“Macintosh computers have long had proponents among business users, such as those in the art department, for instance. But in terms of pure numbers, Macs barely make the charts. Still, disillusionment with the Windows platforms is motivating some CIOs to consider a radical move: an enterprise-wide switch from Windows to Macintosh,” Shamus McGillicuddy reports for SearchCIO.com.
MacDailyNews Take: Radical? “Smart” would be better description.
McGillicuddy continues, “Dale N. Frantz, CIO of Tacoma, Wash.-based Auto Warehousing Co., is working on a proof-of-concept project with his company’s home-grown ERP system. The system is built on Microsoft’s SQL server technology, but he’s testing whether a front-end application would allow Macs to work with the SQL-based system.”
“Frantz has seen some success in the early stage of the process. But proof of concept in a test environment doesn’t necessarily prove it can work enterprise-wide,” McGillicuddy reports. “Auto Warehousing, the largest automobile processing company in North America, receives, accessorizes and ships to dealerships 5.5 million cars a year. A lot is at stake if he switches to Mac.”
McGillicuddy reports, “Frantz said not only would migrating to the Vista platform mean replacing every computer in his shop, but Microsoft also “seems to feel that each subsequent operating system is worth a greater amount of money than the previous one.” If the cost of the operating system continues to increase, that’s of huge concern to Frantz. ‘Do I continue to throw money toward Microsoft or begin to look to something else?'”
“‘We see some things we could gain by moving iMac equipment onto the shop floors. The ability to do some videoconferencing, with cameras and microphones built in. We see some other technologies emerging that might be able to offset the cost of hardware, plus we have to buy new equipment to upgrade to Vista anyway,'” Frantz said,” McGillicuddy reports.
McGillicuddy reports, “Frantz said that although his staff members are enthusiastic about Macs, they’re anxious about whether this makes them obsolete. Staffers are worried about training and support. The network administrators are troubled about potential interpretability issues. Developers are concerned because they don’t know how to code for Apple Inc.’s software. ‘People are a little bit nervous,’ he said. ‘I try my best to reassure them and tell them I’ll bring anyone along for the ride that wants to come along for that ride.'”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Dan” for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Take: Slowly, but surely they awaken.
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“they’re anxious about whether this makes them obsolete. Staffers are worried…”
This has been Apple’s problem since 1984. IT staff is always worried that Apple products will make them redundant. Finally, we’re getting to a point where that fear won’t factor into the decision.
tacoma, washington: bill gates could go over on his lunch hour and see how things are going.
This would be phenomenal.
MDN “true,” as in Totally.
I wish this company all the best. It would be great for them to succeed.
I would hope Apple has a team to help in major conversions like this.
If not, it sounds like a good business to get in, as I feel more and more companies will try going Mac.
Maybe I need to quit getting high for a living…..
‘I try my best to reassure them and tell them I’ll bring anyone along for the ride that wants to come along for that ride.'”
ME! PICK ME!
I’d be willing to come in and help train your workers!
No interoperability issues with networks since Apple uses the same TCP/IP protocal as everything else in the world. Something they won’t have to worry about is viruses and spyware too.
“such as those in the art department, for instance”
How original.
Does Genentech have hundreds of artists drawing genetic code in Illustrator?
When I switched at home, it took me maybe two hours(on my own)before I was comfortable to the point where I could have used it in a business environment (I wish). Give the staff a half-day training course and they’ll be fine. That part of the problem should be a non-starter.
People, this is HUGE! This is very exciting news HOWEVER the monkey wrench is going to be MS SQL Server. I’m crossing all my fingers and toes they get the kinks worked out. All it takes is one good example of a large operation that’s been able to successfully switch and others will follow. This could be the proverbial “tipping point”.
The good thing is that more and more IT work is contracted to offshore companies. When you switch to Macs and fire them, you can’t hear them scream.
They can’t go postal if they have an ocean to swim first. That tends to cool them off.
Last I heard, Macs were around 20% of LARGER business (200 employees or more? I can’t remember).
Can anybody corroborate this?
Seems like Apple should send a ton of support people to help the “early adopter’s” as as proof that it can be done… look at all the DELL & HP ads about companies that use their hardware…
TT, you are a nut. When I was a kid, some buddies and I climbed a 650ft. tower near Blanchard(twice). It was scary as hell. It took like a half an hour for a paper airplane to touch down on the golf course. I couldn’t imagine doing it now.
Hmmm,
“If an organization is really serious about reducing their reliance on Microsoft, and running Linux or Mac on the desktop, reducing the number of Windows applications is most important.”
OUCH, chairs will be flying on that one.
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NE
Here’s some good reading on the subject:
http://www.apple.com/itpro/
” such as those in the art department, for instance.”
If there was ever any evidence that creative people are smarter, this is it.
Smarter than what, Moo? I’m not sure anecdotal evidence is evidence of anything. That being said, I wish everyday that I could use my Mac at work. Every damn day.
Sigh.
Frantz said not only would migrating to the Vista platform mean replacing every computer in his shop…
Why do they have to change at all, assuming that their systems have been working fine up to now?
I’m all for switching to Macs in the workplace –although MacMini’s might be a better choice than iMacs in this situation, as they are smaller, don’t fall over, less expensive to buy and service, have enough power for SQL/text processing, and work with existing screens, keyboards, and mice–, but I just wonder why Auto Warehousing Co. needs to “upgrade” to Vista?
“OUCH, chairs will be flying on that one.”
Nah, the article is so obscure that you would have to beat the street to find it. Not to be negative, just sayin’.
Thor
Nice view of Caddo, I bet. I had one just around the corner, south of Vivian barely inside Texas (453′ high) Great view of Sp/BC.
We didn’t need it anymore, so we cut one set of guys and let er drop.
That was kewl.
I’m gettin old, though.
“I wish everyday that I could use my Mac at work. “
Not to rub it in, but I’m a marketing manager with a brand new 24″ iMac and OS X Tiger.
(MBP for home and travel.)
And I can’t imagine ever using Windows again.
TT: By any chance were you fascinated by the story of Rapunzel as a kid?
they’re anxious about whether this makes them obsolete. Staffers are worried…”
This has been Apple’s problem since 1984. IT staff is always worried that Apple products will make them redundant. Finally, we’re getting to a point where that fear won’t factor into the decision.
—
If the IT geeks are telling the papers they might be made obselete by a Mac network, um, it’s time to get a Mac network.
There’s a reason they call them REDUNDANCIES.
I was more of a ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ kinda kid….
Tacoma, Washington?
Right in Redmonds backyard.
Oh no, Microsoft won’t allow it and probally do a deal to prevent a migration to Mac’s.
Hey Phil? You on a plane to Tacoma yet?