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Gates Slams Mac Ads, Questions Mac Security
MacNN.com ^ | 2 Feb 2007

Posted on 02/02/2007 10:59:18 AM PST by big'ol_freeper

Microsoft co-founder and former CEO Bill Gates has openly criticized Apple's 'Get a Mac' ads, called the company a liar, and questioned the security of Apple's Mac OS X operating system. In a recent interview with Newsweek, Gates compared Microsoft's recently released security-oriented Windows Vista to Apple's Mac OS X: "We made it way harder for guys to do exploits," Gates said, referring to Windows Vista. "The number [of violations] will be way less because we've done some dramatic things [to improve security] in the code base. Apple hasn't done any of those things." The executive also referenced the frequent discovery of flaws in Mac OS X. "Nowadays, security guys break the Mac every single day. Every single day, they come out with a total exploit, your machine can be taken over totally. I dare anybody to do that once a month on the Windows machine." Gates was likely referring to the 'Month of Apple Bugs' project -- which came under intense criticism this week for exploiting Safari users attempting to view a freshly-discovered bug.

(Excerpt) Read more at macnn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: computers; mac; micrsoft
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To: Petronski
The actor is a metaphor for a PC running Windows.

And his persona is that and that alone and not at all an indictment of "PC running Windows" users? I doubt very much you could say that this is your honest belief; that there was no double entendre or innuendo intended as a slight against PC users.

I am certain the vast majority of the public IS making that connection. If I am right than the ad and it's creators, as you see it, failed in their specific intent.

141 posted on 02/02/2007 2:06:53 PM PST by Ktulu
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Mac ads: Hilarious!

http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads/

142 posted on 02/02/2007 2:20:41 PM PST by XR7
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To: Ktulu
And his persona is that and that alone and not at all an indictment of "PC running Windows" users?

Yes.

I doubt very much you could say that this is your honest belief;

Of course you don't mean to insinuate I'm lying.

...that there was no double entendre or innuendo intended as a slight against PC users.

You're awfully sensitive, aren't you?

I am certain the vast majority of the public IS making that connection. If I am right than the ad and it's creators, as you see it, failed in their specific intent.

Sorry you have to be so wrong.

143 posted on 02/02/2007 2:20:59 PM PST by Petronski (Who am I and why am I here?)
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To: Petronski

I think it's funny whenever I use logic against certain posters they divide up my posts on a point by point basis and then accuse me of being sensitive.

Hardly.

I couldn't care who makes my computer as long as it gets the job done. However I am willing to bet you drive around with an apple on your car. Who's sensitive about the machine?

Sorry friend, you are wrong. You don't understand advertising and I believe that you are only lying to yourself.


144 posted on 02/02/2007 2:27:37 PM PST by Ktulu
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To: Petronski

My Commodore 64 is more upgradable than my Mac 6100/66. The Commodore 64 has everything that the 6100/66 offers (except the C64 offers larger HD support)PLUS some intrepid users are STILL developing for it.

What was developed for that 6100/66 after its release?

Not much. It can't even run legacy software and I can't upgrade it to OS9 due to hardware limitations.

Boo hoo for me, 2,000$ on a computer that wasn't supported shortly after the release.

I got a sticker, though.

APf


145 posted on 02/02/2007 2:35:03 PM PST by APFel (Regnum Nostrum Crescit)
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To: Ktulu
However I am willing to bet you drive around with an apple on your car.

I'll spare you the loss. Not only do I own no Apple stickers, I own no Apple hardware whatsoever (nor have I ever). My wife has an iBook, but it's too small for my hands or eyes.

But I am amazed at your reaction to the labyrinthine subtleties of a phrase like "I am a Mac."

Prior to this thread, I had never met anyone so beguiled by the simple language in these ads.

You don't understand advertising and I believe that you are only lying to yourself.

You are the one expressing a childlike misunderstanding of the world around you. You have called me a liar, thanks for that, but that honor in this thread goes to "UpAllNight."

146 posted on 02/02/2007 2:37:12 PM PST by Petronski (Who am I and why am I here?)
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To: APFel
I got a sticker, though.

Congratulations. I suggest you report that to Ktulu, I think he's conducting a poll.

147 posted on 02/02/2007 2:38:52 PM PST by Petronski (Who am I and why am I here?)
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To: big'ol_freeper

I'm not a big fan of advertising, but the geek vs. cool guy Mac ad campaign is the most devastating ad campaign that I can remember.


148 posted on 02/02/2007 2:42:50 PM PST by Aquinasfan (When you find "Sola Scriptura" in the Bible, let me know)
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To: Petronski

I'm sure he is capable of reading it without me pinging him here. But thanks. You are chock full of "good" advice.

APf


149 posted on 02/02/2007 2:42:55 PM PST by APFel (Regnum Nostrum Crescit)
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To: APFel
Not much. It can't even run legacy software and I can't upgrade it to OS9 due to hardware limitations.

