Whether to use a PC or Mac is becoming quite a heated debate. Is it worth splashing out on a Mac for your new business? Read on…

So you’re setting up your own business and wondering what to go for on the technology front? If you’ve always worked with PCs you might wonder why you should spend more money on an Apple Mac when the only difference seems to be that it looks nicer. If you’re a creative (a graphic designer or photographer type) then you probably already work with Macs and are resigned to paying the extra cost because of their ability to handle design software and high intensity files at a much faster speed. But it may be that investing in a Mac will save you money in the long-term, whatever your business.

And while the current Apple ad (with the Peepshow protaganists) makes out that PCs are for boring old office work and Macs are designed for fun and playtime – movies, photos, music and so on, there are valid reasons why a Mac may be a better choice for the office as well.

According to Toby Hunt, a Mac support specialist, Macs are more reliable. “A Mac just doesn’t crash as many times as a PC,” says Toby. “They’ve been designed on different frameworks. A Mac is based on a UNIX core: an operating system that is constantly being improved by IT specialists. Its focus has been to remove a lot of the flaws of Windows.”

This reliability and good functionality translates into a lot less calls to your IT support. However, buying a Mac is unquestionably more expensive than a PC. “I think people need to think about total cost of ownership rather than just the initial outlay. Over a period of time you will spend less money on a Mac than a PC,” says Toby. “I would definitely advise a new business to go with Macs. In the long term they won’t be spending as much on IT support.”

Toby also attributes a much more user-friendly design to the Mac. “When you look at a PC, the user is confronted with a whole load of unnecessary stuff, which is confusing. For instance, in Finder in a MAC you have three easy links to Music, Photos and Documents. It’s very easy to store files in the right folders. Windows tries to do that with My Documents but when you open Windows Explorer you’re confronted with loads of folders. A novice user would definitely find a Mac easier to use.”

And this simpler interface can lead to more efficient working practices especially when combined with the Mac’s ability to simply plug in peripherals like printers and cameras without having to install any software. “There’s so much less technical hassle using a Mac. When you get a Mac out of its box you have one page of instructions on a print out; with a PC you have a massive manual. I think people are definitely more efficient on a Mac,” Toby suggests. “And also there’s a value in the fact that people like to work on a Mac,” he continues. “They like the look and the feel of it. It’s like putting on a great new suit, you automatically take more pride in what you’re doing.”

The only time Toby would advise a new business to go with a PC is if they needed to use a specific piece of software that had only been designed for PC. “There’s nothing a PC does better, but there are some financial and sales packages which have been designed solely for the PC,” says Toby.

So while a Mac may cost more initially, it’s reliability and functionality should lead to actual savings over a period of time and more efficient work habits – it’s all about taking the long view!

Mac benefits:

  • Easy to use
    The Plug and Play ability with printers, cameras and music devices means you can literally get these things working without having to install the software. Even connecting to business and/or wireless networks is much easier than on a PC – less info is required.

  • Compatibility
    Whereas five years ago it would always be a problem sending Word documents between PCs and Macs, web, Microsoft Office and networking standards now mean that Macs and PCs work together seamlessly.

  • Good design
    The Mac's technical design means that it is more stable and reliable than its PC counterparts - total cost of ownership is significantly less with a Mac if you take post-purchase support and downtime. Macs just work!

  • No viruses
    The virus software available for Macs is solely to stop the Macs passing on viruses to Windows users - there are none that actually affect the Mac.

  • Great software included
    The Mac comes with many different user-friendly applications for creating websites, managing photos and music, and communicating.

For more info, check out the Apple getamac pages. And if you would like more advice or to discuss setting up with Macs for your business call Toby Hunt from Pebble IT on 0845 299 0273, or email info@pebbleit.com