Cover Story
Mac v. PC
Two lawyer-experts duke it out over the greatest quandary of the new century
March 2008 Issue
By Ben Stevens and Rick Georges
Illustration by Jeff Dionise
The decades-long Mac versus PC battle recalls those video games in which the Big Boss Bad Guy just can’t seem to squash our nimble little hero.
Clever marketing and product development vie against massive market share. And with each round, the question grows: Is there a reason to switch to Apple, and is now the time?
This year the ABA Journal is letting some real advocates argue the case. Ben Stevens and Rick Georges are not only lawyers using opposing systems; they are proponents who advise on the use of technology in the law office.
They have strong opinions, and they’re not afraid to state them. No games, no rules and no punches pulled.
MAC: (BEN STEVENS) OPENING SHOTS
There are any number of reasons for switching from a PC to a Mac. I know because I did it. And since 2005, I have been running a Mac-environment law office.
Since I have actually used both PCs and Macs in my family law practice, I believe that I am uniquely qualified to address the differences in the two systems and state which is better.
The simple fact is that more lawyers don’t use Macs today because of misperceptions that still exist—and I hope this article will set the record straight. PCs may seem cheaper, but I don’t think they are less expensive. If qualities like dependability, security and ease of use are important to you, you should be using a Mac—period.
And the best analogy for the Mac versus PC debate is this: You can buy a Hyundai or a Mercedes. Both of them get you from point A to point B. But which one is more dependable, and which one is more fun to drive?
Here I’ll offer some specifics of how a Mac office can save you time, money and aggravation. Forget those memories of the blue screen of death, and dream on.
PC: (RICK GEORGES) OPENING SHOTS
Rick Georges. Photo by Alex McKnight
There are any number of reasons for staying with the PC and not switching to a Mac.
First and foremost is a piece of wisdom I got from my mother, the repository of all wisdom:
“Son, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Of course, my mom would never use ain’t in a sentence, but the wisdom is real. Most lawyers use the Windows operating system. I have been using Microsoft operating systems since I began my solo practice in 1985. I began with DOS and switched to Windows in late 1994, when Windows 95 arrived. I had previously toyed with Windows 3.1, etc., but Windows 95 converted me to the graphical user interface. I have stayed with Windows since and have developed a strong relationship with the various flavors of the dominant operating system.
Early on, it was clear that Windows machines were cheaper and more easily configurable, and the software choices were clearly superior. Over time, Apple has attempted to lure Windows users away, most recently by adopting the Intel processor so that Apple machines can now run both Windows-based and Apple-based operating systems. Even so, Windows users (including lawyers) occupy more than 90 percent of the market. There is safety in those numbers.
In sum, if you want to be cool, want to buy a new computer, want to learn a new operating system, want to buy and learn all new productivity software, and want to be in the 8 percent minority of computer users, buy a Mac. I don’t want to be cool; I want my computer to perform a function—and to do it well—at the lowest cost possible. That includes hardware, software, training and learning.
Otherwise, Apple: Stop insulting me with ads and leave me alone to get my work done.
MAC: HARDWARE
Ben Stevens.
Photo by Matthew Scott
Choosing a computer model is easier with Macs. To buy a PC, you are faced with literally thousands of hardware options from hundreds of manufacturers—Dell, Sony, HP, Compaq or even your local computer guy. Then you have to worry about which components would actually be inside the shell and whether they would all work together.
When buying an Apple, your choices are very easy to navigate and understand. For the most part, you just have two: 1. Do you want a desktop or a laptop? 2. Do you want a regular model or a high-end model? Then choose the size of your screen, RAM and hard drive—and you’re done!
Since most attorneys prefer laptops, you’ll be choosing the MacBook, MacBook Pro or the new, ultralight MacBook Air. The best options for desktop models are the iMac or the Mac Mini; the iMac features a stylish one-piece unit containing the monitor and CPU. Meanwhile, the ultra-powerful Mac Pro is there for those who need eight-core power.
Does a new Mac in the office mean all new accessories and peripherals? Nah. For the most part, Macs work with your existing hardware. Even though you may want to buy a sleek new monitor, keyboard or mouse from Apple, you don’t have to. Macs work just fine with most printers, scanners and multifunction machines. Even better, there is no time-snatching search for drivers. Your Mac will recognize most peripherals when you connect them, and you can then begin using them without even having to reboot.
PC: HARDWARE
In Apple’s 200 stores around the country, you can only buy Apple products at the price Apple wants. This is an advantage? That’s like the Soviet Union claiming its grocery stores were better because there was only one brand of bread. You can buy PCs and PC software products at thousands of stores around the country. The choices are many and varied.
As far as worrying what components are in my PC and worrying about the company I buy from, I have always objected to Apple’s proprietary mindset: If you want a new hard drive, you must buy it from us, and you will pay what we want.
I like competition, and I like the fact that I can open up a PC and change out the hard drive with an inexpensive product that is the result of a lot of competition.
MAC: CASE MANAGEMENT
Daylite from Marketcircle Inc. is a fully customizable case management package that handles your contacts, calendars, tasks/to-do’s, notes and more. Daylite allows you to link various types of documents (spreadsheets, PDFs, JPEGs) to specific client files, and then organize and even open those files from within Daylite. You can schedule and delegate appointments, create lists, print reports and send e-mails—all from within Daylite. It is fully networkable so you can connect to it locally, through your office network or over the Internet. You can even create offline databases, modify them on the road and later synchronize them with the main database.
LawStream Pro from PowerSoft Innovations Corp. is an all-in-one office management program that does scheduling (limitations, appointments, rules-based reminders, shared reminders); communication (quick letters, notes, memos, envelopes); document generation and control (including variables, and organizing and managing document status); contact management (including conflict avoidance); and detailed reporting. It also has fully integrated time-and-billing and accounting functions (discussed below).
If one product best demonstrates the creativity the Mac allows, it is Circus Ponies Inc.’s NoteBook, described as “a combination outliner and free-form database that lets you clip, annotate and share unstructured information.” Its pages can contain text, graphics, audio, video, imported data—virtually anything you can imagine. You can copy and paste, type in data or even use “clipping services,” which allow automatic insertion of data into a specified NoteBook page, even if you are not using the application at the time. NoteBook features automatic indexing, which means everything placed into a page is instantly placed into 14 indexes for easy location and retrieval. All related documents, such as correspondence, pleadings or orders, can be attached to a specified page. Witness outlines can include links to other pages or items both within and outside the application. And you can easily make your digital NoteBook files correlate with physical files.
Even Apple’s latest operating system, OS X Leopard, includes basic organizational tools that may be sufficient for a practitioner in a very small or solo firm: Apple Mail for easily created to-do’s and notes, which can include links, attachments and data from e-mails; iCal to schedule appointments and set alarms, even from within the mail program; and free videoconferencing through iChat.
PC: CASE MANAGEMENT
The PC way to manage a law practice is to use the computer’s superior data processing ability to track calendars, contacts, case details and other practice-specific information. Written by lawyers for lawyers, and steadily improved for many years, Amicus Attorney is the most essential component of computing in my practice. It is Windows-based and, even when used in a Windows-capable Mac, works best in its native environment (to run in a Mac, the network version would require a Windows server for access and syncing). Amicus Attorney syncs with my office server (also Windows-based), and after years of experience and tweaking, it works just the way I want it to.
This is the reason consultants tell users to consider what they want to do with a computer before they choose the hardware. The same advice applies here: If you need to run Amicus Attorney, get a Windows box.
MAC: TIME AND BILLING
Besides its masterful case management, LawStream Pro has timekeeping (including multitimers, disbursement tracking, productivity reports); billing (detail and narrative bills, individual and bulk billing); accounting (trust, general ledger, payables, receivables, management reports); and productivity control (including reports on recorded time, billed time, billable time, fees billed and cash received).
A completely different option that firms should consider is Rocket Matter from the company of the same name. This new time-and-billing and case management product is a Web 2.0 application, meaning that it runs online with no software to install. It works on Macs (and even PCs) and is accessible anywhere with Internet access. So if you have an iPhone, you can access and work with your files. Other Mac options worth considering are Billings from Marketcircle Inc. and EasyTime from Bright Light Software—programs that are good and getting better.
