Convincing girlfriend to go mac Mini over PC.

satchmo

Okay, the girlfriend's PC (some no name crap) just died and now she's looking to go name brand PC (i.e. Dell, HP).

Now I admit, there's some real bargain out there in the PC world. Fully loaded desktops w/DVD burners including a 17" LCD (which she doesn't have) display for about $600.

I was thinking that the mac Mini would be a great to start her off...since she has a CRT, keyboard and mouse already. She has played a bit with OSX on my PB/iBooks, which she admittedly knows nothing about. She wouldn't mind learning more but I don't think she's ready to make the switch over wholeheartedly.

Any ammunition to help convince her? How would the mini Mac compare in relation to say an AMD Sempron 3200+ 2.0 gHz chip? She was looking at buying something like this:
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...est%5Fcookie=1

gmark2000

Buy her dinner, roses...

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Stephanie

I'm trying to convert my mother to a Mac Mini... She's got a Dell at home, and uses it for 1) Quick Books (shes the accountant for the small family business) and 2) emails and 3) the web. Roughly in the proportion of 85% quick books, 10% email, and 5% web surfing.

Rather than trying to compare hardware specs or explaining the nuances of the advantages of the O/S, I have been using just a couple simple points, repeatedly.

1) I don't support Windoze. If she wants me to help her with the computer, she needs to buy a Mac.

2) she's had this Dell for a few years. It moves at the speed of molases, sometimes stuff just randomly doesn't work. One day she can't print, the next day she can. So I ask her, why she puts up with that? Why does she think that's 'acceptable' for a computer.

Her recent response to point 2 was that she only uses the computer for an hour or two per week so it's not a big deal. So I asked her, how many hours a week does she use a toaster? And when was the last time it burned her toast, or refused to toast at all....when was the last time she tried to toast something and the bread dissapeared? Would she accept that from a toaster? Then why is it OK for computers to not work right every time?!

My mother is starting to come around. Plus, the Mini is just dang cute and will look really spiffy on her desk. Right now the Dell is a big black tower that is under the desk and she has to bend down to turn it on and all.

-Stephanie

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macsackbut

Cute analogy. I'll have to remember it.

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Pelao

Hi
I think this part of your post holds some crucial info for your case. It is very rare for a PC to be fully loaded in the same sense that a Mini is loaded.

With the Mini she can mange her digital stuff with first class applications (not lite, junior or demo apps) right out of the box. She does not have to add anything or subscribe to virus updates etc.

What applications does she use the most? This can also influence the decision. If she is a home user, with surfing, digital media and occasional word processing, the Mini is perfect as it is. If she is a heavy user of MS Office she may want to add the Mac version.

Search for some of the reports regarding consumer satisfaction etc - Apple scores tops in most of those.

Have her read the Switching section of Apple's site - lots of info there to ease any concerns.

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jicon

I think games are the biggest difference between getting most casual users to switch from PC to Mac.

However, generally speaking, there seems to be marginally less hassle dealing with program and OS upkeep with a Mac. For email/browsing, working with digital photos, the mini is a good machine... AND, something I've come to appreciate, very quiet.

She could also learn enough to frequent this website for tips, advice, and check up on you to see what you're up to... on second thought, maybe you'd be better off if she had a PC???

elmer

Here's how you spin it.Apple is the ultimate name-brand PC company.

Sometimes you get what you pay for, sometimes you don't, period.

Potential hang-up here - make sure it's USB keyboard and mouse...

Play up the advantages of both being on Mac - iChat AV, .Mac, collaborating on an iMovie project, ...

Impossible to tell. Better to show

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Strimkind

I look at it this way, you get what you pay for in the case of the PC. Remember if she has to get the unit repaired it has to be sent away at her expense. Now, I am not sure how apple works with the standard warrenty, but I believe it is the same as under applecare (correct me if I am wrong, never had to use the standard, just applecare).
Although the PC is upgradable, it has a large footprint, going to be loud due to fans, and rather ugly. Mini's are nice as you can hide them almost anywhere and are an even better deal with the recent upgrades.

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DP004

Intuit Canada doesn't advertise Quickbooks for Mac ( with canadian income taxes requirements and GST, HST etc.) . I don't think it exists.
It does for the US though.
If you can live around this, make sure you can transfer the current PC Quickbooks Canada files to your new Mac Quickbooks US files.
There is room for a lot of unexpected problems.

SoyMac

You have to convince her?!
Don't waste your time. Dump her. It would never have worked out for the long term anyway.

I'm only half kidding.

Well, maybe 25 percent kidding.

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