Is now the time to adopt Macs?

macs

Mac vs Windows PC for Business

Although Macs have always been popular with the public, the business world has remained a PC holdout — until recently. 55% of businesses now use Macs1, and it’s not just long-term adoptees in the creative fields that are becoming Mac-friendly. The debate about Macs or PCs for business is more prevalent than ever in 2022.

This guide is designed to help business owners evaluate whether Macs or PCs are better for their business, and why.

Why your business could benefit from Macs

Macs are effective and intuitive machines that partner processing power with build quality and incredible battery life. There is a reason they are popular among consumers, and most of the reasons they succeed in that market are the same reasons that they are a good fit for businesses. 

Of those organisations who provide their employees with a choice between Macs and PC, 72% choose Mac2. On its own, that should tell you something. Particularly in the context of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and remote working, people expect to be able to use the same devices at work that they use in their day-to-day lives. However, employee preferences are just the start when it comes to Mac vs PC; consider the following. 

1: Macs are more secure than PCs by default

Apple’s enhanced control over hardware and software has always put them in an excellent position to manage security risks.

The Unix-based macOS is harder to exploit than Windows, and cyberattack rates are consistently lower. Whilst the gap has closed in recent years, cybersecurity experts still believe that Mac is winning the battle regarding corporate security and privacy.3

Namely, Apple has a more robust approach to handling their user’s data and has developed stricter protocols for managing business data compared to Microsoft. So, not only are Macs likely to be more secure from hacking, malware and viruses, they also provide the privacy-centric environment that modern businesses need.

“Folks love to hate on Apple and like to say that privacy is just a PR claim for Apple every time they have a privacy stumble. However, from my observations of Apple over the years, my perception is that Apple is taking privacy extremely seriously.” 

– Thomas Reed, Director of Mac & Mobile at Malwarebytes.

Of course, we always recommend adding further security software to your Macs and PCs, however, straight out of the box, Macs are more secure. 

2: Macs are easier to use

Windows and Mac users alike acknowledge that macOS has a clean, clear and concise interface that provides minimal fuss while still being fully customisable. What’s more, this famously sleek user experience doesn’t come at the expense of performance. 

It’s perhaps unsurprising that surveys state that Mac users are more productive thanks to its simplicity. 97% of enterprise and business users feel more productive when switching from Windows to Mac4. IBM also found that 22% more macOS users reported an exceptional level of performance compared to Windows users.5

Macs have class-leading drivers

Apple has always prided themselves on cross-device compatibility, with things like airdrop, iCloud etc., and provides built-in drivers for most compatible products. This ensures that even complex hardware works on a plug-and-play basis, with minimal setup.

3: Integration with mobile devices

Whilst Apple is still working to erode Microsoft’s previous historical stranglehold over business computing, they’ve had a much easier time in the smartphone market. Since Apple unveiled their industry-leading mobile device management over a decade ago, iPhones have been the ‘de facto’ choice amongst business leaders, entrepreneurs, and practically anyone!

As of 2022, the iPhone is dominant in the smartphone market, and their popularity is still on the rise today. In the UK, the total market share of iOS devices reached 54.5% in 2022, up from 50.85% in 2021.6

The popularity of iPads mirrors the popularity of iPhones, which dominated the market in 2021, displaying a 31% market share in Q4 of that year vs next best, Samsung, with 16%.7 Enabling users to create seamless experiences across these devices is important, and Mac makes that simple.  

Continuity between macOS and iOS devices

Apple has vastly improved cross-device integration with an array of file and screen sharing features. Through multiple iOS devices, you can:

  • Extend Mac screens using iPads and control both using mouse, keyboard or touchscreen
  • Quickly share files, images and video via AirPlay and AirDrop
  • Mark documents on iPhone or iPad and sync all changes to a Mac
  • Take calls and texts across all devices
  • Open web pages instantly from iPhone or iPad to Mac without having to re-search
  • Universal clipboard shares copied videos, images or text from one device to another
  • Take photos or videos on iPhone and share them instantly to Mac or iPad

This seamless ecosystem will attract business users who work across their phone, tablet and computer – an increasingly common practice in the context of remote working. Apple’s device sharing features are setting the benchmark for others to aim at, and it’ll be a while before they catch up.

 Dr Logic are specialists in managed IT services and members of the ACN Apple Consultants Network

Click here to find out how we can automatically configure and deploy all your employees’ devices

4: Macs have superior longevity

Longevity is a dealbreaker for many business buyers — all the functionality and power in the world are worthless if the device doesn’t last. You want technology that provides a good return on investment.  

Apple has demonstrated excellent longevity across their products, creating cost savings for businesses, even despite a higher initial purchase price. 

  • IBM research states that deploying Macs in business can save $535 per Mac every four years compared to Windows PCs.8
  • Since Mac started integrating their high-performance M1 chips, Forrester projects that savings compared to PCs will rise to $843 every three years.9

On an individual level, these savings are minimal. However, these figures scale up rapidly when deploying Macs across a range of businesses. For example, if your employees use Macs instead of PCs, you could save around $3,000 across ten years of employment per employee. That equates to 10-year savings of just under $300,000 for a business with just 100 employees for simply switching to a different IT hardware option. Such cost savings are a major consideration when weighing up Mac vs PC for small businesses, SMBs, and enterprises.

