If you’re interested in having a website which runs on OS X, having full control of the server with multiple fail-safes and redundencies, and a very large pipe to it, then you might want to consider the offerings from MacMiniColo.net.
These folks are part of a larger operation run by Switch Communications in Las Vegas, Nevada. Switch runs one of the biggest high-speed data centers in the country.
MacMiniColo specializes in running MacMini servers with OS X server. You can send them your MacMini, or buy one from them. The monthly costs start at $35, and go up from there depending on what add-on services you require.
While you can certainly get hosting packages for less then this, remember that your site will be the only one on your server. Also, these guys offer a very fat pipe to your server.
Check them out: http://www.macminicolo.net
I’ve done web design and development for over 10 years. In the past, it was done in the typical way: I design and develop the site for a client, and deliver and launch the site. Then, typically, every time an addition or change is needed, the client must come back to me because they don’t want to invest the time into learning DreamWeaver, CSS, XHTML, PHP, etc.
This was expensive for the client, and not very interesting work for me once the original site was complete.
So I’ve been working on a new model of site design for small businesses which uses opensource (free) software and allows website owner (or staff) to easily login and make changes or additions to the site. I’ve developed a design technique and process, using all opensource software, which allows me to design smart looking sites that are easy to navigate, have a high level of functionality, and have a simple backend user interface for maintenance.
This translates to considerable savings for the business over the long run, more internal control of the website for the business, and it allows me to focus on site design and development rather than site maintenance.
I am putting together this process with a training component for small business owners who want to create a website.
Please email me if you are interested in this model for your business.
This car has been sold.
In the next few weeks, as time permits, I will write a brief piece about my experience in selling this car. This may be interesting to both buyers and sellers of these rare cars.
Stay tuned.
A new survey conducted by Yankee Group Research Inc. of more than 700 senior IT administrators and C-level executives revealed that nearly 80% of businesses have Macs in-house. This number is up from the last survey in 2006 which indicated that 47% of businesses had in-house Macs.
Two interesting details of this survey are:
- 21% of the firms surveyed reported having delpoyed more than 50 Macs (some ranged into the thousands)
- 28% of the firms reported running Windows in a virtual machine on the Macs
Clearly, virtualization software has helped catalyze this trend towards Mac delpoyment. The two leaders in virtualization software are VMware Inc. (their product is Fusion) and Parallels.
In business and in education, there is an increasing trend towards making the Mac the platform of choice. The one unfortunate side-effect from this trend may be the increased (although minimal) exposure of the Mac OS to hackers’ efforts.
I usually refrain from posting “theoretical” OS X exploits since they rarely pose any real threat to Mac users. However, several sources are now reporting multiple Mac Trojan horses in the wild. These Trojans exploit a root vulnerability in Apple Remote Desktop Agent in Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5.
This exploit has been rated as “critical”, but it does require that a user download and open the Trojan file.
Pay attention, folks. We knew that Macs would come more and more into hackers focus as market-share grew.
See more information at the SecureMac site.
