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Does the Mac Have a Future in Business?
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Business New Haven
1/12/1998
By: Clement L. Russo
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Lillian Rojas is president of Rojas & Co., a computer consulting firm in Branford. BNH spoke with her recently about the future prospects for Apple Macintosh computers in the business environment.
What's different about the
new line of Macs from Apple Computer?
Computers don't really change all that much from one generation to another, though they do get faster, and that's certainly true of the new Macs. But more important is the operating environment, and so far the Mac is still trying to catch up to Windows in some critical areas, like multi-tasking. So if you're a typical user, you probably wouldn't want to buy one of these machines unless you're in an industry where computing speed is essential.
Are there still advantages to using a Mac?
Windows has copied the Mac environment so well that whatever edge the Mac had in user-friendliness is almost completely gone. Besides, the computer itself isn't what matters. What does matter is the software you use and who you share files with. There's a lot of hype in the media about software compatibility - that if I'm using a Mac and you're not, we can now share files with ease. But that's not always true for the average business user, who can be stymied by these conversions and waste a lot of time on them.
Which businesses benefit the most from Mac technology?
You certainly don't need it if you're using computers for traditional office functions, like word processing, budgeting or sales tracking. But if you're in graphic design or publishing, for example, where you're performing functions that are extremely computer-intensive, then it's a different story. In fact, your vendors and clients may expect you to produce your work on a Mac. And if you take your materials to a specialty printer, then chances are everyone who works there will be using a Mac.
What are common business problems with Macs?
Small business owners who use Macs sometimes think too small. They don't look down the road and ask, 'What associates or vendors will I need to be compatible with five years from now?' So they make decisions in isolation and then suddenly find themselves working with a client who needs materials in another format. For the most part, I find that Mac users are happy with their machines and what they can do with them. But they encounter problems when they have to interact with the outside world.
What software issues should Mac users be concerned about?
Microsoft Office is the predominant business application that's available on the Mac, and Microsoft has agreed to support it for another five years. But then things could change. And if you've spent all that time developing documents, templates and spreadsheets on your Macs, then you may have to decide: Do we throw away our computers and switch to Windows so we can still use these files, or do we rebuild them on new software and stay with our Macs? Either choice could be quite expensive.
What criteria should you
consider when purchasing a
Mac for business?
The most important question to ask is, 'Will I be able to get the support I'll need?' Apple is in a state of flux now, and it's anybody's guess how things will end up. Though I don't think they'll disappear, it may happen that they won't continue to provide full support to the consumer market. That could negatively impact the technical support you'd receive, as well as your future software. After all, you can own the most wonderful computer, but if the industry isn't developing software for it, it's worthless. BNH
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