Discussion on:

10 ways to help your users switch from Windows to Mac

How to tell someone they are a Sheeple and should remove themselves from the intelligent, free-thinking part of society.

But...
Thos of us "business techies" that are forced to react to the "free thinking world" are finding some OS diferences difficult to circumvent.
For instance: no double-click, and/or right-click, as my business applications expect.
Specifically we run an ERP system that is UNIX-based and multi-national that has many touchpoints that require (yes REQUIRE) a double-click to execute/interface with critical functions.
Simply does not work on iOS in particular, unless you want to ZOOM, COPY, or SAVE an IMAGE...

Your response reminds me of some IT types who refuse to work with anything but what they have been alreadyworking with. Times change, and in a world where Microsoft makes people change interfaces every few years, you won't get much sympathy from people who are having to mess with Windows 8 after having to mess with Office ribbon..

Perhaps people can be brought in that won't find BYOD so impossible to work with.

Which is kind of the critical ingredient in lemonade...

Like the subject "Fascinating" below I'm caught more-or-less speechless... I have been using Apple products since the 80's. Been using UNIX systems in general since the 90's (not counting Apple) been using mainframes and PC's and Windows from DOS to W8 oh, and Windows servers too. Knoppix and Ubunto and on and on... Not a biggot to any technology. I've been on 2 Apple-oriented discussion threads in the last 2 months and both times (including now) spent the majority of my time reading completely childish, narcissistic, self-righteous, babble. Most didn't even read the post. I mention iOS... How many got that? Never mind answering, those that did my condolences. Those that didn't save it for the next person that is actually trying to support and use Apple devices in the real world. I've seen a lot of technical bigotry in the 30-x years since I moved data around the planet for the military, and I can say without hesitation it is never productive, never factual, and never lasts. In the end something else will come dow the pike. Maybe something of Bill's, or something of Larry's, but never again will it be something new from Steve... So enjoy your self-proclaimed righteous indignation. I'll look elsewhere for an answer.

That's true BYOD is upon us and so far, my company has not and probably wont adapt it. Reason, sensitive data concerns. However there have been a few who expressed interest in this so we shall see.

Apple OS, UNIX, Windows, DOS, Ubuntu, It's the same to me. Maybe it's because I was forced to use/learn them all for support. A good support person should at least know a little more than the basics of each OS. If he/she did, he/she wouldn't be one sided and not complain. They would know which OS works best for the task required and go from that point.

Going from Win to Mac is a night and day change in which I only would recommend depending on the reason one is choosing to switch. A move like that isn't for everyone.

"When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back! Get mad! I don't want your damn lemons, what am I supposed to do with these? Demand to see life's manager! Make life rue the day it thought it could give you lemons! Do you know who I am? I'm the man who's gonna burn your house down! With the lemons! I'm gonna get engineers to invent a combustible lemon that burns your house down!"

I like to slice the lemons open and then squirt the juice back into life's eyes.

I wonder why Synergy (synergy-foss.org) isn't on this list... For me, it has been invaluable in bridging the gap between Windows and Mac. I've used it for as long as I can remember.

Why would a commercially minded, business user ever want to do this?

Maybe not now, since XP and Windows-7 are viable Microsoft OSs. But, if Microsoft continues with it trajectory of abandoning commercially minded business with its touch-centric Windows-8, moving to a Mac starts to make more sense. Apple, I'm sure, will respond by making such transitions much easier. After all, there is a lot of money to be made in the business marketplace.

I've never understood that line of thinking... "I don't like the new interface on Windows 8. I know, I'll change to a totally different operating system that not only has a different interface, it also has different file types, different ways of interacting with the system, different programs etc".

How on earth does that make any sense?

It's just people "keeping up with the Jones." Other than that, correct jumping from one to the other just because does make no sense. All I can advise is if you are in the IT field and would have to be one to support it, I'd recommend you get acquainted with it.

Personally I don't understand this fear of Windows 8, I've come to love it and I have been supporting Mac's for quite a while and always find myself hating them more because of it

I really can't see Windows 8 pushing people to mac, it will probably do the opposite as it looks cooler than 7 and we all know most people only like mac's because they are cool

No one is shying away from the computer section at Best Buy. All the models are loaded with Windows 8 and the touch screens are super-oily from constant use.

vs. several hours working while sitting down. I love the stand-up touch-enabled tourism information kiosks at state welcome centers. I wouldn't want to work that way all day.

Win7 is the best made OS from MS so far... 2nd is WinXP... 3rd is none...
The future for Win8 is limited, because MS haven??t made a OS like this kind of GUI before AND MS haven??t made it from scrats... meaning that they merge the new GUI with the old GUI faults equal to new GUI faults, including those faults in the driver files... I wait to see what the future brings after Win8...

I would much rather shepherd a business onto Linux than Mac. It would make far more business sense considering the much lower cost hardware, the wider array of replacement apps and the flexibility. And if some of the "key" business apps (AutoCAD, Photoshop, etc...) found their way over to the Linux side of the fence it would be a no-brainer.

Apple makes pretty toys but I wouldn't want to try and run a business on Mac.

what it says. The end-user, provided a company allows BYOD as work devices" is wanting to switch, not the business/company. Most end-users do basic stuff on system (email, web search, reports, etc.). Most to said thing can be done within a web browser. Resources like attached network storage & shared drives is a simple task to setup. Now when it comes to special program to do specific task, if the program wasn't intended for Mac, then that could pose a problem. There are simple VM solutions for that.

TsarNikky do u really believe MS is abandoning commercially minded business because they are gearing up their product line to support touch 90% now vs having to have a special version OS to support it? I think its a smart move on MS part for their personal consumer and business end-user side. Although Win8 can be setup as a back-end system, I really don't thing a business will have a setup like that with the exception of mom & pop type establishments. Have you had hands on experience with Win8 or Server 2012 prior to making your comment? If not, Windows still has available an evaluation iso floating around on their site still. Download them both. Seeing as both are going "cloud" themed, they play kinda nice with each other. Of course there have been hick-ups along the way but Win8 does well with server 2008 and Unix.

No. Business responds to costs. Swapping all their hardware to convert to the Mac OS for most enterprises would be disastrous. Then there's the learning curve for employees to familiarize themselves with the different names and terms used by Mac. Porting or virtualizing proprietary apps to Mac may be cost-prohibited.

If a business decides to do this I want to know about it. I'll be the guy by their dumpsters loading up the pick-up truck with computers and rackservers!

Refer to the "Lie to them" post further down in the thread.

This sure is a major change for the people that have to support the new devices. It's fine if you know in advance that you need to support Macs, and you spend time upfront planning and putting systems in place to manage them. If you try to add Macs to an existing Windows environment though, don't expect it to be a smooth integration.

The equivalent in the building industry would be to have an architect design a skyrise, have a building company spend two years constructing it, and then once it's up deciding that it actually needs to be four stories higher now.

subjective commentary (e.g. radio buttons are more intuitive) he does assume said business has chosen to go heterogeneous and his 10-list is meant to help ease the pain.

Thus you would have to ask the end business owner, not Erik. Obviously there is a market as he makes money off Apple consulting.

Now don't go bonkers but if you have employees of a certain kind it might help out your business. Journalists, writers, graphic designers, animators, and tailors would probably be more productive on Macs.

While at it's core both Windows and Mac OS are of equal complexity, the Mac has a file structure that's not as restraining. They can organize their files their way without ever hearing about "Libraries" and how everything is organized under the C: drive. The Windows filetree is helpful for accountants, engineers, and (naturally) IT guys but not for artsy folk.

