Gates Slams Mac Ads, Questions Mac Security

MacNN.com ^ | 2 Feb 2007

[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.

[cicero's_son]

No they are trying to make it "uncool" to not use a Mac.

Yep. Great strategy, really. I'm sure it's getting under Microsoft's skin.

[MarkL]

I think the Mac ads are a hoot!!

I had never been to the web page, having only seen a few of the ads on TV... Of course, the QT plug-in kept crashing Firefox on my XP system! lol. Until I downloaded and installed the latest KLM codec pack and security update (v1.64). I was finally able to see all the ads.

You're right, what a hoot! I guess a big part of it is that I "come from" the OS side of things, having worked on IBM's System 360 OS, 4.2 BSD (on Vaxen), Xenix, Unix, MS Dos, OS/2, Win 3.x, Win9x, WinNT 3.51, 4.0, Win2K,Xp,2K3, etc... Actually, about the only OS I don't have any experience with IS MACOS X. But I did get to play with a buddy's iBook one day, and thought it was pretty cool. I'd like one, but I'm just too heavily intrenched in the Windows world with work to justify spending any more money on hardware.

Mark

[MarkL]

As for security, it's the global warming of the home PC market.

As long as you don't do anything like on-line banking or investing, I suppose you're right. Who cares how much malware you get on a home PC. Of course, sometimes these people also run small businesses, and go to Sams Club to buy PCs to network their small office, and hook them up directly to the Internet, with no firewall, virus protection, or security concerns.

Oh, BTW, I've seen larger companies, where a single virus infection has cost the company well upwards of a half million dollars, because they weren't concerned with security. One example was a former client of mine who just used the pre-installed McAfee and Symantec "trial" AV software, and never bothered with buying the subscriptions, or getting a proper network version of the software... They got hit with a really nasty variant of a virus that destroyed the contents of .doc and .xls with payloads that would infect other systems if opened. The problem was that the company had all sorts of network shares on individual PCs, as well as an infected file server. It took 3 of us @ $150/an hour 4 full days go completely clean their entire network. They also lost a total of 6 days worth of production work, and in some cases, lost weeks or even months of individual work, due to storing data on local workstations that didn't get backed up, as opposed to storing the data on the server, which did.

A lot of people don't take security anywhere near as seriously as I do, but then, that's what I do for a living.

Mark

[MarkL]

I think the Mac ads are a hoot!!

And I WANT that Mac home movie! lol

Who is that? She's a babe. BTW, isn't the Mac guy the kid from "Dodgeball?"

Mark

[MarkL]

I work in corporate IT and would never downplay security here. At home, though? Bah!

Until you're in a situation which includes VPN connectivity, allowing home users access to the corporate network... Then things can get really exciting.

Mark

[Swordmaker]

Who is that? She's a babe. BTW, isn't the Mac guy the kid from "Dodgeball?"

That's Brazilian model Giselle Bundchen:

Bundchen has been named "Model of the Year" and "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" by Rolling Stone. Her portfolio includes appearances in ads for such brands as Victoria's Secret, Louis Vuitton and Versace.

Though primarily a model, Bundchen has also dabbled in the acting business. She starred in the 2004 film "Taxi" and most recently played a part in the 2006 flick "The Devil Wears Prada."

And yes, she is indeed "a babe!"

The Mac is played by Justin Long... and he did appear in Dodgeball.

[TheBattman]

What in the Sam Hadies are you talking about? A C64 that is superior to a 6100/66? Have you lost your mind?

The C64's ONLY plus is a small group of folks who are fans, somewhat akin to the muscle car crowd who form clubs to tinker with their toys.

I just recently got rid of a similar Mac (donated to a friend) that could still run anything I threw at it. Obviously, nothing of the latest commercial software will run on it (but neither will the same run on the C64).

But that machine surprised me what it could still run - as long as you used the correct versions of the software (of which there was quite a bit for years after the release of the 6100).

You are correct - no OS 9 unless you put in the upgrade card spoken of by another poster (with a G3 processor).

But then again - have you tried installing Win 98 on your C64? How about Win 98 on a x486 processor? Not a good idea, huh?

So what is the point of your post? Further - how does it in ANY way related to the topic of this thread - Bill Gates complaining about the recent Mac ads and security?

[Swordmaker]

I haven't seen a parallel or serial device on store shelves in years. I stopped using my last one years ago when I replaced my parallel Zip 100 drive with a USB Zip 250.

I still see parallel port printers and even the occasional serial port printer in businesses that are still using antiquated line or dot matrix (Gosh, how long has it been since I've used that phrase?) impact printers because of using multiple copy NCR paper.

Also some older devices that may be too expensive to upgrade (an optical topographer owned by one of my Optometrist clients comes to mind - replacement over $10k) which require connection via parallel port. The same optometrist is still using a Dot matrix printer to print labels at the reception desk despite my constant urging to get a Dymo USB label printer... I think he is afraid of disturbing the moths that live in his coin purse.

