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bgc831
August 10, 2017

PC vs Mac

  • August 10, 2017
  • 7 replies
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Currently I have a PC and am running QB.  Am thinking about getting a MAC and am wondering if anyone can give me pros and cons.  All my other devices are APPLE and would like to have a MAC but not if I am just asking for problems.  Thanks for any input

      7 replies

      lynda11_2
      lynda11_2
      August 10, 2017

      Love my mac, iphone, Ipad.....

       

      Have a dell pc laptop to do conversions to qbo (need desktop qb).  Hate the pc.

       

      Just my opinion.  But the apple products are so reliable.  No need to update every day!  :)

      J
      jeangriggs
      August 10, 2017

      I run Quickbooks Online on a Mac desktop at work and a PC laptop at home. Sometimes I even run it on a Chromebook. I see no difference in Quickbooks when I switch computers. Go for it.

        K
        kgardner
        August 7, 2020

        Quickbooks Online is an entirely different animal. It's a browser-based system, so you can run it on any platform. The original post indicated she was running QB on Windows currently and wanted to start using a Mac. Most responses are showing how she can continue using the same (Windows) version on a Mac, due to her presumed familiarity with the look and feel of the product. Things like Parallels, VMWare, Virtual Box, etc. let you do that. But understand, that means you're supporting an entire Windows environment, on your Mac, so that when you're running QB, your computer is in some sense pretending to be a Windows PC. This costs system resources, and will not be as fast and responsive as running it on a PC. 
        The alternative of course is to switch to the Mac version of QB and not have to do the PC emulation at all. This "sounds good." But the Mac version of QB really has a lot of holes in it, particularly if your functions include analysis of the data in something other than QuickBooks (e.g. exporting it to Excel to do further processing.). QB for Mac just does not export its data nicely or completely (for example, there is a "memo" field at the check level and also at the detail line level. The fields have the same name, and the line-level detail cannot seem to be exported. This is as of my 2016 version which is where I last checked it. If it's been fixed, kudos! It was on a 20-item list of enhancement requests I sent in probably 2012 that have seen no action at all since then, so I'm doubtful). 
        The Mac version is very definitely a "lite" version of what people think of when they think of Quickbooks. If you're interacting with financial professionals, accountants, etc., the expectation is that you're going to be using the Windows version. Every time I upgrade to the latest version I go through this "should I?" process. But one of my partners is so completely Windows-averse, I never do it. I've struggled along with the Mac version for over a decade, and it is what it is. More or less gets the job done.

        qbteachmt
        qbteachmt
        August 11, 2017

        It's always depended on the Functions you need, and what is available on which platform.

         

        Example: My spouse is a professional musician and I have done a video documentary. Apple products = Multi-media and Production tools. Our Cable Access studio is fully Appled.

         

        Example: One of my clients requires me to connect to a Handheld Windows CE-based device, like you see the UPS driver or a meter reader using. That means their contractor needs a Windows Computer for their compliance.

         

        Intuit has already announced that QB for Mac has reached end of life and won't be updated or supported, and ends May 2019. That means running VM Ware or Parallels and running a QB for Windows, if you need QB for the desktop.

         

        Evaluate your desired tools, and their Specifications = requirements.

        K
        kgardner
        August 7, 2020

        This information is not quite correct. While it may be true that support for some version (named according to the year released) ended in May 2019, it is NOT true that Intuit is ending support for Mac in May 2019. That is to say: Yes, there is a Quickbooks 2019 for Mac, and a Quickbooks 2020 for Mac,  and presumably will be a Quickbooks 2021 for Mac. The support for each version usually goes for a couple of years, so you don't necessarily need to re-up every year (though they would love it if you did!); I usually do it every three years or so. 

        K
        KlausMikalson
        March 27, 2018

        In case of performance, MAC is better than PC.  but in case of support and usability PC is better and affordable and can be customised as per requirements. I run Kodi media player on my PC which is hard in case of MAC.

        Y
        yosh01
        March 27, 2018

        I've been running Parallels Desktop for ten years on my Mac which enables the Mac to run both MacOS and Windows applications.  I use QB for PC's within Parallels becasue it has some features not offered on the Mac version.

         

        It works just fine.

          A
          Anonymous
          March 27, 2018

          Hey  @yosh01,

           

          I'm curious, how easy is it to move files/data between the two programs on Parallels? Might be another good solution for accountants with a wide client base. 

          Y
          yosh01
          March 27, 2018

          With Parallels the Mac runs both Windows and MacOS applications.  Each in separate windows, but you really can't tell which is which.  You can be running 5 different Windows applications and 5 different Mac applications, each in 10 differnt windows.  You can cut and paste between them and the files are all stored in the same folders.  You can put Windows application icons on the startup Dock just like Mac applications.  Windows uses the same printers.  It's nearly seamless.

           

          I think Parallels costs about $75.

          EmilyMockett
          EmilyMockett
          March 28, 2018

          Hi Bgc831,

           

          I tend to find that QuickBooks Online works a little faster on my macbook. At work I have a desktop windows PC which is great if I need to work from two screens e.g. a reconciliaton however I have just discovered an app called 'Two screens' which you can download onto your iPad which works in the same way as my dual screen at work but at home with iPad/Macbook. 

           

          I guess it just depends on personal preference but I am Apple all the way!

           

          Kind Regards,

           

          Emily

           

           

          A
          Anonymous
          March 30, 2018

          @EmilyMockett, you have a powerful machine! Apples are great. 

           

          I tried a "two screen" app on my Acer laptop when I was doing photoshop work, it was difficult because my screen space is ultimately limited. I am a big advocate of dual screens and desktops :). 

           

          @EmilyMockett, is QuickBooks Desktop for Mac popular in the UK? I am curious if @yosh01's Parallels program would make transferring data between the Mac and Windows version any easier. 

          S
          SFK
          March 8, 2019

          Since I can't figure out how to ask a question, maybe this thread can help!

          I have Quicken 2012 data that needs to be converted to QuickBooks Premier 2019. The converter says success but it is converting to MAC format which is useless. I downloaded the converter for 2019 from the desktop site, but it only converts to .QFX files which the new program doesn't recognize. About to ask for my money back and to say goodbye to Intuit and just use Microsoft Access which doesn't insist on my signing up online and giving away private information to that company. Intuit you are really invasive.

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