These types of workers also tend to use just one program for most sessions. A word processor, an illustration program, or some product design application can go all day without ever calling up another app.

If you're running a studio or magazine you could do it with 9 out of 10 computers being some flavor of Mac.

Is this just an apple spot?. Do you suggest that the tyranny of iTunes is better that be free to own a PC, and install what I want?. do you suggest that Apple OS is secure that windows OS?... please...

As a network admin I would advise the user to return the mac and get a pc. As I am not going to add mac tools.

Ubuntu!

The 10 ways in the article are helpful if you're guiding individual users or a small workgroup that does web-based-everything, but not so much if you're trying to centrally manage users in a larger corporate environment. I constantly run into issues of limited functionality in 3rd party software... like endpoint security/encryption products (Symantec, I'm looking at you) and various other "OSX supported" software.

iCloud sounds great from a single-user perspective. But how does syncing everything to a personal cloud jibe with your corporate document retention policies / data loss prevention? Can iCloud be centrally accessed/managed/disabled by IT? If it has to be disabled to meet regulatory requirements/policy, what functionality is lost? I honestly don't know what controls can be centrally enforced on iCloud, if any. If there is documentation from Apple on the subject, I haven't found it. Small workgroup admins likely don't care, but little things like that create ulcers in a larger rollout.

Apple no longer sells rack-mounted server hardware. Their "servers" don't have basic server features like redundant power supplies, 8 or 16-gigabit fibre channel cards, or hot swappable drives. With the release of Mountain Lion, they've removed the Server Admin and Workgroup Manager tools. Apple's focus is 100% on the consumer, and they are actively killing off what is left of their enterprise offerings.

The most frustrating aspect of Office for Mac. You cannot override the disabling of macros in workbooks.

Another annoying factor is the occasional tendency to turn off HTML view on certain emails, using the mail client. Your settings say HTML is on but all you have is plain text.

I love my Macbook Air for most things but those 2 are a regular and ongoing bug-bear with it.

How to download Firefox and install it and remove Safari from the dock.
How to use Finder, the worst file manager in the history of computing.
How to cope with the fact that not every Windows program you used has a fully functional equivalent or be prepared to pay for it when it was freeware on Windows.

How to right-click.

It's funny how each of the author's points are along the lines of "you'll need to explain to them why OS X is superior to Windows in regard". He seemed to miss the obvious "hey, here's something you're used to doing now that either doesn't work or works differently" things.

If one didn't know better you'd almost suspect Eric was pushing a pro-Apple agenda.

OMG! ErikEckel, are you pushing a "pro-Apple agenda"?! Argh!

"Apple enables meticulous customization of the OS X interface"
You can choose one of two colors for your menu bars. Silver... or gray. You can also set your background. That's about as customizable as OSX is out of the box. Of course, you can always pay more to buy an app to give you more options...

A friend recommends to have only MACs for an small company. Now they are purchasing Dells with WIndows 7, they discover the MAC is really not a good option for the company.

I'm wondering why.

And they are trying to get certified support for MAC computers, and they can't... there is no too many professionals related with MAC OS compared with WIndows.

Suicide rate is too high in the Mac support community

This article is ridiculous.

What??s this? Apple has developed a new selling strategy or what? This looks just like an apple commercial sprinkled over with some sort of "technical information" Whats next? a free download of a wallpaper with the face of Gil Amelio smiling? C??mon Apple, you can do it better...

The problem with Mac is that unlike Radio Shack's Deskmate and 10 or 20 other proprietary OS's, it isn't dead yet. I too luved my Tandy 1000 because it did everything I needed very well. Until of course I needed something new, and realized that I could have 10 times the computing power for less than half the cost with a non proprietary system. Basically Mac people are Prius drivers who eventually learn their lesson when they realize their car is almost totaled in 5-7 years when their battery bank needs replacing. Where as IBM clone types drive Mustangs and Vettes and can't help but giggle every time we fly by the ignorant little drones....

How much longer will Apple be making workstations?

They have already dropped the server line and haven't updated the Pro line in years

Another couple of years and they will be a consumer device company only

And Office for Mac is a pale imposter compared to it's Windows cousin, especially Outlook - it is dreadful

Good luck moving your .pst files if you have any attachments in your email database. Out of 50 users I moved, over half failed to transfer without data loss

And Microsoft know all about this and continue not to disclose this gem to Switchers

It seems to me that if I want to replace something I would want the replacement to be better than what I already had. That does not make me a sheeple that makes me a skeptic when you convince me there is a reason then this article might relevant.

Talk about a biased article written by an Apple Fanboy. No thank you; I'll stick with Windows.

As an IT professional for over 20 years I am, literally, ROFLMAO at some of the comments I'm reading here. I saw/heard similar comments when network OS's moved from Novell NetWare to NT back in the 90's; most netadmins swore by whatever gods they worshipped NEVER to install an NT box in THEIR shops. Anybody out there still have a NetWare box on their network...other than in the Smithsonian? lol

Mac is here to stay. BYOD is coming at us like a steamroller. As an IT pro I'm expected to be smart enough to support ANY device that somebody wants to hook into the network. If my CEO wants his daughter to be able to use her iPAD when he/she brings her to work then I'd better be able to do that...or find suitable employment elsewhere.

You have to be capable of adding the iPad, Nook, etc. that the boss wants added and not rant and rave about it not being a windows box just because that is what 'you' prefer. BYOD is not going to go away, embrace it and educate yourself on the many devices so you look competent.

As for the article, a full-blown savy user will spend a solid week complaining about the naming differences (control panel vs. system prefs for example) and other such differences between their windows and mac systems. Then, they will sheepishly admit that their mac is simpler to use, never crashes and has not had any malware issues and they will be able to move between the two without issue.

As a 3 year Mac owner, I GUARANTEE you they'll NEVER say that the OS never crashes, because it crashes frequently. They'll NEVER say that apps never crash, because they'll have become all too familiar with the spinning rainbow pinwheel of doom. And the only reason they'll claim to never have a malware issue is because they don't have a tool installed to detect that malware, because there are so few of any quality.

Sorry, kiddies. I've been an IT guy for 16 years, and I've done most of my non-essential work on a mac for the past three years. It crashes, it has bugs, and the apps, yes, crash--frequently.

I replaced OSX Mountain Lion on my MacBook Pro with Windows 8 RTM as soon as it was available on Technet, and I'm glad I did--it's hands down the superior OS, and lacks nothing more substantial than the back-catalog of apps in the store--expected for a brand new store. It'll not only have caught up with, but surpassed the OSX store inside of a year, and Windows 8 will have outsold every Mac EVER sold inside that time, too--probably sooner.

"My Mac never crashes".

But before I address that, take any computer that's been in use and abuse for a few years. Then put a new, out of box high priced machine in that user's hands and ask him how it compares. "doesn't crash"? "Easier to use"? "Faster?" Yup, that's what you'll hear.

But remember all the pre-OSX forums where the MacWhinies were constantly butting in with their "get a mac" reply to every question? Insisting that their macs were more intuitive, never crashed, was simple to configure?

Then comes OSX, and Apple abandons the whole mess, hardware and software, leaving its users with the choice of accepting the gospel and upgrading, or withering away unsupported into obsolescence. And the forums were loaded with Mac users saying how wonderful OSX was, and how it was such a relief to not having their machines crash all the time.

What? I thought they didn't crash before...what happened? Oh, the "never crash" was just for show.

