LIHU‘E — In the great debate over which computer system is superior, Marc Sicignano, manager of the new Mac Made Easy store in Lihu‘e, would prefer a Macintosh over a PC any old day. The primary reason for his preference
LIHU‘E — In the great debate over which computer system is superior, Marc Sicignano, manager of the new Mac Made Easy store in Lihu‘e, would prefer a Macintosh over a PC any old day.
The primary reason for his preference is due to the easy usability Apple products provide, he said last week during an interview.
Second, since statistics show only 8 to 10 percent of the U.S. population uses Macs, according to Sicignano, viruses and spyware are practically nonexistent for the computer system, as those who create the lethal programs prefer to get more bang for their buck by targeting PCs.
Plus, he added, Macs are now comparable in price to PCs.
“It’s still not the bargain basement price you can get a Dell for, but when you pay $600 for a Mac, you get everything included,” he said. “You get all the software and no trial versions, and you don’t need virus software.”
But, Sicignano is not just there to persuade individuals to purchase Macintosh computers, he’s on the island to help fix those which people already own.
With a degree in computer science and experience as a campus representative for Apple while earning his undergrad, Sicignano has already received ample training to serve as the technician for the island’s one and only ‘Apple specialist’ store.
As an Apple-certified Macintosh technician and an Apple-certified system administrator, Sicignano provides warranty repair and out of warranty repair on Macintosh computers.
While Mac Made Easy sells all Apple products, Sicignano said he is unable to repair iPods and iPhones at the store, though he can address questions.
The independently owned Mac Made Easy business he manages on Kaua‘i originally opened on O‘ahu 17 years ago, but as corporate Apple began setting up shop in Honolulu, the Apple specialist started looking to the Neighbor Islands for greater visibility.
Prior to opening a store in Lihu‘e, technicians were called to people’s homes for on-site repairs.
“This was just a logical extension of that and, in spite of the economic crisis going on, it still seemed to be a decent time to move forward and get the store open,” Sicignano said.
Apple specialists were reportedly around long before corporate Apple stores with white painted walls and oak tables came about.
“They (the specialists) were the original outlet to purchase your computer and have been around since 1984,” Sicignano said.
There are now three corporate Apple stores on O‘ahu, which has made business challenging for Mac Made Easy, though Sicignano said he believes it isn’t likely the corporation will branch over to the outer islands, allowing for a more profitable business on Kaua‘i.
“We were looking to expand and not compete directly with corporate Apple,” he said.
The store is expected to have an official grand opening Wednesday, though Mac Made Easy has already opened for business. As of last week, five to six machines were already in for repair.
Sicignano is confident that once “word gets out there,” business “will be good for us.”
One reason he admits to drawing this conclusion is because of the abundant number of Mac users estimated to be on island.
“When we went around town, passing out flyers … almost everyone either was using a Mac, or knew someone who was,” he said, adding that the average number of users on Kaua‘i is likely twice that of U.S. statistics, with closer to 20 percent of residents using Apple computers.
“We’re really hoping to become the cultural center for Macintosh on the island so that Mac users have a place to go.”
For more information visit www.maceasy.com or call 245-6227.
