Posted on 04/25/2005 8:18:50 AM PDT by r5boston
It's Steve Jobs's plan to make this the Week of the Tiger. But Bill Gates and his minions at Microsoft are crying bull—specifically, a Longhorn steer. Despite the zoological bent, this dust-up is not about animals, but operating systems; Apple and Microsoft just happen to have named each of their major system upgrades after beasts of the realm. This Monday, Bill shows off the future of Windows, a.k.a. Longhorn, at a developers' conference. The oohs and aahs may be tempered by the fact that the hundreds of millions of Windows users won't get their hands on it until holiday season, 2006. (Unless it's even later.) On Friday, Jobs proudly presents the latest Macintosh OS X upgrade, named after that big striped cat that he always seems to have by the tail. When can the 25 million Mac users get their hands on Tiger? This year. This month. That day. Growwwl.
That's a big point for Apple in the latest matchup in high tech's equivalent to the rivalry between the Yankees and the Red Sox. Both companies seem to understand what's really necessary and really cool for the next stop in desktop computing: support for the powerful new generation of 64-bit chips that are coming online; search capabilities built in, so you can mine your own documents as smoothly as Google scans the Web; a suite of persistent, constantly updated tiny applications that keep track of stuff like weather and stock quotes. A way to take advantage of the hot RSS technology that lets you "subscribe" to Web sites instead of visiting them every day or two. And a sleek appearance that relegates the traditional file-and-folder metaphor to the antique shop. Both new systems go a long ways toward making that big step.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
What do you mean? Any business that uses Powerbooks is going to love the auto-syncing mobile home directories. In fact, I think they are only hosted on the server version. Hardly a hobbyist's "lifestyle" upgrade. Do you even know what you are talking about?
The insignificant fag-toy Mac and its insignificant 4% market share are really getting under your skin, aren't they? I looked through your postings and I think half or more of them are apologetics for Microsoft, fellating Bill Gates and his feeble crapware from start to finish.
If I had to take a guess, I'd say your rice bowl is filled in Redmond.
-ccm
Guess what? It's not your place to say when someone else has been insulted. Nor is it mine, so let's look at the fact that you guys make a regular habit of inserting irrelevant comments into threads that have nothing at all to do with Apple or Macs, the purpose of which is to do nothing but disrupt and hijack the thread. But you just keep on telling yourselves that you're the victims here, that nothing you all have ever done could be construed as rude or disruptive - those of us who haven't drunk the rainbow-colored Kool Aid can see otherwise. Go whine to someone else about how oppressed you are - there's lots of places where that kind of "victimhood" is celebrated, but around here, nobody's buying it.
That's only a 120-day trial, and it has no real features over XP other than the 64-bit aspect. Sadly, it doesn't run 32-bit applications natively, since they're all run under an emulation layer. Meanwhile, Tiger is natively 32/64, and so is the processor it runs on.
Hello to my favorite cranky PC user.
Cheers, CC :)
My, my. I have seem to have hit a real nerve with you, General... was it because I quantified the invasion of Mac threads? Was it that ANYONE reading comments like "I'd get a Mac but I'm not Gay", "Macmoonies" and " Macs are for simple minded idiots who can't handle a real computer." that pepper threads for both platforms will make a value judgement that those are intended as personal insults to users of the Macintosh computer?
I documented the fact that while Mac users do occasionally post in threads relating to Windows, seldom hijacking them, that Windows users like you, post in Mac threads and frequently hijack them! When I find that almost 15% of the comments in Mac threads are pro-Windows at best or insults at worst compared to a mere 3.5% of the comments in a Windows thread are pro-Mac and that you DON'T find anywhere near the degree of insulting language coming from the Mac users toward the Windows users as you do vice-verse, then I think a conclusion as to who hijacks who can be drawn... and it isn't Mac users in most cases.
When I find that 88% of recent threads on a particular Microsoft topic have been jumped on by the "Get a Mac!" crew, that says to me that they have no business complaining about threads being "invaded". I'm sorry, I know that minority victim status has some attractiveness to it, but the reality is that there's plenty of give and take on all sides. Nobody's innocent here, and that's a fact.
Here is a rundown of just the last seven Windows Longhorn threads.
An Early Peek at Longhorn - 4/14/2005 - 30 comments.
Article refers to items in Longhorn looking suspiciously like OSX Tiger...
Comments referring to Apple/Mac/OSX in discussion only: #13, #14, #15, #20
No insults,
No "Get a Mac."
DOJ steps up Longhorn scrutiny - 1/26/2005 - 6 comments.
No comments referring to Apple/Mac/OSX.
No "Get a Mac."
Move over Windows XP take a look at Longhorn! :) 9/7/2004 - 42 comments.
Comments referring to Apple/Mac/OSX: #7, #13, #15, #19, #25.
One "Eat my dust, Bill G". #7 No insults,
1 "Get a Mac" comment. #15
Microsoft Revises Longhorn Graphics Requirements - 5/6/2004 - 19 comments.
Poster refers to OSX features that Longhorn is to emulate.
