Is it worth it? MacBook for Employees

Let me see if I understand you, you want to purchase MBP's and install Windows on it because you don't think your employees would "get" OS X?

While I like your idea of using Apple equipment however if it's only to run Windows I think that's a poor idea. My recommendation would be to invest in a little training (probably less than 1 day per employee) on OS X and the software you will be using. You don't say what type of applications you intend to run so it's difficult to coach you on that.

A great place to start is by having each employee go over Mac 101.

Roger

I wouldn't get employees MBP's. They're apt to take them home or tote them around during off hours. That can lead to damage. I would get desktop Macs. iMacs would be good. You don't say what business apps you use so it's not easy to figure your requirements.

I think it is worth the effort.

Even if your employees only have Windows experience, I think the learning curve will be "quick and painless" for them.

When I got my first Mac in 2007 my learning curve was about 1 month, and I'd never really used a computer before (other than gaming).

Personally though, I wouldn't turn the Macs into PC's completely. Maybe partition the drives 60%-40% or 70%-30% Mac/PC because from what I've found most files will work on Mac via Office for Mac/iWork.

Although it depends on what your company is doing.

I'm by no means a professional, But from the little bit of experience I have from messing around with making my own server. It was pretty easy.

Hope my post was helpful to you, If not I'm sorry to waste your time!

--Benjamin

Edit-

I also agree with 'sig' about getting them desktop iMacs instead of MacBook Pros (unless portability is absolutely necessary)

Message was edited by: Benguitar

sig wrote:
I wouldn't get employees MBP's. They're apt to take them home or tote them around during off hours. That can lead to damage. I would get desktop Macs. iMacs would be good. You don't say what business apps you use so it's not easy to figure your requirements.

what does this have to do with anything any company I have ever worked for out of college has gotten me a laptop I dont see getting macbooks as a problem at all..

I was a long time PC user when I personally switched to a Mac (MacBook Pro) about 3 years ago. I love my Mac, and when I first switched, I spend most of my time still running Windows, but with the intention of switching over to Mac. I still use Windows heavily for work, and a little for home, but I have mode teh transition such that I spend closer to 80% of m time on my personal machine running MacOS now.

While my Mac is good for running Windows, personally I feel that you would get more for your money to buy Lenovo/IBM ThinkPad computers for running Windows if you don't plan on running MacOS. I started out my PC life with Compaq laptops in the 1990's, then switched to Dell's for a number of years, and eventually landed on IBM ThinkPad systems. I still own 3 or 4 ThinkPads and have been buying them for a little over 10 years. They are one of the best, if not the best, for Windows based laptops. They cost a little more than a Dell or an HP, but they are generally worth the cost difference as at my office, we still have a large number of 3+ year old ThinkPad laptops still in service, and the 2+ year old Dell's and HP's are being replaced with new ThinkPads as they break. A THinkPad is not quite as expensive as a Mac, but it can't also run MacOS. If you only plan to run Windows, then there is little reason to spend more money to get a Mac unless you want one.

It seems to me that if the industry standard is PCs I would stick with PCs. Obviously if they are the standard most companies think they meet the requirement.

You don't say how large your company is but as a 200 person company we can't afford to pay an extra $200,000 just so the employees can have Macs, especially when PCs can do the job as well or better.

Maybe your growing company is awash in money and can pay the premium (extra for the Macs, training day for the employees, Windows licenses so that you can run Windows on your Macs, additional IT support because the employees are learning a new system, ...) Just my opinion.

From a personal perspective a Mac may be perceived as better value, but from a business perspective and ROI, I'd stick with PCs.

I won't put words in Sig's mouth however I think his intention was the OP would get more for his money going with iMacs.

"I won't put words in Sig's mouth however I think his intention was the OP would get more for his money going with iMacs."

You took the words right out of my mouth. 🙂