how to guide: getting people to switch

[howard]

this came up in another thread and gave me an idea...

Originally posted by FightTheFuture
i'm more impressed that you switched your brother and fiance than getting a dual 2ghz G5! i haven't at all been able to switch anyone i know. we should have a thread for coaching that type of thing.

so, who have you switched and how did you do it? and if it applies to you, how were you switched?

to start off, i was switched for 2 reasons

1. a friend of mine, roommate in college had an ibook at about he time os x came out...i would watch him use that thing and do all sorts of stuff that i wasn't doing on my pc...and it just looked so cool...after while i became envious and wanted one

2. being into music macs are the way to go... i eventually found that out and pretty much had to get one. took long enough though! i realized why my friend was doing so much that i wasn't...not because i couldn't...but because its just so much more fun and enjoyable and easier on the mac...that right there is the best thing about them and i know its been said a million times...

i can't say i've really switched anyone personally...though i've had quite an indirect effect.

basically because of me owning an ibook and loving it so much...my dad and brother (who have a MAJOR bias against mac...just that general ignorant bias that a lot of people have) got ipods, and use itunes now on there windows machines. and my cousin got a powerbook.

now my dad wants to get a mac...not sure if he will though

[pinto32]

I just had a big thing typed up about how it wasn't other people that switched me, rather, it was just sitting down one day and using the things, but then XP crashed on me, and I lost it all, so I am just gonna hurry up and post this before it happens again....

....iBook will be mine soon....:)

[howard]

Originally posted by pinto32
I just had a big thing typed up about how it wasn't other people that switched me, rather, it was just sitting down one day and using the things, but then XP crashed on me, and I lost it all, so I am just gonna hurry up and post this before it happens again....

....iBook will be mine soon....:)

hahahaha thats great. its funny cause its true.

[kuyu]

I switched kind of on accident. I was going to built a decent pc, and a friend (graphic artist) suggested I give macs a look. After a little research on apple.com hardware section, I was convinced.

The funny thing is, the guy that recommended macs to me builds pc's on the side. He doesn't actually own one himself.

On switching other people, my dad's a pc specialist and my mom's technologically challenged. All of my friends are just poor, or could care less about computers...

BUT THEY ALL LOVE MINE!!!!!

[mj_1903]

I have switched 7 people. Fortunately I own a laptop or two, so if someone is interested, I just loan them a PowerBook and generally they return it to me after they have bought their own. Not one person so far has not bought their own Apple after using the PowerBook for a week.

As for iPod's, I have sold a lot of them via similar methods. I have a spare 5gb and 15gb lying around and just lend them to people. Works a charm once they realize they can't live without it. About 10 people I know have bought iPod's because of this.

As for myself, I switched simply by browsing Apple's website one day. I saw Mac OS X from a slashdot post and saw the iBook and ordered one the next day. Annoyingly enough it came with Mac OS 9.1 installed and I had no idea how to use that, so I to go pick up a copy of OS X 10.0 and install it. Haven't looked back since.

[howard]

wow must be nice to have all that equipment to spare... but that is truly the best way to sell someone to apple... let them use one and the case is closed

[ethernet76]

I knew a guy that was moving away to college and taking the family PC with him. His parents were looking to get something to replace it, but they were worried about having the same problems PC had and with the kid leaving there would be no one around to fix it. I suggested an eMac based on what they did (Excel, internet, AIM, e-mail).

I told them they should go in and visit an Apple store - we have one in Cincy. The people at the apple store were very nice to them, and demoed the eMac, the iMac, and the Powermac. They liked what they saw and the idea that they had 1 year apple care free. Later that week they ordered an eMac from the apple.com store.

They've loved it ever since.
</end happy story>

I really think all it takes is a visit to the apple store. I've bought from there personally, and they're not overbearing and they'll pretty much let you do what you want, explain anything you ask them, and don't pull the, "I don't know, let me go get someone who does."

I think the best way to get people to switch is to just take them to an Apple store when they get ready to buy a new PC and not be all hating on PCs.

[Daveman Deluxe]

I've switched three people:

My friend Mike started college this year and wanted a new computer. He was tired of the family computer being FUBAR and so he asked his dad for an iBook for graduation/Christmas last year. He's never going back.

My youth pastor was tired of his computer in his office acting all wiggidy wack, so he asked the church to get him a 1 GHz TiBook and got it. At the time he was using a crappy old Pentium at home but it kept on screwing up so he usually took the TiBook home. Finally the Pentium became irreparable so he got a new Dell for his family and now he uses that at home.

A fellow intern at my church is tired of his old PC being messed up so he's getting a new iBook G4 the next time scholarship money comes around in January.

My friend Seth is into recording and will be buying a G5 when he starts building his digital studio.

