AVP.

…

I manage a Mac G5 Server, XRaid, 2 classrooms of Macs and 5 classrooms of PCs. Frankly, my efforts are literally about 50% split between the two, even though I have about 70% PCs.

So I don’t know what to tell you people, other than neither platform is perfect (in fact in the last year more hardware problems have occured on our less # of Macs than PCs). The other noteworthy thing is the software we run, which is graphic arts oriented are basically mirrored in Mac and PC labs, and the PCs seem to have less problems running them.

And “lickable Aqua interface”? OMG it’s a GUI - get over it :giant eye roll:

Most current SAP implementations are using some variety of a web portal. Same with Siebel/CRM, Oracle, etc. These applications are typically installed on Unix-server based systems. Very few large enterprises are running these apps on SQL/Windows/IIS based systems.

The bigger issue isn’t a Mac’s capability in the workplace. It is the IT/staff’s ability to maintain them.

I use windows when I want to play games… I guess that makes it the lame toy of the bunch. This “IT expert”, if all he knows is Windows, is just an ignorant, narrowly-trained “helper-monkey” in my book. Anyone can go out and take a two week MCSE bootcamp to get some letters after their name. Frankly, those people never even make it to an interview when I’m in charge. You need to demonstrate that you have a broad understanding of computers and computing, not just a “Walmart Education”

Ever see one of those dinosaur ads? How about the stock-photo switcher stories? How about this brilliant move from last week or so:

http://www.stevesremoteclicker.com/2006/11/22/trade-your-ipod-for-a-zune/

Microsoft is absolutely LOUSY at marketing.

What got them where they are is two things: catching IBM’s fumble during the PS/2 debacle, and a number of illegal acts since that time. You might have heard something about that, it made all the papers.

-jcr

Editor, TechWeb.com, CMP Media 1997-Present
Managing Editor, Winmag.com, CMP Media, 1999-2001
Freelance Writer 1996–97
Executive Editor, ZDNet, Ziff-Davis 1994–96
Features Editor, FamilyPC, Ziff-Davis/Disney 1994
Reviews Editor, PC Computing (later Smart Business), Ziff-Davis 1990–94
Freelance Writer 1989–90
Editor, Catalog Age Magazine, Cowles New Media 1986–89
Reviews Editor, jr, and CoCo Magazines, IDG 1984–86
Freelance Film/Video Production Assistant 1983–84

Umm… I don’t know about you dude, but my business needs can’t tolerate an unreliable and unsecurable machine.

-jcr

Microsoft just made things really really easy out of the box. So even if you do a bad job installing, it’s easy to cover your tracks and make it look like you knew what you were doing. With Linux and Apple, again until very recently, you had to absolutely know your stuff ahead of time of your installation would never get off the ground. I believe that is why MS is #1. Why did so many people buy Chevettes, because they were the highest quality cars out there? Certainly not. In most cases, they did the job just fine and were easy to acquire.

In addition to that, it seems almost every 16 year old kid that knows how to setup a Linksys router goes into business as a PC/Network consultant these days and “professionally installs” a 2003 server, and there’s your reliability problems right there.

The “paper MCSEs” are the worst though….at least the 16 year old kids TRY to do a good job.

Apple apparently decided that they didn’t need the business user market so just gave up on it for the college kid/home user market.

Brian,

When I worked at APPLE (which happens to be a predominately Mac OS environment) I had a real job with a macintosh, and we used SAP and PeopleSoft every day.

I’m an MCSE/MCSA:m - I prefer macs personally even for business needs. Nothing I can do on a Windows box I cant do within OSX. I have terminal server access to 95% of my clients as is. The other 5% I might fire up a VM for whatever reason.

I might go so far to say I can do more with osx than windows. Allowing me access to osx, *nix and windows apps far out weighs the ability to run windows alone.

As for me, I find it amusing that the prevailing view among Switchers is that Apple finally has something worth their attention. Those of us that have been around a while know real work gets done on BOTH platforms.

well after all the viruses, glitches and crashes.. you tell me how much work you really get done

If a MS based network (2k, 2003) is setup properly by knowledgeable techs there is no downtime. If PC’s (and servers, to include email) are setup properly and protected right, there are no virus infections or OS related problems. The only PC problems I’ve ever had since XP was released were either caused by end users (usually your tech illiterate ones) or hardware failures. I have yet to see a single OS related problem that wasn’t caused by one of those 2 things.

Another IT industry problem I’ve seen over the years are “paper MCSEs” out there that don’t know a thing about anything MS but what they can barely remember after their boot camps, but are hired anyhow to setup pc’s and networks only to do a half ass job and move on. Leaving it to someone else to clean up, if ever.

PC’s have their uses and Macs have theirs. I’m sure they will cross lines in the future to do a little more of each others things.. but until Dell and Apple join forces along with MS, you’ll never get rid of either of them.

1. Article makes indirect swipe at mac users re: real jobs in the process of appreciating macs.
2. Mac site takes notice, mild offense.
3. Site commenters take more offense.
4. Thread devolves into “Windows admins don’t have real jobs”.

Thanks for the enlightening discourse. Can we just consolidate the comments page to “I have a real job” and “I know you are but what am I?”