When you start a new job and they tell you it’s BYOD, you have a reason to celebrate. Although saddled with the price of purchasing your own tech, you get to avoid the alternative: using an ancient desktop that struggles to run Windows 8. You also get to choose the exact make and model that will help you get the job done.
So now you’re faced with the age-old question — should you choose Mac or PC? Let’s take a deep dive into these two options, so you can choose the right one for the job.
iOS is preferred by most professionals
If you remember the popular commercials that pit Mac against PC in front of a bright white backdrop, you may recall Mac (played by Justin Long) admits PC (John Hodgman) is better at running business applications like Excel.
While this may have been true back in the early 2000s, it’s not the case anymore. A lot of things can change over nearly two decades.
According to a JAMF Trends Survey, which questioned 300 IT professionals about their workplace platforms, found that:
- 91 percent of enterprise organizations use Mac
- 99 percent use iPhone or iPad
While individual employee choice is certainly driving Apple’s popularity in the workplace, partnerships with the right companies support this growth. The Cupertino-based tech company has come together with IBM, SAP, and Cisco — major enterprise organizations — in what Tech Crunch is calling Apple’s enterprise revolution. These companies are now building apps designed specifically for enterprise professionals using iOS — making it easier to use a Mac or iPhone in the workplace.
Macs’ longevity trumps short-term savings of PCs
Popular though they may be, Macs are still an expensive machine — especially when you compare them to basic PCs that sell for less than $1,000. You simply can’t find a Mac under the $1k line, while you may be able to find a capable powerhouse PC on sale for less.
Where Mac loses with upfront costs, it wins with residual value. Macs tend to last longer with fewer maintenance issues than PCs. In the end, there are long-term savings to be had by choosing Mac over a similar PC.
According to 9 to 5 Mac, a side-by-side comparison of a MacBook Pro 13 and a Lenovo X1 Yoga shows the Mac user would save $543 over four years. Meanwhile, IBM reports its saving as much as $535 for every new Mac it deploys because of the improved lifespan.
Refurbished Macs lower prices significantly
If your budget is a little tight, you may not be able to afford to wait for these long-term savings. Apple’s certified refurbished program could offer you a low-cost way to get the Mac you want. An older Mac sold through this program is more than previously used tech wiped down between owners. It goes through rigorous testing and patching to ensure it meets factory standards. It also comes with a one-year warranty guaranteeing its performance.
Although it may show some cosmetic damages from the previous owner, its hardware is assured to work. If you find the minor scuffs or scrapes annoying, you can camouflage them with a MacBook skin. This accessory covers up imperfections in the chassis or mouse pad while preventing more from happening. Companies like dbrand use authentic 3M vinyl to make sure each MacBook skin is scratch-free and grime-resistant.
If you’re worried about what vinyl will look like on your tech, you can forget about boring MacBook covers. When you shop from fully customizable skins, you have the option of stylish designs that fit the office, like black matrix, black marble, and mahogany.
Better support and security
With a streamlined iOS, Mac promises a straightforward user experience. This could translate into fewer hiccoughs during your regular 9–5. According to IBM, Mac users submit fewer support tickets than PC users.
As for security, your company needs to invest in the appropriate defences to protect employee and corporate data — regardless of the platform you use. Every enterprise needs a robust internal security protocol in addition to anti-viruses and anti-malware.
When it comes to viruses and malware, it’s generally accepted that Macs are better protected than PCs. Although you may want to believe it’s because iOS has better reinforcements against attacks, part of the answer rests on market share.
Despite being a household name, Apple makes up 10 percent of the market share. PCs still outnumber Macs in both personal and business computers, so cybercriminals will target this bigger pool of users. It’s statistically more popular, giving these criminals more opportunity to access data by tailoring their work for Windows.
The bottom line? Bring your own Mac
A BYOD policy at work is a lot of responsibility. You have to find the tech that will fit your workload and wallet with equal aplomb. It’s not always easy striking a balance between these two options, but you may find it less stressful when you opt for a Mac over PC. Although there’s no guarantee that a Mac will out-perform a PC in every industry every single time, it does have a better chance at meeting your needs at work.
