Are Macs a smart career move?

The Macalope had to do a double take at this piece on eWEEK that argues that a well-rounded IT background should include knowledge of the Mac.

An article on Macs in business that reasonably lays out the pro case?

A quote about religion that is about Microsoft instead of Apple?

A reporter who didn't get a quote from Rob Enderle?

A planet where apes evolved from man?!

"There is almost a religious belief by existing IT staff in the Windows religion, and it's a symbiotic relationship: They keep getting Microsoft certifications and they keep telling their bosses to continue buying Windows," Technology Business Research analyst Ezra Gottheil told eWEEK.

Ezra, you're lucky you're not in the same room as the Macalope right now, because he wants to sweep you up and give you a great big hug and that would be embarrassing for both of us.

Probably more so for you.

Definitely for you.

But it's true. Mac home users are constantly derided as some kind of "cult", completely in thrall to Steve Jobs. But it's Microsoft that has created an entire church, with priests, acolytes and altar boys (also known as "Access developers").

Though consumer and enterprise technologies function in largely separate universes guided by wildly different demands, the uptick in Mac use puts pressure on enterprises to allow employees to use what they're used to.

Well, the Macalope doesn't know about that. Since when does corporate IT care about your needs?

Since never, that's when.

What does make a difference is when the IT professionals themselves get sick and tired of Microsoft's licensing requirements or Dell's build quality and try using the Mac. You know this guy, right? After years of dismissing the Mac, he's all, "Boy, it turns out Macs aren't so bad after all! Boy, if it hadn't been for those obnoxious Mac users who keep saying how great they are, I would have converted years ago! It's obviously their fault and not because I'm a pig-headed ignoramus!"

Mmm-hmm.

Well, whatever these people tell themselves in the mirror, the horny one has seen an increasing number of these once-straight IT professionals who are now taking a walk on the wild side.

OK, that may not have been the best analogy.

"I've spoken to IT directors who have liked many things about Macs, but the rarity of Mac technicians and the commonness of Windows skills was an issue for them," said Kay.

For "issue" you may feel free to read "excuse".

Until Microsoft refuses to give companies loopholes that allow them to use XP and Microsoft to claim it as a Vista sale, there's probably going to be little movement toward the Mac. It's a down economy, so corporations aren't exactly chomping at the bit to undertake a big software and/or hardware conversion. They're content to sit on XP.

Again, the Macalope's not sure he necessarily agrees with the entire premise. Sure, there's little doubt that some companies are going to give the Mac a try, but it's not going to be a wholesale switching. There's too much investment and cultural bias to overcome for substantial movement to happen. Still, this piece was a pleasant change from the usual claptrap we've been forced to endure.

[moofer]

I think that was the hardest-to-read piece in the history of the internet. A journalistic car crash. The subject matter seemed interesting to me, but the execution was terrible. Each sentence is its own paragraph. Too many attempts at humor, too many quotes, too many indents, not enough content. Painful. Bloody painful.

[thebigreason]

The phenomena of Mac zealotry is deeply rooted in the Mac user's oppression by the IT overlords. Dare I say it is misrepresented as such?

Also, the term is champing at the bit. Not chomping at the bit.

[Pezzy1]

The Macalope is an AMERICAN beast, born of the great Macalope herds that once roamed the great plains, so he uses the American term "chomping at the bit", as the dorky sounding "champing" is for the English and dorks who think that British english is more "proper".
To quote "This form is used in the US; in the UK the expression is champ at the bit"
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chomp_at_the_bit

Remember it with this simple rhyme:
When a Tory we champ,
When a Yank we chomp,
When a humorless jackass we correct people's grammer and spellling on the internets.

[duncantheduck]

Macalope, you make me grin from ear to ear and I thank you for that. Just post a bit more often please.

[ripragged]

All the odd rationalizations about why Mac won't take over enterprise. They aren't true. It's happening. XP is old. Vista is new, but it has a worse reputation than Eliot Spitzer.

Leopard is new and it works. In technology, that counts ? particularly when there isn't anything comparably new that works.

[aaronmarks]

Macalope, what are your actual credentials in using Mac in the enterprise? Do you have any actual real world experience?

I have a vast amount of real-world experience as an Open Directory/OS X Server admin/guru and I can say without question that Apple's "enterprise" solutions are not yet ready for enterprises.

Apple has a long way to go in improving the security, stability, compatibility, documentation, IT resources, and usability before any TRUE enterprises will consider calling themselves a majority Apple IT shop.

[KiddStelth]

thebigreason,

FYI, The expression "champing/chomping at the bit" is correct in variations.