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This article completely misses the factors that would most impress IT departments in business who are not such Microsoft bigots that they would be open-minded enough to consider alternatives:
1. Licensing the OS and not locking in purchasing agents to a single company for computers.
2. The ability to define policies for departments and users through the OS.
3. Robust, enterprise-worthy backup software for the platform.
4. Viable and reputable security software -- even if OS X doesn't need it YET.
5. Collaboration, group calendaring and scheduling.
The article mentions this last item but it's not here yet and it remains to be seen whether it will support open standards to inter-operate with other technologies. Lotus Notes is a collaboration tool which runs under OS X but the Domino server itself does not.
Apart from the foregoing, another thing Apple needs to provide is bona fide corporate-worthy support. Without this, all bets are off. And it should bundle Open Office with all Macs.
As for clustering, that is more of interest to the scientific community than to even large businesses.
This article completely misses the factors that would most impress IT departments in business who are not such Microsoft bigots that they would be open-minded enough to consider alternatives:
1. Licensing the OS and not locking in purchasing agents to a single company for computers.
2. The ability to define policies for departments and users through the OS.
3. Robust, enterprise-worthy backup software for the platform.
4. Viable and reputable security software -- even if OS X doesn't need it YET.
5. Collaboration, group calendaring and scheduling.
The article mentions this last item but it's not here yet and it remains to be seen whether it will support open standards to inter-operate with other technologies. Lotus Notes is a collaboration tool which runs under OS X but the Domino server itself does not.
Apart from the foregoing, another thing Apple needs to provide is bona fide corporate-worthy support. Without this, all bets are off. And it should bundle Open Office with all Macs.
As for clustering, that is more of interest to the scientific community than to even large businesses.
OK, 1 is debatable. If you don't like Apple and you want to go with cheap instead of well designed, then you REALLY have a case. But, if you want quality, you'll pay every bit as much, or more, to go with HP or Dell for something equal. I don't see this as a major issue for most people, so long as the product is always available, which it is. I would say volume licensing and/or upgrade pricing would be a bigger concern for most. Either way though, it is a set fixed cost, which can be calculated.
2) This has been available for quite a while. WorkGroup Manager can do this for any number of things, including allowing and not allowing programs, predefining preferences for users, locking certain system attributes, etc. This may be done by user, group, or computer.
3) While it hasn't been tested yet, Time Machine on the clients, and then TimeMachine for Server on the server should be this...out of the box. Retrospect is available, though I wouldn't call it truly enterprise. Symantec Veritas Backup Exec is available (though, I would call this more designed for a windows based SBS server and associated systems). Then we get into true enterprise backup solutions, which are primarily based on things like SANs (which XSAN does extremely well, especially with xServe RAIDs), or tape libraries and autoloaders. One such example of highly enterprise visible backup software, that is designed for OS X, is Atempo Time Navigator. Most any of your unix/linux based backup utilities will run as well. AKA, there's plenty of enterprise level backup available, and it's about to get a LOT easier and become built in. Think about it...zero config redundant backup solution. Yes, I'll be pushing this to my clients for that reason alone, as soon as I've fully tested and qualified Mac OS X 10.5 for use with their application set and done some stress testing.
4) OK, "Security Software" is rather broad. There is encryption, which there are loads of options for, some of which are built in. There is backup, which will be built in (and mentioned in number 3). There is utility software to prevent issues from happening...but OS X is redundant in most of this to start with, with things like md5 checks, security hashes, running parity in places when needed, running journaled drives, and even keeping multiple copies of the directory information on the drive, just in case. We have arguably one of the most customizable and powerful firewalls underneath. All built in. Now, lastly, what I believe you are really referring to...Antivirus protection. There are several big name companies doing this for Mac, though not with an enterprise focus yet. They include the likes of Symantec, Trend Micro, McAfee, and ClamAV (which is built into every Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server).
5) Yes, it will be a bit to see just how well this works. As per your comment on standards, it is based on CalDAV, which is an open standard. There are plugins already available to integrate this seamlessly into Outlook on Windows machines, etc...and it isn't even shipping from Apple yet. The questions will be how well it can coexist with Exchange, or how well it can import an entire exchange database.
So, what it boils down to. The Mac is much more ready than most people give it credit for. Yes, there are still hurdles and spots where it isn't great right now. Those are being worked on and should get MUCH better in 10.5.
Full Disclosure: I work as an IT Consultant, System Administrator, and Application Developer in the DC area and am Apple Certified. I do integration of Mac systems and servers with Windows every day at all levels, from the small 5 person shop to government divisions.
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