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More Frequently Asked Questions

What's the cost of a complete system setup?

It depends on the configuration. A simple word-processing station might only require three hours. That's about $250. On the other hand, a big professional publishing workstation with lots of software, fonts and peripherals might require a full day or more.

By a full day you mean eight hours? That could get expensive!

Again, it depends on how you look at it. Although we didn't plan it this way, the cost of a complete system installation usually works out to be roughly 10% of the total hardware and software purchase price.

When you add up the cost of a powerful, high-end Mac, a good monitor or two, several hardware upgrades and specialty peripherals, and all the software you'll need, the total purchase price for a publishing workstation is usually $5,000-7,000. If your company is already considering that large of an investment, spending an extra 10% to make sure it's set up correctly, and configured for maximum productivity and reliability can actually be a smart investment.

Of course, this example assumes you'll be paying full retail prices for equipment and software. Working with us from the start often allows customers to save enough on their purchases to pay for our services.

You save customers money? How?

Since we're not retailers, we can look at your budget and system requirements more objectively. We may recommend spending more in some places, and less in others. (Your retail salesman probably won't be too eager to offer moneysaving ideas.) Plus, because we recommend systems for so many different people, we work with a wider variety of retailers and know who currently offers the best prices on machines, monitors, software, RAM, and all that. Finally, a few of our favorite suppliers even put together special software bundles or extend a professional courtesy discount exclusively for our clients.

In the end, if intelligent advice, smart shopping, and one or two special bonuses or discounts can save you just 8-10% on your hardware and software purchases, our services are essentially free.

Can't users set up their own Macintosh System?

Sure they can. But, the Mac OS is made to work for EVERYONE. It installs every conceivable thing the system might need to support every type of user, every piece of software, and almost every Mac model ever sold. Most people don't need half of this stuff. All those extras just waste disk space and increase the possibility of conflicts. To have a stable system you need to get all that extra stuff out of the way. But, I wouldn't recommend trying it unless you know what you're doing.

What about upgrades?

Mac hardware upgrades are fairly straightforward: Open the computer, plug in the new component, load the drivers and you're done. Most people could do it themselves. But, it takes confidence to rip the top off your computer and start fiddling around inside. Quite a few users don't want to try that, so we do a lot of RAM, graphics card and accelerator installations.

Software upgrades are a different matter. First, you have to know what's out there. We spend about four hours a day combing the Web to see which new software upgrades and bug fixes have been released, and what experiences people have had after installing them. Some will fix one problem and cause a dozen others to pop up. You really need to use caution before forging ahead with software updates.

What's the bottom line on the services you provide?

You can buy a Mac, set it up yourself, and completely ignore any maintenance, repairs or upgrades. But, eventually, you're going to start having problems that kill your productivity and make every minute you spend in front of the screen horribly frustrating.

Or, you can have a company like ours install it correctly, configure it for maximum performance and productivity, and provide all the regular maintenance and repairs it needs to work reliably day after day. To me, that sounds like a better investment.

Any other advice?

First, try to remember that you're not going to be an expert the first day you turn on the machine. Be patient. It will get easier.

Second, get some help. Read the manuals that come with your computer and software. Read a good Macintosh book. ("The Little Mac Book," by author Robin Williams, is an excellent choice for new Mac owners.) And, whenever possible, take a legitimate training course to learn how to do things correctly. It's money well spent.

Finally, I have one special piece of advice just for people who are considering their first Macintosh.

It's no secret that Macs are the most popular computers in ad agencies, studios and printing companies. Professionals in those companies use their Macs to produce stunning design, photography, illustrations, video, multimedia, web sites and more. And, by purchasing a Mac, you'll take the first steps toward learning to do some of those things yourself.

