I don't think I saw it mentioned here, but one thing that you should consider is that restricting the platform can give the impression that you are standards Na

I don't think I saw it mentioned here, but one thing that you should consider is that restricting the platform can give the impression that you are standards Nazi's. I left a company for just this reason. I ran the web shop and could not even put a Mac on the network "due to security reasons" to test Safari (back when it was a mac only product). Later when I wanted new software (CMS, Source Control) I had to comply with company standards so that we could leverage purchasing agreements and political deals. There was never a focus on the right tool for the job but rather decision by committee and back room deals. It was a painful experience and one that drove talent right out the door. I literally saw the best and the brightest no showing for work, never to be seen again (not on my watch). At the career level of a senior developer, if you have people no-showing with no notice you have a serious problem. Anyways, point being, when I see we use platform X and only X. It translate into my mind that a company has clueless management and a bunch of lazy admins who don't want to do their job. Nothing will drive developers away like admins putting restrictions on how they get there work done. Be very careful of the image you present to prospective hires if you restrict their system choices. Developers and designers cherish their freedom to create, if you restrict it you could drive the best and brightest away from you company. Also, don't take this as I am saying this is what you guys are doing. I just want you to be aware that it can send this message, as I am sure a good deal of senior technical people have similar war stories to my own. Personally I would adopt a virtualization technology and tell the developers it has to work in you officially sanctioned virtual. How you get there is of no consequence to me, so long as it is a reproducible process. Tell people what to do and not how to do it, the how is what you hired them for.