PC: TIME AND BILLING
I am still a local server guy. i don’t yet trust the Web-based applications like Rocket Matter, especially those that purport to deal with confidential data. The software argument between PCs and Macs is largely irrelevant in a Web-based world since both operating systems run browsers—especially the best browser, Firefox, and the best e-mail client, Thunderbird.
However, one would be hard-pressed to beat the time-and-billing programs out there, including Thomson Elite, LexisNexis’ PCLaw, and a plethora of Windows-based alternatives. They have been written specifically for the practice of law, and they have many years of user experience behind them. Remember: Know what software you want to run before you decide what hardware to buy.
MAC: WORD PROCESSING AND SPREADSHEETS
If you are familiar with the Windows version of Microsoft Office, then you are familiar with the Mac version. However, while many Mac lawyers use MS Office applications, there are alternatives. NeoOffice is a free, open-source set of office applications, including Writer (word processing), Calc (spreadsheet) and Impress (presentation). This full-featured program allows you to import, edit and exchange files with other popular office programs.
Apple’s iWork software package includes Pages, Numbers and Keynote. Pages is a word processing and page layout program that can create stunning letters, reports, proposals and other office documents. Files can be imported, exported or saved in many formats, including document, rich text and PDF. Numbers is a spreadsheet program that many users find easier than Excel. As with Pages, you can import, export or save your spreadsheets in many different formats including CSV and PDF.
PC: WORD PROCESSING AND SPREADSHEETS
Since there are Mac versions of all the leading software programs, there really isn’t a winnable argument here. However, if you like WordPerfect—and many of us computing lawyers do—then Windows is what you want.
I have been using WordPerfect since the DOS versions in 1990. I know the program intimately and using it is second nature. (WordPerfect is superior to Microsoft Word in many respects, but that is another article.) Suffice it to say that I like being able to use the “reveal codes” option to change style on command. WordPerfect exists for the Mac. However, it requires separate software to run on the newer Intel-based systems and is not supported.
MAC: PRESENTATION
If you purchase Microsoft Office, then you will have PowerPoint. This software is just as useful on a Mac as on a PC. Having said that, PowerPoint is vastly eclipsed by Apple’s Keynote. Keynote lets you make Hollywood-quality presentations quickly and easily.
Forbes.com asked in 2003: “How does Keynote stack up against PowerPoint? The snapshot summary ... is that ... Keynote does it with a superior elegance and simplicity of use that is Apple’s design trademark.” Now, more than four years later, Keynote lets you animate elements within slides, edit to remove background items, save presentations in QuickTime movies, export them to Apple’s iDVD while preserving chapter breaks, and even export to PowerPoint. I dare say that anyone who has given Keynote a try will never use PowerPoint again.
TrialSmart from Clarity Legal Software is a trial presentation package that enables transcript-to-video syncing, exhibit presentation and video editing. The “exhibit presenter” component allows you to redact or call out information, insert notations, use arrows and lines, zoom or magnify, rotate and highlight. Use Apple’s dual-monitor capabilities so only you see your work until you’re ready for your audience to see it. And iMovie, part of Apple’s iLife suite, can be used to conduct your own video depositions. Imagine being able to show video clips at trial to impeach a witness instead of simply reading from a transcribed deposition. With Apple’s built-in software and a minimal hardware investment, you can begin taking video depositions tomorrow.
PC: PRESENTATION
PowerPoint is the leading presentation software package. Enough said. Versions exist for both Windows and Mac. Keynote, the Mac competitor, does the same thing—so pick your poison.
However, for trial presentation, Windows is far superior. The leading package, Sanction from Verdict Systems, has been around since 1999 and is a mature, functional product. SmartDraw, the leading legal graphics and timeline software, is also a mature, functional product. Both of these packages have been honed with user input over many years. There are competitors that keep each company scrambling to improve the user experience. Competition is good; it breeds software improvement over time.
MAC: PRACTICE-SPECIFIC SOFTWARE
Attorneys who specialize in a particular practice area will undoubtedly have software programs aimed at that area: Family law attorneys use child support calculators; real estate attorneys use packages to assist with closings; bankruptcy attorneys have programs to assist with filings. These programs tend to overwhelmingly be Windows-only programs, which can be frustrating.
However, through the use of virtualization programs, Mac users can run any Windows program when necessary—while still being able to enjoy the benefits the Mac operating system provides. All new Macs can run Windows and Windows software. In fact, PC World reported last October: “The fastest Windows Vista notebook we’ve tested this year—or, for that matter, ever—is a Mac [the Apple MacBook Pro].”
You can either use a built-in technology called Boot Camp to boot your Mac into running Windows XP or Vista (which you must purchase separately), or you can purchase a third-party virtualization program such as Parallels or VMWare Fusion to run a Windows program in a separate window. For many, this is the key selling point. By purchasing a Mac plus a copy of Windows (and perhaps a virtualization program), you get essentially two computers for barely more than the price of one. No PC can make that claim.
PC: PRACTICE-SPECIFIC SOFTWARE
It is true that law-practice-specific software packages are predominantly Windows programs. It is also true that most can be run on a virtual Windows computer on a Mac system. However, unless you are using Mac software, why run virtually? You are merely introducing another level of software that can create problems. And you still have the issue of buying a new computer and learning a new operating system.
As for the argument that you can run both operating systems on a Mac now, there are only two ways to do that: Run an emulator (and my experience is that emulators are problematic and slower) or a dual-boot machine (you have to boot into the operating system that runs a particular software program). Dual booting is crazy if you need to switch back and forth between software from both systems. I have played around with virtual Linux machines in my Windows boxes, and I have played around with virtual Windows machines in a Linux box. Both have a whole new set of problems.
MAC: TRAINING AND SUPPORT
About 200 Apple stores are located around the country, including flagships in major cities. Besides a great shopping experience, they provide daily, free seminars aimed at beginning, intermediate and advanced users. They include a free Genius Bar, where you can ask any questions about using the computer. Thus, with an Apple Store nearby, you have free tech support.
And if you buy the AppleCare Protection Plan, you can extend to three years the original warranty’s unlimited access to Apple’s U.S.-based technical support for computers and software. If you have a problem with Office or Vista, do you really think you can call Microsoft and get any help? But if you have Mac hardware problems, Apple will make the repairs promptly—with free shipping both ways if you’re not near an Apple Store.
PC: TRAINING AND SUPPORT
Apple promises three- to five-day turnaround and “AppleCare.” Excuse me, but if I want to repair my PC, I can do it myself or take it to my good buddy at the local computer store. If you really want to send your hard drive and computer to Apple for a few days, be my guest.
As for training, if I stay with my PC, I really don’t need Apple to train me, do I?
MAC: THE REST
Of course, there are several Mac-positive reasons given by those of us who are fanboys. They can all be summed up in a word: cost. Catch you by surprise?
Historically, Macs were more expensive than PCs, but this is no longer true. Macs now cost about the same as similarly equipped PCs, but Macs tend to hold their value better over time. Two-year-old Mac laptops can sell for 60 percent of their original purchase price.
And Macs are far more reliable than PCs. By utilizing tight hardware integration and a rock-solid operating system, Apple makes computers that just don’t crash.
And secure? There are reportedly well over 100,000 viruses for PCs. For Macs? The answer is zero!
Any lawyer using a PC without anti-virus and security protection should probably be fired for malpractice. Mac users may never run such software. And because Macs require you to enter your password before installing any programs, you are protected from spyware, Trojan horses and other pernicious programs—another cut in cost. You can forgo the “joy” and expense of seeing your technical support person on a regula basis.
And Macs are famously easier to use. The operating system is very intuitive, and most programs can be used without having to first read an instruction manual. Most new Mac users are up to speed and comfortable with their machine within a day or two. And many find the Mac allows the performance of more sophisticated tasks because the interface hides complexities.
Dependability, security and ease of use—it all adds up to less cost. And the best box at any price.
