IBM Confirms Internal Mac (and Linux) Migration Project || The Mac Observer

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IBM Confirms Internal Mac (and Linux) Migration Project

by , 3:25 PM EDT, April 17th, 2008

IBM has engaged in an internal research project to evaluate Macs and Linux systems and compare them to the PCs they're using now for potential migration. Currently, its' just a pilot, research project, according to IBM.

On Thursday Daniel Dilger at Roughly Drafted discussed the research project, and suggested that the program was designed to study the feasibility of migrating "significant numbers" IBM's employees to Macs.

TMO contacted IBM, and a spokesperson told us the following:

"We have about 100 people using Macs right now in a small pilot, but it is not an indication of a major strategy shift inside the company. Researchers at our IBM Labs are doing what they do best -- trying out new things.

"IBM's internal I/T strategy is about roles-based computing platforms and a commitment to open standards. We want to give our employees choice to use the technologies that are best suited for their job.

"A one size fits all client computing platform no longer provides IBM's global employees with the flexibility to innovate and be productive while containing I/T expenses. Many parts of the business will remain on WinXP. Some will migrate to Linux. There are some requirements for Mac. Our client offerings are successful because of our commitment to interoperability through open standards."

Despite the low key response, it's no secret that IBM has been a strong proponent of open source software and Linux as strategic weapons against Microsoft. Much as Apple and others believe that adherence to open standards and open source source software can benefit themselves and their customers, IBM looks to be thinking along the same lines for its internal operations.

Very notable is the comment in the IBM statement about the fact that "one size fits all client computing" is no longer adequate for IBM. That statement alone sends a strong message to corporate America that the tired excuse of not wanting to support multiple platforms no longer achieves the purpose of creating an "innovative, productive" workforce. The comment about containing I/T expenses can be read that dealing with Windows security and licensing has become too large a burden for IBM.

While some employees, as a result of the program, will likely stay with Windows, many others will evidently be given the freedom to switch to Macs or Linux. This kind of "genetic diversity" is a strength for an organization that has been previously recognized to improve security and operational readiness by the U.S. Army. Now, IBM also is demonstrating the advantages to the world.

Observer Comments

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Close Name:Guest
Thu Apr 17, 2008 4:33 pm Subject: Ironic

It's ironic that IBM would be purchasing competitors' products, when they sell their own brand of computers. It reminds me of years ago when Motorola deployed Intel-based PCs throughout their business, when they themselves were producing the PPC chip.

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Close Name:Small White Car Posts: 1960 Joined: 02 Jul 2004
Thu Apr 17, 2008 4:38 pm Subject:

Quote
Guest wrote:
It's ironic that IBM would be purchasing competitors' products, when they sell their own brand of computers

Well, things like servers, I think.

But they don't make any laptops or desktop computers, so there's no irony in purchasing an iMac or a Macbook.

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Close Name:jbruni Posts: 105 Joined: 14 Jul 2006
Thu Apr 17, 2008 6:11 pm Subject:

Quote
Small White Car wrote:
Quote
Guest wrote:
It's ironic that IBM would be purchasing competitors' products, when they sell their own brand of computers

Well, things like servers, I think.

But they don't make any laptops or desktop computers, so there's no irony in purchasing an iMac or a Macbook.

ThinkPad?

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Close Name:Guest
Thu Apr 17, 2008 6:48 pm Subject:

Quote
jbruni wrote:
ThinkPad?

IBM sold that part of their business to Lenovo a while back.

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Close Name:Guest
Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:00 pm Subject:

Quote
jbruni wrote:
Quote
Small White Car wrote:
Quote
Guest wrote:
It's ironic that IBM would be purchasing competitors' products, when they sell their own brand of computers

Well, things like servers, I think.

But they don't make any laptops or desktop computers, so there's no irony in purchasing an iMac or a Macbook.

ThinkPad?

