So, You Bought A Mac? What Tipped The Scales?

Apple’s Mac sales remain at all time highs, units sold, total revenue, profits. Windows users are switching to Macs in growing numbers.

If you’re a switcher, or you know one, what tipped the scales toward the Mac? Why did you take the plunge and make the switch?

Was it due to the influence of Apple’s delightful series of television commercials which pit ’I’m a Mac’ against the doddering, inept, ’I’m a PC?’ Did you switch because Windows security problems drove you nuts?

Apple claims that about half of all Macs purchased in Apple’s retail stores are to first time Mac buyers, most of whom are former Windows users. Seldom do we hear of reports of Mac users switching to Windows.

It’s arguable that Mac OS X is a more dependable, secure, less problem-plagued operating system than Windows. Mac are known for being easy to use and secure, two areas that many Windows users found to be problematic with their PCs.

Somewhere in the buying process, when a PC user decides to switch to a Mac instead of buy another PC, there is a tipping point, a pinnacle where desire overcomes fear.

Most Mac switchers may not have made a yellow legal pad list-- two columns, detailed pro and con-- of the good points about Macs and the bad points about Windows, but the mental process probably carried a running tab that, when added up, became the decision to buy a Mac.

Many media and tech pundits point to the success of Apple’s iPod and iTunes among windows users as one of the major reasons for Apple’s Mac successes of late. Others point out that Microsoft’s security problems with Windows XP, and quirky behavior in Windows Vista also contributed to the Mac’s success.

If you’re a switcher to the Mac from Windows, any time over the past three years or so, can you describe what criteria you applied to your get to your decision to buy a Mac instead of a PC?

Over the past five years, Windows users have been treated to what we like most about the Mac through their experiences with the iPod and iTunes.

It just works. No hassles. No learning curve. Plug it in and start using.

Tens of millions of Windows users bought iPods and use iTunes.

That showed them that Apple makes cool products that work better than their Windows PC counterparts.

Even Apple’s design of the new generation of iMac looks similar to the various iPod models.

The reasons for PC users switching from Windows to the Mac probably are quite varied, though most will share one thing in common. A tipping point. What happened that made the decision to choose a Mac acceptable?

Price? Security? Ease of use? Dependability? Style and design? OS X and iLife? Mac applications? Influence from family, friends, peers?

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