I worked in an office with a heavy Mac population then, and what a nightmare...those 'wonderful' machines that 'never crashed' sure did a good imitation of it. Constantly locking up, refusing to print or open an application. But they had a cute smiley face icon that made it all OK to the born again mac fans.

Since then I've seen plenty of macs crash in other environments, despite the fact that they're generally almost new because the Apple junkies line up around the block every time there's a new model.

When the office closed, I had a dozen pre-OSX macs in working order, that I couldn't even give away to those mac junkies...finally I ended up taking them to the dumpcycler.

Sanity!

Netware to NT shares conversion was one of the longest-running projects here but it's been gone for well over a decade. Novell now owns Suse right?

six years or so ago, the company I worked for bought a nice big 24" iMac for the Marketing team because "you can't do serious graphics work on a PC"
They installed the Adobe Creative Suite, got the IS department to get the machine online and connected to the company (Windows Server based) share drives.
Then the complaints started:
Why can't we access the Exchange server from the iMac? (Um, because Office for Mac had a terrible email client?)
Why can't we print directly to the office colour copier and access all the cool stapling and folding function? (Um, because, as a commercial unit, Canon had never written drivers for OS X?)
Why? Why? Why?
And the answer was always, after researching a solution, "Sorry, it just doesn't work."

So what's IS (Information Services) to do? Write their own printer driver?

Yes, connectivity has gotten better, but you can't always work around some issues, and you also can't help some people on the Mac side of the fence see past THEIR own prejudices (Seriously: otherwise intelligent people were telling me only a Mac could run the graphics packages they wanted - and they didn't even demand Quark!)
Ultimately, that machine was set up with an icon on the desktop that opened a remote desktop connection to a Windows virtual machine on the server that then connected to Exchange. Files could be output to PDF, copied to the VM, and printed to the copier from there...
the hours wasted, trying to support that machine...

I was a news photographer/photojournalist for 10 yrs and migrated into graphic design for another 7 and counting, while I'm moving further into IT now. Anyone who tells you (or ever said) "you can't do serious graphics work on a PC" is 100% full of **** and should be shot I mean fired immediately. ALL adobe products have ALWAYS been available - day 1 - for the PC, where they work better (right-click context menus, 96 dpi native resolution vs. macs paltry 72, hahahaha, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.) as well as faster (dollar for dollar) because of the same or equivalent or better hardware (unavailable for the mac). And Quark REALLY sucks - Adobe InDesign is far, far, far superior. As in FAR. A lot of marketing people (I was one of those for a few years myself) are from schools that were mac shops and they got used to the wacked way of doing (some) things, and aren't even aware of other things they could have been doing on a real computer. They are typically so ignorant of tech that they aren't even aware of just how ignorant they are, and it's difficult to convince the kool-aid drinkers to let tech-people choose the tech and adapt to the superior tools. The best thing to do is ignore their ridiculous requests, they'll be upset for a few days of transition to real systems, and then they'll thank you and ask for advice on their personal systems as the deprogramming takes hold. You're welcome.

A typical and all-too-familiar story! Yet another waste of valuable IT Department time and money, but some of these polka dot bowtie-wearing clowns will just never learn...

Our experince with the MAC's has been very similar. It has gotten better but in fact we were forced to limit the proliferation based on the useability withoin our environment.
We have some VERY good Apple techs amongst our various IT teams. Those folks are also users of the technology, and most of them have multiple technologies on their desks in order to support the Enterprise. (yes capital E, it is a real thing)
When we jumped into Apple in the Enterprise (back then) we were bleeding edge, and now we're there again with iOS...
Back then we found help, and support where we could find it... thats why I'm here.
Didn't expect to find a cage-match where two OS' enter and one OS leave.
It's just so... childish, and unprofessional.
Thanks for your thoughtful, considered, and experiential (most of all) contribution.

Yes, you don't need to remind me. Apple doesn't support double click or right click. in fact, there is no right click button on the mouse.
Reminds me of going to a country where they drive on the wrong side of the road.
In our apps, the right click drop down menu is intrinsic to the user interface.
And don't get me started on iTunes. It is the most maddeningly frustrating program to come down the pike.

Exaggerate much?

I can almost smell your arogance.

?

Yes, I sounded arrogant but Baruch Atta was annoying me and now jstachow is going on about iOS which has nothing to do with the article! I thought this forum was for techies?

Charlie,
There's a little app that can display the workings of the magic mouse and it shows the position of all five of your fingers on the top surface. This means it's a multi-touch device and it's capable of recognising multiple gestures to perform various tasks, including the beloved 'right click' which will indeed pop up a contextual menu as expected (when you click down on the right side) So everything you would expect from last century's MS mouse is comfortingly available.

But it does so much more, for instance swiping two fingers to the left or right will go backwards and forwards a page in your web browser.
Dragging one finger will scroll a window just like the scroll wheel back in the day but it also works sideways and it has a feeling of inertia which depends on the speed of your finger. All these functions are configured from the mouse control panel so can be configured to suit all kinds of folks.

I'm at the point where I'm already juggling enough keyboard shortcuts to have to add mouse gestures to my limited mental RAM.

This is strictly an academic question. I've never laid hands on a Apple product of any kind, and don't see any in my future.

On the subject of techies...
I think: Real techies find and use the right technology to do the job.
Good techies know that each day brings new changes and they endeavor to adapt.
Great techies consciously strive to make "change" the thing they do best.
Some phenominal techies have a gift for thinking "outside the box" to affect that change.
But in my experience, all techies share.
I look for answers where ever I think I can find them.
You seem like you may be somewhat knowlegable in MAC and you share that knowlege. Good for you, keep that up. I think that makes you a techie...
Yes, I did read the article, and I did take the conversation beyond the strict scope of MAC versus the Enterprise... Not comfortable for you? I'm sorry.
I turned to this forum because I was looking for advice and consultation from Apple techies that may have experience with iOS and I think I found a few...
So for me it was worth it, but I hate to leave colateral damage in my wake so again, all apologies...

Mac has 1 finger click and 2 finger click (same as right click). Also if you plug in a mouse with a right mouse button you get a right click.

It doesn't come with a mouse that has a right mouse button, but don't say that it doesn't support a right click.

Also iTunes for windows is a program that needs some love from Apple, but iTunes on the Mac is much better.

Actually try that on an iOS device.

but that doesn't mean it actually does anything when you DO right click. In other words, "support" is probably the wrong word. "Doesn't actually blow up, or do anything else either when you right-click" would be far more accurate. Unless I missed something and it DOES blow up.

Like many Mac users, I also use right mouse. Yet the blinding arrogance and hubris of Apple to exclude the right mouse button because they would no longer be differentiated from PC's makes me very annoyed with the polo neck wearing bearded geeks in square glasses.

iTunes on Mac doesn't seem much better than on PC. Both are steaming turds. Ever tried managing an ebook collection of more than 100 books on there? I have 6000, it is utterly impossible.

I use right clicks constantly on my Apple mouse. You should open your mind and get over your prejudices.