PC: THE BEST
Aah, c’mon. price is most certainly not an Apple advantage. In its zeal to be cool and proprietary, the new Apple ultralight, the MacBook Air, costs more than $1,700.
Comparable specs are available on Windows machines for less than $1,000. And Apple is still a one-trick pony. There are a lot of companies building machines for the Windows market. Competition is a good thing.
Also, Windows XP is a mature operating system, and most of us are comfortable with it and have applied the necessary updates and other fixes required to make it relatively secure. Switching to the Mac OS would require, besides the purchase price (and in the case of a law firm, lots of purchases), the time and training to learn and use a new operating system. I don’t care how easy it allegedly is; I want to be a fly on the wall when you tell your office staff and attorneys they have to start over. I own a 14-year-old car, a car I will drive until it dies. But when that happens, I don’t want to learn to drive all over again.
As for reliability, I can’t remember the last time my properly configured Windows machine saw the blue screen of death. With the XP operating system and the current fixes and an anti-virus program installed, the lack-of-reliability claims are smoke and mirrors. And as Macs become more popular, I assure you that hackers will find ways to attack them.
For all the positive hype about the “cool” Mac, a Web developer/ Mac convert has posted on his blog a 33-item complaint about why he has thoughts about going back.
Slow operations, bugs and crashes, useless functions, high expenses—sounds like the cost of an Apple is nearing its weight in gold.
Web extras:
See how the debate goes on: The Debate Rages
Products mentioned:
Ben Stevens is a name partner in Stevens-MacPhail in Spartanburg, S.C. He authors the South Carolina Family Law Blog, the South Carolina Personal Injury Law Blog and The Mac Lawyer. He will be participating in two presentations on Macs at the ABA Techshow in Chicago in March.
Richard M. "Rick" Georges is a solo practitioner who practices real property, corporation, wills, trusts and estates law in Pinellas County, Fla. He authors the FutureLawyer and Sololawyer. He also gives seminars on the use of computers in the practice of law.
Sidebar
TopBoxes
Dennis Kennedy, who writes the ABA Journal technology column, recommends these six computers*
Sony Vaio
Image courtesy of Sony
PC
- Dell XPS M1330
A workhorse notebook showing Dell's new emphasis on design. - Lenovo X61 Tablet PC
An electronic legal pad and much more with a great design for air travel and Lenovo's excellent rep for business computers. - Sony VAIO TZ150N
Thin is in. At 1 inch thick, nearly as thin as the new MacBook Air without the compromises in features.
Apple MacBook Pro
Image courtesy of Apple
Mac
- iMac
The best family computer makes a great work machine with a large display and small footprint on the desk. - MacBook Pro
Today's do-it-all machine: notebook, desktop replacement, Windows platform, Mac showcase. Turns heads and gets your work done with speed and style.* - MacBook
Millions of teens can't be wrong. This great-looking, affordable Mac covers your work needs and is right at home in the Internet cafe.
* Disclaimer: Kennedy notes that he is part of an Apple program through which he has use of a MacBook Pro.
Related Stories
- Mac Mavens Speak Up
May 2008 Issue - Best for the Business
May 2008 Issue - The Debate Rages
March 2008 Issue - Really Simple Competitive Intelligence
March 2008 Issue
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Comments
Posted by JM - Feb 27, 2008 08:53 am CDT
Give me a break! How on earth can you compare the MacBook Air to a Windows laptop? There is nothing on the Windows laptop market that matches the form factor of the MBAir.
I have used Windows PCs since 1991. That included supporting hundreds of desktops for law firms, hospitals, accounting firms and non-profits while I was consulting for a small networking company. I built my own PCs and used the best hardware. But Windows still was awful to use. It still crashed due to poorly written drivers. And it was slowed down from it’s fullest potential by all the virus and security software that had to be run on top of the OS.
I switched to a Mac in 2006. It was the best thing I did. Using a computer is no longer a headache. It’s actually fun! There is nothing Microsoft can do to lure me back. They had their chance.
I am not cool because I use a Mac. I am just a whole lot smarter and know how to get the most out of my money.
Posted by Buzz Bruggeman - Feb 27, 2008 02:08 pm CDT
Suggest to JIM that he look at the Lenovo X300. When I practiced law the Mac was fun to use, but frankly crippled by the absence of veritical market applications that actually allow you to get a lot done. We built an application that optimizes Windows. (http://www.activewords.com/) because Microsoft has 95% market share. To achieve that kind of market share they must be doing something right. From my perspective there is very little software being develpped for the Mac, and really no signs that will change. Getting venture money to build a Mac product would be impossible. Most of the lawyers I know with Macs using either Parallells, VMWare or Bootcamp to insure they can run the software they need.
Apple builds good and at times great hardware, but one would be delusional to think that a Mac is the best solution of a tech smart lawyer.
Posted by ChristopherM - Feb 27, 2008 08:35 pm CDT
Rick needs to visit a law school before talking about market share. I’m a 2L at the University of Louisville. When I started, a handful of Macs were at the school. My class is maybe 10% Mac with someone converting each month. The current 1L class is probably 20% Mac. I think the numbers he is reading are not indicative of the legal profession in general since those are from the overall market, and they are certainly not indicative of what is going on with the next generation of attorneys.
Posted by Christopher N. Luhn - Feb 28, 2008 11:30 am CDT
I switched from PCs to Mac in ‘04 after spending 20+ hours on the phone with MS tech support over crash issues on a new Dell desktop. I started with a PowerMac G-4 (non-Intel) that is still on my desk at home (just added the new Leopard OS). I also just opened my own solo practice - - just me and my iMac (Duo Intel, 20” display, 2 GB memory, and a wireless internet connection. Setting aside the obvious elegance, look and feel of the Mac, it all comes down to this: what is your time worth, and how much are you prepared to devote to crashes, lock-ups, virus worries, hardware malfunctions and time messing with software conflicts? I, for one, have better things to do. The Macs just, plain work. Period! And, on the rare occasion you need help, you make one call, wait less than 2-3 minutes (typically), and are connected with a breathing human being who lives, breathes and sleeps the product. So, for me, the choice is simple, and simply proves the adage “You get what you pay for.”
Posted by Grace Suarez - Feb 28, 2008 11:56 am CDT
What was telling is how snippy Rick Georges got towards the end. He started out very professional, and then just slid into jabs and attacks. He ended up sounding like the PC guy in the Apple ads.
And what’s this about fixing the PC himself? How many attorneys can do that?
I switched from PC’s to Macs after 25 years as a PC power user (yes, I fixed them myself, and even assembled my own). I’ve never been happier. The iMac is a thing of beauty, and the entire Mac world is like a parallel universe where almost everything works.
As for word processors for the Mac, don’t overlook Nisus Writer Pro. A straightforward professional word processor with fantastic tech support for $79.
Posted by Dan - Feb 28, 2008 12:09 pm CDT
Not Red, but Pickled (the arguments are so obsolete) Herring Arguments by MacWorshippers:
“blue screen of death...blah, blah” - if you are really making this claim, perhaps you haven’t used a pc for 10-15 years;
“life is beautiful...no virus worries” - I am online as much as anyone and I try a lot of software, haven’t had a virus this decade, protection is free if you pay attention, so what it costs me is an occasional pop-up (on two of my three pc’s) that the latest updates have loaded;
“drivers are so bothersome” - honestly. Using XP Pro, skype, wifi, bluetooth, corded and cordless USB-connected phones, a Scansnap, external 500gig storeage, misc printers, and on and on, the ONLY driver issue I can recall in many years is very brief hiccup with a bluetooth dongle on a desktop.
So, let’s speak the truth: we like what we like, we all have our anecdotes; if a Mac is pretty for you or makes you feel like the enlightened minority or a rebel...go with that.
Posted by Chris Shea - Feb 28, 2008 12:23 pm CDT
Mac user here (G4 PowerBook purchased in January 2006). For a solo or small firm, Macs make a huge amount of sense. Low-maintenance and easy to use. And thanks to Ben Stevens for mentioning NoteBook. I downloaded it after reading this article and already love it. Great piece of software.
