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Affordable Manageability (3/14/02)
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A lot of folks in charge of school Mac labs have been resisting the urge to upgrade to Mac OS X for one very compelling reason: no Apple Network Assistant. For those unfamiliar with ANA, it was a nifty Timbuktu-like product that allowed a single administrator to manage a whole lab full of Macs from one central system. Admins could remotely install software, launch and quit applications, repair hard disks, share and control remote screens, and more; most of the people we've heard from who use it acknowledge that it's a whole lot more economical then wearing out shoe leather running around from Mac to Mac. Unfortunately, ANA doesn't exist for Mac OS X, which means that Apple's next-generation operating system isn't exactly school lab-friendly.
But heads up, educational-types, because all that's about to change; one of the biggest reasons not to upgrade your school's labs to Mac OS X has just disappeared in a puff of official Apple press release. As faithful viewer Ash pointed out, today Apple announced the availability of Apple Remote Desktop, which, given its remarkably familiar feature set, sounds a heck of a lot like ANA for Mac OS X. Best of all, while you'll need Mac OS X to run the admin software, ARD can manage workstations running Mac OS X, plus any Macs still running Mac OS 8.1 through 9.2, so there's no need to upgrade all at once. (Mac-based businesses take note, too-- ARD sounds like a life saver for the help desk staff.)
Now, how much would you pay for this astounding feature-packed remote control software? $79 a seat? $99? Well, if you call in the next ten minutes, you can buy a 10-user license for just $299-- that's a mere $30 per seat! Got more than ten desktops to manage? Don't fret, because an unlimited-client edition is only $499. Priced low for the education crowd, you say? Well, not so fast, folks, because that's just the standard retail pricing. If you're buying on behalf of an accredited educational institution, ARD is just $149 for ten seats, or a budget-friendly $299 for all the remote management you can eat. You won't even have to cut the school's music program. Order now!
By the way, we were kidding about that "in the next ten minutes" part. You knew that, right?
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SceneLink (3628)
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 | | The above scene was taken from the 3/14/02 episode: March 14, 2002: Apple announces Apple Remote Desktop, affordable remote management software that might actually prompt some schools to make the leap to Mac OS X. Meanwhile, one daring individual efficiently dispatched the warranty on his new top-of-the-line Power Mac by torquing it up to 1.2 GHz, and Canada considers a hefty tax on all media that might be used to copy music-- and that includes the iPod...
Other scenes from that episode: 3629: 1.2 GHz: Living The Dream (3/14/02) We don't know why, but some people seem to consider warranties to be some sort of personal affront, as if only spineless jellyfish would ever fall back on such a wussy safety net; thus, they look for ways to void those evil things as quickly as possible... 3630: When The Levy Is Broken (3/14/02) Ah, the iPod: gorgeous, teeny, energy-efficient, high-capacity, versatile, and priced well beyond many people's means. Don't get us wrong; we think $399 is a perfectly fair price for what you get, but the simple truth is that lots of folks who would just love to own an iPod can't justify dropping four Bennies on any portable music player that doesn't include a gun and mask to be used in an ensuing liquor store robbery to cover that month's rent...
Or view the entire episode as originally broadcast... | |  |
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