Because you don't understand the comment does not make my mind closed, or my experience one o fprejudice. I am actually trying to integrate iOS devices into my company's network and application portfolio.
Please absorb that befor reading on.
using an iOS device (not a MAC, but an Apple iOS device such as an iPAD, or an iPhone) so... using an iOS device, to access my multi-milion dollar ERP ystem, to run the company's multi-billion dollar business...
Stop again and breath....
Using that Apple device to actually execute a menu of processes does not work because the "double-click" function equates to "zoom" on iOS... breath... breath... (should say: think, think)
Granted to use the double-click to execute a function is admittedly "windows behavior" in that one can historically count on a "double-click" to produce that action in the previously Windows dominant market-place...
But If I, as an IT professional, am asked to empower our users, by enabling these new iOS devices on our network, and I want to kepp my job, I must (stop think...) MUST find a way to make them work.
I know you WANT to dissipate some rage at Bill (maybe because of his WILD success in the business world?) at this point, but I'm not him... he doesn't call me at home, I don't get any resiuduals,a nd I can't afford his or Apple's stock...
So breath... and SAVE IT.
All I want to know is: Does anyone have a real (read that word folks, not imagined, or theoretical) real circumvention to the difference between an Apple iOS double-click does, and what the average business application expects it to do.
Somehow (not based on prejudice, but recent experience) I don't think that I'm going to get a rational, technical, response to this real, demonstrable, difference that Apple iOS devices have challenged me with...
But like I said I'll try 1 more time.

... through the original article indicates that iOS devices aren't the topic of discussion... MAC's are. As long as we're being 'specific'. ;^)

Those two words are what led me here.
You are right, this happened to be a "Mac" discussion, but in the "enterprise" space I have found that many of those IT professionals that have dealt with MAC's are also seeing and dealing with their mobile counterparts.
To be honest, like others I've seen post since yesterday, I was assuming this forum would be biased towards technicians... My bad.
Based on the sheer number of eager, yet mindless and irrelevant responses I've recieved, I am about to write Tech Republic off as just another intrenet fly-trap.
...
Just a follow-up though, we've been running MAC's for about 6-8 years in our environment, in the areas where they make sense (creative, marketing, etc...) and very succesfully at that. We relied heavily on forums like Tech Republic and many others to help us get there. Through experience we use MAC's where they are the best tool for the job.
As I think I said earlier, I am amazed by the childish, personal, responses to my post.
Yours, though not very helpful, at least comes from an intelligent point-of-view in that you question the relevance. Kudos.

"Windows users are typically accustomed to purchasing software applications in a box or surfing a variety of manufacturer Web sites to load programs (hoping they reach the actual intended site and not a fraudulent or phishing source)?"
I haven't bought physical media since 2003. I haven't had a virus since 2001

" Users just need to click an icon to launch the application. While the feature is now old hat for Mac users, Windows users (other than those whove already adopted Windows 8) will be unfamiliar with the practice on a laptop or desktop computer."

WTF? Is the author on drugs? Has there ever been a version of Windows that could not do this? I doubt it.

Written on my Macbook Air (whilst wishing it had a right mouse button, Home and End buttons, backspace button.)

Macs are a consumer product and not fit for business in my opinion. Even some of the best designers I know do not use Macs (Photoshop and many of the design applications are the same on Windows as they are on Macs). I think people use Macs (in a lot of organizations) because they get freedom to do whatever they like since most IT departments won't touch them and therfore do not apply any policies or restrictions.

Macs are an excellent product for home use since they are so easy to use and have some features which makes things such as migrating to a new mac and upgrading the OS so simple. Unfortunately they just do not integrate well enough to be supported in the typical corporate environment.

10 easy steps on how to migrate your users from power tools to a hammer and screwdriver.

10 easy steps on how to migrate your kids from Meccano to Duplo.

I just had an awesome time learning what "Meccano" is - here in the US it would be similar to Erector sets, but Meccano seems superior via wikipedia anyway. I wants me some......

Unfortunately, you'll have to have the Meccano shipped from the UK or find some very old stuff on eBay. As a kid, all my stuff got bent out of shape and broke during "hacking". But it was great (along with MiniBrix). Course, my vocab was somewhat different and is even today when I look for "spanners" (wrenches) and suchlike.

Gee, that's almost like the difference between Mac and MS. Cloverleaf=Ctrl, etc. PSOD=BSOD, etc. But where do "lost" files go to on a Mac? And how do you make sure all "related" files & directories are removed when you remove a program? Oh yes, don't forget your AppleCare 'cause you'll need it. I supported an iMac ('cause it was "all in one piece") which had a recall on the power supply, premature battery death meant returning the sucker to the dealer, hard-drive gave me my first "click of death" experience and was replaced 3 times with no hope of data retrieval, "SuperDrive" CDs couldn't be read on PCs and also had to be replaced, 3 keyboards, 2 mice, finally went back to corded MS stuff and continual failure to maintain connection to a PPOE connection. I'm not convinced Mac is better even if my brain still succumbs to the urge for "cool" Mac stuff after seeing an ad. The best thing Apple has ever done is find the psychology of convincing purchasers that the equipment was superior (at least until the color or shape changed in 6 months). Can't talk to Mac users about computers at all as they think PC users are idiots. Okay, fine with me. Cuts down on the drivel-time.

10 Easy steps how to give up sex with your partner and go back to masturbation

Not everyone contemplating using a Mac in a Win world is supported by a professional IT department. Recently two computer-savvy volunteers in a non-profit environment tried to shift webmaster responsibilities from a Windows user to a Mac user. What they found was that the Mac version of Office does not provide the same functionality as the Windows version. They have been all tied up in workarounds since. And don't tell us to go out and buy better software; this is a volunteer non-profit that needs to use what its volunteers already paid for.

To just stick to Windows. The best apps, the best selection of apps, the most capabilities. That's really all there is to it.

You can't be serious surely?

It seems to me this article is either written by someone who doesn't really know Windows or is stretching to include in his tips reasons why Macs are better. I'm not sure why people can't understand that things that are different aren't bad...they are just unfamiliar. Can't you just write a sensible, helpful article about actual tips instead of taking uninformed jabs? Just makes you sound silly.

I've been using all versions of Windows, Mac and Ubuntu for years and found the information in this article to be just plain silly. As others have noted, I wonder if the author has used Windows before.

For most businesses, they will simply install MS Office for Mac - and this is not purchased in the App Store - and use all of the applications in that suite just like they do on Windows. No need to fuss with Mac Mail, Contacts, or iCal. No business would ever deploy iWork as it is underpowered.

There are a number of browsers that can be use which will work exactly the same in both Mac and Win environments; no need to fuss there. File managers in both OSs (Windows Explorer and Finder) stink equally and just take some time getting used to.

The author of this article appears to be describing the Mac OSX on a MacBook and not an desktop iMac which has no native touchpad.

...people are actually moaning and complaining about how hard moving to windows 8 will be, yet will put up with this - i don't think so!

Switching from one form of tyranny to another is not a positive move. Being subjected to vendor lock-in of Apple is no better than that of Microsoft. Both create artificial dependency on systems that claim to be so much better than they are. Linux is here to stay and it is grabbing more of the users, with Android tablets and smartphones, networking equipment, being the OS of the majority of Internet servers, and the choice of major web companies (Google, FaceBook, etc.). It is the OS that both Apple and Microsoft fear and hate because it so threatens their monopolies.

I recently switched from Windows 7 to Mac Mountain Lion for home use. This article was very relevant for me and I am looking for more articles like this to help me transition. I run Parallels Desktop for Windows applications that I can't live without. My mouse has right click ability (System preferences/mouse/check secondary click). My decision to switch was based on being the family/friends guru for computer problems and the Windows side constantly had problems compared to NO problems with the Mac users. I tried Windows 8 and hated it, it looks and feels like Microsoft has turned their desktop into an iPhone. Upgrading to Mountain Lion through the Mac store cost 19.95 compared to $$$ for a Windows upgrade. A do-it-yourself memory upgrade from 4GB to 12GB took less than 5 minutes and cost 50.00. I love my iMac, iPhone, and iPad (and Prius, lol)!