Posted by Lee - Feb 28, 2008 01:23 pm CDT
I’m glad my Mac OS is “actually” secure right from installation, instead of just “relatively secure” after the “necessary updates and other fixes required to make it” so.
Posted by Ann - Feb 28, 2008 01:39 pm CDT
Hmm, the Apple guy focuses on Apple, while the PC guy seems to also focus on Apple. I thought he was supposed to be writing about the advantages of the PC, not trying desperately to find something negative to write about the Apple.
Posted by Charles Fincher - Feb 28, 2008 07:45 pm CDT
Call it a case of reverse snobbery, but the condescension of the MAC ads make me determined to stick with PCs—and I wear jeans and Ts, except when I have to go to court. I use PCs smoothly for both law and graphics (dual careers). Perhaps MAC prices are coming down, but when I made purchases last year, PCs were cheaper, and since I don’t plan to stay with one computer for a particularly long time, I prefer to get in cheaper and out quicker. But, if someone wants to buy me a MAC, I’d be happy to try it out. Regardless, both Rick’s and Ben’s presentations above, are informative.
Posted by Steven Birch - Feb 28, 2008 11:21 pm CDT
Umm, yeah, Apple laptops and desktops use industry standard hard drives, both for internal use ie: SATA drives you can buy one at Best Buy and install it, again for laptops or desktops from Apple alike. Ram? Crucial.com sells ram for Apple systems the same as everyone elses. Printers? External USB 2.0 hard drives, scanners? Digital Cameras? Camcorders? Oh yeah, you mean all of those proprietary things Apple makes you buy from THEM? Give me a break. I am a CTO of a technology company, and the CTOs I know from ISPs, web hosting companies, web application development companies? All MacOS X users. I have Apple computers, HP printers, Canon scanners, Sony camcorders and digital cameras from Sony, Canon, Nikon. External hard drives from Western Digital and Seagate. Amazing how all of that just seems to work together. Its a joke to say that you HAVE to buy anything from Apple but the computer. Oh not to insult you anymore than I have to, Go back 20+ years and Apple computers have always used industry standard Ram, HDs (SCSI, IDE, SATA)… so your comment still about Apple forcing you to buy a HD from them in some proprietary format is just a laugh, and shows how little you know about the product you are bashing…
Posted by Brian James - Feb 28, 2008 11:35 pm CDT
"since I don’t plan to stay with one computer for a particularly long time, I prefer to get in cheaper and out quicker”
Great way to be “green” in this world of over consumption. Why not buy a system that will last you for a few years. We have staff using 4 to 6 year old Mac systems for graphic design, web development, and no sign of needing to really upgrade them. So instead of buying a $500 computer you are going to landfill in 1 to 2 years why not spend $1300 - $1500 (iMac/Macbook) on a computer that will last everyone but game players 3 to 5 times longer? Sure its more up front, but a heck of a lot less trash in the end. That is also likely the reason MacOS systems are more expensive, Apple gets less turn over on new systems, people tend to still be actively using them for day to day work for usually many years after the average Windows user has upgraded at least 1 to 3 times.
Posted by charles fincher - Feb 29, 2008 03:57 am CDT
I’m not going to sit here like a potted plant and be wrongly accused of “buying a $500 computer” without responding. I paid $614 for my laptop.
Posted by Charles - Feb 29, 2008 08:39 am CDT
The price difference really is a myth, at least insofar as the notebooks go. I switched to a MacBook Pro about a year and a half ago, and at that time I did extensive research on price, quality, etc. Yeah, you can find a cheaper Windows laptop, but when you look at systems with similar setups, the Apple machines are often less expensive. If I recall, at that time a Lenovo with the same setup cost about $200 more. So, yeah, you will pay more for an Apple than for a piece of junk, but you will not pay more for an Apple than for a Windows machine of similar quality.
As for this debate - I sadly have to agree that, at least for now, Macs are probably only going to work in small offices. But with recent marketshare growth, we might see ports of more software suites, etc. Or, more likely, more software will be done online, so you will not actually need a copy of it on your computer (e.g., document review software). In that world, you can use whatever platform you like.
Posted by Stuart A.Forsyth - Feb 29, 2008 09:36 am CDT
I remember a time when Macs were dismissed as toys. No one, it was PC-argued, would consider using them for serious work.
What’s fascinating is that now we have a serious front-cover debate as more and more attorneys in the marketplace chose Macs.
Posted by ben - Feb 29, 2008 09:39 am CDT
It would have been nice if the PC advocate had written his article independently, rather than in response to Mr. Stevens.
I switched to a Mac years ago, after using Windows machines for a decade. I’ve built PC computers from scratch, I know how to do some of the servicing myself.. the fact is, I don’t want to do that. My last Windows box was a Dell running Windows XP, and it seemed to crash all the time, caught viruses and trojans and spyware, and was a huge pain to maintain. Since switching, those problems have vanished. For me, that was reason enough to abandon Windows.
There seem to be several strawman arguments presented here, most notably the idea that i you use a Mac, the entire firm has to switch. Macs run just swell alongside PCs. If you like Macs, use one. If someone else in your office wants or needs a PC, fine. This isn’t an either/or proposition.
I was also surprised Mr. Stevens didn’t mention Apple’s automated, integrated back-up solution, Time Machine. Just connect an external hard drive, and the OS does the rest. This might not be ideal for large firms, but for smaller solo practitioners, this is an ideal backup solution.
Posted by Curtis Domingue - Feb 29, 2008 10:47 am CDT
I would not keep a car that unexpectedly shut down every 50 to 100 miles requiring me to pull over, stop the car completely and then turn it back on to be able to drive further until it undoubtedly would stop again. It doesn’t matter how easy it is to buy parts to fix or improve the car, the unexpected shutdowns would be unexceptable. I have put up with this same situation with my many different PCs through the years and have finally had enough. I recently began using an iMac together with Parallels and have not had one system problem. I wish I had taken the plunge years ago.
Posted by CL - Feb 29, 2008 10:54 am CDT
I absolutely adore my Mac, and as I prepare to graduate this spring and enter a job market that I feared was 99% PC-based, it excites me to see all the Apple support in these comments. I plan to buy a newer unit once I start working (less because my old laptop is dying and more because I want to take advantage of new features and technology), and now I’m even more confident in my decision to stick with Apple.
My trusty PowerBook is about four years old. My cat knocked a glass of water onto it twice (finally learned my lesson to put that glass away before bed), and I once slipped while carrying it to another room, dropping it about four feet onto the tile floor while it was running. Despite the abuse, I have never once had an issue (other than a bent corner resulting from that drop). I can’t imagine the PCs I used to have ever surviving through all of that.
I couldn’t care less if I look “cool,” by the way; I took time off to work between college and law school, and I couldn’t look cool around all those 23-year-olds if I tried. Like Mr. Georges, what I do care about is getting the most for my money and making the most efficient use of my time. I used to have to take my old PCs in to Best Buy for service so often, the tech staff and I were on a first-name basis. I wonder if they miss me?
Posted by GMP - Feb 29, 2008 12:24 pm CDT
"I own a 14-year-old car, a car I will drive until it dies. But when that happens, I don’t want to learn to drive all over again.” In a way, though, you do learn to drive again. The new car will have a new feel, perhaps a new size, new dimensions, new turn radius, new features, etc. This is not unlike switching to OSX from Windows; it’s not as though you have to learn what a computer is, how a keyboard works or where the mouse will direct you. The differences in usage are often nominal for the average user and the Apple website (an EXCELLENT resource, I might add) has several pages of easy to follow instruction to help users get used to the differences in product name, uses and/or location.
“For all the positive hype about the “cool” Mac, a Web developer/ Mac convert has posted on his blog a 33-item complaint about why he has thoughts about going back.” Your argument about why Macs are inferior cites to a single blogger written in September 2005. I hope your legal arguments and citations are more authoritative than this! I would note that since this article was written, ( two operating systems ago!),Apple has changed their entire processor line and has addressed, corrected or abandoned (in a few cases of dated software apps) every issue the writer references. If you found a similar article with 33 reasons a blogger wanted to switch back that was written, say...February 2008, I would find it much more persuasive.
