A simple fact of life is that human beings, as a rule, do not like change. By this same token however, we also know that change is necessary for progress.

Business owners and decision makers wanting to improve efficiencies often consider switching from PC to Mac, but are sometimes deterred by a number of concerns, particularly by (what they perceive to be) the schlep involved.  

Gaynor MacArthur, Director of Sales at Apple Premium Reseller Digicape, admits that while she doesn’t blame business owners for being hesitant as any switch may temporarily disrupt operations, “it is well worth it in the long run from a cost and efficiency perspective.”

MacArthur lists a few common myths that often deter business owners when considering switching to Mac - and provides facts as to why they shouldn’t be reluctant to take the plunge.

“It’s too expensive” 

A large concern that businesses have when moving over to Mac are the initial setup costs. And while an Apple device may be more expensive than your standard laptop, one has to take into account the lifetime cost of the device. “Apple’s strategy has always been to build quality machines with top-of-the-range specs, designed to last a long time, says MacArthur.

“Consider the purchase price a percentage of the lifetime cost of that device.

“A PC’s purchase price is around 18% of its lifetime cost, while a Mac’s purchase price is approximately 50%. What this means is that you will generally spend far more money on maintaining your PC than you would a Mac, and maintenance costs will far exceed your initial outlay.”

MacArthur cites IBM as an example. “In 2015, IBM replaced their Window’s PCs with Mac, and has since then deployed it to 100 000 of its employees (Source: Jamf white paper)”. IMB calculated that the decision to switch from PC to Mac has saved them around $273 - $535 per device (based on an estimated four-year lifespan), potentially saving the company, on average, around $40 000 000 since the decision was first implemented.

“Mac also has a far higher retained value over a five-year period.”

“It doesn’t work on our network”          

Apple uses Server Message Block (SMB) as its file sharing protocol – the standard networking protocol utilised by Windows. “This means that Apple devices work seamlessly on a traditional business network. And because macOS is built on top of UNIX – a multi-user, multi-tasking computer operating system – it supports all the standard internet network stacks,” explains MacArthur.

“Apple has also partnered with Cisco to ensure iOS devices work seamlessly across Cisco networks (an industry leader in enterprise networking.)”

“It’s not a business tool”

“Microsoft developed Word, Excel and PowerPoint on the Mac first; establishing Mac as a leader in business software,” MacArthur explains.

Apple also reinstated its role in the business sector when it switched to the Intel processor in 2006, making it possible to install Windows natively on a Mac. MacArthur adds. “It was also the first time we could compare apples with apples (intentional pun!), and MacBook Pro was voted the best ‘Windows PC’ for three years running.”

There are also security advantages. MacArthur says, “MacOS has FileVault (full disk encryption) and is shipped standard with XProtect, to safeguard against malware attacks.”

“Our employees will struggle to make the switch”

Says MacArthur, “Regardless of whether you are moving to a different device or a new operating system, your staff should always receive the necessary skills training.”

MacArthur believes that learning to use a new device is not as challenging as some would believe, particularly with Apple’s much lauded intuitive user interface. “And because the productivity apps have the same look and feel across both Mac and Windows, the transition is a relatively easy one.”