Most IT guys have no problem with a Apple device, on it's own. However, it's not just a question of plugging it in to a corporate network.

There's a whole bunch of management behind the computer system that "creative types" don't see. Each new environment has real money costs way beyond the purchase price of the kit.

Just off the top of my head (and i'm not an expert on Apple Desktop Environments):
You need someone with support skills to manage the environment. You need tools to manage the mac, and ensure compliance with corporate policy. These tools probably don't integrate with what is currently implemented. There may be the hidden costs of potentially incompatible document formats (Office Documents), different feature sets on web browsers. The anti-virus software probably doesn't have a Mac version, so requires a one off purchase.

True story: Createive type got approval to buy a mac at one of our regional sites, via the wrong budget. Bought all MS Office and software and installed it herself. Outlook is essential to her work (and in this case, REALLY essential). Of course, not having cleared the purchase with IT, she didn't know that the current version of Outlook doesn't integrate natively with Exchange 2003. (Yes, I know IMAP works).

The "creative types" need to sit down and talk with IT. Not at IT. IT need to listen and understand the requirements. Creative Types need to wear ther cost of supporting a second discrete infrastructure.

Where did I read about "Infrastructure: The stuff everybody needs, but no one want to pay for"? Probably Dilbert.

Plenty of good reasons. Most centre around busines, rather than technical, reasons.

Compliance is one area that may force you. A quasi-independant internal and/or external audit for S-Ox compliance may point out unsupported O/S, development tools, language or hardware. Either the cash is found to upgrade, OR at least someone at a high level has to make a decision to "let it ride" and take responsibility for it.

Obviously, it's a CYA move,

I think the easiest way here is for the Vice-Chancellor/President/COO of the Universities to organise a boycott of those publishers.

Implicit in this is:
- Establish a new publishing house, for and by Universities
- Stop all puchases and subscriptions to those publishers
- A few phone calls to other universities to do the same.

Universities have enough financial clout to fight this one. Independant research organisations would not be able to afford NOT to change publishers.

Yes, there is a LOT of short term pain in taking these actions, but I'd say that the long term effects if this were to succeed and the remedy be granted in full, would cause chaos in research for decades.

All politicians care about only 2 things:
(1) getting whatever they can for themselves.
(2) getting re-elected, to continue (1).

Neither side really cares about the defecit. They are getting whatever they can for themselves and lasting until the next election. Then, they will pull whatever stunt they can in an effort to get re-elected. If they do, great.If not, the mess is SOMEBODY ELSES PROBLEM.

No politician is above suspending democratic proesses, if they think they could get away with it.

They key here (for politicians) to not NOT be around when the revolution happens.

Sooooooo ... become your own corporation. If that is legally possible.

Funnel whatever profits/payment you can in to that.

And speak to a good accountant. Make sure you are actually paying the least amount possible.

It's all about right tool for the job. Unfortunately, I can't really see a good fit for the table/iPad devices.

10 inch tablet, with optional keyboard + stand == tablet, with optional stuff to lose. And normally, without the processing grunt.

iTouch/iPhone == right size for small consuming stuff.

Small laptop == just right for portable productivity AND entertainment.

I just bought a HP laptop around 10 inches (Compaq branded), for less than 200 $US (188 Swiss Francs to be precise). It's great, weights almost the same as an iPad. Watch downloaded torrents all the time on the train. But email, and serious office documents are also easily handled. Also has a VGA out built in to the laptop so connecting it to the TV is easy. I own it outright (no tethered contracts).

My iTouch, i freaking love. Ok, it's no phone (but neither is the laptop), but very usable on a plane, and fits in my shirt or jeans pocket. Travels almost everywhere with me, it's a day to day item. Obviously, I'd never take the laptop to the shops, or when travelling light.

The loser here is the tablet. It has neither the processing grunt, nor keyboard, usb, nor vga out built-in. And it's not as portable as a smart phone or similar device. Can't put it in the pocket when at the pub, and if I stay late at the pub, then there is the chance that the booze will induce gravity related trauma to the tablet (or me) or present an opportunity for it to be lost.

Dances with Wolves.

Except less Kevin Costner (always a good thing), and more FX.

Sigh.

Daily life around here.

Marketing wants what marketing wants. To hell if it has a positive cost/benefit ratio. "Nice and shiny and uses lots of Flash ... and runs on my iPhone ... drool"

Devs dev what marketing wants. Dev only wants to dev in production. As Administrator/root/qsecofr (or ALLOBJ).

IT Management, but especially Finance Magement skimp of every possible detail until they end up spending more time AND money patching it until it would have been cheaper to do it the way joint Ops/Securty said it would.

Ops/Security is handed a dogs breakfast of non-working, insecure code that produces amiguous, and often wrong results. Last to find out or provide input. But it's our fault when it doesn't work, or opens all security doors, or breaches laws in several countries. (The last ones to touch it must have broken it).

Classic way NOT to do it.

I bought my PS3 waiting for an opportunity such as this. It might be curtains for chipped original XBOX, but it has served me well for many years.

Yay to high-def media on my HD TV and bluetooth Hi Fi. Must get the Apocalypse Now ripped with the 5.1 surround instead of the low-def options.

And even better, Number of crimes prevented: A big fat zero.

Thoughtcrime is getting harder every day, but at least it's still possible.

As with all things ... check out what the Pr0n industry latches on to.

Not that I would ever suggest that the internet is a foul bastion of depravity, but it just looks that way from the outside.

When we see Pr0n lead the IPv6 uptake, we know mainstream acceptance is minutes away.

Let's not forget Wifi.

If your portable device is connected up via wifi, and not just via 3g, it will also wipe.

So, no Wifi, and no 3g. That's a serious portion of the usability of a device gone.

Most theft or loss of devices come under the "left it in taxi" or "pickpocket got it to turn in to crack" category. In this case the data on it is probably gone forever anyway. Wipe just makes everyone feel better.

Very, very few are a result of espionage or other malicious intent.

If you had malicious intent, you'd get the data off in the small window of opportunity, and work with it at your leasure. And you'd be working on the assumption that the device will be wiped at some point.

Compliance and privacy of the company data is a very real concern to sys admins and legal departments. Remote Wipe is the CYA for any sysadmin with portable devices. My iTouch is the only device approved (testing purposes) that isn't a BlackBerry for our company.

When my parents paid off thier mortgage, they never actually closed the mortgage.

The banks still had the title deed. The bank had to keep that document safe (part of the contact). And they deferred the Stamp Duty. When they eventually sold up and moved (Vic to NSW), THEN they retreived the title from the bank. No title deed, no actual sale.

When (if) I buy property back in Oz, I'll have a Conveyancing Lawyer checking the title. They also check liens and (AFAIR) planning issues that might sneek up on you.

There is no rule 6.

First lesson: Developers never run with Admin rights.

Give your users admin rights before you give your developers admin rights.