I also find it very interesting that the PC defender is using Windows XP to make his argument that Windows is better, when M$ has had Vista out for over a year now. I guess he is with the large majority of Windows users who either feel Vista is an inferior OS or don’t want to incur the expense of upgrading the hardware throughout the computer (a MUST on most Windows machines).
To comment poster Buzz: if you really want to get into a discussion of how/why you really need to look at the history of the GUI OS. Windows stole the OS from Apple (and openly continues to steal from the Apple OS to this day) and then “won” market share by licensing their stolen OS to the business community. Once adopted by the business community (admittedly a good business strategy) there was a trickle down effect that users at work often bought the same computer at home for compatibility. Microsoft does not have a higher share because their product is better or that they have excelled over lesser competitors in a free market system. Need proof of that? Look at the BILLIONS in fines for anti-trust levied against them in the US & Europe. That is no accident. When the Justice Department brought charges against them in the US all of their business partners voluntarily testified against the company and its practices. They are Big Brother, nothing more.
I cannot conceive of using anything but a Mac. It is something to actually enjoy using a computer.
Posted by AB - Feb 29, 2008 12:31 pm CDT
I have to agree with the Mac people here. I am currently in law school and bought a MacBook Pro specifically to use here. I would say that between 30-35% of my peers have also made the switch. Why? They just work. The support is awesome and there is no language barrier when I speak to customer service. I am not super tech savvy - I really don’t have the time - and I have been able to answer most of my own questions just by scrolling through the folders on my Mac. If I can do it, anyone can! I still have my Dell desktop that has been giving me the blue screen of death since only three months after I bought it, and I truly don’t ask much of it. I run Parallels on my Mac to have access to “the rest” of the world, so in no way am I out of the loop. There is nothing that I can’t do on this machine! I did find Microsoft Office 2003 easier to use than iWork ‘08, but since the introduction of Office 2007, I can say that Microsoft has definitely lost me. And who has ever heard of releasing an entirely new OS only to have buyers reverting en masse to the prior OS (a la Vista)? No viruses, no blue screens, great support and everything works. My experience has not been completely perfect, but I sure am not looking back!
Posted by Jonathan Starre - Feb 29, 2008 01:39 pm CDT
I have been a Mac user since my father’s law office bought its first LISA in 1984. (I was one year old.) And while Macs are the superior product, there is one MAJOR drawback to being a Mac-using law student. The California Board of Bar Examiners forbids test-takers from using Macintosh to take their exams.
I come from an era of law students where 90% of students take their exams on laptops, and at my school, Loyola Law School of Los Angeles, it seems that over 10% of students prefer Macs. Until the State Bar comes around, Mac owning students like myself must still find a PC to use to take the Bar, or risk it all by emplying an ancient method we have never used to take a race-horse exam: handwriting.
The problem with Macs (well, the State Bar actually) is that I still need to buy either a PC or a pen to become a lawyer!
Posted by Steve Perkins - Feb 29, 2008 03:06 pm CDT
A computer is a hunk of metal and plastic that runs software. If there is specific software you need or want to run, then you buy the computer that runs this software. If you use general-purpose apps that are common across both platforms, then it’s just a matter of personal prefence.
If lawyers were engaged in sophisticated software develpment, they’d need Windown or maybe UNIX workstations. If lawyers were engaged in graphics design work, they would need Macs. Laywers typically do neither of these things. They spend all their time in case-managment software, a web browser (for Westlaw/Lexis), and Microsoft Office. All of these things are available for both platforms.
There’s no real “argument” to be had here, just personal preference. It’s like asking whether the XBox or PS2 was better, when the only games you ever played were non-exclusive titles common to both machines.
Posted by charles fincher - Feb 29, 2008 03:38 pm CDT
"[Y]ou will pay more for an Apple than for a piece of junk.” My $614 Toshiba laptop with Vista may not be cool, but it is not a piece of junk. Instead, it was a measured purchase to fit my exact laptop requirements (not my primary computer and coupled via “logmein.com” to my desktop when away).
I wonder at the need to trash one system in order to lift up the other—other than it is fun.
I’ve built Web sites, executed moderately sophisticated original graphics and done legal work, all on a muscular, rebuilt, PC desktop from Best Buy’s online specials. But, would I like to try a Mac? Sure.
Posted by BoughtM$KoolAid - Feb 29, 2008 08:56 pm CDT
Sorry Charlie, Apple is just Good Cop Microsoft.
While Lawyers need polished systems, security is a big issue, that hopefully some will learn about in 2008, it is THAT easy to write a ‘virus’ or script/program that changes data, that is essentially what programmers do.
Linux is also USA *wrong* stuff. Watch out. Only BSD systems, with custom work really suit up, even still, all needs to be custom to be acceptable.
Best of all possible worlds, I guess, all systems need negotiation built in.
Posted by The Edge - Mar 3, 2008 12:31 pm CDT
The main point missed in the article by both the PC and Mac guy is that most Windows computer users are confronted, right now, with changing computers and changing operating systems. Vista doesn’t run well (if at all) on most of the PCs sitting on your desk. Vista doesn’t run much of the software you have, and new software will be written for Vista and not XP. Plus, Vista is very different than Windows XP.
So users must learn a new operating system, buy a new machine, and purchase and use new software.
So, if you’ve got to do that anyway, why not at least consider a Mac? All the arguing aside, go into the Apple store and play. Compare similarly configured machines to Dells. And finally, think of the 100,000 windows viruses and the ZERO mac viruses.
You’re going to be switching. Will your switch be to Vista or Mac? Mac makes more sense.
Posted by The Edge - Mar 4, 2008 09:25 am CDT
One last thought. I use Macs and Windows. There are clearly arguments in both directions. However, the ABA does a disservice to the legal community by allowing writers to propagate inaccuracies. Opinion is one thing, but misrepresentations are another.
For example, the PC guy states: “I have always objected to Apple’s proprietary mindset: If you want a new hard drive, you must buy it from us, and you will pay what we want. I like competition, and I like the fact that I can open up a PC and change out the hard drive with an inexpensive product that is the result of a lot of competition.” This is but one example of falsities propagated by the article. It certainly leaves the impression that you can’t repair your own Mac and that you must use Apple’s parts; neither of which are true.
I recently had a failure of a hard drive in an Apple laptop. Who was that hard drive made by? Seagate technologies, a leading vendor of Windows hard drives. I pulled the drive out of the machine by myself, got a warranty replacement, and replaced it with a Western Digital hard drive by myself. Nothing proprietary about that and plenty of competition.
No lawyer would tolerate lying to a court or judge, how come legal publications allow authors to lie to the public? Make arguments based on fact, not things that were facts 20 years ago but are no longer valid.
Make no mistake, Apple uses the same non-proprietary parts everyone else uses for most of their major components.
Posted by Ed - Mar 4, 2008 11:56 am CDT
Rick sounds as ridiculous as the PC guy in the Apple commercials. Please..... It’s always the guys who have NEVER tried a MAC that are quick to complain. If his best argument is “if it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it”, then I don’t want him on my team. In many instances, the old school way isnt’ better. Why not stick to DOS? Because the Windows environment greatly improved on the effifiency of the worker. It wasn’t just the “cool” factor. Same with Apple- it gets you to start thinking like a human, not a rat in a cage. Rick, get over yourself.
Posted by Jason Crawford - Mar 4, 2008 12:54 pm CDT
My experience with a Mac based server installation in my small firm has been nothing short of revolutionary. I switched to Mac for my personal computer three years ago and, after seeing the immediate benefit of no viruses, no crashing, no hardware incompatibility, decided to switch my practice to the Mac platform as well.
The biggest advantage came when i installed my office network. I had previous experience in purchasing and setting up two PC based network servers for other businesses. The hardware costs ran from $5,000 - $10,000. What really hurt, though, was the IT consultant who had to spend hours upon hours setting up the systems and then troubleshooting additional problems for weeks (IT costs - $3,000+).
