Not too long ago , advertizement agencies , designing firms and other originative companies were about the only businesses that wide deployed Macintosh figurer to their employees . But for a routine of reason , word of the welfare of Apple computer hardware — and package — on enterprisingness desktop is now spreading . That inclination of reasons includes :
That last point , in fact , could become the prominent incentive for a political platform shift key in the next few quarter . Macintosh computers appear to be making market place - share gain in the nursing home , open up the room access to like success in the endeavor . But which Apple auto are appropriate for corporate use ? Should IT managers focalize only on the “ professional ” end of Apple ’s offerings — the Mac Pro desktop machineorMacBook Pro laptop computer line ? Or would an iMac , Mac miniskirt and MacBook make as much sense for business concern ?
“ The distinction between Apple ’s endeavour and consumer personal computers is rather hokey , ” suppose Edward Eigerman , a principal at New York - based IT deployment medical specialist Eigerman Consulting . “ We find out that most PCs that are sell as enterprise desktops are actually strip - down , lightweight versions of the computers the same companies sell to habitation users . These machine lack the basic technologies needed in the modern enterprise . Apple , on the other hand , only does n’t betray a minimalist computing equipment whose preponderating ‘ feature of speech ’ is its Mary Leontyne Price percentage point , propose at business or any other market . ”
For case , you ca n’t bribe a Mac without at least 512 MB of RAM and outfitted with Bluetooth , 802.11 gm Wi - Fi networking , Gb Ethernet , FireWire and even a outback control condition — and that ’s before you consider the included software package . None of the foot concern models of HP or Dell even comes close to that .
Apple currently has two potpourri of portable calculator . TheMacBook , normally aim at the consumer , is the smaller and lighter variety , with a 13.3 - inch screen and polycarbonate credit card case ( blanched or mordant ) . It is fantastic for the tocopherol - mail / connection surfboarding / Word crowd , but can easily be used to also paddle in PowerPoint and graphic applications . The MacBook Pro offers even good specs , including more RAM , bigger surd drive , discreet video recording Aries , orotund 15- and 17 - column inch screens and a brushed aluminum case .
Apple ’s desktop card has three families : the minis , the iMacs and the Mac Pros . Theminiis a full reckoner — sans keyboard and mouse — that is about the sizing of the DVD - Rom ride used in most desktop . While its size is an reward for portability , it is often relegated to media center duties in conference rooms and to IT staff as testing equipment because of its entry - level specs . And entry - grade is where Apple has positioned it : the mini commence at $ 599 .
iMacs are Apple ’s midway - of - the - road desktop parentage , but a well - looking computer does n’t survive at any cost . Complete with a built - in web River Cam for video chats and LCD screen , it comes in 17- , 20- and gorgeous24 - in variety . Apple ’s Mac Pro card is sold without a monitoring gadget but comes in extraordinarily expandable contour , maxing out at quad - sum 3GHz Intel Xeons , 32 GB of RAM and 4x750 GB of storage .
While the computers in Apple ’s pro lineup are burly than its lesser models — specially in the case of the powerhouse Mac Pro — you’ll find that in many cases the “ consumer ” models are more than adequate for business users ’ pauperization . Here are a few factor to take into account when making a decision on whether to go Mac and which Mac to go with .
carrying into action
The arena where Apple ’s professional and consumer models should differ the most — performance — in reality is the one area they deviate the least , with one exception . A standard MacBook Pro has only a slightly faster processor than a MacBook , and come with a dedicated video recording calling card offer 128 MB or 256 MB of VRAM — and a bombastic covert . These luxuries , however , almost double the Mary Leontyne Price of entry from $ 1,099 to $ 1,999 . For employee who do n’t necessitate the screen real estate or art abilities , the decision to buy a MacBook is straightforward . Add to that the relief in configuring the MacBook , which can be filled with 2 GB of RAM and a 200 GB hard drive , and you ’ve bugger off quite a package for still less than the Pro price .
The 13 - inch MacBook is also the innate choice for road warrior upgrading from 12 - in PowerPC PowerBooks . Until Apple resign a subcompact in the professional line , these people are wedge into the consumer melodic phrase . Most , however , will not be disappointed .
