Re: Barriers to Macintosh adoption are collapsing

The problem for Apple will always be that only Apple run OS X. Corporate procurement departments often ask OEMs to tender a complete supply and support program tailored to their specific business needs (Lenovo, Dell, HP/Compaq). If the corporation decided to move to an OS X based platform, there is only one game in town, Apple.

Also, most major corps are running a version of SAP. This does not run on OS X as far as I am aware.

Finally popular intelligent information management systems like Documentum are also not compatible with OS X



"Chance Furlong" <t-bone@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:t-bone-10F87B.17274122092008@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
From IndUS Business Journal:

http://tinyurl.com/3pt43h

Cuss and discuss while Ballmer throws chairs.

Barriers to Macintosh adoption are collapsing

By Vin D'Amico


Apple is finally making serious inroads into corporate networks. The
Macintosh is no longer viewed as an arts and crafts project. Meanwhile,
Microsoft is under increasing pressure to respond to the criticism that
Windows Vista has endured.

Windows is growing old. Vista is a near disaster. Microsoft is getting
beat up badly by Apple¹s television advertising.

Switching computer platforms is never simple but this may be the right
time to consider it.

Apple is widely viewed as a consumer electronics company. Their business
strength has been in education, marketing departments and graphics
design. Yet, they offer a range of server products anchored by the
Xserve file server and the Xsan storage area network. These are aimed at
small businesses and departmental workgroups.

Macs are easy to use and standards compliant. They are built on Unix and
support open standards such as Samba file and print services, NFS file
sharing, RADIUS access, LDAP authentication, and even Microsoft Active
Directory. Newer Intel-based Macs can also boot Windows and run it
natively if the need arises.

Macs are generally viewed as being more expensive than Windows PCs but
that is not necessarily true. Apple focuses on high-performance,
value-added configurations. When you compare similarly equipped systems,
costs are comparable. Macs may be a good fit for users needing fast
machines.

The major barriers to Mac adoption in the enterprise are support for
legacy applications, introduction of another computing platform, and
reliance upon a single source for hardware components. The complexity of
these issues varies from one organization to another but solutions are
available.

Concerns about legacy applications are fading as Web-based technologies
and desktop virtualization gain ground. Using a browser to interact with
legacy systems makes the desktop platform irrelevant. Virtualization
tools like Citrix and VMware make it possible to run multiple operating
systems on a single machine so you can always revert to Windows, if
needed.

Supporting another computing platform requires training. However, any
major transition, such as migrating to Vista, requires some amount of
training.

Relying on Apple exclusively to supply key hardware components is a
concern. Apple likes to maintain tight control over its systems. That
control has been weakening over time but Apple needs to do more to open
its systems to third-party suppliers.

Migrating to Macs is not an all or nothing proposition. Most companies
would be best served by integrating Macs into portions of their
environments. Start with workgroups who need high-performance systems
such as in graphics design and video creation. Other starting points
include Website design, engineering, training, and IT teams.
Another area where Macs excel is mobility. Executives and sales people
who travel frequently may benefit from the small form factors that Apple
offers.

A successful transition requires a sequence of phases such as assessing,
testing, piloting and deploying. Simply buying a Mac for anyone who
needs or wants one is asking for trouble unless their needs are very
limited. Some people have both a Mac and a Windows PC but this is
obviously cost prohibitive.

Begin by deciding on the target workgroup. Make a list of the job
functions they perform and the software they use. Invite Apple¹s
enterprise team in for a discussion and demo of their products and
capabilities.

Determine where the gaps are. Most Windows software has a Mac
equivalent. If not, you will need to explore other software tools or
consider desktop virtualization.

Offer Macs to a few power users. These folks should have good computer
skills and be interested in trying something new. Provide training to
both end users and IT. Let them know that problems are to be expected.
Their job is to help pave the way for others.

Keep a record of the problems encountered and their resolutions or
work-arounds. These findings will be critical in making a final business
decision on Mac adoption.

If you decide to move ahead, deploy Mac computers to a larger group. How
many depends on the size of your target group. Deploying to several
dozen users is okay. Deploying to several hundred is not. Less computer
savvy users will need additional training and support that was not
evident among power users. Continue to expand the deployment and gather
feedback. You are now on your way to a mixed environment of Macs and
PCs. Most companies will not make a complete switch. They will provide
the platform that best meets the user¹s needs.

As Apple grows its consumer business, there will be increasing pressure
on corporations to adopt the Mac. Some of this pressure will come from
recent college graduates, many of whom are Mac users. They will want to
continue using Macs when entering the workforce.

Macs are generally more stable and virus resistant than Windows. They
are easier to use and built on open standards. Maybe it is time to test
the barriers to Mac adoption in your company.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Resurrecting an old RiscPC
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