Thinking of crossing over.

Inn3rs3lf

Inn3rs3lf

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Hey guys,

some thoughts from you would be appreciated. I have been a life long windows fanboi. However, I feel the time is coming for a change. Windows 8 has let me down, server 2012 is decent, but the same interface, I need something fresh. Something new.

That's where Apple comes in. One thing I have always loved about the products is the build quality. The streamlined interface. The fluidity of it all.

I have been looking into getting my MCSE 2012, but I honestly think moving in the OS X direction would be the better option. Mainly due to the lack of Apple consultants. I say lack very loosely. I mean in comparison to Windows consultants. So, I am thinking of putting all my efforts into the OS X and ACTC exams for now. Mainly due to the financial commitment. I would do the MCSE 2012, and the Apple certs, however, it would be mighty costly.

What are your thoughts on my choices? I would of course still stay with windows as a side OS, like everyone does, but focus mainly on OS X. Or Maverick once released.
 
Lack of apple consultants? I presume you mean that there are a tremendous amount of job offers for apple consultants compared with windows consultants? Maybe the lack of apple consultants is because of the lack of vacancies?
 
I was in that same boat recently. So I got a macbook pro. A few days of trying really hard to like it convinced me that windows is actually a great product.
What is worse is that I work with linux but desktop linux is not great so I expected mac to be a good alternative... wrong again. Spend some time using one before you jump any ships.
 
Most(if not all) of the MCSE consultants are in the enterprise wide market and this is where MS make most of their money, where you'd want to be, especially in SA.

The desktop market isn't that big and you would struggle to move around.

I'd say stick with MS products or even Linux and do Apple on the side on your own. Maybe grab some material online and just write the exams if you have to. It would work out cheaper.

Else if you really want to get involved with Apple products, you could get into developing on their platform. There's a big market for that, even locally.
 
I say jump ship, apple is growing and when there is a demand then by then you will be in a much better position. Learn OSX, Linux and Windows, you will choose which is yr fav, but one thing is never try to use OSX like how u used Windows.
 
Shardie said:
I say jump ship, apple is growing and when there is a demand then by then you will be in a much better position. Learn OSX, Linux and Windows, you will choose which is yr fav, but one thing is never try to use OSX like how u used Windows.
Click to expand...

Does osx have anything like windows domains and active directory?
If not then its desktop support which no one aspires to!
 
Rocket-Boy said:
Does osx have anything like windows domains and active directory?
If not then its desktop support which no one aspires to!
Click to expand...

No, they don't. However, one can still do network integration with Apple products. Plus, there is also OS X server, which can be used for smaller businesses.

While I have to agree with Madtza, in the sense that MS makes their money on enterprise, I for one don't really want to go that route. I don't see anything fulfilling about sitting behind a desk doing admin day after day. I would much prefer taking the product to a company, showing them what it is capable of, and moving from there. Implementing it into their core IT infrastructure, or replacing it all together if they can. This is where the "consulting" comes in.

In all honesty, the way the average person in the office is in regards to IT, OS X would be the OS of choice for them. :)

In regards to the developing sides of things, I just don't have the knack for programming. It's really beyond my scope. Unfortunately.
 
Shardie said:
I say jump ship, apple is growing and when there is a demand then by then you will be in a much better position. Learn OSX, Linux and Windows, you will choose which is yr fav, but one thing is never try to use OSX like how u used Windows.
Click to expand...

I understand 100% what you are saying here. I have used all 3, and the least fav of them, for me, is linux. No matter what flavour. Then of course Win8, and OS X. I really do love the fluidity of OS X, hence me even considering going this route.
 
froot said:
Crossing over is only valid if you cross from Windows to Linux.
:p
Click to expand...

I'm going to be half crossing over soon. My main machine is Linux but as soon as the new Macbook Air is available here going to move my old PC to permanent server duties.
 
john-edwards.jpg
 
I would advise that if you want to move away from Windows then move towards Linux and get yourself LPI certified so that you can cover all flavours of Linux in general rather than specialising in any one particular distribution.

Apple is a great career path outside of South Africa, but back home in general you'll find yourself either working as a technician at an Apple retailer or working with and getting paid exactly the same as Windows techies in the corporations that do support Macs.

You'll have a little more job security than the average Windows Joe, because most Mac geeks can dual wield...which is funny when they get called fanboys by Windows geeks who have absolutely no clue how anything else works.

