Should you buy a Mac Pro (the new one) or an iMac?

RedShark News

iMacs are really powerful these days, and they come with a screen. The previous generation of Mac Pro's biggest selling point was that it was upgradable. The new Mac Pro isn't upgradable internally at all. Which should you buy? It's not an easy decision. This article by Chris Potter will help you through the decision process, and it will hopefully stop you making bad choices

Apple is set to release the much anticipated new Mac Pro at anytime now. We've been waiting a long-time for this, and it looks ready to set new benchmarks for innovative design and performance.

But, beneath the excitement, there is a big question creative business owners are going to struggle with. That question is whether they should invest in the new Mac Pro or purchase iMacs instead.

I'm going to suggest a framework for making that decision. Rather than focusing on the comparative specs of the hardware, I'm going to focus on the business aspects of the decision: how to evaluate which option will leave your business further ahead.

Situation Analysis
When looking at making a major investment, or any major business decision for that matter, the right starting point is to look at your current business model, your goals, and your strategy for achieving those goals.

So instead of immediately getting into the weeds deciding whether to purchase a Mac Pro or an iMacs, take a step back and start with the current position of your business. How is this purchase going to move your business forward?

One of the benefits of not working for a large corporation is that you don't have to spell out all of the stuff below in excruciating detail for an executive audience. It can be a quick back of the envelope analysis, but it's still worth thinking through these points to add some rigour to your decision making and ensure that you invest your scarce resources wisely.

Where Are You Now?
The starting point of examining your current situation is to look at your customers, your company capabilities, the competitive environment, and factors that may shift the market in the future. read more...