[CodeMercenary]

Wingsy said:

What a ridiculous analogy, since houses are broken into about 10,000 times more often than banks.

And if you didn't have your head buried so far up Ballmer's butt you'd know that the security-through-obscurity myth has been disproved time and time again.

So tell us about those 10 million plus PCs recently infected with the Downadup worm, or the British Navy being effectively disabled by a Windows virus, or the court system in TX where they can't hold court until the PCs have been disinfected. Then tell us about the latest Mac virus making the rounds. That last one should be interesting.

I quite clearly did not say ALL houses. I was merely making the point that just because something hasn't been broken into does not mean it can't be broken into.

No surprise this would turn into ad hominem personal insults... Shouldn't be too long before someone throws the Nazi card.

I was never saying Windows is totally secure or that Windows has never been infected. I simply stated that it is my belief that Windows (especially Vista) is fundamentally more secure than Mac OS and the reason you don't see widespread Mac viruses and worms is because:

1) they are a less intersting target due to small market share so they don't get attacked

2) they make up a smaller surface area of the general population so a virus or worm would be far less effective (no doubt part of the reason they don't get attacked)

There's less malware on Macs for the same reason there is less software on Macs. Why write something for 10% of the market when you can target 90% of the market?

[opuspodunk]

First of all, I was raised using a PC. I own a Dell Inspiron 1525 notebook and I wish I would have known about Apple's superiority before I made my purchase this summer. My knowledge of Macs consisted of what I used in the 90's and early 00's in school and I thought of them as crappy, insufficient machines with child blocks on everything. Now I work in a school and use the new products every day. I was hired as tech support and forced to learn more about both PCs and Macs in order to better serve the other staff. Mac blows PC out of the water. Sure, if you're a gamer, you'll probably be disappointed because most games are not Mac compatible, but if you're using the computer for a useful purpose (i.e. recording, work projects, photo and video editing, etc.) they are the better computers. Are you familiar with the iLife package? Amazing. Apple is more expensive, but they aren't prone to viruses, they are VERY secure, much more secure than any PC I've owned or used, and they run smoother. Start up and shut down time are almost instantaneous. Defragmenting is unnecessary. Sure, a lot of the new programming is just flashy and eye candy, but that's all Vista is and at least Apple's eye candy works and has a purpose.

I'm a PC guy at home, but only because that's how I was raised. I'd trade in for a Mac any day.

This blog was hilarious. PC fanatics would get offended at something like this. Usually people get offended at facts they don't want to admit. I love my computer, but Mac beats the crap out of it.

[ypwe]

I remember Microsoft's foray into operating their own store with their own branding. They had a store at Sony's Metreon in San Francisco. All the demonstrator machines were Sony VAIO models and it was a joint project with Sony. They certainly didn't have a whole lot of help other than people trying to sell the products. They did have 10 minute free internet access. It wasn't run well and eventually turned to selling only Sony consumer products and computers.

Say what you will about Apple products, but their stores are run well. I've never felt rushed or pressured to make a purchase. If I had a problem and asked a question I was never pressured to buy anything. During peak sales seasons they have a ready stock of iPods in one location and sales staff with portable bar code and credit card readers who can get one in and out in less than a minute. They may be running a business, but the stores themselves provide goodwill to the consumer as an easy location for warranty service and problem solving.

[XanderB]

{font:Times New Roman}{size:3}Restrictive in the fact that it is to proprietary. It requires you to have Mac hardware/software, so no outside companies can compete for the business of Mac users and create a less expensive market to buy their brand of computers. PC's are upgradeable, which is a great feature because when the time comes that Mac OS's get a bump up in system usage, you will have to purchase an entire new computer to use it. As cheesy at it sounds, Apple has created a monopoly on all things OS/X. But hey, that's just my opinion.{size}{font}



{font:Times New Roman}{size:3}Also, I hate having to use the Apple key to do anything that the right mouse button does. It wastes precious seconds of my computing life :p {size}{font}

[celticowboy]

Actually Mac security is called Unix Security. On a PC you click the wrong weblink and an ActiveX script hijacks your browser. You click on the wrong link on a Mac and a window pops up saying "Are you SURE you want to install this software?" Software that will automatically take your browser to an obcure German site, and you'll have to spend hours finding and deleting files and editing the registry and, Doh!! Now I have to wipe the drive and reinstall the OS and all apps and restore my files from backup... wait a minute, when was the last ackup????

[cpuspeed]

Again wow.

First mac users fail to differentiate the desktop from the OS. A desktop is the graphical user interface which runs on top of a computer operating system. OS X is simply a variant of BSD UNIX (mach 3/freebsd). The mac os desktop is wonderful but their are a lot of desktops that run on unix/linux. Why do macs appear to run without issue compared to other PC's and OS's. Because it runs on proprietray hardware whereby all the driver et al issues are ironed out. So its win win. Great OS, Great desktop, and no hardware issues. BUT if you want to use other hardware, youre out of luck, and have to run another OS on it. An OS that goes thru great pains to work on any PC you install it on.