5: Ease of choice 

Buying a PC can be quite daunting. There are hundreds of manufacturers, and not all of them deliver the same build quality. On the other hand, Apple provides you with a range of products that you can count on. You know that the hardware will match the software, and provide you with a quality machine able to deliver long-term. 

For most, when choosing a device, Apple’s simplified product model strategy (Air, Pro, Mac mini, iMac, Mac Pro) is an asset; particularly now they’re manufacturing their own chips. The latest range of M1 Macs are simple to understand, enabling businesses to make transparent, future-proof decisions for their IT needs.

6: Support provided by Apple

Apple has made business customers a priority and invested in providing a significant amount of business-specific implementation support. There are three main components to this: 

  1. The ACN (Apple Consultants Network): This is a group of independent technology service providers that specialise in Apple solutions and are trained and certified to deliver Mac implementation programmes. Check out this page to learn more about our Apple Consultants Network credentials at Dr. Logic.  
  2. The APS (Apple Professional Services): Get access to a methodology and team of experts to audit, recommend and implement a Mac adoption programme into any size of business, supported directly by Apple.   
  3. The ABM (Apple Business Manager): This web-based portal helps you deploy Mac products. You can easily provide users with access to services, set up device enrolment and distribute apps, all from one place.   

Together, these solutions make it easy to find and access the support you need to make Macs work seamlessly within your organisation from day one.

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When to avoid using Macs?

Apple has only recently developed its value proposition for the business market, so it’s hardly a surprise that mass adoption has been a long time coming. Many businesses have not considered Macs before. Although there are loads of reasons to use Macs, they don’t meet everyone’s needs. After all, neither Macs nor PCs are immune to problems, and both require some level of sophisticated business support to ensure business productivity and uptime.

1: Compatibility 

Mac compatibility is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, any compatible hardware or software usually works without any friction whatsoever. The App Store automatically provides updates for the most used software, including large portions of Microsoft 365 products — showing that even Microsoft needs to fit in with Apple. However, on the other hand, businesses with complex or legacy systems might find it tricky to reintegrate their workflows with Macs. 

With the adoption of cloud-based applications and SaaS products, Mac compatibility for business is not usually a significant issue today, and replacing ageing systems with modern alternatives is an opportunity for growth.

Still, businesses with longstanding Windows software licences will need to get those transferred or shared to Mac or terminate subscriptions and choose Mac alternatives – which may not be a preferred option due to the mass familiarity of Microsoft365 (which has been compatible with Macs since 2019).

Fortunately, a good IT services provider who specialises in Mac services can help businesses identify software and application alternatives without undue friction.

2: The familiarity factor

Windows has been around for nearly 40 years. For many people, it’s the only operating system they’ve ever used. Fundamentally, many users believe it will be hard to make the switch. Even though a majority of employees choose Mac when given that option, 28% of users still go for PC.10 It’s this fear of change and a limited appetite to learn a new OS that is often given as the big reason why. 

With that said, the macOS and Windows operating systems have continued to converge. Windows 11 even now centres the Start Bar icons. The challenge of making the switch is often overestimated. However, it’s important to note that bringing Macs into your business doesn’t mean making everyone use Mac, it just means giving them the option. 

3: Knowledge gaps in your business’s IT team

Tying in with the above, Windows is often seen as the safe bet for business IT support, even if many manufacturers have disappeared off the radar in recent years, making repairs and upgrades difficult.

Macs also have their caveats, and the commonly held belief that ‘when something goes wrong with a Mac, it’s harder to fix’ can often be true. Especially if your business is 100% Windows PC, there would be no need for a Mac specialist until you decided you needed one. With the assistance of dedicated Mac support teams, such as Dr Logic, ironing out those knowledge gaps for a quick turnaround makes for a simple solution.

The trick with Mac is to really invest in the ecosystem. That doesn’t necessarily mean buying heaps of Apple devices, but it does mean taking notice of everything Apple has to offer for modern businesses and ensuring you can align with this and have the dedicated support – as you would with Windows.

Company ambitions book call

Time to adopt Macs?

Consumer buyers don’t need convincing when it comes to Macs, but businesses still do. 

This is beginning to change, and longstanding Mac supporters are now being joined by many small businesses, SMBs and enterprises across every sector and industry from finance and banking to science, technology, manufacturing, healthcare and software development.

However, this does not mean you have to discard your Windows PCs and buy brand new Macs. There is scope for them to live in harmony together. With the rapid growth of cloud-based applications and file sharing, there is no excuse why they cannot work together in the same environment. 

If you’d like to learn more about adopting Macs into a mainly PC-based environment, check out our new eBook — A Pocket Guide to Introducing Macs into a PC Business

If you are thinking about adopting Macs into your business, Dr Logic can help. 

We don’t just provide first-class tech support and help desk assistance –  we’re an IT partner and Mac specialist. If you’re looking to drive growth, increase your tech ROI, and unlock a brighter future for your business, then Contact Dr Logic today and discover how we can support your business.

IT Partnership

  1. Parallels Mac Survey
  2. The Impact of Device Choice ON THE Employee Experience
  3. Mac vs Windows Security: We Asked the Experts
  4. 97% of Mac Users More Productive After Switching From Windows
  5. IBM: Mac Users Happier and More Productive
  6. Apple iOS Market Share UK
  7. iPad Market Share Q4 2021
  8. Macs Less Expensive than PCs
  9. Economic Impact of Mac in Enterprise
  10. The Impact of Device Choice ON THE Employee Experience

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