Just an FYI. You can develop freely for the Windows platform using their express versions (or just the free sdk if you have your own editor). You don't have to buy anything (other than windows). Unless you have a large team I would suggest using the express tools until a need arises that you need to buy the next level up in tools.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
IBM Division Investigates Corporate Mac Migration Feasibility
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Just an FYI. You can develop freely for the Windows platform using their express versions (or just the free sdk if you have your own editor). You don't have to buy anything (other than windows). Unless you have a large team I would suggest using the express tools until a need arises that you need to buy the next level up in tools.
Fortunately, all Macs now can run Windows natively w/ BootCamp or Parallels. So best of both worlds!
True, it at least seems like Apple doesn't care about Enterprise customers, but they seem to not care about gamers either. Look how awful the graphics cards are in Macs compared to Windows. I know, it's partially b/c of EFI, but still. Seems like Apple only cares about the average consumer, not enthusiasts/professionals. Plus prices for Macs are really steep.
Oversimplifying...
I think this is great news, but I think some fans read way too much into this story. 15 of the 24 said that they already had moderate to expert "knowledge" of Macs. While I agree that overall I prefer Macs, the sample size that IBM was using is not really representative of the actual market. It would be a lot more telling if you had 21 users with little to no Mac experience responding to the survey. Then, I would be a bit more impressed. The sample size would still be too small to make any broad claims though.
Please don't flame me. I love my Mac, but don't always drink the Kool-Aid 24/7.
I think this is great news, but I think some fans read way too much into this story. 15 of the 24 said that they already had moderate to expert "knowledge" of Macs. While I agree that overall I prefer Macs, the sample size that IBM was using is not really representative of the actual market. It would be a lot more telling if you had 21 users with little to no Mac experience responding to the survey. Then, I would be a bit more impressed. The sample size would still be too small to make any broad claims though.
Please don't flame me. I love my Mac, but don't always drink the Kool-Aid 24/7.
It's been awhile since my stats classes, but given a random population with a random distribution you'd be surprised how small of sample you need depending on what you want your confidence intervals to be. Now, I would guess the people selected in IBM to test this were not randomly selected so the sample size is most likely is not adequate.
Mac: "Hello, I'm a Mac."
PC: "And I used to be a PC."
<PC in an oversized blue IBM T-shirt, holding an apple.>
Mac: "What? You used to be a PC? But your big blue T-shirt says IBM."
PC: "Yes, yes. But at the end of our staff meeting on Tuesday, the vice-president of our division said, 'One more thing...'."
Mac: "And ...?"
<PC takes a bite out of the apple, and his eyes light up.>
PC: "Delicious!"
<PC looks back to Mac.>
PC: "What were you saying again?"
I was under the impression you could only develop non-commercial
software or not distribute software developed under the applicable
licenses. I can't find the relevant EULAs online, so I can't confirm that,
but it would be quite limiting if true.
I wish the entire Mac web would stop paying attention to and linking to RoughlyDrafted. DED is a complete nutjob who jumped off the deep end long ago. Please for the love of all that is good...stop linking to anything associated with him.
They want Macs in order to run multiple OSs, and therefore would buy the same corporate Windows license, losing MS $0.
If IBM likes OSX so much, how come Lotus Symphony is not out for Macs?
That's not true. Took 2 seconds to find it.
www.microsoft.com/express/support/faq
Check item #7
Can I use Express Editions for Commercial Use?
Yes, there are no licensing restrictions for applications built using Visual Studio Express Editions.
1) With SSH and VNC running on every single Mac, I could see third parties offering this. The fact that every Mac announces its ssh/vnc via bonjour should help immensely. On my local system, I open up screen sharing and see every mac on the network, and can control it from there. Not large scale, but the possibility is there.
2) Restore from disk image? Or, configure base system, back up with time machine, restore from time machine over the network for every computer. I don't see how it could get simpler than that.
3) LDAP tools exist for Unix, and come with user-friendliness on OS X server.
4) Talk about BACKWARDS-compatible. This one might be tough, and should be Microsoft's job if they want to keep customers. Maybe they could use standards?
5) VPN solutions exist for Unix and OS X, even CISCO. I set up my own using OpenVPN/Tunnelblick
6) Automatic updating from the command line: "sudo softwareupdate --download --install"
7) Hmm - that's not apple's way.
