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OreoCookie · Jul 4, 2008, 05:16 AM

Good news, everyone!
Axel Springer AG, a large German publishing company (owner of the infamous tabloid Bild), switches all 12,000 computers to Apple machines. It is the second-largest Apple customer world-wide (after Google), so I reckon this is significant even on the other side of the big pond.

I think this will help Apple getting feedback and optimize its products for use in large enterprises.

PS I couldn't find news in English, though.

analogika · Jul 4, 2008, 05:42 AM

AND they're replacing all their BlackBerrys with iPhones.

TETENAL · Jul 4, 2008, 06:02 AM

Macs or PCs, they'll still spout hatred.

OreoCookie · Jul 4, 2008, 06:16 AM

That's right. I should have added that I'm no big fan of their publications either. But it's still good news that there is a big company that has made the switch.

Eug · Jul 4, 2008, 07:43 AM

I'd be most interested in finding out what business apps, etc. they'll be running.

One of the biggest gripes I keep on hearing about Mac enterprise adoption is app support. Another gripe is the 24/7 support from Apple, but that's more on the server side.

imitchellg5 · Jul 4, 2008, 11:17 AM

That's got to be a nightmare for IT. Good news though for Apple.

Eug · Jul 4, 2008, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

That's got to be a nightmare for IT. Good news though for Apple.

Well, maybe the upside for IT is the almost total lack of significant viruses.

imitchellg5 · Jul 4, 2008, 11:23 AM

Oh, I'm sure it will be better for them in the long run. Making a huge switch like that would be a ton of work though, I imagine.

analogika · Jul 4, 2008, 02:57 PM

More details:

Axel Springer is Apple's second-largest corporate customer world-wide behind Google, so they got an excellent deal.

The switch will be implemented over the next five years, i.e. machines will just be replaced as before, except with Apple hardware, some of it running Windows.

The Milkman · Jul 4, 2008, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

That's got to be a nightmare for IT.

Because half of them will be unemployed once everything is set up.

Eug · Jul 4, 2008, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by analogika

The switch will be implemented over the next five years, i.e. machines will just be replaced as before, except with Apple hardware, some of it running Windows.

Bleah!

Not surprising I guess, but I wonder what proportion will be on OS X.

analogika · Jul 4, 2008, 04:40 PM

There's a lot of non-publishing stuff (ad space marketing, for example) that depends on (currently) Windows-only software.

Jul 4, 2008, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by analogika

There's a lot of non-publishing stuff (ad space marketing, for example) that depends on (currently) Windows-only software.

Ah, the myth that keeps windows in corporations alive. Most corporate software is custom written. You can hire developers to write for whatever platform you like. You ought to have plenty of staff now that they aren't busy with Windows problems.

analogika · Jul 5, 2008, 02:47 AM

That is no myth: That's simply the status quo.

Obviously, this can change.

Powerbook · Jul 5, 2008, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

That's got to be a nightmare for IT.

Probably more for the typical self-occupied IT-way to emphasize their significance...

PB.