Sanders Media

In this tenuous economy, PR and marketing take on even greater importance. For me, the computer industry is interesting to watch. Most PC makers have slashed the cost of owning a new computer. There is one exception; Apple.

They have always tended to shy away from pricing wars, instead banking on the quality of their product. This has given way for the other PC companies to cry foul at the expense of owning a Mac. Steve Ballmer, CEO at Microsoft, is one of Apple’s chief critics. Here are some of his recent comments:

“Paying an extra $500 for a computer in this environment—same piece of hardware—paying $500 more to get a logo on it? I think that’s a more challenging proposition for the average person than it used to be.”

I find several flaws with the Mac-Is-More-Expensive argument. I’ll highlight two. First, look at the total cost of ownership. Macs break down far less. Also, since the hardware stays relevant longer, people spend less on upgrades. Second, Macs are generally more secure. Now I won’t say they are impervious. Far from it, in fact. However, most spyware, malware and viruses are built for Windows. You can read a more complete debunking of this myth here.

I am not here to convert anyone to a Mac. Your choice in computers is a personal one. I just have a problem with misinformation. If people have the truth, they are better able to make wise choices. When buying a computer, that can be a PC or a Mac.

Favicons are the small icons that sit in the toolbar of your web browser. They are also one of the more overlooked elements of web design. They fall below most people’s radar, but are noticeable when when they are present. If you have bookmark folders with several bookmarks, you know which sites have favicons.

These little icons are a great way to help market your site. Whenever someone bookmarks your site, it will stand out. Favicons are only 16×16, but pack a big punch in helping your site look professional.