Apple makes it a bit more difficult than it needs to be. I am in the process of moving my law firm completely to Mac, with three additional Mac clients and replacing a Windows Small Business Server 2003 with a Leopard Server. The tools are great, but the support is mediocre.

Apple’s tech support for the server OS is 90 days, which is fine, but what isn’t fine is their unwillingness to help with required settings. My business is small, so I don’t have an IT guy, and Apple’s response questions relating to what settings my web host needs is just a recommendation that I pay for their Server AppleCare program at $6000 or hire a consultant.

Microsoft, on the other hand, talked me through the settings needed to make SBS work and work it did. I had VPN, mail and everything else working fine, taking the list of settings they gave me and providing it to my web host and ISP.

The software itself is far superior on the Apple side, I just need help making it all work, and with all of the money I spent on hardware and software, there just isn’t budget left for an expensive consultant or support plan.

Interestingly, a few of our smaller clients are now integrating Macs – both iMacs and MacBooks – into their workflows. One CEO solely because he wanted Keynote after he’d seen some of the presentations we’d done. On a larger scale, I’m wondering how well equipped Apple actually is to handle the demands of enterprise. The MobileMe launch was something Apple learned a hard lesson on, and it exposed an immature side of the company when it comes to more complex software integration. Even .Mac continues to have its share of snags.

I think for them to really succeed they’d need to dramatically change their business model – perhaps even set up a dedicated ‘Apple Enterprise’ or whatever – maybe that fourth leg that’s missing. They’d need to build a solid infrastructure that provides specific support for companies at any size and/or level, communicate openly when it comes to software patches, deployment and development, provide open hardware and software roadmaps and so on. With Apples track record being spotty at best when it comes to being an open book, IT may continue to question how deeply the Mac is integrated within each environment.

Then again, with Snow Leopard on the horizon, maybe we’ll see a new stance. Still, like all things Apple, it really depends on what Steve wants to do.

I think we’ll see this soon enough. The issue of IT unwillingness to support the Mac is becoming less of an obstacle. At work we have a mixed selection of Mac, Win, Linux but it wasn’t always like that and because of the increase in Mac/Linux systems they’re scrambling to support these systems because if they don’t then they’ll find someone that’s more capable.

Jim wrote:

Actually, from my experience, a Mini with monitor, keyboard, and mouse would be perfectly adequate for 99% of business tasks. Capability beyond running Office is gravy. What keeps Macs out of business is IT stubborn-itis.

You make a great point. However, Apple seems to want to keep the mini in the product lineup as its invisible computer. Did you know that they even use somewhat souped up minis as Web servers too?

Peace,
Gene

Actually, from my experience, a Mini with monitor, keyboard, and mouse would be perfectly adequate for 99% of business tasks. Capability beyond running Office is gravy. What keeps Macs out of business is IT stubborn-itis.