A way forward

At Level 2 Technology Consulting, we have long recognized a forgotten truth. As Steve Jobs noted during the 2007 D5 conference interview with Bill Gates, the Apple Macintosh is a personal computer. We are Mac, therefore we are PC. We not only support but welcome the mixed platform environment, be they Apple OS X, Microsoft Windows, or any of several flavors of Linux / Unix.

That said, we note that Microsoft does have the lion’s share of the business market.  There are some applications and areas we hope Microsoft will address to strengthen their ties to the Apple Macintosh.

1. Create Microsoft Communicator client for the Mac.  (Yes, we know there is a web version but it is not the same.)  We shouldn’t have to run under Windows to IM and do peer-to-peer video calls.
2. Create a LiveMeeting client for Mac.  Again, why not have a client.  LiveMeeting has a web client, but why should anyone be stuck with just a web client.
3. Develop iPhone apps that use the FaceTime API’s for both Communicator and LiveMeeting. The front facing camera makes the video conferencing so easy.  The Retina display is so sharp.  Both features make the iPhone a prime candidate for business conferencing.  Both Communicator and LiveMeeting can be improved with iPhone user inclusion.
4. Accelerate adoption of SharePoint 2010 within the BPOS. With its browser agnostic web interface, it will increase Mac users’ comfort with this excellent offering. In fact we ask that Exchange 2010, and all updates to Communicator and LiveMeeting get implemented as soon as possible.

We have a few requests for Apple, too.

1. Open the FaceTime API to allow its use in a chat system other than iChat.  Skype wants to use FaceTime for VoIP / Video Conferencing.  Open up the API for more than AIM.
2. A front-facing camera for the iPad. This was a major oversight on the original iPad.  I like to think FaceTime was not ready and the camera / mic combos were not ready yet.  Add this to an iPad 2 and you have a great tool for businesses, small and large.
3. Retina display for iPad 2.  If you’ve seen the difference in the quality of the display on the iPhone 3gs and the iPhone 4, you understand how the iPad can be improved.
4. Change the iPad design to something more like an iPhone 4, and less like the screen from a MacBook Air.
5. Spend the money and buy the rights to P.A.D.D. from Paramount. We all know Apple has the biggest collection of Star Trek fans outside of NASA.

Until then Level 2 Technology Consultants dream and look for ways to give the SMB advanced technology without the advanced costs.

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