My mac server was installed and fully operational in THREE HOURS. While the hardware costs were only marginally cheaper than a PC based system, the setup costs and ongoing maintenance has been a small fraction of the costs of a PC system.
Yes, the software is not as law-specific in the Mac environment. It is a drawback right now. But I am sure that many people way back when thought that cars would not catch on because there would never be any roads to drive them on. Times change.
Posted by JCorgan - Mar 5, 2008 05:00 pm CDT
I use both platforms. There’s a PC at my desk. Still, I can wirelessly connect my Mac iBook G4 laptop to the network in my office. What do I use 99 percent of the time? My Mac. It just works. And for those pesky programs that will not ever work on OSX, (and since my iBook isn’t an Intel Mac), I picked up Virtual PC, and can run those programs in Windows XP ... on my Mac! Frankly, the approach Apple takes is so much more intuitive that you’ll find yourself working more, and cursing over your computer less.
Posted by Jared - Mar 6, 2008 05:10 pm CDT
First off, I’m not in law. That being said, I’ve used BASIC (on an old Vic-20) MSDos 5.0 and up Novell, and various flavors of Linux. I still have XP, but after having to build countless pc’s, upgrades, etc. - Not to mention all the resources chewed up by needing a Firewall, spyware, adware, virus scan (double etc.) I have to say that I just got tired of it all.
I got an iMac this year, and I’m quite happy with it. I use it mainly for Graphic and video editing. I don’t run games. Don’t have time for them.
Surfing the ‘tainted’ web is much more relaxing and so few headaches.
Everywhere I look, there’s a debate between Mac and PC users. Youtube, forums and even here. wow…
I feel that mac is a more ‘automated’ os, with less needs. What works for you is exactly that. I have found I really like Mac, and I’m going to stick with it.
Posted by Gene M - Mar 6, 2008 05:25 pm CDT
Don’t get Mac. That said, get a Mac. I know a firm that bought Macs for everyone and then tried to run Windows programs on them instead of finding Mac equivalents. That firm has made the mistake of re-formatting all their Macs to run Windows and now they’re happy. Do yourself a favor, if you aren’t ready to switch, don’t. If you’re going to go Mac, then do it with an open mind, find the functional equivalents and truly switch. It will be mind blowing, but you need to blow up your mind first. Think different!
Posted by David Crandon - Mar 8, 2008 10:12 am CDT
Since when do you have to buy a new hard drive from Apple? Since, uh, never! They take the same hard drives as a PC, and are usually way easier to install.
Posted by Thom Carl - Mar 8, 2008 10:47 am CDT
Wellllllllll the article starts off with an oxymoron, lawyer and expert don’t go together. The rest of it is down hill. I don’t know what the other guys are using and I don’t care, I’m happy with what I use.
Posted by Bob D - Mar 8, 2008 10:53 am CDT
I’ve been using computers since 1980 when I worked on a Unix terminal at the NSA. I’ve used just about every flavor of Windows and had a small taste of Linux in the last 27 years. I’ve also been a Mac user since 1986. NOW take most Windows PC users who are avidly pro-Windows and/or anti-Apple. The vast majority have very little to no experience using Macs in my experience, especially since OS X came on the screen. Who’s judgement is better informed? We Mac users who have used both extensively? Or PC users who insist PC’s are the better option with little to no experience with a modern Mac? What fool would trust the advice of someone when considering two cars or boats or TV’s or airplanes who only had experience with one of the choices and not all the choices? Mac fanatics tend to sound maniacal because of their frustration with dealing with bozos who insist a Mac is a poor choice when they have little to NO experience with them. Questions?
Posted by VanaxABAJournal - Mar 8, 2008 11:00 am CDT
Rick Georges, you quoted your mother as having said ‘“Son, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”’ You even used quotation marks to reinforce the veracity of her words.
Then you said, ‘“Of course, my mom would never use ain’t...’” Never use ain’t? Ha ha.
When did you lie, in the first quote or the second? Oops! Hey, you lost your credibility in that first paragraph.
Was it Tacitus who may be the first to have been recorded as saying that a lie in an argument throws the rest of the argument into doubt?
Your argument is thrown into immediate doubt.
Posted by the Ledger - Mar 8, 2008 11:02 am CDT
Readers might want to check out some case studies on Apple’s site http://www.apple.com/business/profiles/
In one civil law office, they calculated the savings at $50,000 per year of switching to Macs and the savings have been even greater now that they are running 65 Macs at last count with no dedicated IT staff. And their user satisfaction is claimed to be much higher than it ever was using PC’s.
Macs (not MACs) may not be for everyone, but I bet that a lot of legal firms could stand to financially benefit from making the switch if they took a similar thoughtful approach and take the emotion out of the equation.
And for those litigating, the high quality tools that Apple provides will be a powerful, persuasive ally.
Posted by Reality Check - Mar 8, 2008 01:43 pm CDT
Ben Stevens’ statement: “There are reportedly well over 100,000 viruses for PCs. For Macs? The answer is zero!” is false.
While it is true that there are not nearly as many viruses for Macs as there are for PCs, there certainly ARE viruses for Macs too.
See: http://www.macworld.com/article/51426/2006/06/protectmac.html
Posted by scott - Mar 8, 2008 01:51 pm CDT
I’m not a lawyer, but one thing always strikes me about these Mac vs. PC debates—people who defend PCs/Windows tend not to have ever used a Mac, whereas people who defend Macs tend to have used both and therefore can make an informed comparison.
Not that Macs necessarily would be the right choice for every lawyer and/or law firm, but to dismiss them with no experience of their capabilities strikes me as passing judgement without examining the evidence.
Posted by zek - Mar 9, 2008 03:54 am CDT
There is so much wrong with the PC argument here, but I’ll just highlight one: the assertion that you can’t replace your hard Drive with one of your choice is false.
Posted by Jon T - Mar 9, 2008 10:04 am CDT
THE only way this argument could make sense is to find a law firm that has switched FROM Mac to Windows.
And that is an impossibility. Macs win every time, and on every criteria.
Posted by -hh - Mar 9, 2008 01:48 pm CDT
For “Reality Check”:
“While it is true that there are not nearly as many viruses for Macs as there are for PCs, there certainly ARE viruses for Macs too.”
Well, there’s ONE, the ‘Leap.A ‘(aka Oompa-Loompa), which surfaced February 2006. There’s also a couple of Worm/Trojans (which aren’t the same risk as a virus), specifically, the Inqtana.A Worm and a Trojan disguised as a Video Codex on a few ‘free’ Porn sites.
And as per <aroundcny.com/technofile/texts/mac061604.html>, there’s roughly 11,500/year found in Windows, which at a 5% Mac marketshare would mean that 575/year would be expected for OS X (and 1150 incidents since the Leap.A was found in 2006), if the difference in malware incidence rate was simply due just to Market Share. Since that is not true: the actual observed value is far lower (single digits by even the most aggressive counts), this is evidence that OS X’s security is tangibly superior based on its demonstrated performance history. To try to quantify it by using malware count, OS X is more secure than Windows by TWO TO THREE FULL ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE.
And all the time & money spent trying to keep one’s system secure comes at the expense of a higher overhead and thus, lower profits. As such, if you’re my competitor, I certainly wish that you keep on running on Windows.
-hh
Posted by bkp - Mar 9, 2008 05:04 pm CDT
The reason all lawyers should use WIndoze is that Microsoft is the biggest corporate criminal in the known universe. And, where would lawyers be without criminals?
Posted by scott - Mar 9, 2008 07:51 pm CDT
A thorough, rationale look at the Mac’s strengths, from a Microsoft MVP, no less:
http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/02/14/50-reasons-to-switch-from-microsoft-windows-to-apples-mac-os-x/
Posted by 2or4depends - Mar 10, 2008 10:14 am CDT
Pick the right tool for the job. People have very different IT needs and support. Microsoft is having problems these days, like an old tool. That said, some windows software, custom, might be critical to competitive advantage right now. The key is to migrate to a stable working platform over time.
One thing is certain, get good IT help if you want a winning platform over time. Relearning tools while running, surely is a pain and a costly move to make, full of errors.
