Posted on 12/06/2008 4:39:18 PM PST by Swordmaker
SAN FRANCISCO — Internet security is broken, and nobody seems to know quite how to fix it.
Despite the efforts of the computer security industry and a half-decade struggle by Microsoft to protect its Windows operating system, malicious software is spreading faster than ever. The so-called malware surreptitiously takes over a PC and then uses that computer to spread more malware to other machines exponentially. Computer scientists and security researchers acknowledge they cannot get ahead of the onslaught.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
How about this prompt:
PS1="\w \`if [ \$? = 0 ]; then echo
It displays the return status of the last command/program executed...
~
~
~
The issue with Boot Camp is it pretty much eliminates the reason for running OS X in the first place. Why do I need a separate OS when Windows XP runs Firefox, Apple makes Quicktime and iTunes for Windows, and Windows actually runs games?
After 25 years of buying/using Mac exclusively, I’m fed up! Windows XP is backwards compatible. I can run all the old games I love and do everything else in Windows XP that I used to do with Mac OS X.
At one time, I didn’t mind it that only quality games made it to the Mac platform or that I paid more for them or that they didn’t run as well as the Windows versions. I could at least run the programs I wanted in addition to enjoying a much more user friendly OS.
I currently use an Intel-based Mac. If I’m always running Boot Camp to do what I want to do, why bother with OS X or Mac hardware in the first place? I speak as someone who went from Apple II to 680X0 to PPC to Intel-based. Please explain why OS X and Mac hardware are even relevant any more.
I suppose success speaks for itself, and Apple’s sales are up. I suspect a lot of that is due to the iPhone and iPod. Will those new Mac owners be so keen to keep buying Mac up the road when they realize they own computers that are handicapped software-wise?
You seem to know what you’re talking about concerning Mac. All I can speak from is practical experience, and I have never had a problem or even heard of anyone having a problem with Mac malware or viruses. As I understand it, nothing can be installed to the root directory without the user entering their admin password. I don’t typically enter that for anything other than Apple’s own software updates.
I suppose success speaks for itself, and Apple’s sales are up. I suspect a lot of that is due to the iPhone and iPod. Will those new Mac owners be so keen to keep buying Mac up the road when they realize they own computers that are handicapped software-wise?
What a load of FUD, CitizenUSA.
Windows XP is backwards compatible.
Unless you are talking about wanting to run old Mac OS software on a current OSX.5 Mac, I have yet to run into software on OSX that isn't backwards compatible. I long ago threw out the antique software in favor of new, better software for OSX.
Since you claim to already have a Boot Camp capable Intel Mac, a $40 purchase of either Parallells or VMWare Fusion would allow your Mac (which I really don't believe you own) to running ALL software from Windows, Macs, Linux, UNIX, all at the same time, transparently. If you want to occasionally run a game at full speed, Boot Camp will boot into WindowsXP or Vista and run your Mac faster than most PCs. There is MORE software available for the Mac than there is for Windows. Where is the handicap?
Incidentally, the assertion that games released for both platforms are somehow more expensive for Macs has not been true for over ten years, if was even then. I will agree that when games were released for the Mac it was usually several months after the release for Windows. That disparity is now disappearing.
I suppose success speaks for itself, and Apple’s sales are up. I suspect a lot of that is due to the iPhone and iPod.
Another indication you don't know what you are talking about. The sales of Mac computer has been increasing by around 30% year over year and quarter over quarter for the last four years. Mac sales account for approximately 60% of Apple's profits. Apple has gone from selling around 1,000,000 Macs a quarter to selling 2,500,000 in the last quarter. That is real growth.
Please explain why OS X and Mac hardware are even relevant any more.
WindowsXP has over 500,000 various forms and iterations of malware. Mac OSX has under under a dozen (if you accept Proof-of-concept offerings)... and none of them is self-replicating, self-transmitting, or self-executing. That's real relevance.