My friend Justin will get an iBook if he ever gets his butt in gear and applies for college, but since his present usage of computers is limited to games, he uses a PC. He loves fiddling around with my iBook and would like to get one for actual work, if he did any work.

[Brundlefly]

I switched 1998 from my bronze pizmo pbook, and some annoying adventures in 8.6 and 9.02 XP was it for me....I was sure and made my choice.....

then osx came out....2000 ish

I was secretly addicted, every coffee shop, I'd see some ibooker huddled in the corner, and I would spy on them with an insane, jealous, craving, but never approaching.

I would buy copies of macworld and hide them at work (very PC enviro) until I finally caved in spring 2002, grabbing my first 700 ibook....I loved it, the os, the rock solid applications, it was like a dream come true, but I needed more and more, until finally here I am on my fully loaded 17 inch powerbook, a second 20 inch display, and 200 gig external fw drive.

I have come full circle, OSX is like crack cocaine for us designers, I will never go back to a windowZ box again.

[virividox]

my total amount of switchers have been 7 people. i go my friend started on an ipod, then he got pbook, i got my friend to get pbook, and his sister got the 12pbook and the isight and the ipod and the airport base station, and now his moms getting a pbook. then i got my other friend to get herself a pbook, her mom an imac and her sister an ibook.

i didn't preach that mac was better and never crashed, i just did stuff on it, they watched, they tried, they fell in love ahhhh

taht simple

[coolbreeze]

Originally posted by howard
...being into music macs are the way to go...

Hmm. I agree, this is the primary reason I bought a Mac. But had iTunes for Windows been out in Feb 2003, I might not have switched...

Just a thought.

***yes, I do realize the Mac experience includes more than iTunes. I love my iBook and will never go back to Windows, but you see my point***

[ITR 81]

I had couple folks switch to a mac just because they like what they saw on my 15 in PB. I switched 2 other folks when they asked me what I thought about mac or PC. One bought a new dual 2GHz and the other bought a new 17inch PB and 40GB iPod to go with it. I've also gotten about 10 people to go out and buy iPods. So I think I've done pretty well at selling folks on Apple products.

[the future]

Originally posted by Brundlefly
...OSX is like crack cocaine for us designers, I will never go back to a windowZ box again...

They should have made one of those switcher ads with you saying exactly this... :)

[sethypoo]

My English professor wants me to write my final paper on why the Mac rules.....she's a fellow Mac head, but she's running a Performa 6360 with OS 7.6.....She wants to switch to OS X but can't afford it yet.

Anyway, it should be a fun paper.

[jrv3034]

Originally posted by ethernet76
I think the best way to get people to switch is to just take them to an Apple store when they get ready to buy a new PC and not be all hating on PCs.

Agreed. That's how I switched my fiancé and my brother. Took them to the mini-Apple store at CompUSA. Showed them what the Macs did, and how easy it was to use them. They never looked back.

Most people I talk to that aren't very computer savvy tell me that Macs are great for "video and graphics", but not as good for "regular tasks like Word or internet". This is the common perception of Macs amongst the uninformed, and the reality is that MOST are uninformed. I don't know any better way of enlightening them than taking them to an Apple Store or reseller. No need for technical discussions, just show them iTunes, iChat AV, Soundtrack, and Office V.X, and they're hooked.

[blueflame]

wheni bought my new powerbook, i gave my old ibook to my younger sister
i live in Mass right now and home is in California, we used ichat to talk to each other.
my fa,ily was convinced
now all 5 members of my family use macs
plus ive convinced 3 friends.

i guess im making amends for switching 14 people from mac to PC in the OS 8 days

well, im working in it
Andreas

[LethalWolfe]

I've switched 2 people (3 if you count my parents seperately). My parents took some working on because price was a concern and my dad was worried about compatibility etc., (typical switcher fears I guess). First thing I did was pitch them iLife and then I took them to an Apple store to show them the eMacs. I demo'd the eMacs and iMacs for them. They were hooked after that. I was able to find them an open box, discontinued 15" iMac 800mhz w/superdrive at Compusa and they got a great deal on it (at the time it was cheaper than the non-superdrive 15" iMac 800mhz). They also got office at a discount. They absolutely love the machine and have no regrets about paying, all in all, about $1500 when at first they were looking at $600 or $700 budget PCs. My parents are far from tech savy, but they like the iMac (both how it looks and how it operates) so much that they actually take time to learn new things and want to start xfering all the home movies to DVD.