I’d hope that Lawyers understand how some play ball in this field to destroy competition, there were some nice open textual programs out there, got destroyed… Pick your people and tools well.
Not a lawyer, but I know some IT well.
Posted by johfoster - Mar 10, 2008 12:31 pm CDT
regarding this link:
http://russellbeattie.com/notebook/1008631.html
Using the above link as an argument show the ignorance of “the PC guy.” That article was posted in the fall of 2005. Much of Mr. Beattie’s complaints have been fixed, updated or weren’t anything more than whining “I don’t like green eggs and ham.” Even when the article was written, most of his complaints were just Windows fanboy rants. The biggest puzzle is the author lambasting Apple for making expensive hardware yet two years later he’s <a href = “http://www.russellbeattie.com/blog/wow-apples-bluetooth-slim-keyboard-is-perfect">singing the praises</a> of the a $79 wireless keyboard. Using this article as evidence reminds me of high school debate class were the second negative ran out of cards and is throwing an all inclusive hail mary with hopes to waste the affirmative’s cross ex and confuse the judge.
Posted by Prescott E. Small - Mar 10, 2008 12:53 pm CDT
I have been in IT for 20+ years; I have over 10 years of MAC experience dating back to the MAC Plus. I have about 15 years of PC experience and the last 5 years have been focusing on security and intrusion prevention.. I am also a SANS GIAC Certified Security Professional. When I had my own computer business I specialized in setups and upgrades of fully networked systems for law firms.
Being that Ben Stevens is an attorney and is contributing to this article I have to assume that he is aware that he is reporting false information. He is either lying or he is completely incompetent regarding the “Security” of the Mac. There are “ZERO” Mac viruses is a complete lie and he should be ashamed of himself for misleading people like this. It is either gross negligence or complete stupidity.
Also his claims about costs are false - I have personally managed $30 million upgrade projects for windows and made comparisons to MAC that people like Ben never even consider:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Its-Not-the-OS-Stupid,-Its-Layer-8-of-the-OSI-Model&id=522079
http://ezinearticles.com/?Software-Threats-to-the-Enterprise-and-Home-User&id=966574
It is my professional opinion that Ben Stevens is not qualified to advise anyone on their computer purchases - if he were to do so someone should sue him for malpractice.
You see operating systems are made by people; people make mistakes which result in flaws or weaknesses. Other humans constantly seek out these weaknesses and attempt to exploit them. Once the exploit is found a Virus is written to take advantage and then web sites go up to lure the unsuspecting.
Mac users make a serious mistake in assuming that their systems are immune – that is ridiculous. MAC had security through obscurity. In other words they were such an insignificant market share that they became to insignificant of a target to attack. That is not security.
Now MAC and its supporters have been claiming that Macs are invulnerable – that is basically daring attackers to try. Then they are regaining back some market share now which means they are increasing the target size making them more appealing to try to exploit.
You also have to take into account the fact that the MAC OS’ has verified vulnerabilities which exploits are being created for right now.
One of the most dangerous parts to this puzzle is what I like to refer to as Layer 8 of the OSI Model – the end User. These oft repeated messages of “You’re safe and Mac’s don’t get viruses.” Build up a false sense of security in Mac users that will make exploiting them far easier than the savvy PC users.
You must always remember that the bad guys are after the low hanging fruit. With Macs not being protected, users being over confident and a growing market share the Mac is fast approaching the status of lowest hanging fruit.
Some final advice: Never, ever trust a person that tells you your OS is immune to Viruses. Never, ever trust only your OS to protect itself from you and the internet.
Here’s an offer Ben - you stop trying to pretend to be an I.T. guy and I won’t pretend to be a lawyer.
Mac Viruses:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking/macs-becoming-virus-targets/2006/05/01/1146335624796.html
One last parting comment:
Rick Georges is absolutely correct when he states “Remember: Know what software you want to run before you decide what hardware to buy.”
This is the golden rule of computing – You always by computers to perform a task. The task defines the software and the software defines the computer. Anyone that would tell you to look at hardware first has no business advising anyone on computing or related technologies because they are incompetent.
Posted by -hh - Mar 10, 2008 01:28 pm CDT
Hey Prescott,
If the whole ROI is a fiction (as you claim), are you then claiming that PC --> Mac conversion that’s going on today at Auto Warehousing is wrong and utterly doomed?
http://tinyurl.com/2x3ozo
(other than their PowerBuilder to Java 6.0 plan)
-hh
Posted by David - Mar 10, 2008 06:58 pm CDT
I’ll throw in my two cents even though there is no lack of opinion here. I’m not an attorney but am rather a technologist, software developer. The most fascinating thing I’m seeing in the PC/Mac world now is the number of hard-core computer users (programmers, network administrators, etc.) that are switching to the Mac. These guys (typically) love to tinker and I think part of the appeal of the Mac is that they can still tinker with all that power under the hood, but they don’t have to mess with the various Windows annoyances. Also they like the ‘cool’ factor. And the rock-solid reliability. I could go on, but those are the salient points.
Posted by jedrury - Mar 10, 2008 07:01 pm CDT
Interesting article.
I switched to Mac and will never go back.
As Abe Lincoln said “A lawyer’s stock in trade is his time.” My Mac starts up in 20 seconds, my PC takes up to 4.5 minutes. Mac restarts are far shorter. That is enough for me.
Posted by Prescott E. Small - Mar 12, 2008 06:39 am CDT
-hh - I wouldn’t go so far as saying they are “doomed” but I will say they are very wrong on their ROI calculations. I don’t know how many CIO’s you know but I know more than a few. While many of them are technically competent individuals I find that they were experts in their fields and technical back when “big Blue” was the market leader and AS/400’s were going to rule the world. The higher up the food chain people go the more they focus on “Soft Skills” and the less on technical. That said I do not personally know this guy so there is a 50/50 shot he is current on his technologies.
What I predict is that their ROI calculations will be flat out wrong. You will notice in that article they are have to replace 100% of their architecture and software, retrain 100% of their employees and change their business model 100%.
They “New Licensing” is a classic tactic - That is always cheap - that is no different than the pusher saying you first try is free. What is going to catch them is true ups and maintenance. Those costs will increase a lot more than they have budgeted for.
I have been in this business for a very long time and I have been through many migrations and upgrades. I have converted people to Macs from PC’s and back to PC’s for the exact reason that the ROI was not achieved and it was a loss. Mac has no proven track record in this area. PC’s have hundreds of thousands of success stories of over achieving ROI and continuing that return ever since Windows 2000 was introduced. Since we deployed Windows 2000 about 6 years ago we have a cumulative savings in operations of almost $900 Million dollars.
Don’t get me wrong, I do really like the MAC, it is a nice computer with a snazzy interface, it is very pretty. However not one of those features is practical nor has a single dollar value to a business person. My only problems are that it is not as secure as people claim, can not be centrally managed as effectively as Windows based systems, and really end up cost 3 times more.
I have to wonder what the article and Dale Frantz aren’t saying. As many times as I have been through projects like this I know it is impossible to replace 100% of an infrastructure for less money that it is to update software licensing and only the equipment that needs to be upgraded to run the OS. The math just doesn’t add up. There are some major points here that we aren’t being told. I suspect they negotiated an “at cost” sale for publicity for one and I also suspect they may have been operating without licensing that was current – That is the only way I can come to a conclusion that these number might be true. If they have been operating on illegal software or non-compliant in licensing then the catch up is horrendously expensive. That is bad management and has nothing to do with the OS.
I predict their ROI will be a failure.
Posted by UponPowerExponent - Mar 12, 2008 12:15 pm CDT
Any IT person knows how unique and complex IT, ROI, and utility get over long time periods, especially with all the change going on today. Macs are filling a need, Windows is becoming a nightmare, and getting linux to not be a maintainance headache and getting BSD people to do what you want is like herding cats.
The legal world is stuck in the middle with IT, they must adapt to the trends and crap technology, like pdf files and Microsoft document formats.
Soon courts cases will have suck wordage, If the hash does not fit, you must acquit. Hash is like MD5, SHA1, etc.
