Apple Forcing IT Shops To 'Adapt Or Die' 715
alphadogg writes "Many IT departments are struggling with Apple's 'take it or leave it' attitude, based on discussions last week at MacIT, which is Macworld|iWorld's companion conference for IT professionals. Much of the questioning following technical presentations wasn't about Apple technology or products. It was about the complexities and confusions of trying to sort out for the enterprise Apple's practices. Those practices include the use of Apple IDs and iTunes accounts, which are designed for individual Mac or iPad or iPhone users, and programs like Apple's Volume Purchase Program, which, according to Apple 'makes it simple to find, buy, and distribute the apps your business needs' and to buy custom, third-party B2B apps."
Re:Apple forcing IT shops to buy elsewhere (Score:5, Interesting)
Apple is still a niche player. IT shops can easily buy elsewhere, and bring in policies that lock out employee-owned devices. How is this a good business model for Apple?
Apple is not a player in business and enterprise period and it's far too easy to buy elsewhere.
Apple products get met with one word from my department, unsupported.
When a user complains about not being able to use their Macbook because it cant log into half the systems we use the problem is theirs because the platform is unsupported. Having done mac support before, I'll quit before having to touch another mac. Mac solutions came in three types, 50% of the time it cant be done, 40% of the time it's a hack, 10% the feature was there but so poorly implemented it's still a pain to use let alone administer. Support was a pain, it took those "geniuses" at Apple a week to fix a blown PSU in an Imac, they didn't do collect and return let alone the on site next business day support I got from Dell, Lenovo, IBM and Toshiba. Worse yet are the users, when a virus makes it onto the network, most of the time it came from a Mac user forwarding Adobe_CS3_Crack.exe to someone.
So I have a very long list of reasons why Apple products are on the unsupported list.
Re:Why Apple is good (Score:5, Interesting)
Let me share my experience with OSX and "how great" it is.
Last summer, as part of some volunteer work I was doing, I was tasked with locking down about 100 user laptops. About 60-70 were Windows based, 1 was Linux, the rest were Apple.
The tasks were to set up full disk encryption (or as close as possible with the host OS), some kind of email encryption, set up the mail client, set up a Cisco (or equivalent) vpn client, and make sure the computers were generally up to snuff (updates and whatnot).
The Windows machines took maybe 3-4 hours each, if that. I spent the better part of a day and hashed together a program that automated 90% of the work, including the installation of many of the programs (through AutoIT scripting), which made most of the process hands-off. There were about a bazillion options for automation, forcing updates, scripted certificate installation, etc. We could have used a WSUS server, if we had desired (though we did not). The various OSes (XP, Vista 32/64, 7 32/64) basically worked the same; though there were some "if {os}=" clauses that had to be used, it was mostly for picking the proper executable (32bit Cisco vpn vs 64 bit).
The Linux machine was of course a PITA, since we did not know ahead of time we would be dealing with it.
Then there were the OSX computers. They were a gigantic PITA. How? Let me list the ways:
And there were various other quirks which branded OSX in my mind as "decent, with a decent CLI, but vastly overrated"; but the big issues were that the system really wasnt designed to be administered quickly in batches, and the documentation was very often less than stellar. For all the flak Windows gets for its registry, at least every bit of it is documented, and you can find articles out the wazoo about how to automate X on windows.
People talking about the new wave of OSX boxes on corporate networks are either bad admins, way more clever at this kind of thing than I am, or ignorant reporters. It might be a different story if there were a capability (on both the Windows Server, and the OSX client side) to launch logon scripts, and if those scripts could install printers and map network paths; call me when that happens.
Re:Apple forcing IT shops to buy elsewhere (Score:5, Interesting)
Um... so define "regulated". Until five months ago I worked for a Federal Government Contractor, held a security clearance, and did work day to day on classified machines. My workplace was piloting the use of iPhones for e-mail and corporate access when I left. Of course you couldn't put classified information on them, but you couldn't put classified information laptops either, so that's not saying much. There's all kinds of rules for what you can and can't do regarding classified, but for unclassified uses, iPhones are likely as common as Blackberries and laptops there now.
My brother works for a hospital. Out side of the government, probably the most regulated industry in the country. He has a work issued iPad. Again, it's not allowed to contain patient information but neither are any other phones or portable devices that leave the hospital. I currently work for an international security company. We use iPhones for e-mail and corporate messaging.
Indeed, the only "regulated" industry that I can't claim at least some insider knowledge of is finance, so maybe that the one you're thinking of... Otherwise "regulated industry" is caving to user desire to use iDevices and Android in the workplace.
