David Boss learned desktop publishing on an Apple Computer Macintosh, or Mac, provided by his employer in the late 1980s. However, when he established his own business, Boss Communications in Mississauga, Ont., in 1996, he bought a Windows-based personal computer.
He switched over despite the fact that he liked working on Macs, because by then, PCs running Windows 95 could handle desktop publishing and "they provided greater hardware flexibility, lower cost and more compatibility with the corporate world."
Though he misses the ease of use of his Mac, Mr. Boss likes Windows XP and plans on upgrading to the new Windows operating system (OS), Vista, next year. But he is going to wait "a few months after it hits the market, after the bugs are sorted out."
In a twist of technological development, however, now that Macs can be used to run Windows, he is going to "at least look at" Macs when he needs a new computer.
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Apple recently introduced Boot Camp, so-called dual boot software that enables Intel-based Macs to run in Mac or Windows XP mode. Boot Camp is now available as a download and will be included as part of Leopard, Apple's next Mac OS X release, due on the market later this year.
Still, the market share division between Windows-based PCs and Macs is lopsided, to say the least. In 2005, Apple's total desktop and notebook computer share in Canada was 4.2 per cent, up from 3.3 per cent in 2004, according to Eddie Chan, IDC Canada research analyst. The rest of the personal computer market, but for a fraction of a point, is controlled by Windows-based PCs.
Most analysts predict that Boot Camp will have minimal impact on Apple's sales, especially as Apple has "no desire or plan to sell or support Windows," according to Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice-president of worldwide product marketing. However, Boot Camp makes Macs "even more appealing to Windows users considering making the switch."
"That's the market they are targeting, the switchers," Mr. Chan said.
Mr. Boss is one of the potential switchers Apple must reach if it hopes to boost market share.
Barb Sybal, owner of GFX Printing Services in Mississauga, Ont., is one of the computer users Apple knows it can hold on to.
GFX specializes in designing and producing direct mail postcards, bookmarks and CD covers.
"I would effectively not be able to run my business without Macs," she said. However, her staff also operates several PCs because some of the shipping companies she deals with require her to use PC-based tracking software. In addition, Ms. Sybal has "yet to find an e-mail client that I like for the Mac."
However, when Ms. Sybal needs a new computer, she could buy a Mac that runs BootCamp and have one computer that operates in both Mac and Windows modes.
Many computer users who have worked on both Macs and PCs say that Mac has the more elegant and stable operating system. Still, there is the feeling that if you are in business, you need a PC.
"While I have used both Macs and PCs, and the ability to do a dual boot on a Mac is great, I wouldn't switch," said Austin Guerin, a dedicated PC user and proprietor of Guerin Financial Services in Toronto.
"As a PC user in the financial sector, I find some PC programs just won't work on Macs, and I don't want the hassle of porting all my files to a new hard drive on a new computer," he said.
But there is wistfulness to his assessment. "The Mac, while more expensive, is a better OS than Windows. With Windows XP still very buggy, I expect Vista to be the same."
Buggy operating system or not, like many computer users, Mr. Guerin is sticking with his PC for business reasons.
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