Comments referring to Apple/Mac/OSX: #1, #2, #7, #8, #12, #16, #18,
No insults,
No "Get a Mac," although thread tone is "been there, done that" for OSX
Projected 'Average' Longhorn System Is A Whopper - 5/4/2004 - 38 comments.
Comments referring to Apple/Mac/OSX: #34
Comment reports OSX runs fine on old 400MHz Mac.
No insults,
No "Get a Mac."
How Microsoft Is Clipping Longhorn - 4/9/2004 - 67 comments.
Comments about Longhorn features that already are in OSX.
Comments referring to Apple/Mac/OSX: #12, #13, #17, #18, #22, #32, #34, #36, #37, #40, #46, #47, #51, #52, #54, #58, #63.
3 (mild) insults to Mac users, #40, #46, #54
1 (mild) insult to Windows users, #17.
No "Get a Mac."
Longhorn Beta Delayed to 2005 [Windows XP successor delayed again] - 4/2/2004 - 100 comments.
Windows users comment that OSX is looking better and better in view of release Longhorn date slippage. About half of the comments mentioning Macs are from PC users considering switching. Mac users join in. Insults start later.
Comments referring to Apple/Mac/OSX: #1, #3, #5, #8, #11, #18, (#22), #30, #31, #32, #35, #41, #43, #46, #53, #55, #65, #69, #74, #75, #77, #80, #85, #87. #88, #90, #91, #93, #94, #95, #99, #100.
3 insults to Mac users, (#22) mild, #41 mild, #74
1 to Windows users,
#43 (moderate)
No "Get a Mac.
The last one, because of the large percentage (33%) of Mac references might be considered to have been hijacked, but the discussion was just that... discussion. It was started by Windows users noting the delays in shipping dates for Longhorn and the fact that OSX was out now and looking better and better to their eyes.
Compare those comments to Bush2000 or even your own, General_Re, in this thread... or almost any other Mac thread.
OK. That title was not fair.
I had an app for my old Windows 3.1 called dashboard. I loved it. Most of what it did is now taken care of by the task bar, but back then it was a great tool.
Basically, you want a double standard, where if anyone chimes in about MS on an Apple thread, it's "invading", but if someone drags another thread off-topic with how great Apple is, why, that's just legitimate discussion. I think it's quite obvious to anyone who hasn't drunk the Kool Aid what's going on here. I don't really care if I persuade you, but every time you post it just makes my case that much stronger, that you guys simply can't take it when someone does to you what you do to them. Get over yourself, stop sniveling, and go post without the whining, for crying out loud. If you don't want outsiders posting on your precious Apple threads, go start your own Apple-only discussion board. Or stay off of other people's threads. But you are not free to interrupt others and then demand something in return that you haven't got the courtesy to give to others.
Reap what you sow.
LOL - I found your little rant amusing. Feel better?
You must have me confused with somebody that actually cares what you have to say.
Hey, I'm very civil on the PC-related threads, and giving good advice.
Perhaps you were thinking of KwasiOwusu?
"Get a Mac!" is not intended as a literal quote of an actual post, obviously, but rather as shorthand for the predilection of the Apple contingent to jump onto unrelated thread
I agree... but there is a world of difference between someone who recommends the purchase of another operating system and a person who jumps into a thread merely to attack and insult the users of another platform. Most of the posts are legitimate discussions about the merits of both platforms... but there is a much higher incidence of ad hominem attacks in the Mac threads coming from PC/Windows users than you will find going the other way in PC/Windows threads.
...then I guess I'm never going to penetrate your delusions here.
You see... there it is again... the almost unconscious assumption that you are going to "cure" the users of Macs of their delusions. That is an ad hominem attack on Mac users... implying we are somehow deluded. Quite frankly, I am tired of being accused of being "deluded" simply because I have chosen to purchase and use a computer that is not Windows.
The actual fact is that many Mac users are cross-platform literate... using PC/Windows at work because they have to and Macs at home because they made a conscious choice. Windows users are generally ignorant of Macs because they only use Windows. That makes Mac users MORE informed of the differences and similarities between the two platforms than Windows users.
I think it's quite obvious to anyone who hasn't drunk the Kool Aid what's going on here.
Do you even KNOW where the "Kool-Aid" allegory comes from? Are you aware how insulting it is to be compared to people who killed themselves and their children because of the insane, paranoid rantings of Jim Jones?
I have gone through Windows threads looking for such insults from Mac users to Windows users and found exactly one: "Windows is for losers." I completely disagree with that sentiment... but it is very difficult to find a Mac thread that does not have multiple allegations of sexual perversions, accusations of liberal sympathies, and hints, no, make that declarations that Mac users are not capable of using a "real computer."
Look at the comments from Mac users in Windows threads and you will find slams against the OPERATING SYSTEM... not against the users. Look in Mac threads and you find slams against Mac users from Windows users.
Get over yourself, stop sniveling, and go post without the whining, for crying out loud.
Good grief, General... I provide facts, quantified, from a sampling of threads from both platforms showing a large discrepancy in the tone of the posts and YOU attack me. That entire sentence is ad hominem attack. Some of the ad hominem attacks against Mac users have been extremely nasty and were deleted by the Admins. Did you know that some Freepers have been suspended or banned for their ad hominem comments on Mac threads? I have not seen such an event in a Windows thread.
