Apple’s Next Frontier: Real, Exaggerated, or Both?

As mentioned in a previous entry of the GraVoc News Blog, we can now look back on Windows Vista and conclude that it may have been the worst thing to happen to Microsoft.  Its hype and ensuing lack of popularity among end users, especially in favor of an older operating system in Windows XP, led to it becoming a complete flop.

Meanwhile, this failure has opened a small crack for Apple to penetrate the business/enterprise market, as explained in this recent whitepaper.  Apple’s popularity with students who have since graduated and entered the business world, in conjunction with the ubiquity of the iPod and iPhone, has enabled Apple to gain market share in the enterprise.  Granted, some outlets spin it in different ways than others--the whitepaper, which is ultimately promoting a cross-platform systems management application, cites a report stating that 80% of businesses have at least one Mac, while other reports claim that even after quadrupling their market share, Apple’s 4.5% share is dwarfed by Microsoft’s 94.9%.  However, even if there is only one Mac in an enterprise, administrators must account for its well-being, both in terms of installing necessary software, fixing problems, and enhancing its information security measures. 

Nonetheless, if this trend continues and Macs someday represent 1/10th of the machines in an enterprise, businesses will face the challenge of administration and maintenance of both Windows-based and Mac OS-based machines.  This will inevitably result in higher costs, either in terms of labor/training time, more time doing manual implementations, or investing in a product that manages across platforms.  With the advent of the heralded iPad tablet, and with enterprises still hesitant to make Windows 7 the operating system of choice, management of Macs in the enterprise may soon become a relevant topic.

Since 1994, GraVoc Associates, Inc. has been providing clients in Greater Boston, New England, and beyond with services in the fields of information systems, information security, and professional services.  Among their professional services offered include network infrastructure design and management services.  For more information about GraVoc, please visit http://www.GraVoc.com.

Windows XP: Is It Time?

It is now 2010 and today was supposed to be the two-year anniversary from the end of Microsoft Windows XP sales.  (It was eventually pushed back several months due to public outcry and the flop of Windows Vista.)  We are coming up on XP’s ninth birthday this summer.  Most enterprises are stubbornly sticking to Windows XP, even when purchasing new machines, as about 60% of machines in businesses still use Windows XP.  Of course, vendors are also helping the operating system perpetuate its dominance as it becomes obsolete by continuing to offer Windows 7 or Windows Vista with the option of an XP downgrade.  But who can blame them?  The market is demanding that XP continues to be available.

Most agree that Windows Vista came with more than its fair share of problems.  It may have been the single worst thing to ever happen to Microsoft, as Vista hurt its reputation considerably and some users  have decided to use other operating systems (more on this in the next entry).  End users and administrators alike are hesitant to adopt Windows 7 for the fear that, like Vista, the product has too many unfamiliar features (notably security settings) that get in the way of doing business as expediently as possible.

However, it has been almost four months since Windows 7’s hyped-up release.  And while the XP downgrade is still available in many places, it will not be around forever.  Windows 7, meanwhile, has started to be adopted more steadily by enterprises.  There is no way around it:  XP is almost nine years old and it is probably time for many businesses to make the switch.  Think of it this way:  Is your automobile eight years old?  How many cars have you purchased since August 2001?  Chances are, your operating system is older than your current car, and possibly your last car.  Windows 7 has enjoyed a warm reception, and it’s not early in the game anymore.  XP is becoming obsolete, and it’s time to wonder if business will keep their death grip on XP until support is completely extinct in 2014.  It may be time to say goodbye to the familiar system and move forward.

Since 1994, GraVoc Associates, Inc. has been providing clients in Greater Boston, New England, and beyond through technology in the fields of information systems, information security, and professional services.  GraVoc is based in Peabody, Massachusetts and its wide range of services include hardware and software procurement, network infrastructure design and management, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems integration.  For more information about GraVoc, please visit http://www.GraVoc.com.