As to Rick Georges software and hardware priority, great, but it is now Know what people create the software, OS and whom they get paid by/answer to. Good business code is not held in escrow with the likes of M$ and Apple. Politics rules. Lawyers are experts at that. Just keep in mind, IT is the same game. Apple and Microsoft, same stairwell. Be advised Lawyers, IT people might just know more loopholes and trampolines than lawyers and politicians.
As to the 100% replace versus upgrade, Microsoft to Apple can qualify. Want SQL ‘secured?’ Need Enterprise and backend, need ISA server, Need MOM [Microsoft Operation Manager] etc etc. They string you along BIG time. Exchange can be a HEADACHE in costs. Remote erase of stuff? I could go on and on as one who knows some about this business. Group policy in windows LSD man, what a joke, says it all. And Sans certificated, some sure liked to quote Steve Gibson, GRC security in their papers for their examination… I give my regards though to those who persist in this CRAZY industry.
Posted by Zino - Mar 13, 2008 10:59 am CDT
Macs are NOT perfect, there can be issues and bugs. But, having both platforms in my office, let’s just say that Apple designs its software and hardware the way engineers and artists do: It’s elegant and practical, while clearly more pleasant and, frankly, delightful to use.
Windows is the monopoly player in the PC market. Arguing that Apple is the only “proprietary” platform is completely false. Microsoft dictates everything the hardware makers can do by restricting access to code and, of course, the inherent limitations and flaws of the MS code. Having a “choice” of hardware manufacturers is actually NO choice at all.
I can count on the fingers of one hand how many times any of my office-full of OS X Macs has crashed. When an application crashes, I just force-quit the app, then restart it and keep going.
Also, there’s no “re-learning to drive” just because you’re used to Windows. OS X was copied so heavily by Microsoft, you’ll probably recognize it right away. The only challenge you’ll have is learning to “un-learn” the kludge-prone Windows way of thinking.
Posted by Frank - Mar 15, 2008 04:14 pm CDT
It’s unfortunate that Mr. Georges resorts to inflammatory remarks and silly cliches to divert attention away from the facts. Some major points I take issue with:
1. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Rick, let’s face it. It ain’t not broke. It broke. Straight up. In April of 2009, Microsoft is discontinuing free XP support (which, mind you, they were set to discontinue earlier, but were forced to change plans because of immense customer discontent). Even if Microsoft releases a new version of Windows in half the time it took them to release Vista, you’ll still be paying for extra support for an outdated OS for well over a year. If that ain’t broke, what is?
2. The Soviet Union Analogy
Come on, now; this is pathetic. Selling one brand of bread isn’t even remotely analogous to selling one brand of electronic device. Apple’s products work well because Apple controls every aspect of the experience. Take the iPod and iTunes for example. Until this perfect marriage of hardware and software, using MP3 players was clumsy and tedious. Macs work the same way. Kudos to Microsoft for supporting literally millions of hardware combinations, but, because Apple only has to support, say, a few hundred, they can anticipate and avoid (and they do) problems arising from hardware compatibility. Soviet PB&J doesn’t work any better than a combo of Smuckers, JIF, and Wonderbread. The Apple hardware-software combo simply works better than some Frankenstein box from Dell loaded with the one of the ten versions of Vista Microsoft just released.
3. The DIY Argument
What’s the difference between taking your computer to your local store and taking your computer to an Apple store, besides the fact that Apple’s extremely specialized support (they only have a handful of products they have to be knowledgeable about – and they certainly are extremely knowledgeable) is second-to-none. Seriously, look it up. “As for training,” you say, “if I stay with my PC, I really don’t need Apple to train me, do I?” Seriously? Well, when I was seventeen, I could have just as easily chosen to not get my driver’s license and continued to ride a mountain bike. Sounds reasonable, right? Thing is, a car can get me to where I need to go much more quickly and with far less effort: sometimes its worth it to abandon the familiar for a few days of discomfort and a lifetime of greater ease-of-use.
4. The Convert Story
That’s one in a million. Look at the thousands upon thousands of positive conversion stories. Better yet, look at the ratio between the two. Google “switching from pc to mac experience.” ‘Nuff said.
5. Virtualization Troubles?
It’s great that you’ve used virtualization products on Linux boxes and PCs. Parallels and VMWare’s Fusion have revolutionized what virtualization means. Get out of the 90s. No longer is virtualization clunky and complicated, but rather intuitive and reasonably fast. If you’re running one Windows-exclusive product (i.e., WordPerfect), Parallels would be perfect. A computer with a few gigs of RAM running basic Legal Software (which deals mostly with lightweight databases and text files) would run WordPerfect as if it were running natively on the Mac.
Take a look at the facts; stop being so emotional. I used PCs (a power user, like yourself) for 15 years before I switched to a Mac, and I’ll never, as they say, go back. Stop rationalizing your inability to accept change. Change for the sake of change is not necessarily good, but change – as in this case – that promotes better productivity and less stress (less computer-related stress, anyway) is certainly worth having.
Posted by Prescott E. Small - Mar 19, 2008 09:46 pm CDT
Virtualization is now a mature and stable platform. I know because we have many server farms of virtualized production environments. What everyone here is failing to mention is that every virtual system is still a system for licensing purposes. So any computer running multiple virtual machines has to have 1 OS license per virtual machine, as does each software application. This causes a dramatic increase in cost and can easily double planned budgets if you aren’t prepared or have not prenegoatiated the licensing.
Posted by 2JokeOnMacWheels - Mar 20, 2008 04:24 pm CDT
Macs latest security issues, see http://www.securityfocus.com/brief/706 Closed source Apple, sure got worm opportunities. What what you bite into.
Those who know some about open source and what security issues are currently problematic, sure have a lot of power over systems. Sadly, these problems stay in place, they just change flavors.
It really is funny to read how positive mac people are, that they run something better than windows. Can blame them, look at some of the poor arguments/scope here.
Features and implementation quality, sure are a joke today. Virtualization and legal compliance could get scary if not all free software.
Best of luck.
Posted by Dave Yoo - Mar 26, 2008 05:11 pm CDT
Dell sells Laptops and Desktops that come with Ubuntu Linux Installed!
No virus Fears, No Defraging, Free Software and Wifi.
How can you beat that!
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
Posted by miss_lain - Apr 3, 2008 05:03 am CDT
Prescott, you are yelling fire but there are no flames visible. Security through obscurity is a scare phrase used by Mac naysayers and little more at this time. They will! They are going to! When Macs become popular… Okay, fine. What’s taking them so long? They can now run Windows and many Mac users do just that. How much of a bigger market share and target do they want?
Mac OS X is based on a variation of Unix. Unix practically runs the Internet. The exploits don’t usually come from the core OS itself but from the software running inside it such as web browsers or flash players, etc. Software, for the foreseeable future, will always have vulnerabilities and you will be hard pressed to change that. Software is imperfect and imperfect people will find ways to exploit those things, and try do nefarious things for different and twisted reasons.
I think the security focus should be on how a computer hardware/software company responds to these security breaches and the swiftness of the fix to the known exploit. IOW, how actively they work to protect their customers data and livelihood.
The link you gave was from almost a year ago. Virus projection reports written by companies with vested interests in promoting virus hysteria abound, because they write and sell antivirus software. And these are primarily proof of concept and not out in the wild. They are not gathered outside your door waiting to get in. Unlike the thousands and thousands of viruses and malware making the rounds and infecting Windows computers all of the time.
You can never say never, but until it happens we can’t say for certain that it will. If you take a look outside your door right now, it’s a question of night and day.
Posted by adil javed - Apr 12, 2008 02:06 am CDT
users, and why
What is Mac, and how is it different from PC? Which one is better for professional
thank you plz detail
Posted by Giridharan appaswamy - Apr 16, 2008 04:03 pm CDT
I think the lawer should just try to change his car. I understand its old and its dying. Its like the difference between a BMW (MAC) and renault (PC). I think most of them are happy with a BMW if only you got a chance to spend on it. Or may be one´s still awaiting his christmas gift.
I wish Santa gets it this time and then you will definitely dont have to write something like this anymore