Dreams can come true: got an MBP for work!

[jsw]

To those of you who take using Macs at work for granted: move along. This thread isn't of concern to you.

For those who are stuck with PCs at work and see no way to ever have a Mac, I am here to give you hope.

I have been trying literally since 2000 to get a Mac to use at work (I work for a large Finnish cellphone manufacturer). Every year, many times, I'd ask for one. Since I do Java/Web work, there's never been any real reason I couldn't use a Mac, especially since the more recent Java versions started showing up on OS X.

For years, I've been thwarted. Sometimes I was just told no. Sometimes I was sent on fool's errands to prove things and get estimates and do research, then told no. Since 2000. So I bought my own Macs, did the work on them at home, and transferred it to my Dell laptop when I went in, then transferred it back when I came home. For years. Years.

I am now posting on a MacBook Pro (2.0 GHz, 2GB RAM) that was officially bought by employer. Yes, I wish I could have waited for the 17", or gotten a better HD. Yes, it would be nice if I hadn't gotten the Mac on the condition that there be zero additional cost (i.e., all additional hardware, software, packs, sleeves, etc will be bought by me).

But... I AM USING A MAC AT WORK - officially! It is bliss. Spell checking as I type. Exposé. Widgets. All of OS X. I cannot easily describe how wonderful it is, and how much nicer this looks than the Dell/IBM laptops we use.

Before now, I've spent $0 on work equipment. Now, I've gotten a sleeve, a screen protector, a BT mouse, a sling pack (on its way), some software... many $'s of stuff. Out of my pocket. And I love it.

I had almost lost hope, but I persevered. While I cannot guarantee success for my fellow forced-to-use-Windows MR members, I can say that, sometimes, dreams can come true. Keep trying.

 

[FocusAndEarnIt]

That's awesome jsw! Post a pic!

 

[baby duck monge]

Maybe when your employer sees how well the MBP works out, they won't put so many restrictions on its replacement (when the time finally comes for it to be replaced). Either way, it's definitely nice to see a bit more acceptance of Macs in the workplace, and I hope the trend continues.

 

[gauchogolfer]

Thanks for the news jsw! I am in a very windows-centric environment at work (French research laboratory) and have almost no hope of a work-provided computer. I think that the option of running Parallels in OS X in order to use OriginLabs software may soften the hard stance against Macs here at work. The IT folks are leery of technology they aren't familiar with, which has been the largest hurdle to date. If one of the IT guys had a chance to play around with an Intel Mac, I think it might help my chances.

 

[floyde]

Is your company recruiting?

 

[jsw]

Thanks for the news jsw! I am in a very windows-centric environment at work (French research laboratory) and have almost no hope of a work-provided computer. I think that the option of running Parallels in OS X in order to use OriginLabs software may soften the hard stance against Macs here at work. The IT folks are leery of technology they aren't familiar with, which has been the largest hurdle to date. If one of the IT guys had a chance to play around with an Intel Mac, I think it might help my chances.

I think BootCamp is what helped me - the fact that I could run Windows. It reduced the risk in their eyes. Parallels might also have been a factor, but I think the fact I could turn it into a Windows system (the horror! ) made all the difference. Best of luck to you - maybe with Leopard's official support (and rumored virtualization) will be enough to convince your employer.

And lilstewart - I'd post pics, but they'd be worse than the ones here.

Is your company recruiting?

No. Things are actually not good at all in my group - we had 20 people in early November. We have 4 now. But.. better late than never, and I might be able to use this for years (or not - I might end up booted out of there next week, you never know!).

 

[student_trap]

nice one! glad to see that macs are becomming more accepted in the working world

 

[dornoforpyros]

Congrats! Starting next month I'll be working from home on my g5 , but since I'll sorta need a laptop for my one day a week in the office I'm sorta accepting the fact that I'll end up paying for my own laptop because my only other option is an Acer

 

[crazycat]

I know 3 people who dumped there laptops/desktops and got an intel mac. My close friend used to work on a PC laptop because it was needed for work because they used some kind of software that was windows only. Now when he goes to work he uses XP and when he gets home he boots it as OS X.

Out of the 3 people who switched 2 would have never bought a mac if it was not for the bootcamp.

 

[zelmo]

Glad you finally got your Mac laptop, jsw. I've been fortunate in that I've been able to use both for the past 8 years. Lately, however, I find myself using a PC more and more at work.
My wife thinks I'm nuts because I come home after 10 hours of (mostly) computer use and spend a couple of hours on my PowerBook most nights. I've explained to her that using a Mac relaxes me after a day with Windows, but I don't think she understands. We've had a Mac at home for 12 years, but she only ever used a PC at work and never really embraced the Mac. I ultimately broke down and got her an XP laptop last year. Now I get to squeeze in a little XP repair in the evenings too...

Enjoy your new toy.

 

[annk]

...
My wife thinks I'm nuts because I come home after 10 hours of (mostly) computer use and spend a couple of hours on my PowerBook most nights. I've explained to her that using a Mac relaxes me after a day with Windows,...

Heh, that could be me! Nice to know I'm not alone.

Congrats, jsw. There is hope for the rest of us...

 

[mikes63737]

Congrats! I hope that you get to stay there for some time still to enjoy using it!