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The iMac Lab - an Apple solution As someone who is really interested in MacOS X, I tend to look past the current MacOS in favor of the future of the platform. I thoroughly enjoy my computer, and love it to pieces, but if the product I have read and written about comes even close to my expectations, it is going to blow the current MacOS out of the water. When I was a collegiate computer lab attendant, I learned that one of the most annoying aspects of running a Mac lab was that there isn't the be-all, end-all software package which ensures a uniform setup on all of the Macs. The University techs locked the computers down as far as they could, but it was never enough. Oliver, one of the coolest lab rats, and I used to spend parts of our shifts breaking into the System folder and changing settings so that we could do what we wanted. And, yes, this practice was expressly prohibited by our employment. :) There may just be the perfect solution for this problem. But it will take a strong server and a computer designed to be subservient. Luckily for us, Apple has made both, and has only yet to release the server's software. I don't personally need an iMac. That isn't to say I don't want one, just that I don't need it. It has been positioned as a consumer product, and my personal sensibility refuses to believe that I am a mere consumer. So, I got a PowerMac G3, and I have a profession model. :) But the iMacs are some of the finest machines Apple has ever released. Not only do they have an amazingly sharp monitor built-in, a speedy processor, a quality architecture, ease-of-use, and more, but they have been positioned very liberally. Home use is definitely the marketing push for the iMac, but they could also be very useful in schools, college computer labs, or in a generic workstation. One of the cool features of an iMac is the ability to operate off a network server. In essence, the iMac can boot up without a physical copy of the OS on its hard drive. Because of the cool features in the iMac, all that is required is a network, a server, and proper configuration. All that is required is the proper configuration of the iMac, a physical network, and a properly configured server that will essentially act as a hard drive for the iMac. The way it works is this: On the Server resides a disk image containing a copy of the MacOS and any other files or apps which will be required by the iMac. At startup, the iMac finds this server, and asks it for an OS. The Server returns the disk image on its hard drive, and the iMac boots up. After the computer boots up, it works as if all the files were in fact on its hard drive. And the best part is…you can lock the disk image, and nobody can change how the terminal works. Users couldn't save files, and they couldn't change settings. You could ensure that every computer would have the same user experience. The only thing left is file storage. This is accomplished with the aid of a separate network file server, which would allow the saving of files to a networked server. This allows the use of files, bypasses the omission of a floppy in the iMac, and allows instant access to files at any point on the network. And what better way to do it than with MacOS X Server? MacOS X Server will be able to serve both as this "virtual hard drive" server and file server. By combining the iMacs feature set with the power and flexibility of MacOS X Server, Apple can deliver a total package to education that is essentially "A computer lab in a box." This technology helps Apple to position itself not only to higher education, but also to big business. This same setup could also help with setting up wide-scale terminals for phone-centers and ordering centers. By combining iMacs, MacOS X Server, and WebObjects, Apple could deploy an amazing Enterprise solution to almost any type of business you could throw at them. Yes sir, whenever Apple actually releases MacOS X Server, they will be that much closer to positioning themselves as a computer company which can deliver quality products to education, home users, graphic professionals, and business. And how long has it been since anyone has even joked that Apple could add business again to its corporate focus? It's nice to see that Apple's turnaround is going so well! |
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All content - ©1998-2010 - Mark J. Hershenson |
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The MacOS Xclave is hosted by green-ant.com.
