11-11-2008, 04:10 AM

I am writing a paper for my business class, but i would like to ask for a favor.

I have to write a proposal paper where i suggest switching from PC's to MAC's
and my question is "Why SHOULD my imaginary advertising agency switch to all Mac-based computers?"

I have a couple general reasons that a normal windows user would switch to a mac, but i would like to be more specific and technical.

any help would be apreciated

thanks guys

11-11-2008, 04:11 AM

I am writing a paper for my business class, but i would like to ask for a favor.

I have to write a proposal paper where i suggest switching from PC's to MAC's
and my question is "Why SHOULD my imaginary advertising agency switch to all Mac-based computers?"

I have a couple general reasons that a normal windows user would switch to a mac, but i would like to be more specific and technical.

any help would be apreciated

thanks guys

11-11-2008, 06:45 AM

You have Aperture for Mac; it's a great software for photographers and it is cheap. Lighroom is a mess (it goes for Mac and PCs however)

Dom

11-11-2008, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by initial_jc

"Why SHOULD my imaginary advertising agency switch to all Mac-based computers?"

There really is no concrete or valid reasoning for this.
There is absolutely no advantage of one system over the other.
The reason a company chooses a specific computer and/or OS relies on personal preference, and the only reasons you will obtain for one or the other is purely subjective and based solely on opinions, not facts.

11-11-2008, 09:13 AM

Productivity issues. Time is money. The less time you spend on blue screens of death and waiting for windows to open, programs to decide if they are stable enough, networks to filter through - then the more time your employees will actually be doing work on their computers.

Spaces, quick window switching, expose, are really productivity time savers. Add that to the fact that most Apple computers are ready to rock within 20 seconds after hitting the power button.

Can't really compete with that productivity wise....

11-11-2008, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by initial_jc

I am writing a paper for my business class, but i would like to ask for a favor.

I have to write a proposal paper where i suggest switching from PC's to MAC's
and my question is "Why SHOULD my imaginary advertising agency switch to all Mac-based computers?"

I have a couple general reasons that a normal windows user would switch to a mac, but i would like to be more specific and technical.

any help would be apreciated

thanks guys

I found this helpful being a "switcher' myself:

A Switcher's Guide to Your New Mac.

Goes along with the whole "productivity" thing.

11-11-2008, 12:22 PM

I don't think switching the whole company over to Macs is a great idea. Mainly because if everyone is use to PC and then all of a sudden they have to use a Mac it's going to take some time for everyone to relearn basic things. Like someone already said "time is money."

Everyone might also have learn how to use new software, and then there will be this huge learning curve plus there will be dead lines and this will cause unwanted stress. Plus if something goes wrong and you don't have a Mac expert to troubleshoot things are just going to get worst and worst.

I'd say just use what people are comfortable with. If you want you could always get a few Mac machines and ease everyone into them slowly.

11-11-2008, 05:29 PM

I knew that productivity would be a main reason, but i would like to know about the programs and how those programs could sway the company to switch.

I would mention that MAC's can run windows on them so we wouldn't be limited.

How about any testimonies from people who used to do work on PC's and how are doing work on MAC's?

11-11-2008, 07:59 PM

i don't think the programs would sway people because the same ones are available to windows.

the main reason i use them after the reliability factor is the longevity. i just recently updated my system but i used a powermac G5 for nearly 5 years and i used a G4 sawtooth for 4 years prior to that. while the upfront cost for the professional models may be more the length of time they can be used before you need to upgrade makes a big difference...at least to me.

11-12-2008, 08:00 AM

I use PS extensively (5 to 10 hours a day) albeit as a hobby. I believed (without research) that a Mac would be better for graphics. Everyone assumed I used a Mac. I simply have not found it to be so. It is not better for graphics. In fact, I run PSCS4 in a Windows frame (new option). It is not worse, either. It is just different. On the other hand, unexpectedly and delightfully, I am wowed out by the lack of maintenance and problems. Really, a very nice bonus. But I have to agree with the poster above who said there is no valid or objective reason for making such a switch. Windows is high maintenance but for those of us who worked with it forever, that was just something that came with the flow and you got with it. Nice not to do it but perfectly able to do it. And no one will convince me strictly with anecdotal evidence that it takes up so much time to do that it would be worth the cost (training, hardware, software) to make the switch.

11-12-2008, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Nevermore

I use PS extensively (5 to 10 hours a day) albeit as a hobby. I believed (without research) that a Mac would be better for graphics. Everyone assumed I used a Mac. I simply have not found it to be so. It is not better for graphics. In fact, I run PSCS4 in a Windows frame (new option). It is not worse, either. It is just different...

Photoshop on a PC is almost identical to the Mac version. The key commands and the layout is a little different. However, it doesn't take a lot of brain power to figure out how to use PS on Mac if you have been using PS on Windows.

The part where Macs are just better for graphics. I have only heard this for 3D renderings but that's with like 10-20 Macs running overnight to render a car or something.

11-12-2008, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by jvetter18

Productivity issues. Time is money. The less time you spend on blue screens of death and waiting for windows to open, programs to decide if they are stable enough, networks to filter through - then the more time your employees will actually be doing work on their computers.

Spaces, quick window switching, expose, are really productivity time savers. Add that to the fact that most Apple computers are ready to rock within 20 seconds after hitting the power button.

Can't really compete with that productivity wise....

I like what this guy said. Nowdyas i can't imagine working without spaces and expose. They all made my working areas so much cleaner and easier to understand.

I was a pc user for 15 years, made the switch and in less than a month i was already used to the mac way of things. Of course there are hard learners and closed minded people out there, but thats another story.

11-12-2008, 01:55 PM

In a professional environment, you are unlikely JUST to be using Photoshop. You'll be switching programs and views frequently - OS X is far more flexible with its floating window approach and tools like Expose and Spaces.

As for why should this hypothetical agency should switch (apart from the fact few ad agencies would dream of using Windows) - they'd have trouble recruiting decent staff because the creative industry is Mac trained. Most professionals wouldn't even apply for a job if they would have to use Windows.

11-13-2008, 02:51 PM

Off subject question. What is everyone's fascination with Expose and Spaces, maybe I am missing something here since I am a new convert to Mac. I am a Windows / SQL Programmer by trade and wanted something different at home so I shut down my PC and bought a MacBook Pro about two weeks ago.

In the Windows world we can minimize and maximize all of our windows on the fly with hot keys (which I use endlessly) and there are plugin's to do spaces (which I never had a need for) as well. I guess I don't understand why everyone keeps bring this up, what am I missing.

Jeff

11-14-2008, 12:14 AM

I have found Mac's to just be easier to use. A more sensible workflow. Less steps when saving and opening files.

Programs are always available in both windows and mac and usually more programs available for windows.

I found the photoshop works better with a mac, it feels like it was made for a mac, works more streamline with the OS. I know the program does the exact same things on both machines. But think about this Photoshop was created on a Mac and for a Mac, and then another version was created for Windows