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by scryder 3307 days ago
This looks like a preliminary move by Apple to establish itself as a viable work computer.

Windows and linux environments currently appear to reign supreme over the workplace, the former because of programs like Skype and outlook integration, the latter for ease of development. I think Apple has a long uphill battle attempting to break into the industry against the value-sell of existing options.
3 comments
BinaryIdiot 3307 days ago
This is only available for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, not macOS. It's also not a slack competitor but for companies to interact with their users through Apple's software.

Check this page out for different details: https://developer.apple.com/business-chat/

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cortesoft 3307 days ago
I feel like 90% of the developers I know use Macs, even though a good chunk of the time they are just SSHing to Linux machines to do their work.
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SomeCallMeTim 3307 days ago
Most developers use Windows. [1] The second most popular OS is Linux on Stack Overflow, and some of those may be running Macs.

There are certainly groups where Macs are popular. Startups use a lot of Macs; when I go to a coworking space in Boulder mostly everyone has a Mac. They're super common in cafes as well.

But not everyone uses a Mac. Not everyone likes Macs (myself included).

[1] https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2017#technology-pl...

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cortesoft 3307 days ago
I am not sure your reference really contradicts what I was saying; it is talking about what 'platform' do you develop for, not what OS you use to do your development (I mean, AWS is listed as the #4 platform, which is not a desktop OS).

All the servers that run the code I write are Linux machines, so I would say I develop 'for' the Linux platform. However, I use a mac laptop to type that code.

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SomeCallMeTim 3306 days ago
It's listing what technologies are used by developers. I would wager very few use Macs to develop for Windows.

The vast majority of developers out there are using Windows. I would believe the majority of start-up engineers are using Macs, but the world of software development is probably 100x that of "start-up engineers."

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criley2 3307 days ago
And I don't know a developer who develops on a Mac. Seriously, the number is 0. I know a number of artists and designers with them though.

Ahhh, anecdotes.

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cortesoft 3307 days ago
I was responding to a comment that was clearly anecdotal in nature (the comment uses the phrase "currently appear"), and offered my own anecdote in response. I don't think that is an unreasonable thing to respond with.

Also, you know ZERO developers who use Macs? That seems crazy, or you don't know many developers.

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haburka 3307 days ago
Do you know less than 10 developers or something? Do you code for Microsoft? Do you live in a country where its nearly impossible to get apple products?
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michel-slm 3306 days ago
or where the income level makes buying Macs prohibitively expensive
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rubicon33 3307 days ago
You don't know a single iOS or MacOS developer?
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madeofpalk 3307 days ago
> Apple to establish itself as a viable work computer.

Apple is already 'established' as a 'viable work computer'. Moreso than Linux at least.

Depending on what industry you're in you'll find quite a solid adoption of Mac computers used as 'daily drivers' for people.

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scryder 3307 days ago
I am not saying Apple is a bad brand; their computers are of high quality, are great for personal use, and are more than capable of productive work.

However, statistically Apple computers certainly are not, in aggregate, established as work computers.

Windows maintains continuing dominance at 90% market share of the desktop market, and optimistic projections from Apple-favorable sites estimate about 8% market share, with Linux at about 1-2%. [1]

You can think Apple tech is good but recognize in the workplace Apple has presently lost and is playing catch-up.

[1] http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/04/11/apple-grows-to-74-...

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madeofpalk 3307 days ago
Idk, I work at an airline at the moment and about 1/3 of people here at the 'head office' use Macs. Higher rates in tech teams.

Sure, maybe these aggregated 'market' figures tell a different story than what I've seen anecdotally, but they seem to be doing fairly okay in 'the workplace'

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