With the latest operating systems both machines co-exist on the network very well. We have Macs in the Graphics, Exhibit design and Multi-media departments. Cost is equal. It would it would initially appear that the Mac is more expensive, but by the time you've spent the money on a PC to make it an equivelent performer you could buy a Mac for the same amount. As far as the Administration portions of the Museum ... PC's are far superior simply because the majority of Museum specific software available is written for a PC. It becomes not a question of the machine itself but of the useage that dictates which is best for what job. My advice would be 'apply the best tool to the job at hand' and don't be afraid to mix when necessary. Our Macs log on to an MS Exchange server for e-mail, share calendar functions with the PCs, store data on Win2K3 servers, print to windows printers and behave on the network like any other workstation. I would not waste the power of a Mac for writing word documents nor performing accounting functions. I would also not waste the time required to make the average PC perform as well as a Mac in graphics oriented duties. Just my .02 typed on a PC while my G4 mactop is beside it monitoring traffic flow on my Win2K3 Network.
Randy Heise Information Technology Manager High Desert Museum 59800 South Hwy 97 Bend, OR 97702 541.382.4754 x244 rheise at highdesertmuseum.org www.highdesertmuseum.org
