article: Mac OSX is more financially viable solution.

http://www.cio.com/article/127050/Eight_Financial_Reasons_Why_You_Should_Use_Mac_OS/1

An interesting article, but I've never seen a reasonably priced Apple in my life; I like their hardware design, but I'm not too fond of their operating system. What do you forum members think?

 

It depends what realm you're talking here: in the business world, until someone converts mission critical, big name apps to the Mac, it's not a viable desktop. If you're just surfing the web, doing e-mail, or running Office - no problem.

THe part about server space was a bit disingenuous - ever hear of blades? Or 1U machines? You don't need the traditional large server anymore in all cases. In some you do.

All modern OSes do about the same thing. The bottom line is that if it runs what you want and meets your needs, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks: use what you want.

 

''you can get a cheap pc for $300 or a mac mini for $500 but people dont usually buy cheap pcs for business''

Who buys mac minis anyway???

 

If you're just talking OS - then yes, the base price of $129 for OSX is certainly cheaper than the base price of any single Vista Edition (assuming that any volume licensing discounts Microsoft offers to businesses will be matched by Apple).

However, since you can only legally use OSX on an Apple - that puts price in a whole new perspective. Regardless of Lexus vs Hyundai comparisons, there are more options in the PC side - and more options/competition usually means better prices. Just in the notebook area, most non-specialized businesses looking for office-use laptops will choose between Dell, HP or Lenovo, and each of those business lines will probably suffice for their needs at a cheaper price than a MBP.

There are OS X equivalents for many Windows applications, depending on the type of business, but it's hard to discount the network effect of a market largely saturated by Windows software, other than in a few niche areas.

Still, I'm glad Apple's starting to get a greater market share (even if it's only 2% )

 

To also put it in perspective: I was buying my parents a new PC. I know Macs are pretty easy to use and I figured maybe I'd consider the Mac Mini. It was $599 for one with I think a 60GB hard drive. Huh?

I got them a nice, small Acer Aspire with Vista Home Premium, 1GB of memory, and a 250GB HD for $379.

FOr their use, the Mac would have been fine. But the value prop wasn't there.

 

Hrm, well in this case I'd cite the Hyundai vs Lexus analogy...you do get what you pay for (in this case an Acer ).

But if you were to find the "Apple" of the PC world, arguably the closest thing would be Sony (i.e. selling on style and unquantifiable "features"), you'd notice that the Sony machines cost quite a bit more than just their performance specs would warrant, especially with Blu-Ray, etc.

 

Yeah, but for what my parents will be using it for, getting more than the Hyundai was silly, too. Their last PC was one of those old iMac (i.e. big CRT and computer all in one) Gateway clones running Win98 and a 4GB hard drive. It's lasted them all these years.

Personally, I have a few Sony machines. Love 'em.

 

What options, in terms of hardware and software, does Apple offer in the server market.

Also, what is a blade/1U machine? Apple could try to enter the server market; with the amazing growth that they've experienced, a business has to expand into other niches at some point to keep up the growth. Apple could do it if they solved the problem of OSX's limited variety of usable hardware.

 

Heh, well if you want to talk about car analogies, my first desktop was a Packard Bell I wonder if you can find a car worthless enough to compare THAT to

I like Sony laptops too - they're beautiful. I just wouldn't buy one because of their GPU limitations.

 

I always get confused between Packard Bell and Taco Bell

Apple does have Mac OS X Server but I have read Apple doesn't use it themselves for some of their sites (I think either Apple China or Apple India's website)

EDIT: BTW, they used the old Apple logo from 20 years ago in the article.

 

The Yugo http://www.inet.hr/~bpauric/epov.htm

 

I had 2 Packard Bells. First one in 1992, a 386SX-16. They did what they were supposed to. No more no less, but they did work.