8) time frame to roll out - maybe several months to a year?
9) Again, good luck getting apple to budge.
10) Is that what happened to Windows, too many cooks in the kitchen? I think OS X is open enough you can put in your own features easily enough that we don't need Apple pandering to big corporations to bloat the system.
You make some really good points, but most of this stuff can be done with Macosxhints.com and a little Unix knowledge.
The results weren't so great, either:
Of the 22 of 24 who responded, 18 said that the Mac offered a “better or best experience” compared to their existing computer, one rated it “equal or good,” and three said the Mac offered a “worse experience.” Seven reported having no or marginal prior knowledge of using Macs, while 15 reported having moderate or expert knowledge of the platform.
This pilot was almost certainly voluntary, meaning it mainly consisted of self-selected mac users and "mac curious" users.
So you can reasonably assume off the bat that those moderate or expert mac users were among the mere 18 users who "said that the Mac offered a 'better or best experience' compared to their existing computer." Of the people new to macs, that means 3 thought the macs were better, 3 thought they were worse, and one thought they were about the same. This is not a result worth crowing about.
There is no such thing as a 'cheap PC' - $400 today - $1000's in lost time and poor productivity for the entire life of the thing...
It makes zero sense to put even a single '$30,000 to $100,000' employee on a $400 PC.
Just a single week of confusion due to Vista/PC nonsense easily pays for a Mac.
Why analysts can't see the 'losses' due to confused, frustrated and inefficient employees is just a mystery...
(BTW: Pc's Upgradability is another legendary myth in big business - spending even a single day of a $100,000 technicians time replacing motherboards, hard disks, re-installing S/W etc on a three year old PC to save buying another is just plain stupid)
It makes zero sense to put even a single '$30,000 to $100,000' employee on a $400 PC.
Just a single week of confusion due to Vista/PC nonsense easily pays for a Mac.
Why analysts can't see the 'losses' due to confused, frustrated and inefficient employees is just a mystery...
(BTW: Pc's Upgradability is another legendary myth in big business - spending even a single day of a $100,000 technicians time replacing motherboards, hard disks, re-installing S/W etc on a three year old PC to save buying another is just plain stupid)
Which is why we don't put our employees on $400 PCs. I mean, good grief, that would be stupid.
I understand that, but with the lack of features in the express versions and the hassle of burning your own disks - large corporations could not get the benefit or tools for their needs. much of the library is missing.
regarding item 10 - open to the unix prompt and you have all the languages already installed at your fingertips to program: Java, C++, Python, etc all the standards that come with Linux/Unix. So yes you can configure and put your own needs. and Guess what because MAC OSX is based off Free BSD, it code is easily transferable to every Linux/Unix system (albiet you may have to make tweaks for AIX due to some differences). Program on Windows (unless you are programming for the web, which the app can be run through a browser) then you are stuck on one platform only.
I never said they don't exist. I said these things are wanted by the enterprises.
One clarification .... #2 means to allow them to create their own DVD image with a company unique installation, where certain utilities and programs have been deleted (example ftp, rsync, rwho, tftp, others), or turned off, tweaked, some configurations have been changed like a corporate screen saver that can not be turned off, no auto login, Safari changed so it will not store passwords and can not change the proxy settings, minimum password length, password complexity rules, corporate admin account, all users become standard users, etc. Then create their DVD image and use that to stamp all machines or to revert them back to "corporate" standard at any time.
Most corporations want 1 to 3 tools that are integrated and do it all for them. They don't usually like to have to use 12 tools or to be clever. They want repeatable results, where most things can be done by someone that is not that well trained.
Yes you can do most of this already, but it is not integrated.
Either way it was just a list of features they like, not a statement saying that Apple has them or not.
As to #10, Corporations do not want to add features to an OS, they want everything done for them. If a bug shows up that affects them, they would want Apple to jump thru hoops to fix it ASAP and move it up in the priority list. Too many cooks ... you bet. they have the standard me me attitude, "My needs are more important than the needs of others, I have big bucks, you should listen."
I am a statistician and I can assure you that 1500 observations are more than enough to describe the US. Provided that the sample is well taken, of course. That is, is random.
There are sampling techniques (stratified, cluster...) that allow you to get ultra-precise results even with a smaller sample size.
A Census is a totally different thing. It has nothing to do with inference and estimation, which is the way 99.9% of statistical analysis is performed.
