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Do you? Could you? Would you use a Mac?

Apple Logo Okay, the secret’s out: I am a Mac fanatic. I know what you are saying: “oh, no, not one of those“. My household possesses a Mac tower, an iMac, a MacBook Pro, and a MacBook. I use an iPhone and we have two other (older) iPods. My five year old probably thinks all computers are Macs.

But, in business, especially in real estate, I know that I have often made life more than a bit more complicated for myself. So, since I have an external blog dedicated to both technology and productivity, I thought that this would be a good topic to explore.

That, combined with the fact that 80% of businesses now use Macs as (at least) part of their arsenal, that sales are up 51% overall from a year ago, and the latest iPhone is taking aim at enterprise clientele, makes me wonder if the tide might also be turning in real estate.

If you use a Mac, do you find it a challenge? Do you use a Windows emulator (like Parallels or Bootcamp)? If you don’t use one, is it because the profession demands a Windows-based computer? Are you considering a Mac? Would you ever consider one? I would LOVE your input!

Brandon Weber

p.s. If you have a chance, please check out my new external blog regarding real estate technology and lifehacks. It is still new and not quite ready for prime time, but it is aimed at real estate professionals like me and you. Any feedback is welcome.

Posted by Brandon Weber on 06/30/2008 01:53 AM

Comments (26)

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26 Comments on Do you? Could you? Would you use a Mac?

JUN

2008

Good discussion topic. As a REALTOR I am recently considering having both systems. I'm used to these glitchy gates machines, and I hear ultimately Mac isn't much better. But it appears that the best graphics software packages are designed more frequently with macs in mind. All the hard core advertising geniuses I know use Macs.... So that was my motivation for considering it.

I don't want to be behind in anything, and if having a mac means I can use better software in a crucial area, sign me up.

But I would still argue that Steve Jobs may hold the record for "Biggest Business Blunder in History" :)

I have never considered a Mac for business use, as my office is a slave to microsoft. Also, my wife needs our home computer for her work and they are totally MS driven. However, I have considered purchasing a mac for recording purposes. I play drums, and enjoy recording and mixing music. I have found that the windows software I use is inferior to the Mac products I have experimented with in the past. While I do enjoy the faster processing speed and simpler architecture, I am stuck in windows mode for the time being. Great post. It should yield some interesting discussion.

I woulde use a mac, but would make sure it has the windows xp converter as I cannot stand VISTA

Brendan, Thanks for the input. This is the kind of discussion I was hoping to get going.

I have had a lot of experience when I had my corporate job with Windows. In fact I specialized in enterprise software (and almost all run on Windows systems). My experience actually has been quite different with a Mac. The operating system is more stable (because now it uses a unix-based framework) and is basically immune to virus attacks. I have only twice had to take one of my Macs into the shop and both times it was with hard-drives that were supplied by companies that make hard drives for Windows-based machines (as you know, no computer company makes all the hardware). The hard drives were made by Hitachi and IBM. So I am pretty confident about the reliability of my Macs.

I do run Windows on my Mac and am able to choose which Windows OS to use (and, yes, I use XP). I use it primarily for my MLS access (need to use Windows Internet Explorer) and also for my WinForms. I used to use it for my database, but I am now using a hosted database solution.

JUL

2008

I had a mac and though i liked it and would rather use a KVM switch with a windows based computer for switching instantly between windows and mac, I found that most online apps like top producer, our MLS and other things wouldn't work on mac. Same with the Iphone it doesn't work with our ekey lockboxes, so for me a mac was nice but not so nice for business. Also I couldn't get embedded media player stufff to show up on the web even after downloading the patches. Like em, but for all the money they are making they need to be able to do what a windows PC can do and more and for now it's either or and mac loses for business.

JUL

2008

Back in the day, I was one of the original Mac users, and a fierce advocate. In my first real estate office in the mid 80s I was the first person with a Mac. When I left that office there were 20 others with Macs and only 2 with PCs. But Apple blew the early advantage that they had and ultimately I shifted to the Windows world in the mid 90s.

With the disaster that was/is Windows Vista, I am going back to the Mac. The switch to intel processors which makes Macs capable of running not only OS X but also Windows makes it a much easier decision. Now if I HAVE to run a windows program, it is possible with a minimal amount of hassle. The Mac is simply more elegant, more integrated, and more pleasant to use.

I think that Apple is definitely on the upswing. Just this week announcing record earnings for the quarter. Steve Jobs is unquestionably one of the greatest talents of the baby boomer generation, and can justifiably take credit for bringing Apple back from the brink of death. Look for some new exciting products coming from Apple just over the horizon.