So going from Win XP to Win 8 and it only costing $39 over $20 for what really was a security patch in OS X was $$$ in your books?

Wow.

I think once folks get over the "oh my golly-gosh! This Win8 looks nothing like my Windows (XP, 7) they'll understand why it was done"

Anyhow, BYOD shops can change to the Mac. Though they'll still be actively running WinApps or a VM of Windows due to the lack of network/policy tools for the Mac. So Redmond will still get their $$. Infact they'll get more due to the licn for VDA.

It really is the best of both worlds for Apple and M$. Why would M$ care if you are using a Mac, they just want you to also use Windows... which you will... if you are a business user & Apple just wants you to buy their hardware... which you will because they do make a mean machine.

"mean" means what you think it means. Apple stuffs run-of-the-mill hardware from 2-years ago into shiny plastic and tells their customers it's "cutting edge tech" and then charges them a premium for stuff REAL techies (who build their own machines) replaced last year for the real newest versions for half as much money. Macs are all hype and nothing more.

As a charity, we work on a very tight budget, and the kind Mr Gates let's us have lots of stuff very cheaply. Every now and then we take on a newbie who asks if they can have a Mac instead of a PC, when we've stopped laughing, we say; "OK, if you want to pay for it, and all of the apps, and the support out of your salary, yeah, you can have a Mac". They all go quiet then

It's like a mechanic refusing to put square wheels on your company bus - and you're just dumb enough to fire him for it. Good luck with that.
A windows platform may not always be best for the job at hand (there's *nix, after all) but unless your job is spending daddies money at the itunes shop, it's NEVER gonna be a mac. NEVER.

with regards to what Macintosh and it's OS are not able to do for said IT mechanic in their shops.

Would you think a surgeon incompetent if they refused to sew a tail on to your ass?

If as a CEO you want to move all of your staff to iOS and Macs and iPhones and iPads, fine, everyone will absolutely love having that lovely kit, me included.... but don't come blaming me when your IT budget has quadrupled and the shareholders are asking hard questions about the profits falling.

"most Windows users are familiar with the need to navigate to applications or preferences by clicking a Start button and following a concourse of menus. Not so in OS X, which makes application access as easy as performing a simple gesture."
The middle finger?
Just kidding, but seriously, its just in a different menu, its still the same between Windows and Mac. And when you have 1000's of programs installed, the Start menu suddenly makes sense.


"Windows users are typically accustomed to purchasing software applications in a box or surfing a variety of manufacturer Web sites to load programs"
Windows users are also accustomed to feeling like they own the software, not renting it, and that there is a reasonable chance that their 15 year old program will still work.

"Users new to the Mac should also be given an overview, if brief, explaining how OS X is powered by UNIX, an OS widely held to be a more stable, more reliable, and more secure code base than is found in Windows. "
Powered by BSD, not UNIX, and no user actually cares.
.dmg files, LOL, "Find and run the damage file".
What other common commands are you talking about? CLi commands?

"you can show them how to open Safari, Apples stand-in for Internet Explorer. Most Web browser-accessed, cloud-based applications are compatible with Safari."
How come Apple doesn't get sued for this? Microsoft did.

"quires Mac users to open Finder (found on the Dock), click Go, select Go To Server, enter the host address (such as smb://FS01 or smb://192.168.1.2) into the Server Address field, and click Connect. Theyll be asked to enter an authorized username and password to connect to the target share. "
Wow... just wow, obviously Windows does this better as its Native, but Even in Ubuntu and Mint, you just click network and it shows you your windows machines and opens the shares. A normal user is expected to know how to do this on a Mac?

"Most users now know just to tap an application to select, access, and open the program. Apple brings such functionality to the computer desktop via Launchpad. Using a simple gesture (three fingers down and thumb up) on an Apple Trackpad or clicking Launchpad opens the OS X app. Each application appears as a single icon on the full screen display. Users just need to click an icon to launch the application. While the feature is now old hat for Mac users, Windows users (other than those whove already adopted Windows 8) will be unfamiliar with the practice on a laptop or desktop computer."
The only unfamiliar feature is the strange mouse crap you had to do, you might as well have the user tap their heels and repeat, "There is no place like email, there is no place like email, there is no place like email" to open their email app, its about as intuitive.
Did you know in Windows (and most Nix distros) you can just click on that pictographic representation of the application and it opens.

"Whereas Windows printer installation can test even the most seasoned technicians patience"
I think it really only tests the authors patience, anyone with two brain cells rubbing together and figure out how to right click a printer in the list and choose connect.

I can't picture what this means. What are 'down' and 'up' in this context?

a four finger pinch (three fingers and thumb = app/task/desktop view) Apple and Microsoft both support mulittouch, but I think Microsoft's is geared towards large displays (20+ points) with multiple users while Apple has focused on gesture navigation.

Yeah, that had me trying to figure out how on earth it could be comfortable having your thumb above three fingers. I figured out it meant "have three fingers on top, your thumb on the bottom, then drag them towards each other".

"Computer platforms sometimes mimic political affiliations or religious beliefs" Ah, yes the COOLNESS factor recently mentioned on Apple's UK website.

Having to relearn an OS every few years is extremely frustrating. Remember having to learn how to write in Palm? Gestures are NOT even that intuitive... Is it swipe left? twist the thumb? - All a bit like trying to use Windows without a pointing device - ALT-SHIFT-TAB anyone?

Let's think back to the real mission (make office work easier) of Xerox PARC the day Steve Jobs visited and saw the prototype mouse. My users are actually only interested in getting their own work done. They do NOT want to waste time fighting with a new GUI every few years. Apple is just as guilty as Microsoft when it comes to hiding the same functions in a new place. As a fellow FSE once said in the 1980's at a new product training class "Just tell us what you changed the name to and where you hid it this time"

I'm begging the cool GUI designers to at least remember to include a switch that lets us change the GUI back to the old look & feel for those users who will be retiring in the next few years.

I've been on a Mac at home for about four years. My next upgrade will be back to Windows because I can't customize the Mac to work the way I want to.

Mac's are pretty, and stable, and they might be great for the typical user, but they don't work for me.

By "typical user" I mean someone that just wants to web browse and use the supplied apps.

May just as well leave Windows for Ubuntu 12.
Its really easy to use now .
It has Firefox which most people know and have used.
It uses a side bar for the programs most used including the free office suite .
Can open word documents and excel documents
Recognizes networks out of the box and is just as easy as Windows to get up and running.
Also you can use the live CD for training purposes and let them play around a bit.
I had not uses Linux for the last couple of years because win 7 was working so well but I read an article saying how easy it had become so I downloaded it.
It really is as easy as win 8 to learn, maybe even easier

If you're going to switch from windows, forget Mac and the apple crapple go to Linux - its free for starters.... Mac SUCKS!!

I though Linux trolls concentrated their attacks on Microsoft products. Today I learned they'll go after their *nix brethren too.

Your comment was not necessary.
There is nothing wrong with comparing Linux or Windows with Mac.
It is part of the conversation.
To move from Windows to a Mac entails learning a different way of working.
The same applies from Windows to Ubuntu
The same applies from Apple to Ubuntu.
Certainly ,my point about Ubuntu was that it is now just as easy to learn as a Mac and probably easier than learning Win 8.
The One thing the Mac has going for it is Win Office and some accounting software (even that is up for debate ).
But for everyday web work which is all a lot of companies use machines for it would be cheaper and equally as good.
My situation is one Win 7 to do the bills etc and the other machines I use are just as useful with a free or really cheap distro.
Also you can actually load Linux on a Win machine without having to hack it.
Apple has it shut down to most people and it does not like its OS on old Windows Machines.