Do you think that the Census Bureau asks EVERYONE all the info they need to compile their yearly statistics? Or do they check the product of EVERYTHING on sale to calculate the rate of inflation?
Moreover, given that the range of possible answers in this case was limited (I like the mac vs I want my PC back) a sample of 24 is not that bad (the problem of course is how it was taken).
IBM just doesn't want to be tied to a specific platform. Right now primarily use old IBM Thinkpads and the newer Lenovo Thinkpads. Once contracts are up there is no reason to be tied to Lenovo machines. If employees feel that they can do their job better on a mac then why not give them a mac?
Although I really like OS X a Java shop would be insane to switch to OS X. They would end up doing all their development on a virtual Windows or Linux machine. Apple still haven't released Java 6 on it's platform (Windows/Linux release: dec. 2006). What is worse, Apple have released no information on when (or if) Java 6 might be available.
I think Apple tight-lipped strategy is great when it comes to regular consumers but it just doesn't cut it in an enterprise environment. Companies need to know that the tecnologies they use are still supported in 6 months.
This is not a good thing.
IF IBM starts paying more attention to Macs and this behavior spreads to other business users on a large scale, then, viruses, hacker's, spyware, and malware in general, will start paying more attention to Macs.
That means Macs will start being compromised on a large scale almost overnight.
I would implore IBM to stay away from Apple. Please do not mess up a good thing for traditional Mac users. Think of all the people you would hurt.
Does not look good though, because since when does hurting 3 - 5% of certain people matter to business entities like IBM? Especially when IBM probably does not factor significantly into the lives of those 3 - 5% anyway.
Might be a brilliant business strategy though. ...what better way to attract significant attention(read money?) back to a huge business entity that is demonstrably not at all of the stature it once was.
If IBM succeeds in doing this on a large scale, then, all at once, "movers" will start to look at IBM in a different light including young prodigies, geeks, and talented graduates who are looking for what they feel is a relevant place to work that embraces everything they are. You know; like Google, Facebook, etcetera.
I am not at all saying that IBM does not matter these days. But if IBM implements this on a large scale it will be as much about trying to make the company relevant again and trying to get back stature as it is about anything else.
IF IBM starts paying more attention to Macs and this behavior spreads to other business users on a large scale, then, viruses, hacker's, spyware, and malware in general, will start paying more attention to Macs.
That means Macs will start being compromised on a large scale almost overnight.
I would implore IBM to stay away from Apple. Please do not mess up a good thing for traditional Mac users. Think of all the people you would hurt.
Does not look good though, because since when does hurting 3 - 5% of certain people matter to business entities like IBM? Especially when IBM probably does not factor significantly into the lives of those 3 - 5% anyway.
Might be a brilliant business strategy though. ...what better way to attract significant attention(read money?) back to a huge business entity that is demonstrably not at all of the stature it once was.
If IBM succeeds in doing this on a large scale, then, all at once, "movers" will start to look at IBM in a different light including young prodigies, geeks, and talented graduates who are looking for what they feel is a relevant place to work that embraces everything they are. You know; like Google, Facebook, etcetera.
I am not at all saying that IBM does not matter these days. But if IBM implements this on a large scale it will be as much about trying to make the company relevant again and trying to get back stature as it is about anything else.
I'm trying to figure out if this guy is serious or just kidding, because this is one of the worst arguments I have heard in a long time.
You don't want people to use Apple computers, because you're afraid of an increased level of attacks on Macs? Well, if you have ever looked at the security logs for a Mac being used for filesharing, you'll quickly realize people are trying to hack them all the time. I was looking at a log last week, and there was literally 500+ failed login attempts per day using dictionary attacks from countries like Korea, China, Brazil, and so on just to name a few.
Frankly, I would rather deal with the attacks and possible viruses if Mac became a majority OS. It's so much easier to use than Windows. I really think that if most people used a Mac, we'd be a lot better off as a society, especially in terms of computer-related stress levels! Plus life would be easier on current users, since they could use their beloved software and send those files to PC users (Keynote comes to mind).
If Apple really wants to get in on the corporate market with their computers though, they're going to have provide better guidance in terms of product release dates and allow older versions of their OS to be installed on newly purchased hardware - at least one version prior (i.e. being able to install 10.4 on current hardware).