“Now that Apple’s newest Mac Mini sports a super fast Intel chip, Windows users may be thinking again about switching. The chip, coupled with the sleek Mac OSX Tiger operating system, will win you over if all you do is surf the Web, check your e-mail, download music and write Microsoft Word reports,” Eric Gwinn writes for The Chicago Tribune. “The Mac is great for making your own music, movies and visual art, but steer clear if you play games and do a lot of business-y stuff with Windows computers. Most computer programs are aimed at the huge PC market, with versions for the Mac coming as cobbled-together afterthoughts, if at all.”
“For most people, the well-behaved, low-maintenance Mac Mini will run circles around a Windows-based system. Setting up a home Wi-Fi network is a breeze with the included Airport Extreme card; getting pictures off your camera and camcorder is a cakewalk; and a ton of software on the Mac makes life easier. Safari ensures speedy Web surfing; “Office for Mac” is like Microsoft Office for the PC. The Mini includes a program that helps you copy Windows files to the Mac… Switching from a Windows computer to a Mac Mini is a cinch, and Apple hopes its $799 dual-core computer gives PC users more reasons than ever to boot the PC.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: For the vast majority of personal computer users, the processor brand/type/architecture that Apple chooses to use in their Macs is absolutely meaningless. However, it seems that some, at least, think it means something to them and that the Mac is “better” now that Apple now has “Intel Inside.” Such is the power of marketing; Intel’s in this case. Apple uses Intel in Macs! Now we can seriously think about switching! Hey, whatever floats their boat. If, because of familiarity, they like the name of the new hamster running on he wheel inside todays Apple iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro models and it makes them feel more inclined to buy a Mac, by all means, that’s a Good Thing™, even if it’s an unimportant thing for them. The important thing is the software and how it treats the user. Apple offered the same excellent experience for the end-user with PowerPC chips as they do with Intel chips ( and still do in half of their models using PowerPC processors). Nothing has changed and yet everything has changed. Interesting.
As for business software for Macs, you certainly shouldn’t take Gwinn’s word for Macs and “business-y stuff.” Windows users pay good money to be Mac users’ beta testers. You just might be very surprised at the quality and amount of business (and other) software for Macs. Find out more about what Apple Macintosh can do to help your business save money and increase productivity:
• The Apple Store for Business
• http://www.apple.com/business/
• http://www.apple.com/itpro/
• http://www.apple.com/business/mac_pc/
Mac OS X Business Software
Accounting & Finance
– Accounting & Bookkeeping
– Payroll & Customizable Finance
General Productivity
– Calendar & Contact Management
– Cross-Platform Compatibility
– Communication Tools
– Office Productivity Tools
– Office Suites & Word Processing
– Project Management
– Spreadsheets & Databases
Marketing & Sales
– Design, Layout & Publishing
– CRM & Direct Mail
Data & Network Management
– Remote Access
– Server Management
– Storage & Backup
Online Business
– Online Collaboration
– Content Creation & Selling
– Web Development
At an Apple Retail Store near you, special presentations and demos for business professionals are held every Wednesday. More info about Business Day here.
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Related articles:
Small enterprise, home office should migrate completely to Mac to save money, increase security – March 06, 2006
Apple takes No. 1 spot in western Europe education; next step: overcome corporate IT ‘mistrust’ – March 05, 2006
Windows to Mac switchers: recommendations and Total Cost of Ownership analysis – September 29, 2005
Switching to Mac after 15 years of Windows, security expert says he’s ‘too stupid to use Macs’ – September 06, 2005
16-percent of computer users are unaffected by viruses, malware because they use Apple Macs – June 15, 2005
Security expert sums up first month with Mac: ‘much safer, more secure, more productive than Wintel’ – June 02, 2005
Windows PC security company’s switch to Apple Mac causes overwhelming reaction – May 28, 2005
Mad as hell Windows PC security company finally just gives up, switches to Apple Mac OS X – May 25, 2005
