers are not usually the geeky among us. Again, I don't know of any companies who use a free PDF creator over Adboe.Maybe if they are in the non-profit space. But Acrobat is justified as “costof doing business”. Plus, it's the geekier who know about those options andthe decision makers are not usually the geeky among us.

]]> By: Aaron Brazell http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45817 Aaron Brazell Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:51:19 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45817 Absolutely agreed on the annoyance of Exporting in iWork. But it's justthat, an annoyance. And for me, it's just part of my workflow now. Pass thepost on to any CFOs or IT Managers you can think of who need to have theirthinking changed. Absolutely agreed on the annoyance of Exporting in iWork. But it's justthat, an annoyance. And for me, it's just part of my workflow now. Pass thepost on to any CFOs or IT Managers you can think of who need to have theirthinking changed.

]]> By: azizhp http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45816 azizhp Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:51:17 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45816 many compaies use PDF. In fact, all of them. But few need to buy Adobe to do it. At any rate, the embedded PDF creation functionality in Mac OS X is not equivalent to the total package of functionality you get with Adobe's flagship software, either, so this is another apples-oranges (heh) comparison, in addition to the point I make about Office below. many compaies use PDF. In fact, all of them. But few need to buy Adobe to do it. At any rate, the embedded PDF creation functionality in Mac OS X is not equivalent to the total package of functionality you get with Adobe's flagship software, either, so this is another apples-oranges (heh) comparison, in addition to the point I make about Office below.

]]> By: Aaron Brazell http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45815 Aaron Brazell Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:50:17 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45815 I use track changes quite effectively with Pages (iWork) in an MS Officeenvironment. And who uses Access? And Quicken exists at the same pricepointson both. Quickbooks exists on both... I don't see your point. :) I use track changes quite effectively with Pages (iWork) in an MS Officeenvironment. And who uses Access? And Quicken exists at the same pricepointson both. Quickbooks exists on both… I don't see your point. :)

]]> By: ajturner http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45814 ajturner Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:49:52 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45814 They frequently use Acrobat reader - but comparatively very few people publish PDF's with Acrobat. They frequently use Acrobat reader – but comparatively very few people publish PDF's with Acrobat.

]]> By: azizhp http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45813 azizhp Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:49:43 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45813 doPDF is a freeware application for PDF creation. So that shaves $449 off the estimate right there. And you're comparing iLife to Office Pro? a fair comparison would be Office for Mac instead. doPDF is a freeware application for PDF creation. So that shaves $449 off the estimate right there. And you're comparing iLife to Office Pro? a fair comparison would be Office for Mac instead.

]]> By: Aaron Brazell http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45812 Aaron Brazell Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:45:26 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45812 I know of very few companies who don't use Adobe Acrobat. Do you? I know of very few companies who don't use Adobe Acrobat. Do you?

]]> By: Rob Carlson http://technosailor.com/2008/10/15/even-during-a-recession-small-businesses-still-should-consider-macbooks/comment-page-1/#comment-45811 Rob Carlson Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:42:48 +0000 http://technosailor.com/?p=4630#comment-45811 There are tons of free and open PDF creators for Windows. Assuming you use the free version and an application like CutePDF, your Dell TCO goes down to 1,562. This seems like a $449 straw man to me. There are tons of free and open PDF creators for Windows. Assuming you use the free version and an application like CutePDF, your Dell TCO goes down to 1,562. This seems like a $449 straw man to me.

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