So Linux is part of the discussion even if it Upsets the Apple fans

No, there is nothing wrong with comparing operating systems or hardware platforms. Anyone using derogatory terms like 'crapple' and 'Apple sucks' as rosshiuk did (or 'sux', 'sheeple', 'Windoze', M$, etc.), isn't interested in making intelligent comparisons.

I do not know about every Windows users but my users typically do not go to the start button to finding application - They use the quick launch bar or shortcuts

How is the dock different then the quick launch bar (or now pinning something to the taskbar)
or the "launch pad" different than the "start button" you still have to click on something to bring up applications list. They are just different names -

Still however there is a trend of growing number of people switching to the Mac OSx-(often for misinformed reasons) it would be nice to see an unbiased article to help users make the transition - at the same time it needs to be realistic about somethings.
Such as in the small business world - QuickBooks prevails as the dominant accounting package, yet the windows and OSx version do not work together (well)- the business using OSx cannot send their QB files to a CPA that is using windows(easily). The Vast majority of CPAs will insist on using only Windows version of QB.
Solution for the business that insist on going Mac either install parallels with windows and QB for windows or go to one of the host QuickBooks providers (yet, either solution they would still be using windows seems complicated.
Businesses wanting to make this transition need to be couched or informed about this making sure they check with CPAs/Accounts first.
They need to be informed that not only is there a higher starting cost for the computer, but everything cost more if they want to run Parallels to run windows there is additional cost for both.
To run parallels or Bootcamp they will need to know or translate which key on the mac keyboard equates to which key in windows.
Home users that need to connect back to the company many not be able to depending on which remote and cloud services that company has chosen to invest in and support.
To me there is a lot more in transitioning to Mac than saying its better because it is based on unix.
Isolated Amazon Indian tribes do not get the common cold does that mean that they are healthier? No, when is it introduced to them they die from it. It just means they do not get it because they are isolated. The number of Mac Virus continues to grow along with the trend of growing users this they are safer argument is unfounded.

The greatest problem that has to be overcome is resistance to change.

The resistance to change can be easier to overcome when the reasons to change are explained.

assessment! It also helps if the software ecosystem is mature enough to work with existing enterprise infrastructure which happens to be Microsoft.

For the Apple crowd trying to conjure up parallels with Novell... Microsoft ate Novell's lunch in the enterprise due to a little thing called TCP/IP and the Internet.

I don't believe it is fear of change most IT admins have. It's not wanting to:
* Learn new systems
* Document new systems
* Learn the incompatibilities between the existing systems and the new
* Research solutions for the incompatibilities
* Document the incompatibilities
* Train your staff in the new system (or hire new staff)
* Find workarounds for things that don't work at all on the new system
* etc etc

Unless the payoff is large, it's not going to counter the significant cost of change. And when you're flat-out doing other, more productive work, that payoff had better be huge to make you stop and do all the above work just to support a system that is functionally basically the same, but just happens to be a personal preference of some employees because "it's what I use at home" or "it looks cooler".

There are two kinds of people in the world: People who like things to work and People who use Windows.
I know this statement can be antagonizing - but when you think about - it is more true than not.

I converted from Windows to MAC for my business and have had great success. I work with a team that can develop on MACs - tools are much more stable, deploy on Windows servers for testing and Unix servers for production - seamlessly.

A Unix platform is the most widely used and is considered the most secure. It also allows greater portability of applications from laptops to servers, and yes even to mainframes (even though for some this may be a dirty word )

The MAC OS X uses less memory and is faster (on average) than a Windows machine attempting to do identical work.

I applaud the author in encouraging people to move from Windows to MAC.

Better integration (technology and software), stability, and security - should be key drivers.

And yes I know there are purists that want to control every little thing in their machines from memory, to disks, to video cards, etc. And Yes I do know that a "Hackintosh" is cheaper to build than a Mac laptop.

However, from a business perspective - running support structures for my company - if I can reduce the cost of failures in software, reboots, constant security patches, and lower productivity in my employees due to these outages, then the cost of moving to a slightly more expensive (an possibly less flexible - from a hardware perspective) is worth it. The most expensive costs are people - reducing outages and support costs allow my employees to work better, be happier, and get their jobs done faster.

I just make economic sense.

Those who think there are only two kinds of people, and those who think trying to shoehorn everyone into one of two categories usually results in poor fitting.

Those that understand binary, and those that don't.

LMAO

Well said. I can't respect a post that starts off with 'There are two kinds of people in the world...'

Nothing like a Mac convert who tells everyone how bad it used to be, and how wonderful it is now that he has wised up and seen the light. I spent many years in a Mac-heavy office (publishing software developer) wondering why the Macs, who the users insisted never crashed, always ran perfectly and speedily, and were no-brainers to use, were always locking up, crashing, taking forever to reboot, refusing to print (while the little smiley face apologized), and being difficult to figure out when problems arose.

Then I volunteered in a third-grade computer lab full of Macs, and spent nearly the whole time rebooting locked up machines or troubleshooting errors. Returned a few years later and found an OSX-equipped Mac in the classroom, tried to access a simple record file, and guess what? Yep, crashed. Teacher said it happens all the time, no big deal.

Yep, nothing like a Mac convert-evangelist to tell you how great things are on the other side, at least in his dreams, after he switched from a 5-year-old worn down PC to a new, twice the cost Mac hot off the assembly line..

Butt Linux converts can be pretty preachy too.

I was a Microsoft Administrator for 10 years before focusing on Networking (CCNP stuff).
About a year ago my company asked me if I would like to use a Macbook Pro.
I said "Why not, let me try it". Now after a year, I don't want to touch a Windows Machine!! Luckily, I don't need MMC to manage my routers and Switches. I just love the MacBook !!

Since outlook for mac and Iphone calendaring will completely hose your outlook calendar. You have to remind them that any changes they make to calendar items, may or may not appear on their calendar.
And they need to hire an assistant with a PC to take over their calendaring.

Just curious, why would anybody in a good mind would do it? I have switched just to get taste of it and do some XCode development. Eventually I got back to PC for everything except IOS stuff.

.

I don't think it's that hard to move between any two modern GUI environments--apart from a few philosophical differences in how they treat the user. Windows, OS X, Ubuntu, et al.--it just doesn't matter as much as it once did.

I'm not the only person I know who doesn't use Apple products because Apple is Chinese. Obviously my Malaysian-made Dell has some Chinese parts, but it didn't drop ship from China right to my door. I'm serious enough about not supporting a country that cheats on trade, cheats on IP rights, exploits labor, enslaves its own citizens, etc., that I'll probably build my next computer, which I haven't done in years.

I'll have to compromise, of course. Some important components are no longer made outside China, and I'm not considering becoming Amish,

.

Prepare your user for a MUCH lighter wallet.

Tell them that PC users are pudgy clueless dorks, and Mac users are cool laid-back professionals popular with the opposite sex.

Tell them that PC's crash all the time and Macs never crash, ever. Compare the speed and smoothness of a brand-new, top of the line Mac with their 7-year-old PC running the original installation, including the bloatware that came with it.

