Microsoft Barring Certain Staff From Buying Macs, iPads?

[Trev]

Nothing unusual here except that Microsoft sells software for Macs. Sales and marketing can't use Macs to push Office for Mac? What about all those highly skilled marketing designers trained and experienced on Mac versions of software? Policies that unnecessarily restrict the tool choices of creatives are wondrously wrongheaded. (Skilled artists and artisans aren't usually limited by their tools, but preferences exist nonetheless.)

[Trev]

Which ones? Oh, right, none of us have any idea if these people actually exist within the company, and until we do, what you say is just an imaginary fabrication.

Are you sure about that? Anyway, it would be a supposition, not a fabrication.

I never mentioned Adobe, but Microsoft does have numerous products and technologies that compete directly with Adobe's.

On the surface, this isn't much different from policies that prevent employees from wearing a competitor's labeled clothing to work.

[Trev]

Yes it is, unless those clothes are bought with company money. Did you overlook that or do you just think that it doesn't make any difference?

I didn't overlook it. Salaries are expenses, too, and most companies at least attempt to control how their employees spend their money. Whether or not unauthorized purchases, personal or otherwise, are actionable depends on the jurisdiction.

In any case, Microsoft can approve or deny spends however they choose, within the law. While high performing employees should be given leeway in their choice of tools, most organizations don't see it that way. I'm just writing academically; I haven't actually read the memo. ;-)

EDIT: I read the memo. He used "should," which means there can and will be exceptions. Good call.