Re:Why Apple is good (Score:5, Interesting)
I actually own some apple hardware. It's really nice stuff but then it costs a lot of money so it should be. What bothers me is that the OS isn't what it could be. It's better than Windows in my opinion but really I remember putting Snow Leopard on my Dell 1545 just for kicks. It ran well on there and everything worked well and I played with it a week and then wiped it and went back to Linux. I had a Powerbook at the time that I used for iMovie and a couple of other Mac applications, I loved the hardware it was really nice but I really didn't like Leopard that much. I can buy nice Intel hardware a lot cheaper for similar equipment without the apple on the case and after I wipe the malware it comes with off and install Linux I'm much happier than I am with OS X. I'm not sure what's up with the interface but it seems sluggish to me....like their is lag in it or something. I still use OS X occasionally as I picked up a 2008 macbook for iMovie but with Openbox getting better I'm thinking of selling it off. I want to like OS X but it's so hard to. Maybe I'm just spoiled.
... Because Apple would need a complete rework (Score:4, Interesting)
Abstract: Apple is making boatloads of money selling stuff to people. Reconfiguring the company into an enterprise services firm is an unacceptable risk.
'Waaaay back in the day, I was invited to an Apple roadmap presentation for the various big Mac users in the greater LA area (mainly aerospace corps). Dating myself, the main heads up was the upcoming Mac IIfx. The current sealed lips paradigm wasn't always graven in stone.
But, that was before Windows 95 almost ate Apple's lunch, and Macs got kicked to the curb across "the enterprise"... almost simultaneously across North America. Almost as quickly, the ecosystem of Mac-related enterprise solution vendors ditched the platform. When Jobs returned to refocus the company's direction, the focus was on what he had left to work with: consumers (with bones thrown to graphics/video/audio pros). You could see this in his original product mix: iMac, iBook, the restyled G4 mini-towers, and eventually the iPod.
This ended up working so well that quite a few consumers really wanted to haul their Apple gear back to the enterprise... which is how Apple first got there, one MacPlus at a time. Now, with the iPhones and Pads, people aren't just sneaking their toys in, they're putting in purchase orders, and the IT departments are forced to adjust.
It's not completely unreasonable for them to ask Apple to rework their products to make this a bit easier. It may happen, but I wouldn't hold my breath: Apple isn't equipped to service the enterprise, and doesn't want to spend the money to make it happen. The boys and girls in Cupertino would need to spend tens, perhaps hundreds of millions of dollars to set up the hardware/software/people infrastructure - more or less from scratch - to provide reasonable enterprise marketing and support.
And why? There's not all that much profit in selling to the enterprise, except in services. Virtually *all* of the non-Asian computer vendors have reconfigured themselves into enterprise services companies that just happened to sell some hardware/software for them to integrate, and the Asian companies are on the same path.
Apple, meanwhile, is making a boatload of money selling hardware/software to people. There is plenty of foreseeable risk and little known upside to reengineering themselves into the likes of IBM/HP/Dell.
I actually own some apple hardware. (Score:4, Interesting)
It's really nice stuff but then it costs a lot of money so it should be.
1996 calling, it wants it's mime back. I dare you to configure Dell, HP, and Leveno products so it will have similar specs to a Mac then compare prices. I did precisely that before ordering the MacBook Pro I'm typing this on. Of them the cheapest was a brand I hadn't heard of before, it was $50 cheaper. The Dell, and I tried Alienware which Dell bought out, cost about $200 more. HP's offering cost more too. Because I planned on installing Ubuntu to dual-boot I also checked out compatibility. The one thing that makes it more difficult to install Ubuntu is using EFI, the GUID Partition Table (GPT), and installing Ubuntu on an HFS+ formatted partition. I'll install Lucid Lynx (Ubuntu 10.04) onto the internal HDD, Oops, there another problem I'll install Oneiric Ocelot (Ubuntu 11.10) onto a USB external drive which presents it's own problems.
What bothers me is that the OS isn't what it could be. It's better than Windows in my opinion but really I remember putting Snow Leopard on my Dell 1545 just for kicks.
That's your personal opinion, others love Snow Leopard. My MBP came with Tiger and it was about 4 months after Leopard came out before I upgraded. The only reason I did was because Java 6 would only run on Leopard, at least without a bunch of hacking. And as I was a member of Apple Developer Connection [apple.com] (ADC) Leopard was free. When Snow Leopard came out it took me a couple of months before buying it, heck it only cost $29. But it took a few more months before I actually installed it. Although Lion has been out for a while, released on 20 July 2011, I still have not bought or upgraded to it.
I want to like OS X but it's so hard to.
