Mac vs. PC. Why does your business need an Apple computer?   

Disputes between Mac and PC users do not subside. Each platform has its own advantages, but often the choice comes down to price. Apple products are characterized by excellent performance, durability and safety, and therefore it is difficult to call them low-cost. As a result, some users prefer Windows computers. But is this saving justified in the future? We clarify with the experts of the ASBC company – the official reseller of Apple technology in Kazakhstan.
Analytical agency ForresterConsulting and the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier of hardware and software IBM looked at IT-investments from a different side. Analysts came to the conclusion that for the objective calculation of the cost of ownership of the device, it is necessary to take into account the entire lifecycle of the machine. As a result of the study, it was found that for three years of using one MacBook, the business saves approximately $843 compared to a PC. 

What is the total cost of ownership? 
At first glance, Apple computers are really higher in price. However, these are only initial costs, and the biggest mistake would be to assume that they end at the time of purchasing the device. In fact, the cost of devices is less than 50% of the total cost of ownership. The costs of deployment, IT-support, management, software, repair represent a solid balance that cannot be omitted from general cost calculations. 

It turns out that the total cost of ownership (TCO) is a financial estimate of the direct and indirect costs of owning an asset of a company, in this case IT-infrastructure. And, according to ForresterConsulting research, Mac is significantly more cost-efficient in maintenance than PC. So much that this difference compensates for a higher check when buying Apple devices. 

 In the ForresterConsulting study carried out in 2021, 10 large companies with experience in deploying both platforms and more than 33,000 employees who have been working on Mac for 3 years took part. In 2022, the experts of the ASBC company carried out  their own calculations taking into account more new models of laptops, popular in the IT segment. As a result, it turned out that when purchasing a Mac, its three-year support and operating costs make up $911 less than a PC. Multiply the benefit received by the number of units of device of your company – and it will become even more significant. 

Calculations for each technology park are made individually, taking into account specific tasks and market features. To receive an estimate, contact ASBC specialists..  

   If you want to switch to Mac, but still have some doubts, we will give you 5 reasons to do it as soon as possible. 

 Reason №1: Mac reduces business IT support costs  

   It is really easy, convenient and profitable to use MacBook in the company. Apple offers users an intuitive interface and excellent software, including for remote management of their technopark. One of the device management options is JAMF. This service provides safe and effective work, and also allows you to connect, configure and manage Mac, iPad, iPhone, AppleTV in a few clicks, without even touching them. Imagine how convenient and economically beneficial it is for companies whose employees are scattered around the world. 

   Using a MacBook in a company is really easy, convenient and profitable. Apple offers users an intuitive interface and excellent software, including remote management of their fleet of vehicles. One of the device management options is JAMF. This service provides safe and efficient work, and also allows you to connect, configure and manage your Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple TV in a few clicks, without even touching them. Imagine how convenient and cost-effective it is for companies with employees scattered around the world. 

  The world’s largest organizations have been implementing Apple devices into workflows for a long time. Consider the experience of turning from Windows to Mac at IBM. 

 In 2015, IBM management launched the Mac@IBM program, giving its employees a choice of platforms to work with. Starting with a deployment of 30,000 MacBooks, just a couple of years later, IBM increased their number to 100,000 units. Only 5% of employees needed technical support, compared to 40% among PC users. The absence of the need to maintain a large number of IT specialists allowed to save on wages and other resources (for example, workspace device). As a result of that experiment, IBM was left with a profit of $543 per new Mac user. 

  In late 2019, IBM Vice President Fletcher Previn, in his speech at IBMandJamf: TechnologyChoiceImprovesPerformanceandSatisfaction, said that “the number of Macs being deployed has reached 290,000 and continues to grow. Technical support is provided by 78 specialists.” 

Reason №2: Macs cost more on resale   

   Apple uses high-quality materials and first-class software to build its computers. This guarantees durability and outstanding performance of the device. As a result – also its high residual value on subsequent resale. 

 Microsoft study 2018 found that the optimal lifespan of a PC does not exceed 4 years. At the same time, the Mac serves from 5 to 7 years – with careful handling and moderate load, some will serve even longer. Therefore, when reselling a Mac, it will have a higher value than a PC, and thus lower the total cost of ownership. 

For comparison. ASBC experts calculated the residual value of the Mac after 3 years of operation. It was $610, while PC was only $137. 

By the way, you can also use the BuyBack and Trade-in services. This will allow the company to reduce the cost of depreciation, storage and disposal of obsolete devices. In the case of BuyBack, you will also receive a guaranteed purchase of equipment on pre-agreed conditions.

Reason №3: Mac increases team productivity and loyalty 

  You can see for yourself. To get started, conduct an experiment and offer your employees a choice: a personal computer on Windows or a MacBook. We can assume that most of them will prefer to work on Apple laptops, even if they have not had such experience before.