The other switcher I met at a small post/production forum. I was one of the few Mac users on the forum so I always plugged Macs and FCP here and there. Finally the guy just got fed up w/his PC when looking at upgrade options so he went out and bought a top of the line G5 and FCP. No *****-footin' around for him. :D


Lethal

[AmigoMac]

I remember that day as yesterday or better as today early, somewhere I read about Mac OS X and wanted to try it by myself, I followed Apple activities about hardware/software releases, prices increase/decrease, price/machine relationship and so, after 3 months, my wife and I decided to personalize our first PB, there is (was) a PC at home but I'll take it in 10 minutes to ebay... Looking forward to a second laptop, pretty sure it will be a 15" ;)

[FuzzyBallz]

You switched 'cause you didn't backup the files you had in WinXP. Heh, that's fresh. So what happens when a storm fries your Mac? What are you gonna switch to?

For the record, I have both PC (self built AMD Barton on nForce2 mobo), and a Dual G4 1.25 MDD. WinXP Pro on the PC, Panther on the Mac. Either way, I use Ghost to backup the HDs so in case shed happens, I can get the whole system back in 5 minutes.

Don't blame the system 'cause your lazy ass didn't backup or Ghost.

[Mord]

apple should do a scheme where for every 5 people you switch you get a ipod
The new mac purchasers should have to provide a receipt for a pc to prove they have switched and to provide the name of the person that switched them mac sales would do so well because of it the only downside would be the renforcement of the mac preacher thing

[benixau]

Originally posted by Hector
apple should do a scheme where for every 5 people you switch you get a ipod
The new mac purchasers should have to provide a receipt for a pc to prove they have switched and to provide the name of the person that switched them mac sales would do so well because of it the only downside would be the renforcement of the mac preacher thing

that would be goo but it should be dollars based.

For the first $10 000 you switch you get an iPod
For each $7 000 you switch after that you get a certain amount to spend on Apple products.

[Ryan1524]

starting to sound like some kind of credit cards point rewards program. :p but might not be such a bad idea...althou it might sound like apple's desperate. this sounds more like what MS would do..with all the money they have. ;)

[SiliconAddict]

God you guys make it sound like a freaking cult. Honestly every time I walk into a Mac store and eye a 17” PowerBook I expect the crowd to start chanting ONE OF US...ONE OF US....ONE OF US...ONE OF US and expect a Temple of Doom type scene with the store manager trying to shove Apple juice down my throat. ;)
I've helped people purchase a Mac, in the office I work, after talking to them. Two so far. But only after: Finding out what their needs are, what their computing experience is like (Contrary to popular belief you do have people that are happy on the PC.), how much are they willing to spend, do they have software they can’t live without, what about moving to a new platform? After I really talk to them then and only then do I suggest the Mac.

I can tell you this. If you try shoving anything down people's throats they will buck and tell you to screw off. Heck I've got a friend who lives 3 town houses down from me seriously looking at a PC. He’s got a Pismo laptop. (Pismo right?) I personally don't care one way or another. Screw PC. Screw Mac. It’s about what you are most comfortable with, can afford, and like. I want to see Mac’s market share grow but not at the cost of coning the user. If he/she does “switch” I’d prefer that its an informed decision and a decision where they aren’t thinking “Well I wish he’d have told me that before I…”

[5300cs]

I have Basillisk & OS X to thank for me switching.

I had a really crappy SOTEC laptop (absolute cRaP) on which I managed to finally get Basillisk running one day, and although it was only OS 7.5, it got me interested in Macs again- I had been using them in college (Graphic Design/Illustration.)

Also, I was seeing OS X all over the place and really liked the Aqua interface and the zooming dock :)

In 2 years, I went from a 500Mhz iBook to what you see in my sig. Yes, it really is like crack :p

[poisonmonkey]

I "switched" after I couldn't get a co-op placement at any computer place other than at Apple. Back then I only remembered Apple II's in kindergarten and playing number munchers...

It took 3 years from that co-op placement till now to save the money... but it was well worth it.

And now I lost count of the people I switched because it's just too many. I work at a computer store that sells both PC and Mac so there is ample opportunity.

But the my favourite switcher story is of a student who came in and only wanted to "look around". I showed him my 12" and BAM. He was sold. He bought the PB right then and there only asking some questions on software and what he could do with it.

[FightTheFuture]

hey cool! a thread inspired by my short comings! i didn't really switch anyone - i did convice a copywriter to invest in an ibook about a year ago. if you broke it all down though, he was not at all interested in becoming a computer afficionado like all of us here. he just wanted to write at home, at work, and wherever else he wanted to write. being his first computer, he's still trying to soak in the use and usability of an operating system. kindof like most of our parents. he checked his email off the web browser for months, till i walked him through how to set up mail as a POP client. it took him forever to figure out how to setup his printer before troubleshooting to the printer que.

i think he is an example of the part of that huge market of people who are either afraid to switch or are just happy with what they have. these are people who don't want to learn every aspect of how these little magic boxes work - they just want to get their work done irregardless of how fugly or glitchy a machine can be.

we all look at our computers as a cornerstone of our livelihood, where in only my assumption, most people just want to avoid them.