In the end youre comparing apples and oranges, no pun intended, and its not worth getting worked up over.

IMHO If microsoft wants to have greater success with their OS's then they need to force PC manufacturers NOT to bundle crap software with it. If I buy a PC with windows pre-installed, I want a clean install of the OS with nothing else, and go from there.

[celticowboy]

FYI I am a avid Microsoft user and have no idea why one would choose the restrictive mac as a platform.


Uh, because it runs everything needed, and if necesasy also runs Windows for those obscure Windows apps there aren't alredy versions of for Macs?

[XanderB]

IMHO If microsoft wants to have greater success with their OS's then they need to force PC manufacturers NOT to bundle crap software with it. If I buy a PC with windows pre-installed, I want a clean install of the OS with nothing else, and go from there.

_

I agree completely here. That's why I always build my own systems. Only the crap I want is on there. I wish the major brands out there would figure that out.

But then again, that's the same with Apple. It comes with many things that would probably never be used by the average Mac user, and yet they have to pay for each and every piece of software. My parents own a Mac. They never use anything in the Office suite beyond Word. They never use the iXX programs except for iTunes (which you can get off the web for free btw, since you have to pay for that too). The rest is all useless fluff.

[frozen01]

"FYI I am a avid Microsoft user and have no idea why one would choose the restrictive mac as a platform."

It's all about preference.

I've been using my iMac (desktop) at home for over 4 years now, and my MacBook (laptop) for about a year. I have Parallels installed in both machines, but I've never found the need to use it. Everything I've ever needed is available on the Mac (and then some). The only thing is that there are definitely more games for PCs than Macs, but that is starting to change, and I'm not much of a gamer, anyways. In other words, I don't find my Macs to be restrictive at all. It works for me (obviously, or I would not own one, much less two).

I'm a photographer on the weekends, and I have a "real" job during the week. I use my Macs for photography and for non-work stuff, and (unfortunately) a PC during the week. Neither of my Macs has EVER crashed, nor have they ever had to be serviced, and both work just as well as the day we bought 'em. My PC at work, by comparison, has to be force-rebooted every single morning upon sign in, because when I try to wake it up (due to IT maintenance I have to "log out" instead of shutting down) I just get a blue screen. (It's been looked at twice, and couldn't be fixed... we gave up.) On projects that require me to use Photoshop on larger files, I bring my MacBook into work, because my PC just can't handle it. Also, my husband has a 5-year-old PC laptop from when he was in school... that thing is practically a paperweight at this point. It takes more than a half an hour to go from off to surfing the internet! Meanwhile, our only slightly younger iMac boots up in less than a minute, and you can go from off to surfing the internet in less than two minutes (my laptop's even faster, but that's cuz it's newer). So I've just found that the Mac platform is more stable and doesn't degrade as quickly, from my personal experiences, which more than justifies the higher price tag.

My husband spent over $1000 for his PC laptop (back in the day), which as I mentioned is pratically useless at this point... in fact, he should have replaced it more than a year ago, IMO. If he were to get a another PC laptop to replace his existing one, it would run around $500-$700. Meanwhile, our iMac has already lasted us over four years and is still going very strong. I expect we will get similar performance out of the MacBook, which was $1100. Point being: we're actually saving money in the long run since we won't have to replace our computer(s) as often.

Also, the programs that mean the most to me, such as Photoshop, are way easier to use on the Mac. Being able to splay out or tile the windows makes toggling between them easier for a visually-oriented person like me (and is absolutely necessary when creating collages or logos), and customizable "hot corners" makes this and other functions very easy to access.

I find the search functions are more user-friendly and are faster and smoother on the Mac, for me The menu organization makes more sense to me as well. After using PCs my entire life, switching to my iMac was easy as pie for this reason. But, like I said, it's all about preference... people who have different styles are going to find different things more natural, intuitive, and "user-friendly".

[TechieXP]

I dont know why an article about MSFt opening a store has to do with security in their software or why its another Apple vs MSFT debate. However here is something that isn't an opinion.

Any software developer will tell you honest all software is buggy. Some bugs are good and they gave them gancy names like Easter Eggs. Easter Eggs are nothing more then bugs in a game that will allow you to do things teh software wasn't desined to do...or is a hidden bug that rewards you if you find it. Devices like the Game Shark and I forgot teh red one that allowed you to do codes to change gameplay were just devices made to take advantage of bugs.

MSFT is no more less secure than others, it is simply takien more advantage of...not because it is easier...bec it in fact is more popular. If MSFT Windows is less secure then OSX, explain why in 2008 Apple released more updates that were marked important for patching vulnerabilities in OSX then MSFT had to release for Vista. In soe cases they were patches for the same issues.

Security firms have stated, Apple doesn't have anyone testing security in their software vs what MSFT does to insure theres is. The last wor attack only infected ppl who were too stupid to keep Windows updated...even though Microsoft has made it so easy to do. The patch that would have protect the was realease last year. So so almost 5 months later they didn't install any updates that were available since March? That is MSFT fault that is ignorant ppls fault. How hard is it to download updates....You can set it to be fully automatic with no effort my the user. Ppl are simply lazy.