If you really still want to use that 13-year-old hardware, you might be interested in this chart, which seems to indicate OS9 can be installed.

150 posted on 02/02/2007 2:43:55 PM PST by Petronski (Who am I and why am I here?)
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To: Aquinasfan
...the geek vs. cool guy Mac ad campaign is the most devastating ad campaign that I can remember.

This is why it is so irritating to some PC stalwarts.

151 posted on 02/02/2007 2:44:59 PM PST by Petronski (Who am I and why am I here?)
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To: razorback-bert
If what I have been reading on the net is correct, Vista is only going to let certain peripherals work, isn't that going to make it a Mac?

From my understanding, the issue stems from an architectural change in the way Winders deals with device drivers. They've modularized them in the kernel now, and also have a DRM scheme for them. So out of the gate, there will be limited support a lot of devices than in the past, until manufacturers rewrite for the new scheme.

So in other words, No W2K/XP drivers will work for Vista.

Not my problem since I saw all this B$ coming long ago and made the switch to Linux. Haven't missed Winders at all.

152 posted on 02/02/2007 2:46:52 PM PST by AFreeBird (This space for rent. Inquire within)
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To: Petronski

I don't think you understand. I tried to install OS9 on it. The hardware would not allow it. Not that it matters.

That "next best thing" Nubus was a complete lemon.

Am I bitter, after dropping 20,000$ on computers that were orphaned as quickly as they were?

Just a little.

APf


153 posted on 02/02/2007 2:52:45 PM PST by APFel (Regnum Nostrum Crescit)
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To: APFel
I tried to install OS9 on it. The hardware would not allow it.

I only mean to say that since Apple's chart claims it can install, they might have an advisory sheet or procedure to accomplish the installation.

154 posted on 02/02/2007 2:54:43 PM PST by Petronski (Who am I and why am I here?)
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To: Petronski

Childlike misunderstanding? Your poor manners rival your arrogance so forgive me if I set mine aside. I have been anything but childlike. I am analyzing and disagreeing - you are picking people to bicker with and call names.

You may be a child because reading comprehension fails you-I never called you a liar. Please don't make yourself a victim it is unbecomming. You can be dishonest with yourself without necessarily being a liar. You could just be deeply in denial. You are in denial.

Listen one of the most common elements of visual advertising is metaphor, and the more metaphors that support your product or message the better. Incidentally this makes for deeper or more insightful ads. You know so that people like me can see more than one meaning in a simple line-just as you point out. You gotta try it, it makes life infinitely more interesting.

You say the only intended metaphor is that of a literal “PC running Windows” being geeky.

Assuming this is even the primary metaphor, you deny the additional metaphor of actual users being geeky or cool.

Yet if one were to watch the commercial and assume that PC users are geeky and Mac users are cool, it is reasonable to assume they would want to not be geeky; rather they would want to be cool and therefore buy a Mac.

In your opinion this was not at all an intention of the ads creators. Therefore they must be

a. incredibly lucky because whether you want to admit it or not this would influence a section of the target demographic, and

b. the most remarkably incompetent advertisers in the universe for not considering this additional function of the visuals.

Class is over, last I will post to you.


155 posted on 02/02/2007 2:55:14 PM PST by Ktulu
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To: Ktulu
Your poor manners rival your arrogance so forgive me if I set mine aside.

My arrogance?

You have stated that if I do not say I agree with you, I am either lying to you or lying to myself.

I never called you a liar.

Really?

I believe that you are only lying to yourself.

156 posted on 02/02/2007 3:02:38 PM PST by Petronski (Who am I and why am I here?)
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To: big'ol_freeper
and questioned the security of Apple's Mac OS X operating system

M$ has absolutely ZERO room to talk about computer security.

157 posted on 02/02/2007 3:02:40 PM PST by Centurion2000 (If you're not being shot at, it's not a high stress job.)
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To: Ktulu
You can be dishonest with yourself without necessarily being a liar.

But the choice of the word "lying" was yours.

You could just be deeply in denial. You are in denial.

Ah, a retraction. That's wise. I won't wait for your apology (or that of UpAllNight).

158 posted on 02/02/2007 3:04:50 PM PST by Petronski (Who am I and why am I here?)
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To: Ktulu
Therefore they must be

...(c) unaware they would be addressing a viewer so hypersensitive as you.

159 posted on 02/02/2007 3:06:22 PM PST by Petronski (Who am I and why am I here?)
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To: VanDeKoik

I have between now and the time they stop support of XP to decide....

Windows is a monopoly....and all that that means.

Linux is a viable alternative and I will explore it when the time comes.

Vista is over priced and Linux is reasonable....in most cases FREE.


160 posted on 02/02/2007 3:08:35 PM PST by Halgr (Once a Marine, always a Marine - Semper Fi)
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