According to the results of a survey conducted by the Enterprise Desktop Alliance (EDA), Macs are much cheaper to manage in enterprises. 260 IT administrators with both Macs and PCs in large U.S. companies who are involved in some degree with IT cost calculations were asked about their opinion about IT management costs. In all of the seven used categories (software license fees, time troubleshooting, user training, help desk calls, system configuration and supporting infrastructure) the participants found Macs cheaper than PCs. Except for the category user training even more than 20% less expensive. So, when Apple computers are cheaper in management costs why are there not more businesses using them?
First thing always mentioned is the purchasing price, and while this is true for consumer computers, the costs of business-level Macs and Windows laptops are equal. So, if the price is the same and the managing costs are lower the question still stands; why are Macs not used more in business? The survey from the EDA included a question about the reason to purchase a Mac and employee preference, productivity and ease of technical support where the main three reasons. It seems skills and support are more important aspects than expenses because the first cost driven motive came in fifth place. From this we can deduce expense is not the most important factor for choosing Mac or Windows.
Galen Gruman, executive editor of InfoWorld, wrote the reason why Macs are not used more often in (big) business is "Apple's self-imposed corporate glass ceiling". Gruman thinks Apple sees enterprise sales as a by-product next to consumers, developers and small businesses.
Apple commercial
This conclusion is drawn from the fact that businesses have to figure everything out themselves. Not a problem for smaller companies with standard needs, but a lot harder for "more controlling and/or far flung" organizations. Beside that the lack of outside basic applications is problematic. Most speciality apps do not have a Mac version or just have a limited version. This gives Windows a head start. Furthermore, Apple is seems not willing to fulfil the needs of large companies. Showed by the lack of support of network systems and the unwillingness to satisfy enterprises in their need of technical support.
After all it seems the possibilities are in the hands of Apple. They score better on the management costs and due the growth of Apple on the consumer market, more people will have the skills and probably more will prefer Mac more often (most important purchase factor). But as long as Apple neglects the larger enterprises their role on the business market will stay little.
First thing always mentioned is the purchasing price, and while this is true for consumer computers, the costs of business-level Macs and Windows laptops are equal. So, if the price is the same and the managing costs are lower the question still stands; why are Macs not used more in business? The survey from the EDA included a question about the reason to purchase a Mac and employee preference, productivity and ease of technical support where the main three reasons. It seems skills and support are more important aspects than expenses because the first cost driven motive came in fifth place. From this we can deduce expense is not the most important factor for choosing Mac or Windows.
Galen Gruman, executive editor of InfoWorld, wrote the reason why Macs are not used more often in (big) business is "Apple's self-imposed corporate glass ceiling". Gruman thinks Apple sees enterprise sales as a by-product next to consumers, developers and small businesses.
This conclusion is drawn from the fact that businesses have to figure everything out themselves. Not a problem for smaller companies with standard needs, but a lot harder for "more controlling and/or far flung" organizations. Beside that the lack of outside basic applications is problematic. Most speciality apps do not have a Mac version or just have a limited version. This gives Windows a head start. Furthermore, Apple is seems not willing to fulfil the needs of large companies. Showed by the lack of support of network systems and the unwillingness to satisfy enterprises in their need of technical support.
After all it seems the possibilities are in the hands of Apple. They score better on the management costs and due the growth of Apple on the consumer market, more people will have the skills and probably more will prefer Mac more often (most important purchase factor). But as long as Apple neglects the larger enterprises their role on the business market will stay little.
