Aug 27
8 Operations, 9 Finance, Apple, Entrepreneur, Hardware, Information, Mac, Planning, Startups, Tips, software
As an entrepreneur using a Mac I, like anyone else, tries to control costs of my business. One of the factors in my business is the cost of my Mac. Most PC users point out that they can get cheaper PCs than Macs and therefore Macs are more expensive. While there is some truth to that matter, let’s find out where the costs lie in their argument.
There is a term called Total Cost of Ownership that tries to quantify the total cost of owning and running something, whether it be a car, truck, SUV, or even a computer. So what goes into owning a computer for a business? From strictly the computer perspective there are four areas that part of using a computer:
- Cost of hardware – The computer itself, peripherals, cables, etc.
- Cost of software – Licensing.
- Cost of installation and configuration – How long does it take to install and configure your computer to where you are being productive.
- Cost of training, use, and maintenance for three to five years of use – Here is where most people get lost in quantifying their costs because they don’t measure this affect on a user or users.
In my book, “How to Start a Business: Mac Version” I go into more detail in Chapter 2 about these above issues and show additional ones that most businesses need to know and understand that affect the costs of using a computer as a business owner: The Total Cost of Ownership.
To be accurate, the PC users do win the argument “out of the gate” that they are cheaper than a Mac. I grant that to them. But, and this is a big but, what else are PC users not telling you?
So how does a PC stand up to a Mac in Total Cost of Ownership? First, read my friend Mitch Rushing’s OpenSurge blog post “In Mac vs PC cost comparison – Downtime Statistics Key” about how these numbers figure out for Windows vs Windows and then Windows vs Mac.
I’ll let you read the results, but Macs win!
What are your thoughts?
Aug 01
Hi all,
Had an interview this past Saturday with MrNetcast.com himself, Esbjorn Larsen, about my book and being an entrepreneur. Check out the interview here. Let me know your thoughts.
Jun 07
I got my first review back of my book, here it is:
“Oh My Goodness! Kevin Cullis has written the most information rich, spell-binding business book I have ever read! Kevin’s business-entrepreneurial advice is sound and meshing the Mac (tool) and starting a business (process) into one concept is brilliant. It’s detailed with informative lists and how to use them but not at the cost of boredom. The example stories are inspirational. How to Start a Business: Mac Version covers every aspect of running a business A to Z regardless of its type. This one will definitely be in my highly recommended and ‘review many times’ library.” Chris Lott – VP of Sales DataTel Communications
Coming soon to book seller near you (online, of course)
Kevin
Jan 25
After hearing tons of speculation about Apple’s Wednesday’s event I’ve come to the early conclusion that I won’t be getting an iPad/iSlate/iTablet from Apple. Why? Here are my reasons.
- It’s another thing to carry around besides my MacBook Pro and my iPhone. While I MIGHT be able to substitute my MacBook Pro for the iPad thingy, I do too much work that the iPad would be more of a bother adding it to my repertoire of Macs.
- An iPad might replace my MacBook Pro, but it only becomes a smaller MacBook Air and I don’t own one of those and don’t need or want one of them. I want something with a little more power.
- I can only see that an iPad might cannibalize from the MacBook Air or MacBook sales for those that do light computing work, such as doctors that need to enter data into a hospital system or writers that travel more than most of us.
- While the iPhone’s swipping and pinching motion makes it’s use fairly useful, for those of us that are keyboard “attached” such as UNIX geeks that don’t like the mouse are most productive with keyboard shortcuts and the pinching movements will limit productivity.
However, if Apple “limits” the features to the iPad it’ll upset the rest of the Apple customers. How?
- If the “publishers” that Apple is “courting” for the game changing technology of the publishing industry does not port or translate the technology to the rest of the Mac platform then it’ll “force” Mac users to move or purchase the iPad.
- No USB or display port to hook up larger screens or an external keyboard to do heavy workloads.
