Macs in SMB

Macs are the "ideal platform" for small businesses, according to a Computerworld column that says Apple appears to be targeting this new market with advanced but accessible features in its release of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard as well as its marketing pitch. "In many ways, Mac OS X is an ideal platform for small businesses and offices," the publication says. "It is easy to install and set up, often requires little technical support to maintain, and remains free of many of the virus and malware problems that plague Windows PCs. All of this should be appealing for a business with anywhere from a handful to a few dozen employees that cannot afford full-time IT staff."

Despite the lower cost ownership and fewer technical issues, the column claims that the surge of Mac as business machines can be attributed mostly to Apple's transition to Intel processors, allowing users to run Windows applications for those times when a comparable Mac-related product isn't available.

"The ability to use Apple's Boot Camp or one of the other virtualization tools to run Windows applications also helps stagger transition costs as businesses buy and migrate to Mac hardware and software," the column notes.

Stability and freedom from spyware/viruses as well as ease-of-use are critical factors in a business environment as well, according to the column, and the Mac platform, indeed, has the necessary software for businesses, such as professional business management tools, finance software, contact and project management application, and telephony software.

by MacNN Staff