[iomatic]

I'm new in the online marketing division at this place, and want to make the switch happen there.

I worked on PCs doing design, print, and web on NT/2000. I hated it; everything was wrong about it: window resizing in Photoshop, application/window switching, file naming extensions, drag and drop, and I'm sure a host more most of you could list. I've worked at Fortune companies that are very design-oriented and overwhelmingly use Macs, and even bigger and more successful than the new one (you could probably guess which ones). Anyway I digress.

There are of course the usual barriers: IT departments, budgets, etc.

Do I:

a) Put the department in a 'hero' position, and demand the platform through 'golden-boying', i.e., politically?

b) Weather it for awhile and hope for the best?

c) ?

[besson3c]

c) Learn as much as you can about the way your company does business, what it needs computers for, what software it uses, what servers it has and what those servers are running, etc. before making these sorts of recommendations.

Do you know all of this already?

[iomatic]

I wouldn't have gotten the job if I didn't know that part.

A more specific question would be: what tools and intelligence can I use to prove my case? I know it's going to be an uphill battle, and I'm aware I have to prove myself first and foremost.

Originally Posted by besson3c 

c) Learn as much as you can about the way your company does business, what it needs computers for, what software it uses, what servers it has and what those servers are running, etc. before making these sorts of recommendations.

Do you know all of this already?

[art_director]

I always love this question.

Don't know if this will help but I can tell you, for a fact, that the ads ( online, print, etc. ) for Microsoft, Intel, and IBM are created on Macs. The reason being that Apple has solidified itself as the platform of choice for advertising and design. It's far superior to Windows for all of the above and, from a tactical point of view, is the industry standard. Without Macs it will be difficult for your company's marketing department to recruit creatives who are worth their salt.

[indigoimac]

Originally Posted by art_director 

I always love this question.
Without Macs it will be difficult for your company's marketing department to recruit creatives who are worth their salt.

That is a key point that I would use. If you want to improve and enhance your design team and the company's image the only way is to switch to something that the applicants are used to/is the only thing they will use.

Oh yes, good luck on your quest.

[iomatic]

Hmm. I don't know how this would work; do you have specific examples?

"Hey, boss, this PC you got me with licensed applications aren't going to work for me, can I get a Mac and the same applications instead?"

I just don't see it working. I've also worked at agencies that did work for Fortune 50 companies, and yes we used Macs, but that was at the agency, not in-house.

Thoughts?

[indigoimac]

If you were addressing my statement.

I would just go at it as a sort of general improvement that will become a necessity for new hires and is mandatory to further improve company image, and the quality of what your shop/department/division puts out.

I really have no specific ideas as I don't do this for a living.

[art_director]

Again, recruiting creatives with the promise of working on PCs will be difficult regardless of what your boss may / may not believe. To build the case you may want to use some lateral thinking. Here's what I'd do:

1. Determine what company(s) you'll be competing with for prospective staffers. Where are they advertising for creatives? Can you find their ads? Can you contact their recruiters and pose as a job seeker to get info on what platform(s) they use?

2. Check with the AIGA for concrete information about the industry standards regarding hardware and software choices for creatives.

3. Poll your vendors ( printers, service bureaus, etc. ) on what platform(s) they work with and file types they accept. Als, ask specific questions about what problems they've had with the platform you're using.

4. Consult with the pubs you'll be sending files to ( newspapers, magazines, etc. ).

5. Review any and all resumes from prospective new hires. Look for relevant platform and software experience.

6. Consult with recruiters you'll be using / have used for their experiences with the talent pool in your area.

If you go through the above steps and do your homework, you should have a strong case for making the change to a Mac-based environment.