Choosing a Mac for a Financial firm?

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Hi there,

What are some of your views on using the Mac to run the computing needs of a financial services firm?

I'm not sure how much has changed, but since most programs written for financial firms are windows based, and certain functions and portals work exclusively with IE.

I'm not sure how much that has changed. I am aware of using either a dual boot or vmware fusion as an option to run those programs and web based portals requiring an IE protocol.

The question, I suppose, is it worth it to deal with? Or, in this case, I should just go with windows based systems, though I do use Macs predominantly for my personal use.

Thanks in advance!
 

chscag

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I would stick with a Windows machine for the computing needs of a financial services firm. Since most of what you run is designed for Windows and IE, there's really no point in using a Mac and having to either dual boot or use Windows from a VM. It's not that the current Mac machines can't run Windows well, it's why make things difficult for yourself when the primary use of the machine will be in Windows.

You can always relax at home in front of your Mac. That's what I do. ;D

Regards.
 
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I'd go with chscag - there's no point in switching just for the sake of a change. Stick with what you know, possibly with an upgrade to Windows 7 which, by all accounts, is a better OS than Vista.
 
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While I see your point, chsag, if he wants to switch to a Mac at work, why not? Less headaches, and stuff will run fine in a VM.
 
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Many thanks for the replies.

Yes, I agree with chscag's point that the dislocation of change from "switching" would be more trouble than it's worth especially if it runs the risk of interrupting the fluidity of business.

In my case, I'll be starting fresh. In other words, my proprietary computer from my prior firm has to remain. All I'd have to do is to port over files I've already saved on an external disk.

So, I'll have to buy "new" computers.

I'm awfully tempted to go with the Mac. Some of the cons for going with Macs are higher fixed cost, having to run some programs and protocols on either dual boot/vmware fusion/parrallels, and future expandability (if by some stroke of immense good fortune, the start up firm expands beyond my wildest dreams, windows based computers are better for a small to medium range enterprise network).

Emotionally, I'm tempted with going with the Mac.
 
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Then emotionally its up to you. After all, the Mac is the only computer able to run OSX and Windows, so you have the flexibility.
 

bobtomay

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As much as I like my Mac for personal computing, there is no way I could reasonably suggest that our company move to Macs in the office. We must use windows only software and necessary to our business web sites that are IE only along with hardware that requires serial connections which means serial to usb adapters.

For systems with those requirements and with software that does not require even middle of the road hardware, we can get a Dell and a 22-24" widescreen monitor that historically will last from 5-6 yrs and up to 9 years in the job it's been assigned for well under $800-$1,000. We just replaced our last Pentium 3 machine a month ago, and only due to a hard drive failure. Figured it was time instead of putting another drive in it.
 

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