Comments on: Banking on Apple

By: iustin afloarei

iustin afloarei — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:04:51 +0000

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By: Corporate Mac Adoption at The Apple Blog

Corporate Mac Adoption at The Apple Blog — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 05:27:14 +0000

[...] In the comments of ‘Banking on Apple‘ the discussion of Apple Hardware becoming more standard across the desks at large companies seemed to take a front seat. It’s an interesting topic that ultimately sprang – in this forum – from a not-fully-explained comment of mine. I believe that comment was probably: “The tide is just waiting to turn where large companies are consolidating and getting their employees one box to rule them all, rather than spending on 2 boxes for each desk.” [...]

By: Nick Santilli

Nick Santilli — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 16:02:53 +0000

Again, good points guys. And I’d have to agree with Jason’s thinking there.

I should note, that as I wrote those thoughts about corporate migration, I had in my head the image of the large ‘creative’ departments at companies I’ve worked for. I think this adoption would very likely begin in those marketing and design departments first, and spread outward from there.
And as Jason A mentioned above, he’s a mac user at home these days – it seems like more and more fall into that category as time passes. There’s still a large chunk that are relegated to Windows, but the cross section of users who are comfortable on multiple platforms (OS X and Windows in this case) is definitely growing.

By: wayne

wayne — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 14:11:12 +0000

Jason, you make the best point made on this page “There is also the issue of being the lowest bidder. That’s why you see a lot of Dells and HPs. Repairs come into play too.

More to your point..businesses are cheap. Most would never consider an OS switch because they are not interested in spending much more than $500 to get an employee up and running. I’ve seen it hundreds of times. And I agree.

Most jr. account managers, sales people, office managers or media buyers/sellers (any average desk jockey, really) needs little more than a cheapo HP or Dell. For the most part they only need MS Office and a web browser to sling a few spreadsheets, power point presentations and email. Why do they need to drop a grand on a super-duper iMac for that?

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:02:21 +0000

Thanks, Richard. How does that corporate licensing pan out when upgrading?

My original point remains the same though, why would it make sense for a company to use MS OS on a Mac platform? It’s still redundant.

There is also the issue of being the lowest bidder. That’s why you see a lot of Dells and HPs. Repairs come into play too.

Incorporating Jason A’s and Oliver’s thoughts, in my opinion, it would be a slow switch at best. To get optimal use of the Mac, all software would need to be replaced with Mac software. There would be extensive training for all departments and Apple would have to grow in order to support large scale business use. All of which I am for as a shareholder. It is just going to take some time.

By: Nick Santilli

Nick Santilli — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 05:20:21 +0000

Richard -
It’s true. at this point in time it’s not completely practical, but I’ve got to believe the ability to improve this situation is but around the corner.
I’m preparing a post about Parallels in the workplace. I’ve been giving it a run for its money at my own day job…interesting results ensue…look for it soon.

Jason A -
Thanks for the insights, especially from your point of view! It’s easy for me to speculate or give a semi-educated guess. But definitely interesting to hear from someone who’s in that situation.

Oliver -
I’m glad to hear that from a windows-user’s perspective, my feelings on Vista aren’t far off. (I was trying to be fair with it – no need to start flame wars here.) I really am impressed with the look of Vista, but there’s just no substance that I’ve been able to find at this point.

Thanks for all the great comments!

By: Oliver

Oliver — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 03:27:10 +0000

i would say that as i PC user, one that keeps his eye on platforms, it is the PC that is, for want of a better description, on the way. Vista has been too long coming. As Nick said it does look pretty, but that’s pretty much it. Having been using various builds of it for a while now, which of course have their beta issues, it really offers nothing new to the table, certainly when you take into account the time it’s taken to maybe have a replacement for the ageing XP. If Apple can make even the slightest of progress in regards to taking on board business users, then Microsoft will really have something to be scared about, because at the moment that’s the only thing they have going for them. Microsoft as i’m concerned have done very little in the last 5-6 years to keep their customers. After the slow growth, if growth is even applicable, of the OS itself, and the eternal teething problems that SP2 caused, and now the inevitable logistical nightmare that Vista WILL be, Microsoft are in a very shaky position.
Myself, i had been holding fast on Windows as my OS of choice and was eagerly awaiting Vista’s arrival. After realsing that all that was new was some glossy toolbars i mentally jumped ship, and will be making the switch to Apple after Leopard drops next year. I would of made the switch already if it wasn’t for having bought a new notebook early this year.

By: Jason Alexander

Jason Alexander — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 02:40:50 +0000

As a Windows user that recently converted his household to all Macs in the past year, I have to say that I really see Macs taking on the consumer market with force. But, for work, I still can’t use my Macs. Sure, I can dual boot, or use Parallels, but it’s just not convenient enough yet. Now, that being said, I’m lucky where I can have a Mac because I want one. But, also being that I’m the CTO of a 65 person company, I can also say that it’s not worth it *yet* to look at moving the whole company to Macs, IMHO. But, real, real close. Within a few years it may be possible though. I’ve been nothing but impressed, and a year ago I was a Mac hater. ;)

By: Richard Neal

Richard Neal — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 02:12:49 +0000

Jason, most businesses have corporate licensed copies of Windows, which they can use on unlimited numbers of computers, so that isn’t really an issue.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 02:10:31 +0000

I have to agree with Richard, but from a slightly different take. Right now, the business world runs on Microsoft. If they switch to Macs to run MS software they’re spending twice (once for the Mac hardware/software and once for the Microsoft licensing) It doesn’t make good business sense. A company wasting that kind of money will surely piss off some shareholders.

By: 46halbe

46halbe — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:40:42 +0000

@Joost:
Maybe it is because David Yoffie, Professor in Harvard and Intel director back in the mid-nineties, made this well-known statement: “Apple has lost the OS war, and there’s no point fighting it again and again. Apple has become irrelevant.”
It is somehow unforgotten..

By: Joost

Joost — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:29:34 +0000

What I don’t get it that *always* someone proclaims Apple ‘dead’. It’s a meme that just will not die, however successful Apple is (as it is currently). It’s almost like a virus, jumping from human host to human host. It’s virtually indistructable and it frightens me a bit.

Why is everyone always so quick to defend Windows?

By: Richard Neal

Richard Neal — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:02:01 +0000

The argument about having two machines in one works fine for home users, but which businesses have people working on both OS X and Windows? There may be a niche market for businesses developing cross-platform software, and even then, it’s unlikely someone would be using both. Macs may be on their way to being welcomed in businesses, but primarily as Windows machines, not for dual-booting.