I worked on a pc once where a lady has a virus. She has Norton but it expoired. She said she didnt know she was suppose to pay to keep it going. I asked her about teh popups..she said she never read them they are annoying. What goood is any company alearting you if you never read them and then when you suffer you want to blame them. This is tired already. That fcat that billions of ppl use Windows with little to know problems means Windows is doing well. This is compared to other arkets that use OS's that are used by only a few million. If you could rob a bank would you choose one that had billions of dollars or millions of dollars. Is it best to drop a bomb on New York City, or Nowhereville Montana...If you wanted attantion of a rich girl would you pick her up in a Honda or a Porsche...think about it.

[rccoffee]

I loved the article, Brennon. It was sooo funny and soooo true IMHO! Thank you.
As someone who uses both XP and Leopard, I am thankful that we have a choice. I know nothing, though, about Linux.
Does anyone think Microsoft will buy Packard-Bell and get into hardware as well?

[givemeabreak1]

kutts said:

This is the most ridiculous and cheap journalism I have seen in a long time. This reporter has no idea of anything about either Microsoft or Apple and just for cheap publicity and inviting viewers with a slanted title wrote this piece of CRAP.

Both MS and Apple have their own value and atleast MS is humble in its approach to customers.

Please learn to write sensible journalism and not use the Microsoft powered PC to type some CRAP like this.

kutts, you actually made me register just to reply to this.

humble? like "if you use an older version of our own product because it still meets all your needs then you are a dinosaur" or "if you think Vista is crap becuase it's ridiculously bloated, crashes, and prompts you all the time with lack of clear advantage over XP then you are a member of some crazed vocal minority with a chip on your shoulder" humble? have you ever worked with, or even met, anyone from Microsoft? humble is not a word that comes to mind in most cases.

btw XP is my favorite OS, over OSX, so don't label me an apple fanboy. what's crap is the propaganda campaign waged by paid shills from WaggEd, etc, and their outsourced typewriter monkeys who can't even speak english and whose only strategy is mean spirited personal attack against anyone who says anything bad about their massa. it's pathetic. ms is the bull in the tech chinashop and the usability, security and stability of its products leaves much to be desired. if you're number one, then just take the heat with dignity, smile & nod, and focus on improving your products.

this article is FUNNY - get it, humor based on grains of truth that people can related to from personal experience?

[XanderB]

To get back on topic since this thread has gone completely Mac Vs. PC, let's add onto this list shall we?



11. If there is no activity within the Microsoft store for 20 minutes, the employees will turn the lights off and take a nap. The only way to wake them is to shake the door or mash the doorbell over and over. No guarantees that the employees will wake up.

12. All employees will be required to have their own authenticated nametag. Should they try to share their nametag with another employee, both will be fired.

13. All customers bringing in out-of-store items will have to check them in at the front desk. There an employee will verify that it is compatible for use in the store, but will require you to pay them a fee for a handstamp stating that you are allowed to do so. If you do not have the handstamp, an employee will ask you every 3 seoconds if "you're sure you want to use that?".

[TechieXP]

Read this information and make sure to open the pdf attached to one of them. You'll see what you said is totallu untrue about who has the most secure OS.

http://www.pcworld.c...le/152151/applereleasesanothermegapatchformacos_x.html
http://ithreats.word...bility-in-2008/
http://blogs.technet...-scorecard.aspx

OSX in fact is teh least secure OS of 2008

[RedNed]

Cheap? Of course! Get a sense of humor. But don't deride the author without proof. Why do you say he knows nothing? Having this journalism job alone gives him more clout that you as a comment poster.
When has Microsoft been humble? Back in the Homebrew days maybe. MS is not humble to it's users at all. Unless you have a notable number of MSFT shares, or a corporate account with them, you're nothing. I know this because I've participated in a group that at one time owned approzimately 3% of the outstanding shares.

Heh. Who cares what machine he used to type this. What a silly thing to ding.

[LarryE]

I'm actually sorry I wasted my time clicking on the link to this silly article. PC World, have your writers stick to something they KNOW, and leave the comedy to the professionals.

[Ralph]

To all the people who voiced their disapproval of this article, shame on you! - you have absolutely no sense of humor; lighten up for goodness sake! With all the well deserved bad publicity that MS have garnered for themselves over these past few years, praise be to those who CAN laugh!
Ralph

[roseman]

You forgot that once you go into the store you won't be able to shop (let alone purchase anything) unless you have & use an Active-X enabled credit card.

[Ralph]

Priceless! - I hope Steve B is reading all this - at least his cocky laugh will have some something worthwhile to aim at!

Ralph

[zpatch]

On the second Tuesday of every month, the store will be shut down for about an hour while all the locks are changed. Anyone inside the store at the time will be stuck there until the workmen have finished.