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By Don Reisinger on 2011-09-22
If you’ve been working in the IT business for a long time, you know the attitudes most folks have towards Apple. They typically acknowledge that the company’s products are well-built and compelling to consumers, they fall short in many ways for enterprise users. Over the years, Apple has been viewed as little more than the enterprise also-ran against companies like Microsoft, HP, Dell, Lenovo, and others. Maybe it's time for a change. Nowadays, Apple products are nicer than ever. And employees, hoping to get their hands on the latest and greatest devices out there, are increasingly asking their CIOs if they can start using Apple products, including Macs, iPads, and iPhones in the office. Chances are, your answer has consistently been “no.” But further inspection of the marketplace and the troubles some companies are having with enterprise-focused solutions reveals that having an all-in policy on Apple products might be a smart move. Yes, you heard that right: It's time for CIOs to consider bringing as many Apple products into the office as possible. Read on to find out why:
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iPad 2 is A Winner If you’re looking to bring a tablet to the office, there isn’t a better choice right now than the iPad 2. The device comes with the best software, it has the nicest hardware design, and it has several security features -- including remote management -- that CIOs are after. Plus, it’s a more popular choice than the two enterprise-focused options on the market, the Cisco Cius and the RIM BlackBerry PlayBook.
iPhone Is More Enterprise-Friendly Than You Think The device has a host of security features; an outstanding apps marketplace for finding enterprise programs. The addition of remote wipe, remote lock, and remote management, makes it a better choice than some might think.
Employees Want It Like it or not, employees are using Apple products in their personal lives, and they're also using those devices to access your corporate network. If it makes them more productive, why not allow it?
RIM Is Changing BlackBerry maker Research In Motion has long been the mobile favorite for corporate users. But in recent years, the company has lost focus as it tries to be both an enterprise provider and a consumer-friendly device maker. The BlackBerry PlayBook, for example, is touted as being aimed at corporate users, but it has a slew of consumer features. The BlackBerry Storm 2 has a prominent touchscreen that doesn’t really scream “enterprise.” Simply put, RIM is changing. And you need to realize that.
Macs Can Run Windows Even if your firm is heavily invested in Microsoft Windows, users can dual-boot Windows on Macs or run Windows in a virtual environment via Parallels or VMWare Fusion. With the help of those solutions, you can have the best of both worlds.
Developers Are Changing Their Tunes Over the years, developers have been far less likely to create software for Mac OS X than Windows. They reasoned that there was more money to be made in the Windows ecosystem, and Apple wasn’t always so developer-friendly. Thanks to the App Store, developers are now flocking to Mac OS X and iOS. Companies looking to have their applications running on those operating systems, in many cases, now have it.
Future-Proofing? When one compares Macs to PCs, they’ll find that the latter don’t always hold up well from a specifications perspective. If you want the latest and greatest components on the market, Macs are typically the best bet, given the production quality, feature set, and intangibles such as employee preference. It's much easier to future-proof with a Mac than a PC.
Think of Recruitment With each new year, a new crop of college graduates is entering the workforce with high technology expectations: the best candidates expect to have high-end smartphones, the hottest tablet, and a powerful computer. For now, Apple is delivering what your next-gen business leader is looking for.
Security, Security, Security Over the years, Microsoft’s Windows platform has been criticized for its security troubles. Apple’s Mac OS X operating system, on the other hand, hasn’t suffered from any major security woes. Although debate rages over why that is the case, it's worth bearing in mind you decide on consider your next computer purchases.
Apple Products Really Do “Just Work” If you're worried that a switch to Apple products might require extra training for your employees, don't be. Apple products really do “just work.” Their user interfaces are far more intuitive than any of their competition.
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