Brandon

The fact that it has taken me fifteen years to get to the level of competency that I have on a PC is enough to dissuade me from considering a MAC. Along with all the expense of buying new software, printers Etc.

Maybe in the future if Apple continies to gain market share and the amount of third party software is allowed to develop, I might consider it, but right now I don't think that the MAC offers enough for me to change.

My office space mate is a Mac lover and on her second or third. I am very impressed with Cyndi's Mac, love the graphics and the way it is set up and the functionality of it.

My poor laptop PC is in the twilight of its useful life and is so noisy that the girls cheer when I unplug the darn thing to take it home at night. It scares me to death to get Vista after all the horror stories I have heard and read. But I have to do something soon.

I would definately consider the Mac but all my programs are PC and our MLS doesn't support Mac. So I think I am stuck with PC.

JUL

2008

Leslie, You are not "stuck" with a PC unless you choose to be stuck.

That is one of the great advances that the Mac has made since switching from the PowerPC to Intel processors. With the free "Bootcamp" utility, you can startup in either OS X or Windows environments, and with a program like Parallels or VM Fusion, you can run windows "in a window" within the Mac operating system. This flexibility does come with a price tag. You will have to purchase a retail copy of Windows (not recommended since Vista is now the main Windows offering) or install a previous version of XP (you might have to "retire" the Windows machine to make that happen.) But the bottom line is that with Windows installed on your Mac, you can run ALL of your existing applications AND you can run IE 7 which is the bottleneck with most MLS systems.

Although Microsoft is the 800 lbs. gorilla, they are losing ground and will continue to do so. Vista continues to be a disaster for Microsoft. And the best estimates for Microsoft to be able to correct the mistakes with Vista will be 2010 or 2011. And given Microsoft's poor performance in rolling out new versions of their operating system, even those dates are questionable.

JUL

2008

I think I have used both an equal amount of time (like at home, or when I was teaching high school), so I am just as bad / good on either.

JUL

2008

Reminds me of Beta or VHS. Sony Beta is (was) a much better product, used in Pro TV, but we live in a VHS world. PC has more variety, less cost, more availability. I was a Beta guy, and I lost the battle. Won't do that again.

AUG

2008

Some of the comments here are downright hilarious. I laughed especially hard at the one where they didn't want to have to buy new printers. Unless the printer is more than 10 years old it likely works with a Mac. Added to the fact that it is often cheaper to by a new printer than the toner cartridges when they need replacing, and I found it a very funny comment.

Many, many programs for Windows run well on a Mac when using CrossOver, which is a commercial implementation of WINE. I use it for my appraisal software on a daily basis. I used to use it to run Internet Explorer for MLS access too, but the latest POS upgrade from First American (Tempo 5) does not work. (It does not work very well on a Windows machine either. LOL) For MLS access at this time I use one of several methods. For basic information on current listings, I just use the idx page on my web site. For full access I can run Windows XP using Parallels, or access a 8 year old Windows XP Pro box on my home network using either Remote Desktop Connection or LogMeIn, both of which are free. (I'm glad I just put that old box in the closet rather than throwing it away last year. I run it without a monitor, keyboard, etc. just the box.)

There are many areas that have good MLS systems that are well written programs. In those areas such workarounds to run MLS are unnecessary. Fortunately there is no such thing as a program that cannot be made to run on a modern Mac. It is just a question of how much work is involved and money required.

AUG

2008

I have been contemplating on making the switch. I really want to but I just wonder what my learning curve will be. As we all know a couple days down can be catastrophic. I learned alot from everybody's posts regarding compatability. I think I will make a trip to the Apple Store and see what I can learn.

I think the learning curve would be worth the switch, as long as the software works and even that seems to be less of an issue these days than it was a few years ago. Apple have spent 3 decades perfecting an operating system and hardware integration while Microsoft have tried a number of flavours and, until recently, haven't been able to get it right.

Personally, I don't think the switch is going to be too different from the Windows XP to Vista one. Sure, there are going to be things to learn, but you might as well get frustrated with Mac and get something better out of it.

As a web designer, I'd switch in a heartbeat except I do have software compatibility issues, more's the pity.

Cheers,

Dave

JDE LTD

After years of resisting, I finally ordered a macbook pro and I am like a kid at Christmas waiting! The fact is that no matter what you think of the corporate culture and some other idiosyncrasies about Apple, the stuff works!!!