But, remember, the Mac is ONLY a tool. Owning a Mac WILL NOT instantly provide you with artistic talent, a good sense of design, prepress production skills, or the knowledge of an experienced advertising professional. You can't buy those skills in a silicon chip. ;-)

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Copyright 1998, 5-Minute Mac Consulting, Wampum, Pennsylvania, USA

Services: 7 of 7
More Frequently Asked Questions What's the cost of a complete system setup? It depends on the configuration. A simple word-processing station might only require three hours. That's about $250. On the other hand, a big professional publishing workstation with lots of software, fonts and peripherals might require a full day or more. By a full day you mean eight hours? That could get expensive! Again, it depends on how you look at it. Although we didn't plan it this way, the cost of a complete system installation usually works out to be roughly 10% of the total hardware and software purchase price. When you add up the cost of a powerful, high-end Mac, a good monitor or two, several hardware upgrades and specialty peripherals, and all the software you'll need, the total purchase price for a publishing workstation is usually $5,000-7,000. If your company is already considering that large of an investment, spending an extra 10% to make sure it's set up correctly, and configured for maximum productivity and reliability can actually be a smart investment. Of course, this example assumes you'll be paying full retail prices for equipment and software. Working with us from the start often allows customers to save enough on their purchases to pay for our services. You save customers money? How? Since we're not retailers, we can look at your budget and system requirements more objectively. We may recommend spending more in some places, and less in others. (Your retail salesman probably won't be too eager to offer moneysaving ideas.) Plus, because we recommend systems for so many different people, we work with a wider variety of retailers and know who currently offers the best prices on machines, monitors, software, RAM, and all that. Finally, a few of our favorite suppliers even put together special software bundles or extend a professional courtesy discount exclusively for our clients. In the end, if intelligent advice, smart shopping, and one or two special bonuses or discounts can save you just 8-10% on your hardware and software purchases, our services are essentially free. Can't users set up their own Macintosh System? Sure they can. But, the Mac OS is made to work for EVERYONE. It installs every conceivable thing the system might need to support every type of user, every piece of software, and almost every Mac model ever sold. Most people don't need half of this stuff. All those extras just waste disk space and increase the possibility of conflicts. To have a stable system you need to get all that extra stuff out of the way. But, I wouldn't recommend trying it unless you know what you're doing. What about upgrades? Mac hardware upgrades are fairly straightforward: Open the computer, plug in the new component, load the drivers and you're done. Most people could do it themselves. But, it takes confidence to rip the top off your computer and start fiddling around inside. Quite a few users don't want to try that, so we do a lot of RAM, graphics card and accelerator installations. Software upgrades are a different matter. First, you have to know what's out there. We spend about four hours a day combing the Web to see which new software upgrades and bug fixes have been released, and what experiences people have had after installing them. Some will fix one problem and cause a dozen others to pop up. You really need to use caution before forging ahead with software updates. What's the bottom line on the services you provide? You can buy a Mac, set it up yourself, and completely ignore any maintenance, repairs or upgrades. But, eventually, you're going to start having problems that kill your productivity and make every minute you spend in front of the screen horribly frustrating. Or, you can have a company like ours install it correctly, configure it for maximum performance and productivity, and provide all the regular maintenance and repairs it needs to work reliably day after day. To me, that sounds like a better investment. Any other advice? First, try to remember that you're not going to be an expert the first day you turn on the machine. Be patient. It will get easier. Second, get some help. Read the manuals that come with your computer and software. Read a good Macintosh book. ("The Little Mac Book," by author Robin Williams, is an excellent choice for new Mac owners.) And, whenever possible, take a legitimate training course to learn how to do things correctly. It's money well spent. Finally, I have one special piece of advice just for people who are considering their first Macintosh. It's no secret that Macs are the most popular computers in ad agencies, studios and printing companies. Professionals in those companies use their Macs to produce stunning design, photography, illustrations, video, multimedia, web sites and more. And, by purchasing a Mac, you'll take the first steps toward learning to do some of those things yourself. But, remember, the Mac is ONLY a tool. Owning a Mac WILL NOT instantly provide you with artistic talent, a good sense of design, prepress production skills, or the knowledge of an experienced advertising professional. You can't buy those skills in a silicon chip. ;-)
BACK		HOME

HOME . SERVICES . HELP DESK . RESOURCES . WHY MAC . CREDENTIALS
Copyright 1998, 5-Minute Mac Consulting, Wampum, Pennsylvania, USA