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The Macintosh platform has traditionally been touted as the superior computing system for the graphics world.  With its continuing lead in video display technology and processor speed, the Mac will retain that lead for the foreseeable near future.  However, Apple only weakly advertises the Mac as a mainstream business machine, and in their silence, the public has misinterpreted such as a lack of business utility.  We've actually heard poorly-trained IT managers publically claim that there are no programs which run on the Mac!  Applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel were born on the Mac, and remain on par with their Windows(tm)-based cousins.

This page is a resource to help educate just how applicable the Mac is for the general office.  If you are looking for a business application for the Mac and you don't see it here, email us on our Contact page. We'd be happy to help find your solution.  Thanks!

Most business offices require several applications for daily productivity.  Let's break them down into categories.

1. Word Processing.  The single biggest change computers have made to the business office is to replace the typewriter on the workers desk.  Using a computer for creating paper documents, faxes or electronic copies of paper documents is the single largest use of business computers today.  We call this word processing (we used to call it typing).  The defacto standard word processing program in American business is Microsoft Word; however, there are many other programs available (please see "Handling unusual documents", too).  Some of the available Mac word processors are:
   
   
   • Microsoft Word, Microsoft, Inc. (part of the Office 98 suite or available separately, cross-platform)
   • AppleWorks, Apple Computer (business suite: word processing, spreadsheets, database, graphics, cross-platform)
   • NisusWriter.
   • Cross Culture Ltd (ClinicWorks-medical/dental, Deacon-church, Quickworks-small business)
   • ExpertConsultant (general business management software based on the FileMaker Pro database software. It's letter-writing module is weak for general business communication and files are not readily exchangeable with other programs except as raw text. Well suited for small businesses with no budget)
   • LotusNotes, Lotus Development Corp. (LotusNotes is owned by IBM and is another 'suite' of programs with a word processor built in.  Popular with large business Intranets, it can be used as a standalone package. Larger installations would require a central server. See Networks below, cross-platform)
   • Adobe PageMaker, Adobe, Inc. (PageMaker is a desktop publishing, or 'DTP', package intended for generating flyers, newsletters, professional magazines and newspapers, not daily correspondance. As few general offices would use PageMaker for daily letters, it is a poor choice for compatibility unless your needs are strictly these unique uses, cross-platform)
   • Adobe InDesign, Adobe, Inc. (DTP, same cautions as PageMaker.   InDesign is replacing PageMaker)
   • QuarkXpress, Quark, Inc. (DTP, same cautions as PageMaker, cross-platform)
     
     
2. Financial or Numerical Analysis.  Number crunching was the sole reason for the birth and development of the computer.  And doing repetative or large amounts of math is still their most useful feature.  To that end, spreadsheets were initially created.  A spreadsheet permits extremely flexable manipulations of data, arranged in rows and columns, for organizing and conducting nearly any math function.  Excel remains the best of breed in this category -- one of the few packages that seems to have improved as it became bigger.  For something extremely functional, but not nearly as expensive, Apple has a very competent spreadsheet built into AppleWorks. Also see our Accounting section.
   
   
   • Microsoft Excel, Microsoft, Inc. (part of the Office 98 suite or available separately, cross-platform)
   • AppleWorks, Apple Computer (business suite: word processing, spreadsheets, database, graphics, cross-platform)
   • BiPlane (ShareWare, older but very functional spreadsheet. Available from most shareware sources such as MacShare)
   • Storeys, Profunda (spreadsheet with 3D capabilities)
     
     
3. Databases.  Databases are difficult to describe, yet can be extremely powerful tools for the modern business.  A database is a file or collection of interrelated files which permit the storage of vast amounts of information.  Imagine having a rolodex of information about your suppliers in which you could easily sort or search by any criteria: name, address, phone number, state, keyword, etc.  That would be one file (table) in your database.  Now, imagine having another table for all of your clients, and one for purchases, billing invoices, products, inventory, contact management, procedures -- nearly any collection of information you desire.  All this in a flexable format or variety of formats for retrival or manipulation.  That would be a powerful tool -- and precisely what databases can accomplish.  There are many database tools for the Mac, but a few stand out: 4D and FileMaker Pro.  Both are excellent packages for running your business needs, and both can be used as front-ends for Oracle-based systems.  Panorama is another fine database, and much faster than FMP or 4D; however, one must have sufficient RAM installed for the data.
   
