Axel Springer’s 10,000 employees switching to Mac

Fortune: CNN ^ | 07/04/2008

[Swordmaker]

Here’s an unexpected Independence Day gift for Apple.

Axel Springer AG, one of Europe’s largest newspaper publishers, with 10,000 employees and more than 150 papers in 30 countries, including its flagship Die Welt, announced on Friday that it is switching its entire operation from PCs to Macs.

In a YouTube video, posted below the fold, CEO Mathias Döpfner lists four reasons for the change:

• Most of the company’s layout work was already being done on Macs
• Macs are more user friendly than other computers
• Apple creates the most elegant computers
• Macs are cheaper to buy and easier to maintain than they were in the past

The changeover will take five years and when complete, according to Döpfner, will make Axel Springer (SPR.F) Apple’s (AAPL) second largest corporate customer, after Google (GOOG).

[Swordmaker]

Corporate owner of Die Welt, Axel Springer AG, is switching all 10,000 employees away from Windows to Macs... PING!

MacPing!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[GOP Poet]

Smart company. From a Mac user and convert that has worked for years in the publishing, creative, and project management industries I know how important this turning to Mac is. As a Mac convert it is also a no brainer. PC—DEAD. Vista was the final nail.

[ConservativeMind]

It figures that a dying industry chooses to switchover to Macs as it grasps at straws to stay relevant.

[Spktyr]

I predict massive cuts in their IT department in the near future...

The expenses of which are probably WHY they switched.

[Tribune7]

I predict massive cuts in their IT department in the near future...

The recommendations of the IT departments are the main reason why companies don't switch to Mac. Wonder why, hee hee.

[mkjessup]

It figures that a dying industry chooses to switchover to Macs as it grasps at straws to stay relevant.

They might have better luck moving into the reality show business, "The Axel Springer Show" might fly over there.

I can hear the crowds now, "AXEL! AXEL! AXEL!"

Today's show: 'Obsolete IT employees use new Macs to download porn during working hours!'

[DemonDeac]

I won’t ever switch back. I’ve had four macs over the last several years and have had no trouble with anything ever. None of the annoying issues that you get with Windows. Not having the aggravation of downtime and owning a computer that has a longer shelf life (by virtue of not slowing down as quickly as PCs) is well worth an extra couple hundred bucks.

[martin_fierro]

Vista was the final nail.

For me, it was when MS rolled out their own "antiviral protection" for an additional subscription fee.

[DesScorp]

The most important reason for switching wasn’t given... Vista.