“Apple is pushing its business-focused Apple Retail salespeople to sell Macs to businesses currently running in Windows environments, according to Apple retail employees briefed on the new initiative,” Mark Gurman reports for 9to5Mac.
“Apple Retail Stores, in their business/professional sections, will now have a 27-inch iMac prepared with the Parallels Virtualization Software and Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system,” Gurman reports. “Select Apple Retail employees will also be trained on the Parallels and Windows software, and special Parallels demos have been created for Apple Stores.”
Read more in the full article here.
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I feel bad for these employees.
Would you feel better knowing Apple would be selling more Macs?
No. I would still feel bad for those employees who took a job at Apple and are being asked to learn Windows. Is nothing sacred? Of course I would be happy that Apple is selling more Macs. But I would feel bad for the employees. One has nothing to do with the other.
I guess these employees can quit their jobs if the thought of using Windows is so traumatic. I suppose that being homeless, naked, and starving is so much better than having to stare at Windows for hours a day.
If you are convinced that Apple is cruel to allow Windows OS on Macs you had best boycott all Apple products that have this ability. Your mortal soul is at risk if you do not. Next, petition to have Tim Cook removed as CEO and install pure-Apple orthodoxy in Cupertino. Let all unbelievers be shamed and banished, and all their names stricken from company records and their images Photoshopped out of every picture.
This is Apple’s way of THANKING Steve Ballmer for his services rendered to Apple inc. By increasing the adoption of Windows 8 through Macs, the M$ board might just regret their knee jerk response by firing oops! retiring Steve Ballmer earlier than he had planned go when they realise the increase in uptake of Windows 8 following Steve Ballmer’s expert negotiation with Apple inc.
Steve Ballmer, the best CEO Apple inc. never had!!!
Ok. It is time to kill off Dell and HP.
So, when the “Made in the USA” Mac Pro units are also running Windows, what will be the reason for a Dell or HP PC box?
Come on, Macs play well but they DO NOT always replace all other computer systems on the planet. Apple offers a very narrow range of computers. Other manufacturers compete in other areas:
customization
initial purchase price
internal expansion
native support for existing IT
etc.
Just because we prefer the Mac, doesn’t mean that the Mac is the answer to all things. It can’t, nor should it be. A healthy marketplace offers consumers multiple choices.
Yes… but those areas are rather specialized niches in themselves even though there can be significant numbers sold in those areas.
However, for the majority of everyday, plain-vanilla computing purposes in small-to-medium-sized businesses, a Mac running both OS’s gives those businesses a lot more options and less potential problems, right out of the box.
And there’s your multiple choices.
Isn’t dell pretty much dead already…..lol
Good idea, actually. Most businesses have some Windows software, and Apple needs to be much more aggressive in showing how a Mac can work well into the EXISTING infrastructure of the business world. Apple cannot grow the Mac business while continuing to ignore the reality of enterprises.
Should demo Windows 7 instead of that horrible Win8 though. Businesses are not migrating to Win 8 if they can help it.
I thought you can run windows apps on top of the OS X desktop? (or am I wrong?)
Then the ex-Metro interface doesn’t matter, and it doesn’t matter if you run Windows 7 or 8 in the virtualized environment.
No, you’re right and it’s exactly as you describe. When running under Parallels in Coherence mode, for instance, you have the option to not even see the Windows UI, but to just use the Mac.
They would do much better if they could license Windows 7 for the demos and sale. Win8 is such a pile of crap. UNless of course Apple is going to do the unthinkable and make a touch screen iMac 🙁
Given the recent patent announcement I imagine Apple will implement a distance and motion sensing iMac that you can control with your hands when across the room.
I think the logic would be to let businesses move over to Mac but with a Win 8 option to cover both options, few are going to move to Mac instead of Win 7 so this is the right move.
Yeah but, it’s Windows 8 !
Immediately the demo is a turn off.
But I get your point.
Apple Retail Store Employees, even and especially those designated as Business specialists, don’t know much about IT or computers being used in business.
Their lack of knowledge is endearing at times, and not so much at others.
I would like to see them trained in a different way. Their training should be to set up a small business infrastructure. They should be given criteria and told that their focus is selling the Mac based on its capabilities, but that they should be prepared to demonstrate that the Mac is a highly capable Windows client as well. They should be prepared to demonstrate that using Microsoft Office is not REQUIRED in business. They should be experts on Pages/Keynote/Numbers, and have real world knowledge of how to convert Word/PowerPoint/Excel to Apple’s tools.
In addition when you mention MDM (Mobile Device Management) they shouldn’t look like dear in the headlights. They should be up to speed on the latest technologies.
They should know a great deal about installing and managing OS X server, providing remote access for users, etc.
They should be up on all kinds of remote access technologies from ARD (Apple Remote Desktop) to systems like TeamViewer and GoToAssist.
Only after demonstrating to a client how strong the Mac is on its own, should they fire the Windows cannon if necessary. They should make it clear first that OS X is the far better operating system, and that it is really what constitutes the Mac, not the hardware.
Training is very important and I haven’t been terribly impressed by the Business Specialists. At least they have some people designated as such now.
Your idea is backwards.. If you “get them under the tent” by showing it can run Windows, then their switching costs/learning costs are lower.
THEN you show them how doing it natively is better.
Good strategy. I think raising awareness about Mac’s Windows capabilities will lead to more switches. The ability to run Windows was one of the things that led to me to switch to Mac and recommend it more widely to friends and family (money was the main delaying factor though). Not that I want to run Windows – I much prefer Mac OS. But having Windows around can transitioning to Mac OS easier, and eliminates the possibility of getting stuck in a “you can’t use this on a Mac” situation.
I have a Mini with Parallels and Windows7. I use the Windows side to test the web pages that I produce.
The combination runs faster than the Dells that are in the high school in which I also work.
I agree with Thelonius Mac totally on this one. Have a OSX machine with Parallels operating in businesses and you will soon have those same businesses finding more and more reason to try to use the Mac side. No reason to start a war over it. Cream WILL rise to the top if given the chance, and this could do it.
I don’t know a single business running Windows 8.
Too bad they didn’t get windows 7 licenses for the demos.
The catch is, most businesses are avoiding Win 8 like they did with Vista !
But if they’re shopping for new hardware, that hardware would come with Windows 8 anyway.
Since the Mac is the best Windows machine and M$ can’t do a store right, then this makes perfect sense.
Waste of time, if you don’t want a Mac get a crappy PC or better yet Android mobile.
A Mac works beautifully in a windows environment..right down to domain logins. Problem? IT can’t push updates without having an apple person in house. VMs, however, are the best way to run windows..and are seen on the network like any other PC, domain policy pushes and all. Best part..you can have multiple PCs on one computer. Reverting to snapshots is a painless process (unless you have to rejoin to domain) and VMs are fantastic spaces for development.