Your post is a compendium of many of the FUD talking points we've been seeing for years from pretend Mac users who have really not experienced a Mac. You've been a member of FR for Four years... yet you are not a member of the Mac Ping List. If you were a Mac user, you would most likely have read the numerous threads that have outlined the points I have repeated in this reply. I also don't believe a mature Mac user, after 25 years, suddenly becomes a PC gamer and needs to have the latest cutting edge games to the extent they become dissatisfied with the OSX/Mac user experience. While it is possible, I have never seen it happen. I don't believe you have owned or even used a Mac. Your claimed usage and ownership are an attempt to make your opinion seem more informed... but when it flies in the face of the actual experiences of people who are intimately familiar with both platform, it stands out like a sore thumb infected with FUD.
Enjoy your Windows PC.
Only one little problem with that: back when Apple was handing out certifications, I got a few. Last one was Apple Product Professional.
So, technically, even Apple agrees that I’m an expert.
Thanks for playing.
Terpfen: “Exactly what games do you want to play?”
Case in point: I heard Fallout 3 was recently released (no Mac version). I have the OS X versions of Fallout 1 and 2 and wanted to run them for old time’s sake. Oh, too bad, because OS 10.5.5 no longer supports 256 color mode for those particular games, at least not on my Intel-based built in video. Fallout Tactics? Never released for Mac.
I’m also a big fan of Neverwinter Nights. Mac version of NWN2? Released long, long after the Windows XP one. NWN2 for Mac is $40. NWN2 for Windows available for $10. The Mac versions of NWN1 and NWN2 do not include the tool set necessary to build modules—standard with the Windows version.
EV Nova from Ambrosia, a long-time Mac developer. Ah, doesn’t work on my intel-based, GMA 950 Mac because the 256 color support is disabled or just doesn’t work. EV Nova for Windows XP? Runs fine.
Starcraft/Diablo2? Both broken and Blizzard had to rush out a fix to the Apple Corp induced problem. Warcraft I and II not supported for Mac since System 9.
Baldur’s Gate, Baldur’s Gate 2, Tales of the Sword Coast? The OS X versions are all broken.
BTW, some of these games worked fine in 10.5.2. Apple broke them with 10.5.3 when they removed 256 color support.
As for whether or not I’m a Mac fan, let’s just say I’ve been using Apple products pretty much exclusively since the Apple II+ days. I just don’t think I need to be using them much more since I spend most of my time in Boot Camp. Sorry, but it’s true. Believe me. I’d love to keep buying Macs, but why?
Surfing the Net: Firefox
iTunes: Mac and Windows versions available
Games: Windows by far!
Quicktime: Windows version available.
Windows Media Files: Not supported on Mac (Flip4Mac can be manipulated to work)
Microsoft Office: Windows version better supported.
Take it for what it’s worth. Unless you’re Woz or Jobs, I’m pretty sure I’ve used Apple products as long as you have. I’m not lying about OS X. I think it’s a fantastic operating system, much better than Windows XP (I haven’t tried Vista).
I also can’t complain about the hardware. I owned many Macs, and I never had a problem with any of them. That includes other Apple hardware, like the iPod. Again, I owned several, and I can safely say I got my money’s worth many times over.
But a computer is more than its OS and hardware. I’m talking about applications! Now you may not care about old software, but I do. The simple fact is, Windows still supports the older games I personally enjoy. Mac does not.
Windows games on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/PC-Games/b/ref=amb_link_7135192_13?ie=UTF8&node=229575&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_r=1T4YGQ1JXM4XSCFDPYNP&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=418315501&pf_rd_i=471280
Mac games on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Mac-Games/b/ref=amb_link_7135192_15?ie=UTF8&node=229647&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_r=1T4YGQ1JXM4XSCFDPYNP&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=418315501&pf_rd_i=471280
Compare them yourself! The simple truth is the games that I want to run are still all supported on Windows, but the OS X versions are all inop (and they ran as late as 10.5.2!).
If games are a high or growing priority, then sure, you hold a point. There’s nothing stopping you from switching to Windows if you truly want to, and it sounds like you do.
But the Mac has clearly succeeded without gaming, and it’s going to take a pretty big shift to bring gaming back to the Mac due to factors beyond Steve Jobs’ control.
How can I tell if my PC has been hi-jacked (bot?)? When I do a ctrl+alt+del and view the applications running, there are more than 50. I don’t have a clue as to what most of those things are.
See link at #71.
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