“The data storage systems that Seitel Inc. was using were too sophisticated — and too costly — for its needs. So Seitel replaced the arrays from EMC Corp., one of the biggest names in the market, with Xserve RAID storage units from a company associated more with portable music players than business storage technology — Apple Computer Inc.,” Grant Buckler reports for The Globe and Mail. “No, Seitel isn’t a Macintosh shop. Ben Huber, information technology manager at the Houston-based seismic data provider’s Calgary operations, says Seitel has no Macs and no plans to buy any. Most of its servers run Windows. Mr. Huber says Seitel chose Apple storage because of lower up-front prices and long-term maintenance costs when compared to products from more mainstream storage specialists.”
“Apple’s current strategy for tackling the business market has roots going back several years. In 2002, Apple launched its Xserve server line. A full-powered Xserve costs less than $5,000 (U.S.), with no additional fees for connecting client PCs — a factor that is drawing particular attention from smaller businesses with limited IT budgets. Microsoft Corp., in contrast, charges client-access licences for machines attached to its servers,” Buckler reports. “Michelle Warren, an analyst at Toronto-based Evans Research Corp., says Apple is benefiting from growing security concerns business have about Microsoft software. “The security aspects of Apple are pretty strong selling features.””
Full article here.
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