My Computer Mechanic

iSwitch: Is Switching to Apple That Easy?

So it happened again: you've received another virus on your PC. You're fed up with PCs and your friend has suggested to you, "Why not just get a Mac? They don't get viruses." So now you're thinking about dropping some coin and "thinking different" about your computer. Well, before you go out and take the plunge, I want to talk about exactly what this entails. Bear in mind, I'm not one to talk someone out of making the switch. I'm not on the Microsoft bandwagon, and I certainly don't have a Microsoft sticker on my car window. But switching from a Windows-based PC to an Apple isn't always as easy as Apple tries to make it sound.

Contrary to what the Apple-haters say, buying an Apple is not more expensive. Yes, you pay more up front, but the important thing to remember is "total cost of ownership" (TCO). When someone buys a $300 PC, and that PC then needs $200 in repairs due to cheap parts, the TCO just increased to $500. Apple uses quality parts, and they take the same approach that we, at My Computer Mechanic, take with our custom-built PCs: neither of us sells cheap computers. When we sell a laptop, we sell a high-quality laptop that's designed for heavy use. We refuse to sell $300 "blue light special" PCs that will frustrate a user within months. So with this in mind, you're going to pay more up front. However, in the long run, you won't pay more for the hardware.

The software, however, is different. Your Microsoft Office suite, Adobe Acrobat, Quicken, QuickBooks, and more will need to be purchased all over again. You cannot take your Windows-compatible software and install it for OS X. Yes, you can use Bootcamp, or use a virtualization program. But this is Windows! Your goal is to avoid Windows, not run it on Apple hardware. So with that in mind, you need to drop more money to get the same software.

In addition to buying that software all over again, you need to re-learn it. MS Office for the Mac is not the same as MS Office for Windows. Menus are different, the user interface is different, and the file structure is different. The general concept is the same, but there will be growing pains. That's in addition to OS X itself, the operating system for Macintosh. Regardless of your opinion, Windows and OS X approach the user experience differently. Everything from the system settings to installing programs is different.

With all this said, are Macs invulnerable to viruses? No. When one says Macintoshes are virus-free, this is conjecture based upon the fact that OS X isn't targeted by virus authors. Apple owns roughly an 8% market share for computers, which factors into the decision-making process of someone looking to write viruses. Why attack 8% of computers when you can attack 90%+? That being said, using an Apple Macintosh will leave you with less worry for viruses. Many individuals I know (including my own wife) do not use an antivirus program on their Mac. So, yes, you can use a Mac and feel more secure, but do so knowing why.

I say all of this to inform you as to what you're diving into when you decide to take the Apple plunge. You will bear the weight of a large up-front cost, and you will bear the burden of learning a new operating system. Personally, I find OS X to be a pleasure to operate. The user interface is intuitive and slick, but it's not perfect. Your mileage may vary, so be sure to test drive a Macintosh before you decide one is right for you. If you wish to read more, I recommend reading a blog by a gentleman named David Alison. He is a software engineer who worked in the PC environment for years before deciding to switch to the Apple platform. He chronicles his switch in his blog, which is here: http://www.davidalison.com