Tell them that Macs are intuitive and easy to use and PC's are difficult and non-intuitive (never mind the 'rest of the story' which is that whatever system you're accustomed to is easier and more intuitive)

Tell them that the glowing apple logo is a sign of brotherhood with other members of the apple elite, and they'll be respected when others see it, not viewed as just another apple dork.

Tell them that they're paying for superior quality components, made overseas under strict standards.

Tell them how nice it is to go into a nice big white sparkling apple store so the genius can explain why the problem is your fault and you can either buy a refurb for a discount, or be a true apple-respected customer and just buy a new one, along with a couple of whatever new i-devices are handy.

And of course, tell them that money doesn't matter to apple lovers, because they are getting the best. (the best brainwashing marketers can provide, but leave that part out).

Our IT support resisted the use of Mac's initially, now they highly recommend them. We have a large external organization they have to support, the support time has been more than cut in half and is practically not necessary for the Macs. The do not have blue screen issues, we do not have hardware repair issues. The up front cost is higher, but the up time and savings on support side more than make up for it. Also the people we have given Mac's will not give them up. So the people with negative comments should dig in a little further before trashing the conversion.

No wonder some people switch to Mac. It must be infuriating having blue screens and hardware trouble all the time. All I can imagine is that they have very bad luck, or are doing something very wrong on their Windows machines. I work for a small company that is basically an outsourced IT department for other small companies. We support around 500 desktops across multiple clients. 80% would be HP corporate desktops, but there is a mix of clones and other brands too. I couldn't tell you the last time I was asked to look at a blue screen across any of them. I also don't see many hardware issues. One client bought a bunch of cheap Acer slimlines about 9 years ago. Most of their power supplies have died - they really are crappy machines. Beyond that though I can't recall any recent issues, which is surprising as some machines are very old, and some are in extreme environments.

I'm an advocate for choosing good quality hardware, and good quality software (particularly drivers). Mac provide both. The combination of Microsoft software and corporate hardware also provide both.

1. Lobotomy.
2. Double their salary.

Hmm... That's only 2.

... when TechRepublic publishes in depth advice on how to migrate to a Mac...

Kind of like the rats are leaving the boat, LOL...

I predict that by Christmas we'll see fire sales on all Windows 8 machines as people finally realize after trying them out how aggravating it is to use this 'thing' Microsoft insists is an 'operating system'...

"...we'll see fire sales on all Windows 8 machines..."

Just on conventional desktops and laptops. The tablet / portable media consumption device users will probably be very happy with their purchases.

...As usual, your remark is very astute, thanks for the correction

What's the motivation for this article? Seriously... not being sarcastic here. As good as Mac hardware is, I can't imagine an existing Windows enterprise migrating to an Apple Enterprise. I don't even see this as a blip on the radar.

I think this would have been better for the home user. There will be some migration away from "PCs" to the MAC hardware with the movement to BYOD. However you'll still be logging into a M$ VM... so... mabye it was just let people know that if you drag your Start Menu to the top you'll be on OS X while not working?

There's nothing good about mac hardware that wasn't replaced by a better version 18 months ago.

is that Erik's consulting is Mac oriented. In the world today there is a Microsoft Enterprise spread across the globe. There is no offering from Apple that compares.

That said I like my Mac, Windows and Linux platforms. But of the three Windows is most viable end user box in an enterprise. If we are talking non managed (single user) my nod goes to OSX.

I'm all for people that prefer OS X. It's not my cup-of-tea, but if it works for you then great. What I really dislike though is when people push their preference (OS X or otherwise) onto other people without considering other factors. Well done for realising the considerations for a business PC extend beyond personal preference of interface.

I moved from Mac to Windows.


Guess why....

cheaper hardware? Wider range of applications? A blow to the head?

So, why do you need to train new users at all?

I've heard tell, from a friend, that his super-annuated mother, who couldn't make heads or tails of Windows98 (which she'd been told over and over was "really hard to learn") was able to jump right into OS X (which she'd been told over and over was "really easy to learn") and found it "so easy to use! Everything's so intuitive!"

Since OS X IS so intuitive and friendly, shouldn't users be able to figure everything out for themselves? And if they can't figure it out, it's probably not something they needed to be poking into anyway...

Like Ubuntu and Windows 8, it's easier to learn a new operating system if you're not carrying years of habits and behaviors learned from another one.

...of course. But my friend's mother HAD been using Windows for several years, surfing, emailing, even doing some simple Photoshop work...
And at this point, the similarities between desktops are greater than their differences: the GUI hasn't changed much since it was codified in the 80s, right?
You've got icons, menus, a desktop, a means of browsing the filesystem, some gadgets widgets and doo-hickies...
You click, double-click, right-click, shift-click, control/command-click, etc.
Touch interfaces are the first really new wrinkle in 25 years.
I think the biggest thing that determines your success with an OS is your attitude and the pre-conceptions you have (give to you by others.)

The difference is 11. Expect to spend a lot more money and prepare for forced upgrades.

Much lower TCO.

As a startup CTO I have run IT-less companies with the simple combination of an all Apple desktop network and Google Apps for mail and calendar. Simple, reliable, and on the rare time I have had an equipment failure (always due to external factors such as someone else plugging a machine into a spiky socket without a surge protector) the Apple store has been there with immediate help and replacement.

Now, if you manage an IT department, this could be your worst nightmare. A business network that actually functions well *without* your staff of babysitters.

I guess it's hard to take pictures of your fantasies. Try MS paint.

They are just a hassle to support, I am surprised at the title of this article, wow

Apple made its stance on the Enterprise pretty clear when it dumped Xserve. Further, it has failed to provide a consistent codebase in the CIFS/SMB stack to properly communicate with what is unquestionably the most popular enterprise filesharing mechanisms. Admittedly, the SAMBA-based system "works," but not without a fair amount of very un-Apple-like configuration elements, and certainly not as tightly integrated with AD, which seems to be the most popular authentication and authorization system around.

Make no mistake... I'm no Windows guy. I just know what difficulties having Mac as an enterprise platform is in a Windows-dominated space.

Boh OSes have their quirks - I enjoy working in both of them.

But one downside to a Mac that hasn't been mentioned is .dmg file creation. I simply wanted to create an equivalent .exe file (of a swag of webpages) that when clicked would open up a particular page - index.html - in the default browser.

This proved very difficult. I am surprised there are so few apps out there to achieve it. DMG Canvas perhaps? I still can't get the software to do it. Maybe it's me...

Anyway, I think we ought to move beyond slagging each other off about two very good OSes.

Here's a simple reason why Apple doesn't seem to make things EASIER to switch. A friend had an old Windows laptop. Slow as hell. hEr grandson gave her his old Mac [don't remember which but it was at 10.6.x so it's not that old]. She previously used Windows XP with Outlook EXpress. Now she'd use Mail that's with OS X. You would think Apple would make it easy to transfer her contacts and email? Nope. Export to a >CSV and import into the calendar app. Even worse was Mail. Nothing directly imports Outlook Express files. Had to install Thunderbird, import them intio THunderbird and then transfer those into Mail. Why accept Thunderbird [used by not many] and not Outlook Express [used almost by mre than anyone else]? How dumb!
"Although most offices are printing fewer pages" - according to whom?
THere is nothing in this top ten that would push anyone towards a Mac - definitely not Safari, Calendar, Mail, etc. MS Office isn't an advantage as it's already available for Windows. The Windows suite is more complete than the Mac version.

Nice piece by the Apple Department of Marketing & Fairy Tales.