   
   • 4D, ACI/Starnine(a very professional high-end relational database package with the ability to hook into Oracle, SQL, and ODBC-compliant databases as a front-end. With third party 4D Plugins, 4D can communicate via AppleEvents, TCP/IP, Fax gateways, create PDFs, add SSL - and is cross-platform)
   • FileMaker Pro, FileMaker, Inc. is another fine relational database package.  Not quite the power of 4D, it remains easier to program and maintain for general business needs with many of the same features (cross-platform, ODBC, etc).
   • AppleWorks, Apple Computer (business suite: word processing, spreadsheets, database, graphics, cross-platform)
   • Panorama, ProVUE (RAM-based extremely fast relational db, cross-platform & SQL-capable)
   • BigBusiness (business management software via Internet)
     
     
4. Presentations
   
   
   • Adobe Persuasion, Adobe, Inc. (Better than PowerPoint with more tools, cross-platform)
   • Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft, Inc. (part of the Office 98 suite or available separately, cross-platform widely used)
   • AppleWorks, Apple Computer (business suite: word processing, spreadsheets, database, graphics, cross-platform lacks the tools of competition)
   • Director, Macromedia (powerful multimedia presentaton package)
   • SuperCard, Incwell (Similar to Director but not as pricey)
     
     
5. Accounting Needs.
   
   
   • Quickbooks - Quicken grown up, but only marginally supported by Intuit and lacking significant updates since '96
   • MYOB - Mind Your Own Business, slowly creeping up on what Quickbooks could have been.
   • Quicken - good personal accounting package.
   • Great Plains - once an independent company, now part of the Microsoft collective
   • Soroban - fine Japanese abacus
   • BigBusiness (business management software via Internet)
   • Total Collections (debt collection management software)
   • ExpertConsultant (invoicing system for small businesses - careware)
     

Standard Network Technologies:

Ethernet 10baseT (10 Mbps, Megabits/second or ~1.25 Megabytes per second max transfer) -- Pretty much the defacto standard for most business installations. Built into nearly all PowerPC models, available as plug-in cards for 68k machines, either as 10base2, 10baseT, or SCSI/10base2/T. Being replaced by 100baseT with G3 models and above.  Generally known for its type of wiring with a fat telephone-like modular plug using 4 wires as twisted pairs to transfer information.

Ethernet 100baseT (100Mbps) Built into all new Mac models since '99. (Yes, 10 times faster than 10baseT)

Ethernet 1000baseT (1000Mbps or Gigabit Ethernet) Current state-of-the-art, built into all new Mac models. (Yes, 10 times faster than 100baseT)

AirPort (11 Mbps IEEE 802.11) Wireless radio transceivers, excellent for office environments difficult or impossible to wire. Built into all of the newer systems (since 2000) or available as an upgrade card. Uses a base station for shared LAN or Internet use.

TCP/IP, a protocol (collection of instructions and commands, like a language) used for the Internet and LANs.  Apple's intention was to replace AppleTalk with the TCP/IP standard beginning in 1994, and all Macs have been able to "talk" both protocols simultaneously (or either) since. Appletalk is being phased out of OS X in 2001 or 2002.

Older Technology:

TokenRing (IBM-based system, very resillant packet transfer, but not as popular as Ethernet), requires Nubus or PCI card.

LocalTalk (240 Kbps), Apple's first networking technology, built into every Mac from the Plus (1986) on up to current, being phased out with G4s.

AppleTalk, a software protocol, built into every Mac from the Plus on up. Being phased out and replaced solely by TCP/IP. Unfairly derided as "chatty", the AppleTalk protocol was significantly cleaned up in '96 and proved to be exceptionall robust for slower technology. Spanning tree protocols are the only known bain of this protocol, due to lapses in connectivity inherent in how STP works in routers.