Just noticed this week that Apple has overtaken Google as the company with the Largest Capitalization in Silicon Valley at a valuation of $159 Billion. That is an amazing accomplishment! They must be doing something right!

AUG

2008

I love my new MacBookPro. The only reason I use a windows PC is for Top Producer and our MLS.

OCT

2008

Oh I'm sure to upset some people here but NO - I would never use a Mac. My view is tainted as I am basing 100% of my opinion on heresay. Do things look better on the MAc, sure. Do they work better - doubt it.

Matt, I doubt your comments will upset anyone. Most Mac users prefer to have their competition using a Windows machine. It makes for a nice competitive advantage for the Mac user.

OCT

2008

We've been exploring this issue at our board to make our MLS comatible with iPhine and ther browsers. It's certainly interesting that there's so much functionality but MAc just isn't very mainstream for business unless your business is in the arts (Graphics, video, music)

OCT

2008

MLS compatability is not just a Mac issue. Many Windows users prefer Firefox, but are forced into using Internet Explorer due to the way the MLS software was written. There was a time when MLS vendors could say "everybody" uses Internet Explorer and not be far from the truth. Internet Explorer enjoyed a market share of close to 90%. However, things have changed over the past couple of years. Internet Explorer's market share is now down to about 71% and still trending down. The significant amount of poorly written web software that only supports Internet Explorer is one of the main factors proping up Internet Explorer's market share.

There are some well written MLS programs like Navica that work in any browser, but the crap sold by First American dominates the market in many areas at this time. It probably will take a couple of the larger MLS systems dumping the crap for a good program for First American to invest the reasorces to produce a good product. For now they are relying on inertia to hold their customers reather than a superior product.

Currently use a PC -- would seriously consider a MAC on next purchase. I hear that the more important PC software is similar if not exactly the same -- just concerned about the learning curve in the transition but understand the benefits.

NOV

2008

I LOVE my Mac Book Air. I should get paid by Apple cause I evangelize them almost every chance I get. I'm a web developer and Mac's just rock...and even their default Safari browser is far superior from a developer's standpoint (wish all users would dump IE).

That being said...I wish Apple wasn't so proprietary about their stuff. Wouldn't it be great if we could put MacOS on cheaper computers by vendors like Dell and HP?! If Apple started dominating the market the way Microsoft did in the 90's...they would be much more at fault for monopolization than Microsoft ever was. I hear Windows 7 is coming out soon which is quite revolutionary. My ideal scenario is that Windows and Macs can live harmoniously and competitively...and that 95% of the population would fully switch to Safari and Firefox :).

Pat Cheung | Townizen.com | Townizen Community Evangelist

MAY

I'm a little late in the discussion - but I've been a mac user since 1983 or so. I've had a lot of them. 3 years ago I felt compelled to go the thdark side, and bought 2 PC's - 1 for me, one for my assistant. It was just toohard training an assistant to use my way, when they all know PC's.

a year later, my asst went back to being a realtor, and BOUGHT A MAC! PFFF.

O just bought a Macbook Pro, and use it for video production, blogging;), and everything else, except the MLS. I jsut haven't installed parallels, but will.

My Mac entices me into many new creative endeavors (iPhoto with face recognition, iMovie, garage band (rocks), and all the iLife apps. LOVE it.

My PC is just a tool.

JUN

New Mac laptops were released today. In addition to upgraded batteries and a return of a firewire port to the 13" model, SD card slots are now part of the standard configuration. (An overdue addition IMHO.)

The next version of the Mac OS will be out in September, and it is a free upgrade to anyone purchasing a Mac with the current version between now and December. The OS upgrade will only cost $29 for a single user or $49 for the 5 user "family pack" when it is released if you are running the current version.

Version 4 of Safari is out today as a free download, I recommend giving it a try.

JUL

I'd love to try and switch to Mac, but have been concerned about compatibility issues. But I'm also getting sick of Vista and viruses associated with PC's; so, next time I have a crash or need a replacement, I will think seriously of making the switch. Everyone I know with a Mac loves them, and I hardly ever hear anyone saying how much they love their PC. Does Mac (Apple) change/update its OS and software every other year to force us to buy upgrades?

Hey, Brandon, I've been thinking about networking my office with dedicated server and networked software for my agents to plug into. If I have a dedicated Mac server and software, doe sthat mean all my agents will need a Mac, or will they be able to use their PC's. For that matter, if I have a PC system, will all the agents have to have a PC or will they be able to use a Mac on the networked system?

~Ninah

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