New to Mac / Switcher Tips: Switching a Workplace from PC to Mac

Mike, one of the readers of MacIT.org, writes in asking for more information on migrating a workplace from PC to Mac.  Damien Barrett's replies
on his other blog with what I think is an excellent answer focused on retraining issues.  He says that such a migration is possible in the workplace, but that two key items are necessary for this switch:

1. The would-be switchers need to be "flexible enough to accept minor changes in the interface/GUI."
I think his next observation under this point is one that most people interested in technology (and I think that includes everyone who reads this blog or any blog, really) tend to overlook: There are a lot of people out there that want as little to do with computers as possible,
who are afraid of them, who have merely memorized the steps they need to memorize to get their work done, and who are deathly afraid of change.

As Barrett notes, "These are the people who would still use a typewriter if allowed."
I myself deal with this issue with users nearly daily, but it is not insurmountable.  You can convince people not to be afraid of the computer. I find that most people who are afraid of computers, somehow mistakenly think that computers are smarter than they are and that the computer will out their ignorance at the first chance it gets.  At this point, I usually try to talk the user down by pointing out that the computer is a good tool that can process complex data quickly, but that the human brain processes an abundance of information subconsciously and doesn't kick back a blue screen of death whenever it gets confused.

2. This one is the kicker: "Willingness of the 'IT staff' or 'support people' to accept the Mac as a viable platform."
There are a lot of IT people out there who know what they know, know it well, and they aren't interested in learning an entirely new platform.  Many of them have looked at the Mac as a "toy platform"
and object of ridicule for years. This is changing somewhat with OS X,
but it's still an issue.

Nevertheless, Barrett is optimistic about the future conversion to the Mac:  "I think it's been an eye-opening experience for these guys and I'm very pleased at how my training and Mac OS X has been received. I find it interesting and a bit telling that when I offered to set up on their desks, a Mac with our school's image installed on it, every single one of them quickly signed up."