Mac OS X replacing Linux at Tokyo University

TekkaDon writes "At least 1,150 desktop and server PCs running Linux will be replaced with Mac OS X computers at the University of Tokyo next year, as reported by Asahi (Japanese), and echoed by MacRumors.com. 'Ease of maintenance and software installation were cited among the reasons for the switch.' I wonder if Keitaro and Naru will get iMacs at Hinata as well."

Comments

Ease of maintenance?

[Amiga Lover]

I think their "ease of maintenance" comment is going to come back and bite them on the ass in time. A well run Linux system with OS maintenance using RPM, debian's APT or Gentoo's ports is going to be a lot cleaner system in 12 months than an OSX machine. I can see alot of benefits to OSX on the user side, but OSX's woeful package maintenance is going to lead to pretty untidy systems that'll need full reinstalls in under a year, IMHO. There's just no central tracking of WHAT is on each machine.

Re:Ease of maintenance?

[Renderer of Evil]

did you perhaps consider that such a big entity might utilize network attached storage? Firms who have 10 or more Mac client workstations usually has a server which stores the data. Client maintenance isn't really that complicated.

Re:Ease of maintenance?

[BortQ]

Uh, perhaps you should think about the situation a little more.

The machines will most likely be set up in labs by administrators. Regular users will only be able to install things into their home directories. Thus it will be impossible for them to clutter up the system.

As long as the admins are competent and keep track of what has been installed there shouldn't be any problem.

Re:Ease of maintenance?

[jellomizer]

Well Actually I found the Mac OS apps far easier to install and maintain then the others. Drag Icon to application folder, For most application. But for Japan I don't think updating tons of New files is an issue they probably have their set of application that they need. Most likely on a separate server. The east of maintenance is the fact there is no or little DLL Hell, different version of shared libraries causing conflicts or Dependancy problems. Less hassle install new hardware, Plug and play that actually works, Compared to Linux plug, compile and play. You have the unix command line when you need it and an excellent GUI for when you don't. I don't see them getting bitten anytime soon. They will probably save more money in the long run then with Linux.

Re:An odd change!

[Llywelyn]

Lower support costs, minimal migration fees or difficulties, and the liberal arts department can use it without having a heart attack. What's so strange?

Wow..

[MaggieL]

...imagine the size of the discount that made this move cost-justified.

macs coming back in japan?

[redJag]

Used to be they laughed at Macs over yonder. I wonder if this is an indication of changing perspectives. I admit I don't keep up with Japan's current events, so maybe this isn't such a new perspective after all.

re: ease of install

[computerme]

A well run Linux system with OS maintenance using RPM, debian's APT or Gentoo's ports is going to be a lot cleaner system in 12 months than an OSX machine.

Really?

How easy is to install Photoshop via RPM?
Office via Gentoo?
Final Cut or any iApp via curl?

Let me guess, Gimp would solve my first question... cough..cough...
not. Did anyone ever think that part of the reason why they switched is because of the lack of quality commerical software on linux?

Japanese language support

[b1t r0t]

The support under OS X is excellent, and it even breaks away from creaky old ShiftJIS. I'm not sure how hard it is to get Japanese language support running on Linux, and it probably is distro dependent too. (I heard Turbo Linux was a favorite in Japan back in its 4.0 days.)

But on the Mac, it's built-in and working by default. On all Macs running OS X, not just ones running the special localized version of the OS, which used to trail U.S. releases by six months or more back in the System 7 days.

Any chance that's got something to do with the switch? Meanwhile, I'm looking long-term to replace my last Linux box with OS X. Right now the main obstacle is to get the equivalent of IP Masquerading working with a proper DHCP server that lets me configure fixed IP assignments, instead of the one built into "Internet Sharing".

Re: ease of install

[pelorus]

I think you may need to be careful with your mud slinging.

"Another Mac User talking crap", like, CmdrTaco, Moshe Bar, James Gosling? All Mac users talking crap?

Sure, it's a bit of a blow for Linux adoption and a big plus for Mac OS X adoption but frankly I don't see a conflict here. If you would spend more time convincing people on Windows to go to Linux then wouldn't we all be in a better place.

GIMP is a great app - for the price. I've been using it for years but it is laughable to compare it to Photoshop. It's only comparable if you're not a designer. The tools in Photoshop are award-wnning as well as light-years ahead of GIMP. I use GIMP but, for a second here, can we be realistic. I personally don't use Photoshop for day to day image retouching (why use a 500 quid piece of software when a free one will do) but Photoshop is more than just an image retouching app.

As for quality of software. Some open source software is without par. We see them being used every day. Some of it is simply best of class. Some of it, on the other hand, bites.

Tokyo University switched because Macs are easier to maintain. The University of Virginia used G5s running Mac OS X because the Linux software "wasn't there yet". For these cases it doesn't mean you have to stop using Linux so stop being so defensive.

And if you had ANY conviction in your statement, you'd not be an Anonymous Coward.

Developers know what they want

[Randy Wang]

Actually, maybe its just people in the know who buy Apples?

Put it this way: your average consumer would only usually be looking for price, compatibility, and performance.

On the other hand, organisations, or other people who rely on computers or who use them regularly for relatively nerdy purposes (software designers, or universities, in this case) would be looking beyond what your average person would see.

Perhaps that explains Apple's success in the educational market: for universities and schools, a little cost goes a long way, especially where multimedia is involved!

BTW - According to this article, most Sun Microsystems employess own macs, if not for work, but at home. Your average consumer either wouldn't have enough experience with a mac to make a good decision, or else wouldn't have the need for a mac in the first place. These guys are smart :)

Re:An odd change!

[Anonymous Coward]

The real question is: Who at University of Tokyo is affected by the change?

Certainly this has no affect on science faculty and research staff. Like the rest of the world, they already use a mix of super computers, Unix workstations, and Macs with a few linux boxes for those on shoe-string budgets (eg http://www.ccsr.u-tokyo.ac.jp/jsouchi/eindex.shtml ). A few scientists probably use windows as well as anyone doing GIS.

I'd hate to think that humanities faculty cannot choose their own platform, be it Mac, Windows, Unix, or Linux. I know of no major US university where faculty do not make their own purchasing decisions nor one that does not support both windows and Mac. Being forced to use as limited an environment as linux would be met with outrage among
American scholars. They must already be using a mix of Windows and Macs.

Thus, this change most certainly affects only clerical staff. In our research institute (JISAO) at the University of Washington, half of the clerical staff use macs and half use windows. Always have, always will. All the same software runs on both systems. The same servers do backups. Administatively, there appears to be no downside.

So, any single-system policy is draconian, whether it be windows only, Mac only, or linux only. There is no reason to cheer such a policy simply because, this time, it appeals to ones own computer parochialism.

-Eric

The truth about OS X versus Linux

[piecewise]

There's been a lot of discussion about Linux being better.. OS X being better... what one can do on either platform.

The truth is, this shouldn't be an argument. First, it's unconstructive. Second, it's inherently wrong.

The truth is that Mac OS X wouldn't exist without Unix, and all of us Mac users should be damn grateful to the Unix and even the Linux community as well as the entire open source community.

Xserve's a wonder, OS X Server is getting better all the time. But Linux has its place -- as does Windows (for now.....)

We all have a common goal. The spread of creativity and community work via open-source, and the improvement of enterprise, office, and home productivity with the best computers and operating systems in the world.

Unix gives OS X enterprise viability and a rock-solid foundation. OS X gives Unix commercial viability and longevity.

That's why there's an Apple section on Slashdot. That's why Apple went (semi-)open-source. That's why OS X is Unix and based on BSD. And that's why we're on the same team.