To Switch or Not To Switch? Seven Reasons Apple Says You Should Consider a Mac

Ask the millions of people who use and love their Macs why it has become such an integral part of their lives, and most will tell you that it's because it just works.

Apple is betting that enterprise users will embrace the new Mac G5 and its other models for the reasons echoed by dyed-in-the-wool Mac enthusiasts: "Flawless integration of hardware and software. An operating system built by the same people who built the computer it runs on. Plug it in. Turn it on. And you're ready for anything."

Here are seven key reasons why Apple hopes their new G5 and other models will take the enterprise by storm:

Apple boasts that because all of the essentials are "built right in," an immediate, efficient user experience is up to speed right out-of the box. With standard USB, FireWire (IEEE 1394), Ethernet, modem and built-in antennas for wireless networks this is tough to dispute. And because every Mac comes with drivers for most of the printers, joy sticks, DV camcorders, keyboards, storage devices, digital cameras, input devices, MP3 players and game pads you'll be connecting to those ports, you plug them in and they just work.

To those just a tad too well acquainted with the notorious "blue screen of death" Mac says, "Bid it a fond farewell." With Mac OS X, you'll become accustomed instead to industry-leading OS stability. This elegant new operating system is fully protected. Both its makers and aficionados say Mac run applications can't conflict with the OS or one another.

Mac OS X is built on the "industrial strength" of UNIX. Most Fortune 500 companies, governments and universities rely on UNIX for their mission-critical applications. And now, Mac contends, so can you.

Apple has tried hard to make computing on the go a first-class experience. Both the PowerBook and iBook redefine the concept of traveling light with thin sleek design and displays so bright and clear, you'd think you're working on a desktop system. Apple's challenge to PC-prone business travelers: "Can your PC laptop go coast to coast with just one battery? Can you put the system to sleep just by closing the lid? Does it wake up instantly? Can your PC laptop automatically switch between Ethernet, dial-up and wireless connections on the fly? Without a restart? Ours can."

Configuring a desktop system for Internet use can be a daunting task for any user. Apple claims that even computing neophytes can be up-and-surfing within 15 minutes. Plus, tasks like moving your favorites, email contacts and email messages to the Mac are easy.

A transition to a Mac is easy in part because you'll continue using the same applications you already know. Microsoft Office v.X for Mac OS X gives you Word, PowerPoint and Excel, all with the same familiar features and shortcut commands. Office documents are all fully compatible between Mac and Windows, so you can share everything from spreadsheets to presentations. Beyond Office, you'll find you can run more than 3,000 applications designed specifically for Mac OS X. You can do anything you'd dream of doing on the Mac — from CAD to databases to finance.

Standards let everyone work together harmoniously. That's why Apple has adopted so many of them. For example, networking on a Mac is built on the same technologies used by PCs. As a result, the Mac is at home on PC networks (or just about any other kind), making the business of sharing files and printers with PCs entirely painless. And in Mac OS X you don't have to be a network administrator to make it all work. What's more, Gigabit Ethernet is built in. As is support for 802.11 wireless, so you can network without cables inside your house using AirPort or another wireless access point. Of course, you can also swap files via data CD, floppies or Zip disks. And most new peripherals connect via USB or FireWire (two other industry standards), so you can use them with either PCs or Macs.

The preceding review was developed by Upshot staff writers with input from Apple.