Has anyone ever gotten a job or promoted themselves specifically as a mac user? I was thinking of doing that to see if I could attract mac using clients, but I'm not sure how to phrase it without putting off people who have pc's, since there are so many more of them.

I previously secured several jobs on freelance sites because of being a MAC user. My profile mentioned that I use both MAC and PC platforms so somebody contacted me through that. Another client needed help with Pages software so I bid on their project and won it.

In the UK, windows is used WAY more than Mac. I personally prefer using a Mac, and I have both iWork09 as well as OpenOffice.org [for companies who use either windows or macs but if i work in pages or numbers then i can always save in .doc/.pdf

for designing, well... I use GIMP which is free for making pictures/logos/designing; and for websites I use a template that I find online and customize it in Bean [a html editor for mac]

I have to say that, in the UK it is really up to you. I'm pretty much a MAC convert now, but for you americans, I guess that you are really used to having people using MACs frequently. However, as my niche markets are musicians, TV/Radio and graphic designers, it's more advantaged on my half that I do use a Mac [albeit most programs being used are free for the moment! ]

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Julia Neal ...because we ♥ admin!
http://julianeal.wordpress.com

I have both, PC and Mac. I do, however, prefer Mac and use it for 90% of my time. I really do love what Mac has to offer. I use everything on Mac except Quickbooks on PC.

I do find that it's helpful to have both. My newest client is a Mac user and she was THRILLED to learn that I had one too and was so happy I could help her with iWorks software and being able to send and export files easily without having to "remember" to convert the files into for Windows.

I, however, do have OpenOffice and it takes care of the problems should I receive files from a PC user onto Mac. I also downloaded something that would also convert window files right into Pages or Number software. I forgot what it's called but if you need the information, let me know.

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Brenda A. Jones
www.brevos.com

I have a Mac but run Windows on it as well. At the moment, most of the work I do (and my gaming) is done on the Windows side. My joke is that I spent a ton of money to get a Mac but I'm still using Windows. Go figure...lol

However, I actually like the Mac platform much better for its look and feel (I think the Dashboard is the best thing since sliced bread...lol) and I'm hoping to completely convert myself to where most of my work is being done on the Mac side with the exception of Quickbooks and, of course, my game. But, I think it will be a definite plus that I have both platforms right at my finger tips to accommodate any client. I just need to get past the learning curve for conversion and really get to know all of the cool things that makes the Mac a better (or at least cooler) system to use.

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Stephanie
New VA in the research phase

I switched to MAC over 2 years ago and I won't look back. My productivity went up at least 40% if not more because you never have to deal with crashes, updates that take forever and viruses. Just spent 6 hrs fixing my son's Windows Laptop due to Microsoft updates and driver issues. Plus with the new OS for MAC, you can easily transfer files between your MAC and PC without having to convert your files.

I am planning to get a mac and prob keep my PC around as well. I think multi platforms is best just in case you lose a client because he/she uses a mac or pc. Smart business move.

I primarily use a PC but also have a Mac for a bookkeeping client that prefers it...

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

I just had a request for a Mac only job. Since I use both a Mac and PC, I promote both.

I can see the benefit of advertising as a MAC virtual assistant, since so many MAC users mistakenly think that having a PC virtual assistant is going to cause problems. In reality though, just about all of my clients use MAC's and I'm a PC. We've never had a true compatibility issue other than one incident with a font, which had an easy work around.

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~Tina Marie Hilton of Clerical Advantage
& author of the VA Survival Guide & Workbook

Great pointers for an up and coming MAC VA. Thanks!