From: kocks@leland.Stanford.EDU (Peter Kocks)
Subject: Re: Need to convince boss 486's are *not* w
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 93 17:23:32 GMT

In article <1jl75mINN4a8@shelley.u.washington.edu>, jaesyn@carson.u.washington.edu (Jason Smith) writes:
|> 	Well, I expected a can of worms to be opened, but *this* was almost
|> ridiculous. :)
|> 

I agree and I'm a NeXT fan.  Let's get back to the subject.

|> 
|> 	In order, we're looking for : 	Ease of use	(Mac)
|> 					Networking	(Mac)
|> 					Flexibility/upgradability
|> 							(Mac or NeXTStep)
|> 					Compatability	(OS/2)
|> 					Programming	(NeXTStep 486)
|> 
|> 	The boss also is a speed freak... he wants the fastest, best system
|> even if he doesn't need the power, so it'd be most likely either Quadras
|> (which I think is overkill), or 486's (which I also think is overkill, but may
|> make Windows tolerable speedwise.)
|> 

I have managed a couple of different kinds of networks -- a cluster of unix machines -- a cluster
of macs --- a cluster of PCs.

I have a suggestion, but first some observations.  
The first observation is that you and your boss disagree
about the appropriate platform to get.  Chances are that many people in your
group disagree about which platform to get.  They will probably disagree for
a long time.  So, I would try to satisfy as many people as possible. 

The first thing to knock off the list is Windows for Workgroups.  Windows is fine
for some people, but by getting the Workgroups stuff you will lock yourself into
the MS world.  MS has no interest in helping you interact with other platforms
if there becomes a need to do so.  The same is true for the Mac, but less so.  
Apple has made consistent efforts to make networking in a mixed environment
possible and hopefully easy.  OS/2 tries but is a total pain to install and
maintain.  If you had a 1000 PCs and a networking staff OS/2 would be o.k.,
but for 20-30 people forget it.

My solution...(and I cannot believe I am actually saying this)... is Novell.
Novell allows you to mix Macs, Windows, OS/2, NeXT, and Unix.  Moreover,
the system deals well with each of the different environments.  It is used
by 80% of the business world, which may help you convince your boss.  You can
also buy a 486 server with Novell installed for probably less than the Quadra
server.  Novell is not married to any platform, which I consider a big plus.

General comments:

Your network of computers will become mixed (PCs and Macs) in the future. 
This is just inevitable, unless your boss forces everyone to work in
a particular way.  If he/she does that, you're screwed.  Some system
administrators insist on making you work in one way only.  This is 
unproductive.

Ask your boss, if he is willing to consider other platforms.  If he is, then
write down why you want Macs.  Writing things down is always better.

Offer to install the Mac network.  You could do this in a weekend, no problem.

If your boss is hiring an outside consultant, ask your boss to make sure
that the consultant has experience in both the Mac and PC world and is
not a true advocate of either.  Consultants who serve only one world
will give you biased answers and will encourage you to spend more 
money than you need to.

The Mac II vx is not a good choice becuase the mother board runs at
16 MHz, while the CPU and 33.  For the type of work you do, a Mac IIci
is cheaper and about the same speed.  It also can be upgraded to
an 040 in the future.

In my experience, secretaries prefer Macs to PCs.  If they have PCs,
they tend to prefer WordPerfect for DOS, no Windows please.

Good luck.

Peter Kocks
kocks@chemistry.stanford.edu

Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.advocacy