The Non-Profit Tech Guru » Mac

Snow Leopard Server – Another Debacle?

Albee — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:53:39 +0000

There is an article in the Apple Insider this morning about new features in the forthcoming Snow Leopard Server that allow secure remote access to messaging etc. from the iPhone. They go on to do a cost comparison to show that for 100 users, you can buy Apple’s server product and spend less than $4000, and buy Windows and spend almost $30,000. Well, If Leopard server was any indication, you should also factor in 12 months of instability, critical missing features, huge bugs, users and management screaming at you, and an Apple Enterprise department that ignores its users cries for help.

I’ve deployed a number of Apple Servers, and for Leopard (10.5) it took them until 10.5.5 to work out some bugs that would kill file sharing and require a reboot EVERY DAY. The Apple discussion forums were filled with posts about this – Apple never even posted a “We are working on this”. To this day, iCal server just plain sucks. It’s missing critical features that allow people to share events outside the organization, it requires end users to periodically remove their account from iCal and re-add it in order to start functioning again, and you can’t even edit calendar events on your iPhone. This is ridiculuous.

Anyway, I agree that a M$ solution can be expensive and isn’t for everyone. But let’s face it, Exchange is a mature, fully supported system that works seamlessly with the iPhone. I have never had a single problem with this combination with any of my clients. It works like its supposed to. The real competition is between Exchange and Google Apps as far as I’m concerned. Apple is not even a player in this space, and until they prove that they care about their enterprise users, I won’t deploy even one more Apple server.

‘nuf said.

Here’s the article:

Snow Leopard Server to offer low cost, secure mobile access to iPhone

Apple’s iPhone/iPod touch – Weaponized?

Albee — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:20:09 +0000

Ok, not really weaponized, but the DOD has them in widespread deployment around the world. Is it so soldiers can rock out at a moment’s notice? NO! These babies are loaded with applications that allow soldiers to communicate in ways that were impossible 5 years ago, and required 6 different custom built-military grade (read: exhorbitantly priced) electronic devices only 2 years ago.

Anyway, I wonder if Apple considers itself a defense contractor? Read on:

Apple’s New Weapon

Mac OS X Botnet – A brave new world

Albee — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 16:03:23 +0000

Well, this one’s for all the Mac folks out there who think that they are immune to the kind of virus infections that routinely plague the PC world.

It turns out that some pirated versions of Mac software available for download on the internet contained a trojan that joins your happy little mac to a global botnet dedicated to sending spam and attacking web servers.

Don’t make too much of it just yet – it’s limited to shady folks doing shady things. It won’t be long, however, until you will be installing antivirus software on your Mac. What a bummer.

Nehalem Mac Pro – Where’s my credit card?

Albee — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:32:50 +0000

Apple have released the Intel Nehalem-based Mac Pro (finally) and it looks pretty sweet. Before I destroy my credit to possess one of these beauties, I figured I’d read a review over at Ars Technica:

Prepare for ludicrous speed: Ars reviews the 8-core Mac Pro

No way I can justify one of these – maybe if I win the lottery. I’m waiting for the Nehalem iMac…

Apple releases revolutionary laptop with no keyboard

Albee — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:20:46 +0000

So says The Onion:

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard