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A PC User's Switch to Mac
Author: Daniel Topler
Date Posted: August 30th, 2004
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Bottom Line:
Apple isn't exactly the biggest player in the computer industry market-wise, but it does have a lot to offer. Read about how one of our editors made the big switch from PC to mac.
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Pages: 1 2 3
>> Discuss This Article |
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I've been going on and on about the benefits of the Mac. Yes, I know, I admit to my bias. But honestly, the Mac is really like what I've described. Yes, there are shortcomings on the Mac. The lack of games, the speed, and their price all are big negatives of Apple. While some people would see these as major issues, most switchers can easily overlook them, because of the excellent and trouble free operating system used on Macs.
So, why does Apple have such a small market share, under 5%? I suspect it is because people are not aware of the benefits and capabilities of the Mac. Most people (including myself a year ago) don't think Macs are capable of the many tasks that in reality they excel at.
Macs, however, are not completely perfect. Price and Hardware are an issue. The cheapest Mac at the time is the eMac, at a $800 base price. The specs are decent, but still, they aren't quite good enough for an $800 system. You can easily find PC's under $500. Think about it. An average American is in CompUSA, and on their left is the eMac at $800, and to the right is an eMachines for $400. Which will they pick? Mac's are simply too expensive for the hardware you are getting. The $800 eMac features a 1.25GHz G4, which isn't slow, but it is not exactly fast either. The 256MB included in the system is minimal for OS X (and for XP as well), and Apple should use a 512MB standard on ALL systems, in my opinion. When you factor in the RAM upgrade that will be inevitable, you're looking at a $900-$1000 system, more then double the price of a super-cheap PC. Now, 99% of Mac users will agree that the price premium is worth it, but most don't realize that what they will get with a eMachines doesn't compare with what they will get with a Mac.
What Apple needs to do is launch a massive advertising campaign. Not a horrible one like that awful "Switch" campaign, but, say, a few 30 second commercials about the ease and versatilty of Mac OS X. Not only will this educate the mass majority of TV watchers, but it's sure to improve Mac sales. However, it just seems that Apple wants to keep this minimal market share.
My PC to Mac switch was flawless and very enjoyable. I've loved all of my Mac systems; the 12" Powerbook, the 1.6GHz G5, and the 15" Powerbook. They simply work for me. If you are considering a new computer purchase, whether you are a hardcore PC user, or just a computer beginner, I'd highly recommend visiting your local Apple store (there are more then 80 of them nationwide), and checking out some of their systems. Enjoy!
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