The VAR Guy is a fly on the wall this morning at Nine Lives Media Inc., the startup company that operates this site. As he bangs away this blog entry, he’s please to hear the first executive decision from the Nine Lives team: “We’re standardizing on Macs.”
Sure, Nine Lives will use a few laptops and desktops running Windows (oh, and don’t forget Ubuntu Linux). But for day-to-day operations, blogging, site development, business travel, finance (yes, even finance), Nine Lives Media Inc. is standardizing on Apple and Mac OS. The latest convert is Nine Lives co-founder Amy Katz (pictured with her new MacBook). The reasons for embracing Apple are rather simple:
- Macs Prices – About the Same (or less) than a PC: Lots of folks think Macs are more expensive than PCs. In some cases, that’s true. But in many cases, that’s not. And you can get great deals on refurbished Macs, which carrry full warranties.
- Macs Have Lower Total Cost of Ownership: Some folks may debate Nine Lives Media on that. But the company firmly believes Macs cost less to own and operate on an annual basis compared to PCs. Right off the bat, the start-up doesn’t need all the security software and many of the managed services that strive to protect Windows and PCs.
- Macs Are More Reliable: Again, this is the perception within Nine Lives Media. The VAR Guy and one of Nine Lives’ founders have been on Macs since around 2006. When problems popped up, they were easily resolved by visiting Apple Store Genius Bars.
- You Can Run Windows: If Nine Lives really wanted to, the company could use Apple Boot Camp or Parallels to run Windows on the Mac. That’s a nice option for the Windows faithful, but the company doubts it will ever put Windows on Apple hardware. Leaving Windows meant freedom from worms, virus and malware.
- Apple Stores: There’s nothing like the experience of buying a Mac in an Apple store. The stores, designed by the owners of the Ritz Carlton, send their employees off site for two days of customer training. During that 48-hour window, employees never hear about Apple hardware, software or products. Instead, they focus on the customer experience, addressing customer complaints, and engaging customers with helpful service.
Sure, PCs will find a home in Nine Lives Media. But for day-to-day operations, it’s Apple and Mac OS all the way. No wonder The VAR Guy likes blogging for these folks.
Sounds like your company’s first decision was the right one.