Texas Senate bans Vista from Government agencies

I'd like to see the Texas government save $$$ by switching to Apple based systems. They would end up paying double not to mention re-training all of their staff. They could go the Linux route as well, but that would cost ample coin in re-training.

Mathew, you are sadly mistaken.

Frankly, Apple computers are over priced and under-performing computers. They simply do not have the same application support as that of windows. Being a formal Apple computer user myself I can remember the time I was tricked into buying an Apple computer; I have switched to windows and will never go back.

Matt was saying exactly that

It would be too expensive to switch to Apple/Linux not only due to hardware, but training as well.

They're just sticking to XP, but they'll have to switch one day or another, but a mass upgrade to Vista right now seems like a silly idea when 7 is due out before the end of the year.

I agree with Former Apple User. Apple computers are great for school in some applications. For a govenment program that is fully based on microsoft software, it would be way to costly to retrain employes, and buy all new compters. That alone is very costly. Now you have to write all new software that will be compatable with Apple. Vista does have a lot of problems, so switching back to xp is a good choice.

Macs are for multimedia professionals and people who don't have a clue/easily buy into lifestyle/brand marketing.

The article mentions nothing about Apple, yet some users seem to want this to be a Mac vs. PC deal. Please read people! It just points out that there are valid objections to Vista for Texas lawmakers, based on user and expert reports. The legislators mention nothing about Apple. Read before you post.

We know this, we were just being hypothetical~

"Macs are for multimedia professionals and people who don't have a clue/easily buy into lifestyle/brand marketing."

Somewhat true, but not a valid argument based on facts. Its as stupid as saying that PC's sell to office users and accountants. You have to remember that Apples largest base is Education. When Steve Jobs returned to apple in 1997, he rebuilt the brand from that base.

Fundamentally, Apple and Microsoft (PC) focus on different selling points. Apple focuses on building insanely great products and Microsoft focuses on licensing its OS to other PC vendors. Apples ecosystem allows it to focus on consumer experience end to end, while Microsoft leaves consumer experience to its licensees while it handles the marketing of the Microsoft brand. Licensing is highly lucrative, but leaves gaps in customer service.

On the other hand, Apples consumers pay a premium for product quality and customer service. The notion of overpaying is simply arguable when one considers what they get. For one, you can get free classes at Apple stores on using the Mac (creatively or in the Office), when you have an issue, just stop at the Genius Bar and they diagnose/ fix the issue..FREE if software based (Yes Macs do have issues sometimes, but rare), Your Mac comes with iLife suite (you have to buy comparable products on a PC separately which costs $$$$), OS upgrades on Macs cost only $129 (No multiple versions, its tricked out already you just use what you want) compared to $250 Average on PC's (less if you want a water down version), add another few $ for antivirus on PC's etc..etc

So yes, you pay a premium upfront for a Mac, but in the end you save way more than a PC in extra expenses.

Hmmmm.......................interesting.
Still don't think the upsides are worth the price of admission when it comes to Macs vs PCs though.
And if I had a Mac, by the time I wanted a new OS I'd want to get a new computer probably.
Plus I use free antivirus software (and free everything else, actually)..all of which has done me very well.

@chautemoc that's the thing, with major updates from MS, you rarely get anything "new". If you look at Vista, a number of people didn't upgrade simply because the OS offered no real reason to. Most of the new features were cut simply so MS could put out a new OS. When it comes to Win 7, while it [currently] performs better than Vista, current Vista users really have no reason to upgrade to it.

With Mac OS, users get new features that are actually worth upgrading for. It helps, like @Dave Jenkins said that there is only one version to upgrade to and it costs less that upgrading to Windows. Apple also sells a 5-system upgrade license allowing users to upgrade the OS on 5 Mac systems at a price cheaper than a Windows upgrade.

But as @Matthew said, for a company to switch to Mac/Linux it would cost more upfront to retrain people and buy the hardware... but then, that's not even what this article was about.

quote Dave Jenkins

"Macs are for multimedia professionals and people who don't have a clue/easily buy into lifestyle/brand marketing."

Somewhat true, but not a valid argument based on facts. Its as stupid as saying that PC's sell to office users and accountants. You have to remember that Apples largest base is Education. When Steve Jobs returned to apple in 1997, he rebuilt the brand from that base.

Fundamentally, Apple and Microsoft (PC) focus on different selling points. Apple focuses on building insanely great products and Microsoft focuses on licensing its OS to other PC vendors. Apples ecosystem allows it to focus on consumer experience end to end, while Microsoft leaves consumer experience to its licensees while it handles the marketing of the Microsoft brand. Licensing is highly lucrative, but leaves gaps in customer service.

On the other hand, Apples consumers pay a premium for product quality and customer service. The notion of overpaying is simply arguable when one considers what they get. For one, you can get free classes at Apple stores on using the Mac (creatively or in the Office), when you have an issue, just stop at the Genius Bar and they diagnose/ fix the issue..FREE if software based (Yes Macs do have issues sometimes, but rare), Your Mac comes with iLife suite (you have to buy comparable products on a PC separately which costs $$$$), OS upgrades on Macs cost only $129 (No multiple versions, its tricked out already you just use what you want) compared to $250 Average on PC's (less if you want a water down version), add another few $ for antivirus on PC's etc..etc

So yes, you pay a premium upfront for a Mac, but in the end you save way more than a PC in extra expenses.

Apple users pay a premium for sub standard hardware and software and crappy customer service. If you have any scratches or any mark that may even remotely hint that the laptop has been dropped apple will not honor the apple care contract.
I live in Maine where the state provides an apple laptop to every 7th and 8th grade student at great cost to the taxpayers. I have 300 ibook g4 laptops in my care and I send back 5 to 7 a week to a repair depot that apple had to build in Maine just to take care of all the student laptops in the state because the repairs were overrunning the normal repair centers. The frames in the laptops are made of cast metal which is brittle and cracks under normal use, I have replaced every battery at least once and if a screen is shattered it costs up to $800 for a replacement because it is not covered by apple. I have 200 PC laptops at the high School that get daily use and I have yet to see a cracked frame or broken screen and have not had to replace any batteries. For the $800 screen replacement fee I could buy a much more capaple PC laptop or two fully loaded netbooks.

Hate to break it to the Mac Nazis but PC's running windows or linux are far superior to anything Apple puts out.

Apple gives it's users what it thinks they want then they boil it down so a two year old can use it, Microsoft and Lunux let users choose what they want and trust that the users have a higher than room temp IQ.

Or think of it this way Apple = USSR
You will use this hardware and this software and you will praise us for allowing you to give us a great deal of money for it to be so.

Microsoft and Linux = USA
You can buy or software or use free linux and you have billions of ways to configure the software and hardware to suite your needs and use it how you want to. You can love us or hate us but enjoy the freedom of choice.

Vista users have a million reasons to upgrade, and will.
Thanks for your insight, Apple Tech.
There's upsides to Apple's closed system approach, I think (good for those who aren't technologically savvy, makes problems easier to diagnose and fix, etc.), but they don't really shine at the price you pay.

I think mac is far more stable and secure then windows will ever be. As the old addage goes, "You get what you pay for." With Mac you get quality with Microsoft you get crap. Vista has been proven by several independent research groups that it has thousands of vulnerabilities and more are being discovered. Not to mention a resource hog. Everyone person I've talked to that went to Mac never looked back.

Linux on the other hand is my favorite. I splooge on linux.