If you don't want outsiders posting on your precious Apple threads, . . .
The choice of words carries emotional baggage, General.
. . . go start your own Apple-only discussion board. Or stay off of other people's threads. But you are not free to interrupt others and then demand something in return that you haven't got the courtesy to give to others.
Look where you have posted aspersions such as "Macmoonies", "drunk the Kool Aid" and "penetrate your delusions"... in case you have not noticed the title of this thread is "Tiger's Out This Week. No Bull." It's a Mac thread, General. Look where other PC/Windows afficianados such as Bush2000 jumps in to protect his beloved Windows and slam Macs, or where Rodney King repeats his "I'd buy a Mac, but I'm not Gay" comment for the umpty-umpth time, or others chime in with comments based on their experience with a Mac 15 years ago.
You continually personalize this by saying "you have interrupted" Windows threads... I challenge you to find even one instance where I have initiated such an invasion. I understand you are using the inclusive "you", meaning Mac users... but the percentages do not support your allegation. 3.5% Pro-Mac comments (many of which were made by Windows users!) in Windows threads vs. 14.7% Pro-Windows/anti-Mac comments in Mac threads. The interuptions are most likely to be the Windows advocates invading the Mac threads... just as Microsoft is releasing a flurry of Windows ads in an obvious attempt to distract media attention from the release of Tiger this week.
Basically, you want a double standard, where if anyone chimes in about MS on an Apple thread, it's "invading", but if someone drags another thread off-topic with how great Apple is, why, that's just legitimate discussion.
No, General, we don't want a double standard. We Mac users don't mind discussion or even fair criticism but it is the repeated insults that rise over the top... everytime... and the repeated declarations of false information from the same people, time after time.
And what do you call it when HAL9000 runs around tagging every Microsoft thread with the keyword "lowqualitycrap". Not some of them - ALL of them. You don't find that just a bit insulting? Where are you on that score? It's hardly a secret that he does it, but none of you manage a single peep on that score.
Sorry, I think you're deluding yourself with this notion that you're all just squeaky-clean here, and I'm going to say so.
You see... there it is again... the almost unconscious assumption that you are going to "cure" the users of Macs of their delusions.
I don't care if I "cure" you of anything - I'm merely challenging this notion that there's some horribly oppressed and downtrodden minority here on FR, in the form of the Mac users list. Whether you believe it or not really doesn't matter to me, but I'm certainly not going to let such nonsense slide to the point that others might come to actually believe such garbage.
Quite frankly, I am tired of being accused of being "deluded" simply because I have chosen to purchase and use a computer that is not Windows.
See, you're not even paying attention to what I'm writing here - you apparently have this victimization thing so deeply ingrained in you that you can't even see that I'm not talking about you owning a Mac. I don't care if you own a Mac. I don't care if you own a thousand Macs. I don't care if your name is Steve Jobs and you own ten million share of Apple computer. That's not what this is about. What this is about is this idea that you're so horribly mistreated around here. It's crap, and it's going to continue to be crap so long as you all give as good as you take. That's my point here, that there are no innocent victims in all this. I really don't care about this thing you think makes you a victim, your Mac ownership, what I care about is refuting this notion that you're all saints who are constantly being spit on. Get it? Finally?
Good grief, General... I provide facts, quantified, from a sampling of threads from both platforms showing a large discrepancy in the tone of the posts and YOU attack me.
No, you didn't, because you insist on setting yourself up as the arbiter of good taste and decorum here on FR. Well, no offense, but who are you? And look, what a suprise, the arbiter of good taste and decorum decides that the people he's affiliated with are never in the wrong, and the people he's not affiliated with are always in the wrong. What a surprise, eh? You being a completely neutral observer and all. Awfully convenient how the bounds of good taste just happen to fall your way, don't you think?
Sorry, but you're in no position to determine what is and isn't acceptable around here. I'll say it again - if you don't want other people jumping on Mac threads, stop doing it yourselves. It's that simple.
Thanks, Swordmaker. As always, complete, rational, fair and sensible.
I'll take credit for starting that keyword, but not for applying it on every thread. Many times, someone else adds that keyword before I get the chance. But it doesn't just happen on Windows threads. For instance, someone put it on this thread. I have no idea who did it, nor am I complaining about it.
When I started using the lowqualitycrap keyword, I was curious to see if it reflected the opinion of other computer users. Since then, lowqualitycrap has become synonymous with Windows, even among Windows users.
For what it's worth, I spend most of my time on FR with news about politics and international matters, not the Mac vs. Windows debate.
That's not what you said when I first asked you about it - you claimed, as I recall, that it was just your way of tracking the threads. So I figured I'd check that out by poisoning the well and applying it to lots of threads. If you were actually using it to track the threads, you'd probably have noticed and said something to someone at some point, but of course, you didn't because that's not really why it's done. Be honest, now - it's not about tracking or polling or testing the mood of the forum, it's your little way of sticking it to others. Isn't it?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.