I do like OSX, what I have a harder tyme with is liking Apple. It makes, er designs, terrific hardware a programs great software. With the exception of the Mac though it only takes others ideas then releases its own products. And even with hardware Apple is falling behind. While consumer Macs have had more than one revision since the summer of 2010 the Mac Pro has not been upgraded. Try looking for a Sandy Bridge Mac Pro and you won't find one. One rumor has it Apple will Kill Mac Pros [macgasm.net] just like they did to the XServe. Since they did they've pushed shops to use Mac Minis for servers, but a Mini can't handle tasks the Pro has no problems with. Of course other rumors have it that Minis with Thunderbolt can have external graphics cards as well as storage attached enabling them to be used instead of Mac Pros. As it is now I'd like to get another MacBook Pro but I don't think I will buy any other Apple product.
Falcon
Re:Why Apple is good (Score:5, Interesting)
I took the plunge in 2004 and replaced my PC for four years with a Mac.
I mostly use PCs now because I mostly use laptops now, and my current desktop runs Linux (it's just a server these days).
OS-wise?
I prefer Linux for my server goodies (unless I really want it locked-down hard, then it's FreeBSD all the way). I recently put Linux on my laptop (HDD crash, gave me all the excuse I needed to get rid of Windows on it, etc).
Sometimes, I miss using OSX: It gave me a slick-assed UI coupled with a nice and powerful terminal environment. It's efficient as hell. I can get good apps for it (and until recently, OSX or Windows were your only real choices for CG hobby work).
But...
OSX has its disadvantages (file/folder merging, anyone? And yes I know about ditto - it sucks. Also, a dual G5 tower makes an excellent (and literal) room-heater in the winter, but a lousy one in the summer). It has its advantages (e.g. running OSX 10.3 for six years straight without bit-rot or needing a re-install, and still having the latest apps to that time run just as snappy on it).
Linux has its disadvantages (for the love of all that is holy - WTF will it take to get a DECENT .pdf editor!?). It has its advantages (I can modify the unholy shit out of it to my tastes - BTW, I'm installing fluxbox on this thing when I get a few spare hours this week).
Windows has its disadvantages (...do I need to count them all? Really? That's like 3 hours of typing...) It has its advantages (you can get apps for anything in it, and they generally work if you need them to).
Long story short? The OS wars are pretty much over. Your OS is just about as exciting as the engine in your car. Nobody outside of a few hobbyists really give a shit anymore about what's under the hood, as long as it runs.
Re:Why Apple is good (Score:4, Interesting)
This is probably a big problem in big IT shops. They hire Windows experts by the truckload at a large discount. They don't need to know much, they just need the right certificates and be able to play politics (ie, don't rock the boat). So they end up with people who know all the right stuff about Windows that they learned in night school, they've been constantly bombarded with MS marketing literatures about the right solutions to use, etc. Ask them to do something with Macs or Linux or BSD and they're completely baffled, this is outside of their realm of comfort (not to mention the looks of horror when someone is using DOS or Windows 3.1 for legacy purposes).
To be fair they do learn a lot of Windows skills and are instantly able to take these skills to the next company they go to and instantly be productive. Learning about Macs does not help their lateral mobility that much.
It happens in management too, we had the only IT people who knew Macs well laid off despite a significant chunk of our company using Macs exclusively.
Of course Apple support is ludicrous as well. Bad hard drive means you literally take the machine to an Apple Store ($TM) and wait for a replacement, and Apple Stores ($TM) are not set up to deal with enterprise users and are more suited to trying to up-sell accessories.
Re:Why Apple is good (Score:5, Interesting)
suicide death at foxconn apple factories is LOWER than at foxconn factories for Dell, HP, and others the NYTimes reports.
Re:Apple forcing IT shops to buy elsewhere (Score:5, Interesting)
Thanks for falling into the trap AC.
Chevron 2011 profit = $26.5
Apple 2011 profit = $25.9 B
The difference is, Chevron will consistently post high profits, Apple is a bubble waiting to burst.
Re:what does (Score:2, Interesting)
iTunes is the face of Apple in almost EVERY respect. The reason people bought iPods was because iTunes made it convenient to manage everything (or atleast that's the reason Apple gave originally). Apple is riding on the iTunes train to represent them to non-iOS users and separating functionality to other apps would allow third-parties on windows devices to steal some of their thunder. Think of Windows Media Player, it does three things effectively and one thing truly poor, but it sticks to it's core functionality because while it has a store it isn't the breadwinner for Microsoft. Apple is a manufacturer first but iTunes is what drives a large chunk of those sales and reflects their desire to keep everything inclusive to avoid losing that allure
On topic though, who in their RIGHT MIND is EVER going to let an outside ID onto their secure servers? I could see a singular ID for the company to make purchases for apps through but for every random schmuck to get to bring their own into the server that can be compromised at any given time and accessed outside of the system just makes me wonder what kind of operation Apple is running. It almost makes me think it's time to divide the company on it's software and hardware axis and give each control over their respective domain because it seems like hardware is in the driver's seat with software wondering where it is going.
Re:I think your enterprise argument is flawed. (Score:4, Interesting)