IBM sold their laptop/desktop business to Lenovo in 2005.

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Close Name:Guest
Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:03 pm Subject: Thinkpad?

Think Lenovo

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Close Name:Guest
Thu Apr 17, 2008 8:08 pm Subject: ThinkPads are now made by Lenovo

IBM sold off their ThinkPad business unit to Lenovo...

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Close Name:Sir Harry Flashman Posts: 792 Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:39 pm Subject: Hey, here is a good statement about it

A Guest once said

"I am not sure why a company would bother buying something that cannot seize even 10 % of a given market. As of Jan 07 Mac vs Pc market share was 7.4%-8.1% depending on who you asked.

After all these years of competition and those funny ads that Apple loves to run, one thing is crystal clear NO ONE is listening to the Mac is better arguement [sic]."

Or words to that effect.

Last edited by Sir Harry Flashman on Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:40 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Close Name:Intruder - TMO Mac Specialist Posts: 3149 Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:40 pm Subject:

And under the terms of that sale, Lenovo can still use the name IBM with the ThinkPad until 2010, although they seem to be stopping before then. I believe the latest crop don't say IBM anymore.

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Close Name:Guest
Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:26 pm Subject: IBM is no longer Apple rival

today IBM is like a consulting firm. they shall do anything to evaluate any technologies that an enterprise need. if the pilot programs success, Apple will received the bless from Watson IV (no idea who is CEO of IBM today). Apple finally can gain strategic beachhead in Invasion of Enterprise. WWDC 2008 is three days after the D-Day anniversary. Microsoft Reign won't last thousands years.

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Close Name:Guest
Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:32 pm Subject: Macs?

There are well over 30,000 people using Linux on their desktops inside IBM already. I'm not sure you will ever see any significant move over to Macs, but the most difficult hurdle to this kind of this is quickly giving way: Lotus Notes. The new version runs on every major platform.

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Close Name:Guest
Sat Apr 19, 2008 3:17 pm Subject: IBM

IBM has had a Linux evaluation program for several years now. I applaud their looking seriously at the Mac as well. They had an internal website that offered tips and un-official workarounds for Mac users when I left there two years ago. I even supported a commercial clients Mac environment three years ago. It was the first time they had seen those cool looking Xservers with their "cool blue lights." I am glad that it is now official relative to the pilot's status.

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Close Name:Guest
Sat Apr 19, 2008 3:21 pm Subject: IBM

Including the Mac platform. It is simply a superior platform. With the introduction of Fusion and Parallels, I am looking forward to the day my PC dies and I can replace it with a Mac Pro. I already replaced a Dell and Toshiba laptop with a 17" MacBook Pro.

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Close Name:Guest
Sun Apr 20, 2008 9:56 pm Subject: IBM

A mate of mine is a senior systems consultant in IBM and has been using 17 Mac Book pro for a year now - it gives him increased flexibility as he can run multiple OSs on the one machine, and he likes that it "just works" aspect of the Mac OS as his core OS. I'm not surprised that IBM are opening to new business opportunities - is that not how that grew from day one to the company they are today?

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Close Name:Guest
Thu May 01, 2008 8:53 am Subject:

IBM sold the Thinkpad business to Lenovo four years ago.

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Close Name:BRDogTX Posts: 1 Joined: 07 May 2008
Wed May 07, 2008 10:30 am Subject: IBMers heart Macs

Yes there are many of us at this 3-Letter company that are using our personal Macs now that we don't make PCs. Quite a grass-roots push but don't expect anything until after our legal obligations to Lenovo expire... 2009 maybe?

Lotus Notes has a great Mac Client and I am testing it in Beta. Also our instant message client Lotus Sametime has an OSX version. (no, I don't work for Lotus)
http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/notesmacforum.nsf/Customer/720a4d3de548bbaa852573d40062a199?OpenDocument

I thought we should have bought Apple when they were down...and now they are too expensive...but you never know.

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