What a load of bull. Almost tempted to quit my Techrepublic mailing list subscription. At least though it isn't a forced "10 ways to " type article.

Show then Windows 8. That will get them wanting to have a Mac real quick.

they'll just hang on to what they already have, which is probably XP or W7. There's also the possibility they could go for the cost savings and install Linux.

... As long as I'll be able to run any Windows that has a Start Menu and a shell I can really customize and be able to run Windows 98 in my Virtual Box (because some of my old software is simply irreplaceable), I'll be holding onto my old Win 98SE, 2000, XP and Seven.

Now does anyone know if new laptops with 1920 with at least 1200 height still exist and whether there are any true workstation laptops with LARGE SCREENS? I still mourn the marvellous, o! so legible! 2048x1536 screen on my old computer...

With the big icons and the flashyness of the new Windows don't expect them to convert to mac

Why always refer to Apple as cool. I have to make money and therefor need a productive system. If that goes on the cost of cool, so be it. If I wanna be cool, I will get me a Ben Affleck haircut.

Is this some kind of joke - Erik, few people (in their right mind) that know anything about IT would recommend such a step backwards for any end user, especially ones that work in a corporate - or other environment that needs to be productive with co-workers. The article is merely fan-boy spin, demonstrating your lack of understanding of what goes on in a ... Come on, Pages, Keynote, iTunes, etc. That's a joke! I have three MacBook Pro's and like the hardware very much. One runs Windows 7 (With Visual Studio - SQL Server R2 - you get the drift...), one runs Windows 8 (also a dev. box), and one runs OS X - I keep it around for a good chuckle every now and then. I also run the Adobe Creative Suite on the OS X box. Mac hardware is fine, but to consider Apple anything other than a mass consumer marketing company, like Nike, etc. is totally misguided - and trying to get others to buy into that "Hocus-Pocus) is disingenuous at best.

This is a PC forum, not a stinking Mac one; why waste valuable space, not to mention our valuable time, with a piece-of-(traitorous)-crap article like this. What a farce!

I found the title appealing and wished to see looking for some good sense advices and I found an idolatric Apple centric advertisement. Please don't do that again!

Or is it just me?

you.

Erik may be biased, but it's been my observation that Techrepublic as a whole isn't.

im writing this with my limited experience with mac...correct me if im wrong

mac doesn't allow native NTFS which is the most secure and stable file system known to windows users.
mac doesn't have multi-tasking capabilities
can macs connect to a windows domain which is essential for business security and access control
macs are harder to repair/upgrade compared to PCs

and this is just tip of the iceberg

MacOS in fact can multi task thanks to its BSD core.

And the user experience is pretty seamless. However the backend management of the Mac using Active Directory isn't there. (e.g. group policy, logon scripting would be different, et-al)

Not to say that you can't centrally manage UNIX based systems using LDAP, but as another person pointed out, why would you go that direction if you were already vested with Windows (unless of course you were running NT4 in which case the pain of going to AD versus LDAP is about equal)

About MAC's and joining a Windows domain is senseless. As stand-alones, they might have merit, but they are not manageable in AD.

Mac people buy them to be cool and they look flashy, so maybe windows 8 will bring them back

Its easier to use as well

Wait a moment, change a PC by an Apple? If you are thinking do this you do not need a computer. You need a gadget, like a tablet or a smartphone. Who really needs a computer never would change a PC by a PC (remember Apple computers are just expensive PC??s made in China today) with a OS "different", and pay 2 or 3 times more.

Why would you choose to go to a set of products from such an unethical company as Apple. Other suppliers are no paragons of virtue, but as an organization where a) staff building its products regularly commit suicide b) it pays 2% tax on earning due to the aggressive use of tax avoidance via tax havens c) when your with it you're tied to a closed source so have minimal flexibility.

Foxconn? What technology company would be ethical under that stricture? I blame China and Foxconn, not Apple, Dell or Joe's computer shack down the street for employee conditions.

With regards to taxes, that is on foreign profit. You forgot to mention they paid over 12 billion dollars in taxes in the US. And once again what company doesn't do this? Hell Cisco is bleating about trying to get a tax holiday to move foreign money in from their accounts.

With regards to point c), would you consider the ability to fire up a terminal in OSX and compile just about any software you have source for open? It is UNIX after all...

Are you willing to advocate we all become Luddites?

I think that if you are decide to produce in China, it is your responsibility to monitor if ethics of the producing company are in line with yours. It is too easy to just say that China or Foxconn is to blame. Remember the problems that Nike had when it was obvious that their sneakers were made through kid labour. A produced product can't be one's pleasure and in the same time another one's pain.

If a company is on Windows, let it stay there. Equipment is much cheaper. Windows is easier to learn and as an administrator it also so much easier to maintain systems. I personally am a Windows guy and it served me and the companies I worked for well over the last 2 decades. I have also a Mac, but I simply don't see how an employee can get productive with an OSX based system. The only company that can ruin the day for Windows is Microsoft themselves. If they keep on pushing aggressively Windows 8 to their customers and it won't be felt as productive as Vista of Windows 7 then alienation could be their faith. Microsoft should look at why so many have chosen Windows (and Mac was also their all these years) and not why they should look more like Apple. I like Windows, it never let me down.

Makes me wonder if there is a correlation in the Windows/Mac with Romney/Obama? I like to get things done. Can you guess which sides I am on? There are a few useful things in the article, but as I read it - it felt quite a bit of Windows bashing. As an IT tech that supports both environments in businesses, I am finding more problems on the Mac side relative to the number of Mac's that are out there (in business). Most of the problems, however, are related to the same problems I see on the Windows side - OLD systems - systems that are 5-10 years old.

While Windows' programs move around with their menus. Apple programs do not. The menu bar at the top stays put and changes as you click on different open windows on the desktop. For Windows users moving to Mac, this is something to get used to. Whenever you switch to another application you have to train your eyes to look up at the changing menu bar.

There is no taskbar. While the dock beats Windows' Start button in ease of use, it's horrible at letting you know which programs are open and accessing multiple instances of your opened programs. Windows users will need to learn about the "Application" folder in case a program is missing from the dock.

Converts from Windows should also get used to "Finder" instead of Windows Explorer. Though I believe most Windows users know it as the "search" or "documents" window for finding their files. And "mounting" which I think is obsolete but you should know if your switching to Mac.
Apples love to mount thumbdrives and discs and hard drives.

I have a ASUS notebook with the same CPU, RAM, Videocard as one of the MAC has... but my notebook is visible much faster than the MAC to do the same tasks, so I cant see the idea to change the PC to a MAC... and the MAC cost much more than the PC does, so... nope never going to happen !

to suggest that windows is just now catching up w/ mac because of dashboard is ludicrous in the extreme. the quick launch bar has been in windows for so long I don't even know if you've even ever used windows. adding program shortcuts to either the desktop or the quick launch or even auto start is so easy the for you to suggest that the simple one click aspect of mac is a selling feature is also seriously flawed. this leads to the conclusion that you're a fan of mac regardless of any other fact or mitigation. thus, like many other mac fans who have said things like "it's better because I like it more", you're opinion means nothing.

Commercially it have no sense. Check this article (http://techcrunch.com/2012/11/27/economic-impact-of-startup-accelerators-1-6b-raised-4800-jobs-created-2000-startups-funded/
). The main income, ideas and jobs now give the small and middle business, start-ups. They are always seeking for money and Windows or Mac - not a best way here. The main solution that they may get to reduce costs without loosing a work-quality is Linux.