On newspaper , iMacs are n’t going to play off the horsepower and speed of the Xeon processor in the Mac Pro workstations — that ’s the exclusion cite sooner . But unless your substance abuser are doing high - terminal 3 - ergocalciferol interpreting , HD video redaction or some other mainframe - intensive task , a high - close iMac may be more appropriate than a Mac Pro with a bombastic monitor . Again , the consumer course comes in at nearly half the price — and with a Web camera to boot . Be forewarned , the $ 999 17 - inch iMac offers less economic value than the $ 1,199 model because the pricier of the two has a notably expert C.P.U. with twice the level 2 stash and a freestanding video card . If you ’re buy a 17 - column inch imac , spring for the extra $ 200 .
Durability and reliableness
Interestingly , durability is one region in which Apple ’s consumer notebooks can outshine their more expensive professional siblings . While the MacBook Pros cavort an aluminum shield , the Apple MacBooks have reinforce plastic coat . These slight black or white wonders often hold up a ding better than metal - coated laptop because of the plastic ’s tractability and pliant store .
On the screen background , iMacs and minis are also lauded for their dependability and durability . They might not have the sturdiness of a Mac Pro , with its 30 - pounding stainless steel enclosing , but they are constantly rated at the top of their class for dependability . It never injure to have perennial Consumer Reports reliability winner in your stalls of enterprise hardware .
expressive style and perception
A tricksy reality for classless IT directors to bear is that direction hierarchies often dictate who gets the best simple machine . The decorator who is lick 12 - hour days on Photoshop may not get push to the top of the new computer list , even though he is an obvious prospect . Conversely , the CEO who uses her auto to read east - post and look at spreadsheets is likely to get the top - of - the - stock machine loaded with RAM and hard drive space she ’ll never apply . Prestige is an undeniable force in computer - purchasing decisions .
While anyone would have a hard time reason with the telling , honour - winning dash of Apple hardware , some ego might have a problem getting a “ consumer toy ” ( an idea based solely on sensing of those around them ) and will demand a mellow - end motorcar . Unfortunately , it is often take for unacceptable to have a less impressive machine than a subordinate . Have your arguments ready .
Applications and governance
While most consumer PCs are full of bothersome tryout software program with a few borderline malware practical software thrown in , Apple ’s install from the factory is comparatively benignant and even bring in extra style item because the iLife suite of multimedia tool is included for free . There are , of course , Apple apps employee do n’t need — PhotoBooth comes to mind . But it ’s easy to delete such computer software before hand out the hardware to employees .
On the administrative side , Apple ’s remote desktop and netboot / restore characteristic allow for enterprise - level program and update installs as well as remote administration . The build - in ‘ ghosting ’ or project software that Apple includes is computer hardware - agnostic , although still separate into PowerPC and Intel camp . This means that your MacBook Pro builds can be put on your MacBooks without any modifications . The same applies to iMacs and Mac Pros . When the Universal binary Mac OS X 10.5 “ Leopard ” is bring out , it wo n’t even matter if the auto runs on an Intel or PowerPC bit . That ’s important for companies that might be using a admixture of new and old Apple ironware .
guarantee and repair
Apple ’s warranty and repair overhaul is the same across its hardware lines , so you get consistent coverage on all Apple equipment . One caveat is that laptop computer are pass over internationally for a year , while the desktops are wrap up in the country of leverage only . Warranties can be extended to three years and keep insurance coverage increased with the extra purchase of AppleCare , which declare oneself the computer eq of bumper - to - bumper insurance coverage of your hardware .
buying and discount rate
Apple sells its computers in the same retail and on-line channels , and , of course , from its own store . This means that you could buy iMacs , MacBook Pros , minis ( and the Xserve if you ’re looking for a server ) in one go . There is no need to go through unlike locus for each transmission line as you would on Dell ’s or HP ’s Web site . For instance , a special on Dell ’s Home & Home Office internet site is not available through a business leverage .
As is the character with other players , Apple allows its large corporate , government and educational customers to purchase calculator at meaning discount .
close
There is no comparison between Apple ’s “ consumer ” machine and the consumer cable of its competitors . All of Apple ’s machines are quick to move into the enterprise , depend on the job at hand . It ’s a unproblematic and elegant intersection lineup , highly customizable , and will be Apple ’s seed into the business market — if IT decision - makers can get over their prejudice against equipment that ’s traditionally been aim at consumers .
[ Seth Weintraub is a spheric IT direction adviser specializing in the engineering needs of creative organizations , including The Paris Times , Omnicom and WPP Group . He has set up and wield cross - platform networks on four continent and is an expert in Active Directory / Open Directory PC and Macintosh integration . ]
