don't believe anyone who tells you that apples/macs need no maintenance.   They are computers, and need regular attention.  Not as frequently as Windows, and many items are scheduled by the OS to run at specific intervals.

if you use MS Office, check the reviews of the OS X version vs iLife vs OpenOffice.  There seem to be a few conversion issues from Win document formats, but nothing without a workaround.


Overall, you are likely to have much fewer problems in the long run, but getting used to the OS and the differences can be a challenge for some.

Most printers have drivers available for OSX, but it never hurts to make sure.


Here are a few links:
http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/

http://lifehacker.com/224674/hack-attack-a-guide-for-switching-to-a-mac

http://www.applematters.com/article/a-switchers-guide-to-windows-and-mac-equivalents-and-differences/

http://www.myfirstmac.com/index.php/mac/categories/C7

http://lifehacker.com/311618/the-complete-guide-to-macwindows-interoperability

 

that is so kind of you to take the time to send me those links. i think that was our thought process, it may be tough short term to adjust and teach ourselves new systems but that in the long run it would be alot less work for us to have to do, bit of output now will pay off in the future. at least that what im hoping!!

i believe you optimism is well founded in reality.
 

You're not really running off the same systems and programs.

iOS (the system running on your devices) is not Mac OS X (the system running on Macs). The two are just designed to work together. iPhones and iPods and iPads are designed to work with Windows systems too. They even support Microsoft Exchange mail services. These gadgets would not be so popular if Apple was only selling them to the 5-8% of the computer market that uses Mac.

The main reason why one might need a Mac to work with an iOS device is if you develop for iOS. Apple's developer tools for iOS conveniently only run on Mac OS X.

My iPhone (3G) 'works' with Windows XP, but only well enough to say that it does, not well enough to brag about.  

'---

The network at my wife's workplace comprises mostly Macs, and it works fairly well considering that it's maintained by iDiots, who are certified by means of job description and have no real idea what they're doing.

... Which leaves me as the wife's primary IT support guy.  I thought that nightmare was over when I got her to switch from a PC to a Mac.  

At least OSX has a command line. ... somewhere.  I hate the information hiding.  Maybe I could get used to it if I used it every day.  I _really_ hate the cutesy-poo names for stuff.

 

I've supported both PC and Mac and like them both for different reasons.  Your decision should be based on what you do in the office most.  If it's Adobe-based software for graphics design, then you would probably enjoy the switch a lot.  But if you work in a bank and need to run Citrix terminal programs or Windows based emulators, I don't think it will be a good plan.  Depends on what you do. Of course, I'm stereotyping because I don't know the situation. There is an astronomer I know who uses Mac/Linux.

My recommendation is to pick the most computer savvy person and convert them to Mac first (do this during slow season, so if you're an accountant, this is not the right time).  Give them two months to get used to it.  The first month will have many surprises,and work will be disrupted as he or she discusses discoveries with all of you.  

The second month will have them seeing benefits.  Later, have a meeting and decide.  There is no reason why you can't buy all Windows machines, or four more Macs after that.  Your investment will be fairly small.  The first Mac will be a much smaller business risk.  

Best wishes,
DK

Quote:

If it's Adobe-based software for graphics design, then you would probably enjoy the switch a lot.

Adobe makes software for Windows too. In fact, they make more apps for Windows than for Mac. No platform is inherently better for graphic design (or business) apps if those apps were written for both platforms.

This thread is a vacuum of intelligence based on an uninformed notion that iOS and OS X can run the "same programmes". This is not possible. At least not on the current kitties.

I've been away from tek-tips for a while.  And I don't remember anyone using phrases like "this thread is a vacuum of intelligence" before.  Please keep the discussion professional.  

Allow me to explain why Adobe is better on Mac for graphics design.  This is partly social and partly a matter of performance.  Mac users I know, who have been forced to adopt Windows as a platform for their graphics design, have sworn that their graphics design software runs slower than before.  But I think that's because IT departments don't often lavish the kind of horsepower (CPU/Memory) needed to do real graphics design on the average workstation. Furthermore, graphics designers on Windows are treated with pity by the mainstream artists who do a lot of shrugging when things don't work exactly the same.  They are seen as those unfortunates who have lost a major negotiation battle and are often not in a good emotional state to give you a good aristic product.  

I really do speak from years of experience here and am comparing two companies I worked for, one with Adobe on Mac and one with Adobe on Windows.  But we don't even know if the person asking this question has any need of a graphics design package.  

I'm just helping people to see that there is more at stake than technology in the IT job. Yeah, Adobe can go anywhere, but what happens after? Remember to take all the user requirements into account.

DK

This thread is not professional if several people jump in to say how wonderful Macs are when they totally ignore the core of the question.

Quote:

...so we have everything running off the same systems and the same programmes etc... has anyone done this?

No. Nobody has done this because it is not possible to run an iOS app on Mac right now.

I speak from years of experience too. But it does not matter who has more years of experience. The fact remains that liker is not going to be able to run iOS apps on Mac. Facts trump our own experience.

Don't take it personally. That is not professional.

DKHM2,
Apple has good products but to claim that an Adobe app runs better on a particular platform is a concept totally detached from reality. Your experience shows that you just encountered poor IT management. It happens. Walk it off.  

I don't see the difference any longer.

Mac running OSX = PC running Linux with Mac interface.

The hardware is the same now.

 

Just my 2¢

"What the captain doesn't realize is that we've secretly replaced his Dilithium Crystals with new Folger's Crystals."

--Greg  http://parallel.tzo.com