IPX, another protocol popular with Windows-based systems, readily available for the Mac but rarely used.

IR, Infrared ports on the front of many models and most PowerBook laptops permits wireless transfer of data between Macs or Macs and other devices (Palmtops, Printers, TVs, Stereos, etc).

Ethernet 10base2 The original coax cable version of Ethernet, still widely installed in office environments. Often coupled with AAUI connectors.

What are the big differences between a switch and a hub?

A hub puts all traffic in a "pool" and distributes to the correct port for each packet of data.
A switch creates a dedicated connection between ports for each stream/packet of data.

Does a switch improve performance?

Under light loads you will see no difference.
Under heavy load, particularly with a faster (100baseT+) network, there's a huge difference.

One client went from lots of hubs, all cascading, to exclusively 10/100 switching, and grouped workstations on the switches likely to communicate with each other most, and we have seen dramatic improvements in speed, consistency, reliability, etc.

Unleash yourself.

Beyond the AirPort wireless LAN is Wireless internet.  Two services stand out: Ricochet and WISP. Wireless modems with roaming regional and national plans. Roaming and standard coverage fees can be expected at triple or higher standard landline rates.

Other office utilities (faxing, the Internet, printing needs, electronic data storage)

• eFax - The standalone office fax machine is not dead yet, but it may soon be as more and more documents become paperless.  Macs come with many great fax packages for sending faxes directly from your computer, and receiving them, but these software packages require that the computer be left on and tying up a phone line with their autoanswer feature.  Enter eFax: a free fax number for you, and a free service for basic fax receiving.  Your fax is sent to you as an email attachment, readily viewable from a variety of graphics packages such as GraphicConverter.  And, you can receive faxes anytime day or night without a dedicated phone line or equipment powered up.
  
  
• ePostage - Standing in line for stamps has to be one of the most frustrating experiences of basic office management.  Plus, this is unnecessary downtime, wasted valuable minutes driving to the post office and waiting for your turn with the clerk.  There are two ways around this. (1) Stamps by Mail. Save yourself the drive and downtime of getting stamps by using the Post Office to bring them to you. Most post offices have the form/envelope you need to purchase by mail, or buy on-line from the USPS.  (2) Use an integrated postage solution such as the PROmail stamp machine from Simply Postage.  This device is cross-platform, and combines a postage machine with a scale good for up to four pounds.
  
  
• Retrospect - Cross-platform network backups for automated data storage (from one to hundreds of Macs and/or PCs)
  
• Internet (eMail man -- email info and support)
  
• Printing - RIP engines and networked printers -

More things in the works:

Printer and paper resources

www.rippedsheets.com (paper and plastice label resource, custom label stock for your printing needs)

Electronic publications
Adobe Acrobat - perhaps the ubiquitous standard for all platforms, built into Mac OS X, available for older Mac Systems, Windows, and Unix.

Other office concerns:

file exchange
macLink Plus

Working with mixed networks -- or educating your IT staff that Macs are excellent replacements for aging PCs

There are a number of arguments that Macs cannot be used in business. All of them are false -- many of them the result of Windows IT people without the desire or capability to learn.  We've outlined a few items of contention here:

Myth: Macs are more expensive.  Fact: Based on capabilities, Macs are on par with an equivalent PC, based on price, performance or features.

Myth: Macs don't have business software.  Fact: What do you use? Any of the above software packages?  The packages used in business generate cross-platform files that can be used by either system.

Myth: Macs can't be networked.  Fact: Macs come with built-in Ethernet, and many with wireless technology, based on TCP/IP -- the Internet and network standard. Macs can file share with Windows, they can share printers, and they can communicate across a network with less fuss or setup time than PCs.

Myth: Macs can't be used on the Internet.  Fact: Macs have been on the Internet as long as there have been Macs. Macs are also widely used as Internet servers, for file serving, mail serving, and website serving. They are more stable and not susceptable to Internet problems such as the I Love You virus, CodeRed, NIMDA and all the other problems to which Windows NT and IIS servers are prone.

For more information about Macs and PCs, visit our Think Different page or John Droz's very informative Macs/PCs site.

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