Having managed support for mixed environments in moderate to large organizations, though predominantly PC, since the introduction of the Mac Plus, I would like to second Rich's thoughts and add a little.
The primary concern should be user productivity and functional efficacy; most seeming "difficulties" in a PC environment can be overcome.. However, in analyzing the cost of bringing in (especially your first) Macs, one should include some funds for technical orientation or training for (at least one) technical support staff including a good orientation to a wide variety of formal and informal online support resources; that gives you the win-win of getting the machines you need and professional development for staff. There is an inherent unfairness and jeopardy in saying "guess got we're getting and now you gotta support it." One should also (or alternatively) identify (preferably) local Mac support expertise which can be accessed before internal staff frustration reaches a peak (or pique) and serves a self-fulfilling "told you so" prophecy. Identify someone from whom staff can learn (knowledge transfer resource). So the bottom line is that perceived problems in bringing Macs into an otherwise PC environment can be avoided or resolved by making sure that access to and funds for support services (internal or outsourced) are in place. It should and can be a positive experience for "user" staff and IT staff alike, and need not turn into "us" vs. them. Hope this helps. On Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 1:51 PM, Rich Cherry <rcherry at balboaparkonline.org>wrote: > Drury, > > Like many technology questions this has very little to do with the > technology (although many will claim otherwise), it has to do with the > religion the IT department practices. If an IT department has a strong MAC > person then it's fairly easy to integrate and use without issues, if the IT > department is ambivalent or hostile to MAC then it depends on the status of > the requester in the institution on how good they are supported (sometimes > outside support is contracted). So when I was CIO in a museum with no MAC > person we resisted, when I was at a museum where I could hire a great MAC > support person we supported and expanded it and our users benefited from the > diversity. > > Rich > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu] On Behalf Of > Drury Wellford > Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 9:23 AM > To: Museum Computer Network Listserv > Subject: [MCN-L] Mac vs. PC > > Help! The Museum of the Confederacy is seeking advice from fellow > museum professionals. > > We are starting a digitization project, and are beginning by scanning > over 6000 original photographs we have in our collection. We are > looking at buying a 24" iMac, but are now addressing concerns about > whether Mac software will be compatible with the museum's PC-based > server, and whether we will be able to integrate Mac image files with > our PC-based Collections databases. We plan to store the images on an > external hard drive as well, but again are wondering how difficult it > will be to retrieve the images and use them on PC software. > > Any suggestions? > > Thanks a lot, and sorry if this question is a repeat of one that has > been asked of the listserv a million times before. > > Drury Wellford > > Ann Drury Wellford > Photo Services Manager > The Museum of the Confederacy > 1201 East Clay Street > Richmond, VA 23219 > Phone: (804) 649-1861 x17 > Fax: (804) 644-7150 > www.moc.org > _______________________________________________ > You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum > Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) > > To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu > > To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: > http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l > > The MCN-L archives can be found at: > http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/ > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.88/2196 - Release Date: > 06/24/09 12:49:00 > _______________________________________________ > You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer > Network (http://www.mcn.edu) > > To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu > > To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: > http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l > > The MCN-L archives can be found at: > http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/ > _______________________________________________ > You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer > Network (http://www.mcn.edu) > > To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu > > To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: > http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l > > The MCN-L archives can be found at: > http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/ >