- An Apple iTunes focus on the publishing industry whereas you can only get ebooks and may or may not be able to get a physical book for those that want both. If the same “experience” of getting an iPad book is not the same as getting a real one it’ll detract from the reader’s experience of both.
But want WOULD make me consider getting one?
- The data “cloud” that everything on the iPad syncs up with my other systems seamlessly and I never have to bother about where my data/books/contact information resides. If I can read on an iPad and then bring it up on my or my wife’s MacBook Pro then that’s a consideration.
But that’s about the extent of my reasons. For me an iPad is just another smaller laptop with added functionality that Apple has been stair stepping in that direction with it’s trackpads. It’ll be adopted by early adopters for sure, but the masses won’t change as the “back end” may not be there for the average users.
But by far the worse part of this potential publishing “arm” of Apple is: will Apple control the publishing content like it controls the iPhone apps? How much of your rights will Apple control for indie publishers?
But we can only wait until the 27th to see what Apple does.
Jan 04
Here’s the Apple answers to this question. Here are the indicators:
- Your Apple notebook’s display has no picture after you turn it on.
- You don’t hear any fan or hard disk activity sounds after you turn the computer on, and the sleep light doesn’t turn on.
- The computer doesn’t seem to have any power when you try to turn it on.
Oct 25
For those that have used Macs for a while you understand that Apple does a great job of getting good stuff as a whole to it’s customers, but after reading this article about the new 27″ iMac it gives some interesting specs about the high quality monitor that hides a “cheap computer” behind it.
Oct 21
As an entrepreneur the one thing that makes your day is being able to decide whether to outsource or to bring in house your server, such as a file server, web server, calendar server, etc. Now Apple has done it! Put Snow Leopard Server in a Mac Mini for only $999!!
This is a huge step toward the business environment for Apple as startups can now have an office of two or more keeping track of their business. The foundation is set. But wait, there’s just “one more thing!”
You can receive an evaluation copy of Snow Leopard Server to see if it will fit your needs!
Note: you have to have 10 or more people to receive an evaluation copy, it takes 2-3 weeks to get it to you, and while supplies last. Oh, and they’re looking for feedback and anything you give them they will add it to Apple’s portfolio of ideas that they’ll make money.
Oct 15
For a while I’ve seen my iPhone Notes showing up in my Inbox in my Mail program. It did not bother me until I began to clear out my Inbox and all I had left were the Notes. How were they showing up? Where’s the switch to turn them off in my Inbox?
There’s a check box under Mail’s Preferences > Accounts > Mailbox Behaviors for each email account you have. Check to the box off so that the Notes will not show up in your Mail Inbox.
Now I have a clean Inbox.
Oh, be sure that if you have a number of email Inboxes that you can select those accounts that show the Notes.
Sep 10
Installed Snow Leopard on my MacBook Pro and here are two little things that I saw after working with it for a while today.
First, this is the preferences screen and notice the little green and red dots next to your printers, these indicate whether or not your printer is connected and to be used by your Mac. Nice little touch here. The one thing that I have found is that using the Airport Extreme does not give a “quick” or updated indication if the printer is connected or not. In Leopard it just shows a green dot, in Snow Leopard the dot turns red if the printer is not available to be used.
Second, here’s the drop down box trying to print, notice the “indicator” that the two of the printers are not available to print to. If you could use the printer the small icons would be done. Also nice touch.
Third, low ink indicators are great and does not require the utility tool to find out, depending on your printer.
These are all nice little touches to indicate to the Mac user to what is going on with their Mac printers.
Aug 19
For those that are in the graphics industry when Apple went with the new higher resolution screens in the Unibody form they did away with matte or anti-glare screens. Many graphic artists were furious about this since colors in this industry is so important. Now you can get these screens via the Apple store, but only in the 17 inch model, if you want a 15 inch model with the matte screen you have to get it either online or call small business to have it special ordered.
