My Mac Consulting Can Save You Money and Protect Your Data

2011-10-05 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: backup

Especially when buying a Mac Pro, it is easy to over-spend on the assumption that more CPUs and/or more memory is always better. Or that several solid state drives will somehow cure a performance problem. Every issue has its solution, but one must first understand the issue, not assume it.

It is not uncommon for me to save my clients several thousand dollars by avoiding purchase of a machine or other hardware that was thought to be a solution, when in fact a “lesser” machine might serve them just as well, or even better in some cases. Or to avoid upgrades that will have little performance benefit for the specific workflow issue.

By engaging me in consulting, I can help in the following ways—

• Choosing just the right machine for your needs: CPU speed and cores.
• Determining the right amount of memory.
• Assessing whether more advanced solutions (such as multiple solid state drives) can actually help with a performance issue.
• Deciding on the best solution for performance, reliability and fault-tolerance.
• Planning for needs 6 months / 1 year / 2 years ahead, not just right now.
• Evaluating whether a “faster” video card is faster, or just a waste of $200 or more.
• Workflow, display, peripheral issues.
• Tips on saving money when buying a machine and its add-ons.
• Evaluating the backup protocol and the risks to user data.

The latter point on data safety and backup is a key area often neglected in the quest for performance: understanding the risks and committing to a disciplined backup program can save 5 figures of cost later, not to mention lost business and tarnished professional reputation. Indeed, not much else should matter to professionals until and unless customer data and data of economic value is safely protected on a regular basis.