Help! Need your opinion on using iTunes+iPods in a Windows Domain

[justinlee1]

Hi everyone,

First of all, thank you for reading my post. I've done lots of searching on this topic without finding much useful information, so any thoughts or experiences you might share would be greatly appreciated.

First, a little backstory:

I work in the video production industry, mainly producing training and marketing videos for mid to large-sized corporations. I did work for a few years as a network administrator over a handful of Windows 2000 active directory domain environments, though most of my knowledge is now somewhat dated since switching from Windows workstations to Mac OS X systems. Also, I now spend my time making videos and trying to find innovative ways to distribute them for my clients.

Over the last ten years the method for distributing those videos has changed from VHS to CD-ROM, CD-ROM to DVD, DVD to Web Download, and Web Download to Web Streaming.

Most of the distribution methods I've listed have required little interaction between my client and his IT department. The questions I've asked most frequently are "What version of Windows Media Player are you running?" and "Do you have a DVD player on your computer?"

Recently, I've gotten several requests from clients interested in delivering training content to their fast-food stores via iPods. One, in particular, has gone so far as to purchase 10 30gb iPods, load them with their 40 hour training library (15gb), and send them to 10 test restaurants. The store manager has the option to train one worker at a time during high volume hours, or they can train several people at a time by plugging the iPod into the television during low volume hours. So far this delivery method is working well.

The problem, if you haven't already guessed, is that by preloading content onto the iPod and Fed-Exing them to stores, there's no easy way for the corporate office to update content. They already have several videos that need to be updated, and there's no way for that to happen without the hassle of having the iPods mailed back to corporate for an update.

This is when they called me. They wanted to find out if there was a different method of distributing content to the iPods without having to mail them back and forth. In my mind, it sounded like they needed a way to syndicate content, so I set up a test sight that featured a video podcast subscription. I also secured the site, which had the added benefit of securing the podcast. The client tried it, liked it, and would like to roll it out as the distribution method for training videos.

So far so good. I host the content, update the feeds, and everyone's happy... Until the client says,

"Will we need to get IT involved? I don't think anyone can install iTunes..."

What followed was a lengthy discussion that involved me saying, "Yes, we'll have to get IT's blessing - the sooner the better, since they'll be the ones to approve / disapprove this method..."

So that's where the project stands. My methodology, at the moment, revolves around the ability to install iTunes (or another podcast aggregator) on several restaurant computers that are running (I speculate) on a Windows 2000 or 2003 domain. I would also speculate that each store manager is locked out of installing applications on the system.

In my mind that means that the company's IT department would need to bless the idea of installing iTunes + Quicktime onto at least 10 store computers (probably running Win2k or XP) for the purpose of subscribing to a video podcast being securely hosted off-site by me.

My question, in a long-winded way, is what you, the network admins, think of this scenario? Are any of you running iTunes + iPods in a corporate domain environment? Has your experience been positive, neutral or negative?

Also, I realize that iTunes + iPods are Apple products, and that I might be better suited to advocate a different program and/or device. Looking on Microsoft's Windows Media website, they list several players, including CREATIVE's ZEN Vision:M as a platform.

It seems this would provide several advantages, including native Windows Media support, although the host computer would need to be upgraded to Windows Media 9 at a minimum and have CREATIVE's software installed as well. Seems like it might be a wash, but I'm only speculating.

So what do you think?

Edited November 9, 2007 by justinlee1

[albator]

I am not a sysadmin.

But you should use an alternative for synching the ipod.