Macs Mean Business, but Are Windows Locked?
News Analysis. Enterprises are starting to really warm up to Macs, no thanks to Apple. |
That's the story according to Laura DiDio, principal with ITIC, based on a recent IT survey she conducted in conjunction with Sunbelt Software. Among the 700 surveyed IT managers, 68 percent said "they are likely to allow their end users to deploy Macs as their corporate enterprise desktops in the next 12 months," she stated in an e-mail exchange.
"This is double the percentage, 34 percent, that answered affirmatively to this same question in an earlier survey eight months ago," Laura continued. "So clearly the trend of Apple Mac and OS X 10.x enterprise deployments is not only continuing unabated, it appears to be picking up steam."
The situation contrasts with Windows Vista. The same study revealed that only 10 percent of businesses had adopted the Microsoft operating system and that nearly half would skip Vista, upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7.
"Apple's current U.S. market share is already in double digits—about 10 percent to 12 percent depending on the analyst firm," Laura said. "Realistically the U.S. market share percentage would also rise—I'm estimating to approximately 15 percent."
But how far can Macs really go in the enterprise with Windows so entrenched and Apple doing little to court larger businesses? The survey also found that 88 percent of enterprises run Windows XP. If there's an opening, it could be the transition from XP to Windows 7.
That's where things get interesting, because Apple is rumored to be preparing next version Mac OS X, Snow Leopard, for early 2009 release, possibly ahead of Windows 7.
Laura emphasized that the survey was "independent," polling "700 C-level executives and IT managers." She emphasized: "ITIC and Sunbelt conducted two dozen first person customer interviews to validate the survey responses. ITIC and Sunbelt received no vendor sponsorship for this research and none of the survey respondents received any remuneration for their participation."
In this era of sponsored surveys, it's unusual to get such strong assertion of independence. Clearly Laura recognizes the importance of the survey being seriously taken—and for good reason. The survey turned up other startling trends about enterprise Mac adoption:
- 77 percent of businesses have deployed Macs somewhere
- 23 percent of businesses have 50 or more Macs deployed
- 82 percent of businesses rated Macs running OS X as "excellent" or "very good"
- 79 percent of businesses rated Mac OS X security as "excellent" or "very good"
Positive sentiments don't necessarily lead to sales in hard economic times, particularly given how little marketing emphasis Apple places on business, particularly enterprise, sales.
"What is not up for debate is that this is the highest level of enterprise penetration that Apple has experienced since 1988," Laura said.
Perhaps the survey's most significant finding is about iPhone rather than Macs. "Half of all the survey respondents—50 percent—said they plan to increase integration with existing Apple consumer products such as the iPhone to allow users to access corporate e-mail and other applications," Laura said.
"This percentage is extremely noteworthy because it indicates that a significant portion of corporations consider that the combination of the Apple Mac, OS X 10.x integrated with the iPhone, represent a viable competitor to Research in Motion's Blackberry as a mobile applications device," she continued.
Her findings support my August speculation about an iPhone halo effect that would pull new enterprise sales faster than any possible Apple business marketing strategy.
Comments (7)
What IT departments really hate is that Macs require a fraction of the attention of PCs.
As any manager will tell you, their primary goal is to INcrease payroll and responsibility . . . not DEcrease it!
Posted by Dan Robinson | December 11, 2008 12:32 PM
I don't know what planet y'all live on, but my view of the world as seen from CNBC (the recession and everything) suggests there will be more of a cool reception to costly desktop configurations like the Mac compared to the standard Windows desktop setups from HP, Dell or Lenovo in at least the next 18 months.
For Macs to be useful to any extent (e.g. running Legacy apps) in the Enterprise, they'll need to run a Windows OS as well as OS X. Add to cost of that second OS, the hardware premium that Macs have and you'll have Finance, Procurement, and Leadership saying NO NO NO.
Just a few other things you might keep in mind when daydreaming about Macs in the Enterprise. Large businesses like to have alternate hardware vendors to reduce dependence on a single source. The previously-mentioned PC vendors have a proven track record in supporting Enterprise installations which Apple doesn't. And, you all know that if Linux provided a suitable desktop alternative, Windows wouldn't be as entrenched as it it. In the Enterprise, it's all about the costs.
Posted by dgris_man | December 13, 2008 1:13 AM
Between Dan Robinson and dgris_man comments it is easy to see why Apple actually stands a strong chance to move into the enterprise.
In the enterprise all that matters is cost. And as Dan says, the IT departments are interested in keeping their staff. Which is expensive. Payroll is the most expensive part in most books.
The so-called Mac Tax is rubbish. As you need less staff to keep the machines running. Lay down one engineer and you are saving at least $50,000 a year (if not more once you add up overheads).
$50,000 is enough to buy a few computers, and a typical mac can run for at least 5 years, without problems. So that dould easily save you $250,000 in five years. What is not yet clear is if it is true that when you run macs you can have less support staff. That will define the equation.
Posted by Luis | December 13, 2008 4:32 PM
Bravo Luis. Instead of showing any bias, you offered a very reasonable analysis based on the first two comments. You also held back any opinions and clearly defined the possible conjecture in your argument in the final two sentences. This is rare and indeed refreshing.
Meanwhile, I'll offer a bit of opinion here. I feel, Apple is making the right call by trimming down the OSX in Snow Leopard, and making it available before Windows 7 (according to their announcements so far). However, I feel, it won't be a bad strategy to play the 'reactionary' for a change and allow Microsoft to misfire with their Windows 7. Albeit a gamble, it's also a decent possibility.
Apple has already hit some sweet spots with their current strategies, and now hordes more cash than any other tech firms, including Microsoft. Penetrating the consumers first over the corporations is turning out to be the winning battle. What with quite a few of the PC manufacturers not surviving the economic winter, a lot of corporations will also weary whether or not their next purchase from Dell, HP, Lenovo etc. can actually stick around the next 3 years to make good on their warranty. Apple is in the good books on that.
Posted by krquet | December 14, 2008 2:52 AM
@ krquet, Thanks!
Posted by Luis | December 14, 2008 4:17 PM
@ krquet:
Sorry, but Windows 7 will not misfire. The fact that the OS is far ahead in development, improved performance, features will further build on the rich experiences Vista delivered. Microsoft has really resolved key areas in the OS, compatibility for device drivers and applications. Also, the low cost of Windows based PC's, new form factors that Windows 7 support such as NetBooks and Touch Screens will make it hard for most consumers to choose a Mac over a PC.
Posted by Andre Da Costa | December 15, 2008 9:49 AM
@ Andre:
Everyone will be surprised to see Windows 7 not backfire. Vista is a huge mistake and have driven a hatred towards Microsoft. I believe after users just spent all this money on Vista (which they dislike so fiercely) are now being asked to pay more money for another possible Microsoft backfire.
It reminds me of someone that keeps touching the electric fence. Yes it hurts every time, why keep doing it? Because Microsoft said it wouldn't hurt if I keep doing it.
Posted by Dennis | December 16, 2008 1:09 PM