[5300cs]

Originally posted by FightTheFuture
...think he is an example of the part of that huge market of people who are either afraid to switch or are just happy with what they have. these are people who don't want to learn every aspect of how these little magic boxes work - they just want to get their work done irregardless of how fugly or glitchy a machine can be...

Case in point my wife. She took my old SOTEC laptop and has been using it ever since. It has had so many problems and is just a piece of a junk in general. I have tried to switch her so many times, but she is comfortable with what she has.

Live and let live.

[kylos]

Originally posted by FuzzyBallz
You switched 'cause you didn't backup the files you had in WinXP. Heh, that's fresh. So what happens when a storm fries your Mac? What are you gonna switch to?

For the record, I have both PC (self built AMD Barton on nForce2 mobo), and a Dual G4 1.25 MDD. WinXP Pro on the PC, Panther on the Mac. Either way, I use Ghost to backup the HDs so in case shed happens, I can get the whole system back in 5 minutes.

Don't blame the system 'cause your lazy ass didn't backup or Ghost.


I assume you're referring to one of the first posts. If so, you grossly misread the authors post. He said that he switched because he had sat down with a few macs and liked them. He mentioned that XP crashed just as he finished typing a long post saying that very thing so he made a quick post to explain all that. Try reading a little more closely next time.

[FuzzyBallz]

Originally posted by Kyle?
I assume you're referring to one of the first posts. If so, you grossly misread the authors post. He said that he switched because he had sat down with a few macs and liked them. He mentioned that XP crashed just as he finished typing a long post saying that very thing so he made a quick post to explain all that. Try reading a little more closely next time.

Mmmmmkayyyyy, Mac Fanatic #1011101. He didn't switch because XP crashed on him, he did so just 'cause he liked them. Oooh look, it's a Mac, I like it, I think I'll buy one. Right, maybe you should read 2nd post again. As I said earlier, if you can't get a PC to work due to lack of knowledge, getting a Mac won't solve anything when the lightning strikes. But hey, if you just like looking at it all day long, by all means, please. I ain't stopping you.

[kylos]

*mac fanatic #93 (or is that 5D) ignoring troll, thinking shoulda done that in the first place*

[MacBoyX]

I personally have switched 8 people, in two different ways show em the Mac and OS X and let them use it/answer their questions, or shove it down their throats (see below). I switched my self in 2002 and have had 8 Macs since!

5 of my friends I switched by letting them play with my Mac they both had PC's that were acting up and they both fell in love with the iMac and OS X. One even loved my PB G4 667 so much that he made me an offer on the spot! One bought my PB, one an iBook, another an eMac, and the two others iMacs.

My sister and Mom both liked my Macs but didn't dislike PCs they are very utilitarian in their use, email, surfing, maybe Word. I got them to switch by telling them I no longer support PCs. Macs only. They both got iBooks.

My dad is my favorite story. When we bought my Mom's iBook he could care less. He's a PC guy end of story. After about a week of having the iBook in the house, he won't put it down! When a friend asked him to ask me my opinion on the Dell he wanted to buy, my dad said talk to my son...he's into Macs now, says they are better and...I think he's right!

All it took was showing her my iBook, and she bought an eMac!

All my friends tell me I should either have a job at the Apple Store (I seem to be more excited about Macs and more knowledgeable than the some of the Associates at my local store), or I should start my own Mac store!

LOL...

macboyX

[rueyeet]

Originally posted by MacBoyX
My sister and Mom both liked my Macs but didn't dislike PCs they are very utilitarian in their use, email, surfing, maybe Word. I got them to switch by telling them I no longer support PCs. That's how I'm going to switch my Mom...when the ThinkPad I've loaned her gives out and it's time for her to get another computer, I will let it be known that I can't support Win XP or 2000 from a city away. There's just too much maintenance. So a Mac it will have to be.

I don't think she believes me when I tell her it's possible not to have to approach your computer in trepidation. She's spent so much energy convincing herself to be technophobic that having to learn anything more than the bare minimum to get to her email terrifies her. You don't know how this vexes me; she's too smart to sell herself short like that, and I sincerely think a Mac would be easier for her.

[Mord]

i've got every one in my whole god damn school drooling over my ibook and cube they all were macaphobic 3 years ago now 12 people have ibooks 3 powerbooks 4 dual g5's 5 emacs and 1 second hand cube, 3 g4 towers and a b&w g3 tower and im 15!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) (most of these were refurbs):D