However, accomodating such requirements should be easy by adding an after market parallel port card to the minority of new PCs that need such connections. PC makers should bite the bullet and drop the old serial and parallel ports as well as any old "game ports" they may still be including.

[antiRepublicrat]

Unless you're literally running your stuff on DOS, then this should do the trick:

[Swordmaker]

I don't think it would be humanly possible to fit more incorrect statements in that many words.

Reign, keep reading.... it gets better or worse, or at least more amusing.

I don't think I have ever seen a Freeper dig a deeper hole than the one UpAllNight is digging himself.

And then he keeps on digging!

I suspect that the next person he sees will be speaking Mandarin.

[MarkL]

Gets even trickier when you take a USB iPod back to 1955 and try to interface it with a Garrard turntable!

Why bother? I've got an old Dual turntable with an ancient Stanton 681EEE cartridge... I haven't had it hooked up to a stereo in longer than I can remember. If I ever need to play LPs, there's always this

Besides, you don't need a time machine to do it.

Mark

[MarkL]

But the fact of the matter is that there are some tools that Snap-On offers that simply aren't available in Craftsman... Or they offer "work-alikes" that aren't quite the same... Although it's been about 28 years since I've worked extensivly on cars, at the time, I had a choice between Craftsman and Snap-On tools. At the time, Snap-On had sockets and box end wrenches that featured "Flank Drive," which wasn't available on any other brand, and that feature DID make a hugh difference.

I think that any person that uses tools will sometime gain an affinity for certain tools. When I first got into the business of repairing computers, I had this amazing Craftsman ratcheting screwdriver that I just fell in love with. It had a solid handle that made a terrific "Sticktion Reversal Tool" for those of you who remember Seagate 4096 hard drives. About 5 years after I bought the tool, all of my tools were stolen. Craftsman did have ratcheting screwdrivers, but nothing quite like that. I bought one, but was never very happy with it. Then I saw a Snap-On ratcheting screwdriver, and although it had a hollow handle, it felt every bit as solid as my old Craftsman, and worked just as well at "reversing sticktion." But it cost me about $30 back then, as opposed to the $9 or $10 the Craftsman cost.

Mark

[Swordmaker]

Unless you're literally running your stuff on DOS, then this should do the trick:

Uh, bingo? Sort of.

The topographer uses proprietary drivers that insist on going through LPT1: and I don't want to try and convince it to switch a USB port by re-assigning LPT1 to the USB port. Oddly, the driver requires a parallel port printer to be in line with the topographer on the same port! Once, when his old Parallel printer failed, I thought to simplify problems with connections and responses from the topographer and added a second parallel port for a new printer. The topographer software opened to a screen that said "Printer not found." FEH! At my rates, it may get very expensive as we try and work through the inevitable glitches of making a USB->Parallel port cable work.

The topographer software on the computer that drives the topographer requires Windows95 (which has very poor USB support anyway) and will not work on even Windows 98. The upgraded topographer software that will work on W98 and XP won't see the ancient topographer... it wants a new USB topographer.

I suspect the businesses (and government agencies) that use DM printers would be better served by moving to laser printers and simply printing multiple copies for their purposes. In the time it takes for a DMP to print one page, they could easily print 10 on cheaper paper with a laser printer.

Have you priced dot matrix printers lately? The law of supply and demand has really taken a toll from the time when you could buy one for $69.

[TennTuxedo]

I'm quite sure over 90% of Mac owners will never install Windows on their Macs. For many of us, getting away from Windows was one of the big draws...

Precisely. Lots of people getting caught up in goofy reasoning on why they should not switch from one OS to another and whether a TV ad insults them.

The fact is that Mac OS X has been very dependable. I can't say the same about Windows MP.

If you ever use a Mac, you will never go back to a PC. Thats a fact.

[ReignOfError]

The Mac is played by Justin Long... and he did appear in Dodgeball.

And just to round out the casting call, the PC is John Hodgman, frequent Daily Show contributor and, I'm told, the guy who wrote the ads.

[6SJ7]

Excellent! Thanks for the info. I have a friend at work who has a huge collection of LP's to transfer to MP3. That Ion turntable should be just the ticket.

[MarkL]

Cyberguys also has a device for converting casettes to MP3 too, but I think that if you've got 8 tracks, you're on your own! lol

Mark

[XR7]

Okay.

[avenir]

"For some people, the plain import of words like "Hi, I'm a Mac... --And I'm a PC" just aren't enough."

In advertising you get ONE shot, sometimes a split second, to win a potential customer. Don't blame anyone but Apple for blowing that one shot with those stupid ads.

[Petronski]

Don't blame anyone but Apple for blowing that one shot with those stupid ads.

I have no blame to lay for your sad reaction. If you see yourself, rather than your computer, in the "I'm a PC" guy, I suggest you get help.