I don't use Facetime, but I believe that the image quality is much higher than with Skype, because it's not using the relay node system. Probably more people use Skype because 'everyone' they talk to has it than because it's great.
Equally, it's hard to see how their laptops could be considered anything less than good, whether OX is for you or not.
I consider Apple laptops to be far less than good.
The keyboard is very specific to OS X and it's annoying to use under any other operating system. They don't build proper trackpad drivers for Windows or Linux last time I checked. They steer you directly towards the most expensive model if you're a professional because everything is soldered onto the motherboard.
You don't get a copy of Windows with it and if you're in business, you're going to need that as nobody in business really runs OS X (and that BYOD propaganda you're hearing about is just that - no IT department wants to infect their actual network with outside devices, so you'll most likely be stuck in some kind of DMZ without any real access.)
They're also stuck in the past. The Surface Pro is the future for mobile workers (but until Apple "invents" their version, I think most of the Apple apologists here on HN would probably disagree.)
I actually agree that some sort of reconvergence of laptop and tablet designs is likely--a la Surface Pro if you like. It's sort of silly for me to carry two 11-13" computers with me when I travel. The problem is that no one has quite broken the code on that convergence although the Surface Pro probably comes closest.
>You don't get a copy of Windows with it and if you're in business, you're going to need that as nobody in business really runs OS X (and that BYOD propaganda you're hearing about is just that - no IT department wants to infect their actual network with outside devices, so you'll most likely be stuck in some kind of DMZ without any real access.)
This is utter nonsense though. I go to (way too many) professional conferences and I see way more Macs than I do Windows boxes and that's not even counting the Linux systems. This partly reflects the fact that I go to a lot of developer-centric events but even at a show like VMworld, you see at least as many Macs as Windows.
As for the lack of modularity, like it or not, it's increasingly the norm these days across most manufacturers. People like slim and light and modularity tends to work against those things.
I hear you. Regarding the prevalence of Macs in business though, I have yet to walk into any business office and see more Macs than PCs unless it's an advertising agency and even then, they still have a lot of PCs and their back-end networks and web servers are usually running Windows. (I'm on the East coast, tri-state area.) Then of course is the Mac's global market share. In the global market, they have about 6%. So, it's a relatively minor OS in my opinion.
It does depend on the business. I see a lot of them in my circles and relatively few Windows systems. Obviously you're right about the overall share numbers. They're up a bit but are relatively niche overall--which is shockingly different from what I see at the events I attend.
I was just reacting to the statement that you must have Windows to be useful in business.
Equally, it's hard to see how their laptops could be considered anything less than good, whether OX is for you or not.