In 2019, VansonBourne, a global independent research company, collaborated with software developer Jamf and Apple Corporation to conduct a study. Experts surveyed users and found that 3 out of 4 employees would prefer a Mac. Let the team choose the best for themselves – and see how positively this will affect their loyalty and productivity. 

It’s not just guesswork. Jamf’s three-year experience proves that the Mac actually increases employee retention by 20% and productivity levels by 5%, resulting in an additional 104 work hours. By the way, 74% of users who previously used a PC experienced fewer technical problems after switching to a Mac.
For example, one of the most popular Geekbench computer performance benchmarks compared the 2020 13-inch MacBookPro M1 to Microsoft Corporation’s SurfaceLaptop 3, which has similar specifications. The Mac scores were significantly higher, with 1725 for single-core performance and 7454 for multi-core performance, while the Windows specimen scored 1230 and 4440 for these parameters. 

At the end of 2021, Apple introduced a new generation of MacBook Pro with a diagonal of 14 and 16 inches. And it turned out to be the most ambitious update in the last five years. The appearance, displays, camera, speakers, keyboard, connectors have changed, but most importantly, the new models received the most powerful M1 Pro and M1 Max chipsets in Apple history. Whichever configuration you choose, the performance, energy efficiency and battery life will be phenomenal! In addition, the chips are compatible with iOS and iPadOS apps, allowing them to run on a Mac.

Professionals will be able to create things on the new Macs that previously seemed impossible. Even if you used to work on a PC, you can easily adapt to a new type of technology. Apple cares about its users, so the macOS system is very “friendly”, it is convenient and intuitive. And yet, if you have any difficulties, ASBC specialists can help beginners get used to the new “field”. To do this, use the service of individual or group training. 

 Reason №4: Mac is more secure
Successful business projects are regularly attacked by hackers. Your task is not to become an easy target for them. After all, the loss of corporate and personal data can deal a devastating blow to financial assets and the prestige of the company. In 2019, IBMSecurity and PonemonInstitute estimated the average cost of an information breach at $3,900,000. Of course, the amounts can “float” depending on the scope and scale of the company.

Research and consulting company Gartner also found that IT organizations spend an average of $2,000 to $2,300 a year to secure a single user PC. Just imagine what the costs will be in the context of a large company. Mac will help you avoid them. 

Apple computers have built-in hardware and software protection against most possible cyber threats. It reduces the risk of data leakage by 50% for each deployed Mac, and also minimizes the number of calls to the technical support service. It is only important to receive notifications of macOS updates in a timely manner – the download will begin automatically and at no additional charge. In addition, all Mac apps are downloaded from the isolated digital AppStore, where they go through rigorous testing.

Reason №5: Mac has its own software and integrates well with other devices   

There are several obvious advantages to Apple developing hardware and software for its technology. 

• The macOS operating system fits perfectly on the Mac. The creation of such a high-quality product as Mac became possible, among other things, due to the fact that the company independently develops software for the equipment it produces.
• The company maintains strict control over the work of application developers. All of them go through a series of tests before being listed in the AppStore.

• A basic set of required software is already installed on your Mac. Among them are Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Calendar, Mail and others. This means that the computer is ready to work right out of the box. 

All licensed programs for Windows cost money,  as well as updating the system itself. In turn, MacOS is free, supports domain linking (even Microsoft’s ActiveDirectory), includes full disk encryption, FileVault, so there is no need to install additional protection against malware and viruses.  

Apple devices also work great together. Thanks to a single ecosystem, all actions on Mac, iPad, iPhone become easier, more convenient and faster. Moreover, the Apple platform has achieved comfortable integration with Microsoft solutions (MSOffice, Microsoft365, MicrosoftActiveDirectory, etc.). If the user is not yet ready to get acquainted with Numbers, he/she can continue working in the well-known Excel. The choice is always up to the user.

Bonus reason: Mac has a positive impact on the company’s image

Image is a delicate issue. It is made up of less tangible aspects than the numbers in the reports. You must skillfully influence what customers and partners think about your company and its services. What do they see when they enter the office? And what will they feel when interacting with the team. 

Mac is something on the successful and modern. The elegant design is recognized all over the world. It seems to say that you care about your image, choose the best, develop and are ready to invest in your business. This philosophy will be close to many companies.   

Conclusion 
Business will thrive if the team is competent, motivated and has the best tools to work with. Apple technology has high performance and advanced features, user-friendly interface and a single ecosystem, stylish design and reliable security. Moreover,it provides not obvious at first glance, but still significant savings in the long term.
 ASBC company is the official partner of Apple in Kazakhstan. Since 1996, its experts have been offering equipment and various solutions in the IT segment. Work in the field of information technology is carried out in 8 countries in three directions. 

 The experts of ASBC will find the right solution for your business and help you avoid the costly mistake. To find out the unique corporate conditions for the purchase of a MacBook, please contact the specialists by phone number: +7 (701) 429 16 84 or e-mail: k.medvedev@asbck.kz, as well as on the website: asbck.kz.