Hi Jim,

I just wanted to tell you about the very positive experience I’ve had doing business with your company. I produce films and had been using an Avid PC system for the last 4 years. I purchased all my equipment from [name deleted] in Fairfield NJ. At first they were helpful but as I needed more help with the system they built for me, they weren’t there. I’d email them, call them, beg them to return the calls but they went unanswered. They would eventually email me a week or maybe a month later. I was in the middle of a film when the machine crashed. I had nothing but problems.

I drove there and confronted them and they told me what I really needed was to change to a Mac and use Final Cut Pro. I asked them to put a system together and they promised they would. After waiting weeks for a call back, again all my emails went unanswered, I decided to check into a local Apple outlet and see if they would be more helpful. I had purchased a Mac from your company several years ago and decided to call and see what you had to offer.

I spoke with Dave Roberts. He listened, and answered all my questions. The questions he couldn’t answer at that time, he researched, and gave me the correct information either by phone or email. Since the Mac and FCP were new to me, he built a system that was all pro and had all the features I needed to edit in HD Pro. He also advised me to purchase the AppleCare Professional Video Support. At the time, I felt I could do without it, but Dave insisted. I’m very happy that he did because I've used it several times already! I was also interested in leasing the system from Apple and Dave went out of his way to help me with that as well. I know if I ever have questions regarding anything to do with my system Dave will be there to advise me and help.

Recently I needed a 5.1 audio output device. I had no idea what that was or if I could get it to work on my system. Dave helped me get the correct device and made sure it would work perfectly with what I was editing. As usual Dave was right and I now have the ability to have the 5.1 sound feature in my next film. Having to spend over $18,000.00 on a system is very scary if there is no support or if you can’t reach out for help from the people who sold it to you. I’m very pleased and happy to know Dave will be there for me. The support was a major factor in my buying the system from your company. I also want to thank Matt Hofmann, whose technical knowledge is incredible, for taking the time to explain everything very clearly when he set up my system. I’m a very happy customer and will be sending all my friends and fellow filmmakers to you!

John Orrichio
John Orrichio Films
johnnyo@ptd.net
Dear Jim & Judy,

I am ecstatic on this one year anniversary of purchasing my first Apple computer from MacOutfitters!

The install of Parallels which gives me one side to run Windows for my boring stuff and the Mac side for my creative stuff is fantastic. Since there is an Apple Store very close to me, I purchased their ProCare service, I thought as a recent switcher I would need extra help! But I have to say that the lightning-quick response time and the remarkable effectiveness of your service department has made the ProCare plan redundant. In particular, with Windows problems, which really are not your responsibility, your guys have gotten me back up and running anyway. Ryan Kelly (Cranberry Twp. store) rendered significant telephone help with my recent Windows crash. (I have yet to have a significant Mac problem!)

Last week, another Windows challenge stopped me in my tracks. It required an in-store service visit. That normally for me has meant several days/weeks with PC vendors in the past. (I won’t name names... like CompUSA or Compaq). Matt Frey (Doylestown store) had me up and running within about 2 hours.

While my original intent was to do all of my client financial planning work on Windows and use Mac for my video editing “playtime”, I have since migrated Microsoft Office and Quicken to the Mac versions. I now only use Windows for my financial planning software, which is not yet written for Mac. I have been stunned by the superiority of Mac applications over Windows (Keynote runs rings around Powerpoint and I have abandoned the latter).

I sat in on your free class on 'Mac OS X Tips & Tricks' while having the Windows issue fixed on my MacBook Pro, and I learned SO much in an hour that I’m returning next week for the free session on 'Backing Up'.

Here’s looking at a long-term Mac relationship!

My best,

Bob Hartfield
Certified Financial Planner
I just wanted to say thank you for your help. I needed to upgrade my computer from Mac OS 9.1 and since I can't afford a new computer right now, I chose to upgrade.  I wanted to thank you all for helping me. At another Apple store [which is less than 5 miles, you are 20 miles ea. way] they couldn't be bothered to come to the phone,  I was summarily dismissed  and most of us don't like to be made to feel unimportant, no matter how small the request. Although I had to purchase OS 10.5 to get 10.3 downloaded you did that for me.  Small job I'm sure by comparison. But you were informative and respectful. Thank you for that.

Thanks Again,
Barbara
I enjoy my Macs (an older Mac used for scanning; an iMac G4 for internet and general use; an iMac G5 for multimedia and a Mac Mini -to be purchased on my next visit to your store- for streaming slideshows and videos to the living room TV) very much. Your workshops, and David Pogue's Missing Manuals, contribute to my competency on my grown-up toys of choice.

Thank you for your consideration,

Bobbi Green
Judy and Jim,

It’s been about about a month since I purchased my MacBook Pro 15” laptop so I thought that I would drop you a line to let you know how I’m making out with it. Prior to buying this laptop, the last Mac that I owned was a Mac Duo 230 Color which I purchased from you over 15 years ago.

I have always missed using Macs since then, however, my financial planning practice necessitated using Windows on PCs in order to run the specialized software applications that I need for financial planning and investment analysis. When Apple announced the new Intel-based Macs and their ability to run Windows along side OS X, I started tuning in to learn what Macs were all about today. After my usual due diligence, I took the plunge and purchased my MacBook Pro and the Parallels virtualization software so that I could run Windows XP Pro.

Well, I’m pleased to report that after running WinXP Pro using Parallels for the past 4 weeks, I couldn’t be happier. In my office, I have 2 Dell PCs and a Dell laptop, all running Windows XP Pro. Since purchasing the MacBook Pro, I have not used any of my PCs. In fact, Windows runs better, faster and more reliably on my MacBook than on the Dell laptop that it replaced.

I’ve found that jumping back and forth between the Mac OS running Word, Excel, DevonThink Pro Office (scanning database management), Acrobat 8.0 and Windows running ACT!, Internet Explorer and my financial planning applications, all running concurrently, to be effortless and efficient. The only problem I now have is that by running the two operating systems side-by-side, I am constantly reminded of how clumsy and stupid Windows XP Pro is. I’m used to Windows, however, using it on a Mac makes the whole experience more pleasurable.

I am so very much convinced that Apple has a better idea. I’m so thrilled with my Mac that I didn’t think twice about what to buy my daughter, Jacqueline, for her school computing needs. Of course, I purchased her a MacBook as I refuse to let the inferior Windows PC user experience frustrate her like it has me over the past 15 years. She has only had it 2 weeks and already she is doing really cool things with it. Not to mention, she’s very happy using it to manage her growing music library for her iPod.

I have decided that all of my PCs will be retired. I’m looking forward to the arrival of my Mac Pro Dual Quad machine to replace my 2 year old dual Xeon processor Dell Precision Workstation that I use for my digital photography and video editing needs.

If you have any business owner who is having reservations about switching to a Mac from a PC, have them call me. I would be glad to share my experiences with them.

My only problem now is what to do with my Dell PCs and laptop. Do you know anyone who needs an anchor for their boat?

Kindly yours,
Bud James, CFP, CLU, ChFC