Unfortunately on the server side you are screwed (in South Africa) as those simply aren't implemented here. You'll almost always find Windows in a server environment with some Linux on the side maybe....rarely an all Linux environment as well...never an Apple one.

Trust me, I was an Apple specialist for 5 ears in a rather large South African company with certifications and ended up moving into a completely different field because there simply wasn't any going up.

Also getting Linux certified doesn't mean you can't have an OSX personal computer. You could still skill yourself as a Mac geek but when it comes to paying and doing exams go Linux instead.

If you really want to, just do the very first Apple certification so you have that on paper.
 
SauRoNZA said:
I would advise that if you want to move away from Windows then move towards Linux and get yourself LPI certified so that you can cover all flavours of Linux in general rather than specialising in any one particular distribution.

Apple is a great career path outside of South Africa, but back home in general you'll find yourself either working as a technician at an Apple retailer or working with and getting paid exactly the same as Windows techies in the corporations that do support Macs.

You'll have a little more job security than the average Windows Joe, because most Mac geeks can dual wield...which is funny when they get called fanboys by Windows geeks who have absolutely no clue how anything else works.

Unfortunately on the server side you are screwed (in South Africa) as those simply aren't implemented here. You'll almost always find Windows in a server environment with some Linux on the side maybe....rarely an all Linux environment as well...never an Apple one.

Trust me, I was an Apple specialist for 5 ears in a rather large South African company with certifications and ended up moving into a completely different field because there simply wasn't any going up.

Also getting Linux certified doesn't mean you can't have an OSX personal computer. You could still skill yourself as a Mac geek but when it comes to paying and doing exams go Linux instead.

If you really want to, just do the very first Apple certification so you have that on paper.
Click to expand...

What I mean in terms of server implementation is in regards to a 5 man office. There is certainly no need for AD, or the like to be honest. If you understand what I mean? The OS X Server will be the best choice, industry permitting.

I also see where you are coming from in terms of the techie side of things. I would inevitably start doing my own thing, company wise, and move from there.

I just cannot begin to enjoy linux to make it a career path. I have truly tried, but it just doesn't do it for me. I would much rather stick to the MS sides of things. This is why I think I should at least do the foundations to the MCSE 2012, so I can use it with the implementation of Apple products on a MS network.

But I do see Apple as having a much, much larger footprint in this country now, than ever before. Where the Macbook used to be a thing you only saw in movies, a simple walk down to the local coffee shop will show that they are here. I see the brand growing tremendously in the near future.

....but then again, I could be letting the "dream" cloud reality :love:
 
Like someone else already said you are facing a future of "desktop support" if you are equating the amount of MacBooks you've seen around to Apple having a larger foot print.

Having worked with them for a long time they've always been pretty commonplace for me. You tend to see what you look for, but there has been an increase in popularity in recent years especially since the iPhone with more retail support.

If you can't stand Linux then finish your MCSE and tackle the Apple stuff as a secondary function.

Food for thought though, if you can't stand Linux you aren't going to enjoy a great deal of the Apple certifications as they deal with a lot of Linux concept and processes. OSX is Linux/BSD after all.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Like someone else already said you are facing a future of "desktop support" if you are equating the amount of MacBooks you've seen around to Apple having a larger foot print.

Having worked with them for a long time they've always been pretty commonplace for me. You tend to see what you look for, but there has been an increase in popularity in recent years especially since the iPhone with more retail support.

If you can't stand Linux then finish your MCSE and tackle the Apple stuff as a secondary function.

Food for thought though, if you can't stand Linux you aren't going to enjoy a great deal of the Apple certifications as they deal with a lot of Linux concept and processes. OSX is Linux/BSD after all.
Click to expand...

OSX is what Linux should have been able to offer desktop users as alternative to windows, but failed.
 
Yeah it is in my opinion the most polished "Linux" out there.

Often find people asking me why I use OSX instead of Windows, then I answer them that I use OSX instead of Linux.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Yeah it is in my opinion the most polished "Linux" out there.

Often find people asking me why I use OSX instead of Windows, then I answer them that I use OSX instead of Linux.
Click to expand...
I was hoping it would be a great linux but I really don't like it. There are minor irks and major ones for me.
Not being able to make my web browser full screen always gets me.
 
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