Back to the Mac

I’m writing this using Mars Edit on a new iMac, which has just replaced my Windows Media computer as my main system on my home desktop. This is after about 12 years on Windows, which, in turn, came after about 10 years with a Mac as my main computer.

I had one of those original Macintosh units within a month of its introduction, and it became my main system when they finally had hard drives some time in 1985.  I wrote my second book, which was published by McGraw-Hill Microtext, on a Mac; and laid it out using very early desktop publishing techniques and an Apple Laserwriter.

AppleImac1.png I stayed with Macs as the main system, upgrading every so often, until 1994. I moved to Windows as we developed Business Plan Pro for Windows, in 1994.

As our business moved heavily over to the Windows side, so did I, with my main computers. The Macs stayed around for a while, but our home was without Macs until about a year ago when I installed an old Mac mini.

In Palo Alto Software, meanwhile, as the Windows market took over we tried to continue with Macs, but it became so much more drag than sales justified that we finally, in 2003, dropped the Mac products. Sadly, the market wasn’t there. We embarked on projects to port Business Plan Pro to Mac three times in the 12 years since the first version, but the numbers were just impossible to make — 10X development costs for 1/100 the sales just don’t work, no matter how much I like the Mac.

However, times are changing. Our COO has a Mac laptop. One of our best programmers works on a Mac using Windows via Parallels. And now I, president and founder, have a new iMac as my main system at home.

Since it’s been 12 years, I realize I’ll have a long move-in time for the new iMac. I mean missing the things I’m used to, like Windows Live Writer, SnagIt screen capture, Roboform. On the good side, I’ve gotten used to iTunes because of my iPods and iPhone, so that will help. And Firefox seems like a familiar friend too.

If you know me and Palo Alto Software, you might wonder how far we are from yet another attempt at a Mac version of Business Plan Pro. We’re not supposed to say. You know the paraphrased old saying, “we announce no software before it’s time.”

Comments

  • Yoel Frischoff says:

    Waiting for a Mac version.
    Virtualization is just not good enough, I won’t burden my Mac by 5 Gigs of otherwise useless Windows inst.
    What to do?
    My guess is that lack of VB bother you most. MS is bringing VB back to Office/mac in the upcoming version. Will this help?

    Y

  • Jeff Chen says:

    I used Business Plan Pro on my XP eMachine since there's no Mac OS X version for my iMac and MacBooks… please give me a hint as to how soon we might have one in the near future! I am starting another business venture and I prefer to run everything on my Mac computers, Thanks!!!!

  • Jeff Chen says:

    I used Business Plan Pro on my XP eMachine since there's no Mac OS X version for my iMac and MacBooks… please give me a hint as to how soon we might have one in the near future! I am starting another business venture and I prefer to run everything on my Mac computers, Thanks!!!!

  • Brian Williams says:

    Glad to see your back on a Mac. I too have recently switched to a MacBook Pro.

    I have used your windows product for several years and love it. PLEASE develop a Mac version soon.

    You may want to look at SnapZ Pro X for screen capture and take a look at 1Password for Mac for login/password database. With 1password you can import your Roboform data.

    Have a good day. Enjoy your new Mac.

  • Tim Berry says:

    Thanks Matthew, but disclosure here, I'm enjoying my new Mac and variety is the spice of life, but I really like my high-powered Windows Vista system on my desk here in the office (where I am now) too. I wouldn't want to be all Mac. One of these days I'm going to get an Ubuntu thumb drive too.

    I may have to post one of these days on a related trend in my life, more and more work with online apps, things like Google docs, and less and less with CPU-based apps. That makes multiple computers and multiple operating systems easier to deal with.

    Thanks for the comment, Tim

  • Matthew Scott says:

    Tim,

    I always knew you were too cool for a PC.
    I am a Mac fanatic myself. I even have the standard issue Steve Jobs black turtleneck that I bust out on certain Duct Tape Marketing presentations for a bump in creative EQ points with the audience.

    Glad you left the darkside…

    Matthew Scott

  • Daniel Jalkut says:

    I LOVE to hear this kind of story. People coming back to the Mac who really loved it all along. I am glad to have you back on the platform, and of course really glad you're giving MarsEdit a try.

    I appreciate missing such an app as Windows Live Writer. I have a lot of respect for what they're doing with that product. The main thing people seem to miss when coming from it to MarsEdit is the "WYSIWYG" editing mode. This is something I'm taking very seriously and plan to add in a future update.

    In the mean time, I hope you'll find MarsEdit's other advantages to be helpful to you in your switch back to the Mac!

    Daniel

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