Whenever Macs are discussed in comparison to Windows PCs, the
conversation inevitably ventures into the "business" argument - Macs
are not used in great numbers in business, and the larger the
enterprise, the less likely they are to be the mainstream computer of
choice.
Apple has been content with this for some time. They know on which
side their bread is buttered and have focused on other areas, including
general OS stability and a suite of tools for the home user that makes
their digital life that much easier to live in iLife. Sure, Apple's
market penetration is still barely double digits, but that's okay - the
people who use Macs love them with a love that knows no bounds.
That said, in recent days we've been hearing some interesting
rumbles out of Cupertino. First, with the formal announcement of the
inevitable second generation (or 3G) iPhone, there will finally be
support for push email via Exchange, Microsoft's ubiquitous messaging
server.
Later, quieter press releases indicated that the upcoming "Snow
Leopard" (Mac OS X 10.6) will also provide native support for
Exchange within the Mail and iCal applications. Native support will do
a great deal to boost adoption, as prior to this one had to invest in
Microsoft Office and the Entourage product, to access Exchange in a
very ad hoc manner - essentially providing a native interface for
Exchange's Web Access protocols.
Between the built-in integration with Microsoft's Active Directory -
allowing for a single sign-on for business users to have access to
their Microsoft related network resources - and this addition, Apple
has, in just a few months, broken down two of the most important
barriers to adoption of Macs in the enterprise.
Offices that look at the facts and the financial bottom line will be
quick to make the transition. Given total cost of ownership and the
powerful application choices available to them for relatively low cost,
Macs make more sense than Windows.
Long gone are the days of Macs being relegated to a tiny corner of
the office network, never fully integrated and never allowed to shine.
With a tiny bit of setup work, Mac users will be able to join their
Windows network as full partners, easily sharing file servers, print
servers, and, soon, communication tools without causing major
disruptions in the IT department.
Add Snow Leopard to your list of must-have tools for Macs in the
business world. Just as soon as it comes out, things are going to start
changing in a big way in terms of adoption of Macs in the enterprise.
