We went off topic here ( per my original question ), but that is OK. I will share a few responses to the various questions and comments:
1) I am also a very small business, and my clients are small business owners. My development work for those clients is all Windows. But I keep thinking it would be nice to enjoy some side income by making a few Apple apps and selling them in their market place. Thus, I originally invested in some Apple products.
2). Over the years, my clients who personally used Apple computers wanted access to their business data. The easiest way is to run the application they use in Windows at work. Often they want to use their personal Mac computer at their business. Rather than write a whole different application, they can run the exact same product on their Mac using Parallels.
3). Parallels creates a virtual machine and in it, you install a copy of Windows. Then you install the Windows application I developed.
4). Parallels has a coherence mode. With this, you open the app, and it's icon appears in the Apple dock. Then you tell it to keep the icon in the dock. Now switch to Coherence mode. You no longer see the Windows screen. Instead, when you click the icon on the doc, your application opens up alongside any Mac applications you are running. Thus, windows is invisible, but allowing the program to fully run.
5). Many of my clients live in an Apple environment: Phone, tablet, computers, and all the applications that fit. They simply don't want to change. So I have opened the doorway to them. Many would suggest a web based app would be the solution, but that assumes an always connected interenet capability, etc. So far, my clients have NO INTEREST in that alternative. I asked, they answered, and they want their businesses contained to their local site, and will interact with the net only when necessary. They have a right to that choice, and my job is to support them.
6). I also have a Surface Notebook ( and an older Surface Pro ). It is a very fast machine, and I will take it with me when I travel.
7). Portable computers are moving toward an ARM technology. I recently purcahsed an M1 MacBook Air. Since it was after the announcement for the M2 version, it was reduced in price. Using Parallels, designed for the M1 chip ( ARM ), my application runs very fast and has absolutely no problems. Since the M1/M2 chips are in all of the upcoming Apple products ( which
sell incredibly well ), it was important to test out this option should any of my clients decide to go this way. With a 19 hour battery life, that computer is very popular to many consumers.
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
. When a client is seeking to buy a new computer for their business, I of course do recommend windows. I often can help them find a really good deal on a reliable computer, and of course it is often less than Apple computers. With that said, the price difference is no longer the 2 for 1 ratio suggested. When considering both computers, with 16GB RAM and 512 GB SSD, the MacBook Air sells for $1,375, and the Surface Notebook 4 is $1,500. The computers have very similar size and profile, long battery life, and great quality.
I'm not pushing Apple products. I'm just saying that our reality is they are popular with many people, and as a solution provider, I have found my best option is to honor their choices. Maybe that is why I'm now celebrating my 40th year as a company, and many clients have been with me the majority of that time.