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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: Mr. Jeeves; L98Fiero
They are insulting Microsoft. The characters represent the operating systems, not the users.

Exactly.

In fact, I can think of at least one ad that stated PC users were far cooler and more interesting than their operating system.

21 posted on 02/02/2007 11:24:27 AM PST by highball ("I never should have switched from scotch to martinis." -- the last words of Humphrey Bogart)
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To: L98Fiero

What you just described is, in my mind, the difference between a socialist trying to be a capitalist (Mac) and a true capitalist (MS).

MS had, by FAR, the better business model. Now it really doesn't matter.
______

Hard to argue that point. But the game is not over yet, either.


22 posted on 02/02/2007 11:25:20 AM PST by dmz
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To: Blueflag

--Gates can say what he wants to, but the ad with the PC guy in his hospital gown going in for a (Vista) check up is priceless!--

But patently misleading. It was the MacGuy that had to go in for the major organ transplants. USB and Intel chips so they could run WINDOWS and be compatible with the Apple IPOD!


23 posted on 02/02/2007 11:26:24 AM PST by UpAllNight
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To: Bommer

Careful, you'll upset the, "Vista or Die!" crowd, who also get upset when you bring up Windows ME.


24 posted on 02/02/2007 11:27:24 AM PST by corlorde (New Hampshire)
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To: Deo volente

He's living in the Bill Gates Universe.


25 posted on 02/02/2007 11:28:05 AM PST by corlorde (New Hampshire)
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To: dmz

--Hard to argue that point. But the game is not over yet, either. --

Since the Mac went to USB (to be compatible with their IPOD which went with USB over Firewire) and Mac went to the Intel chip to run Windows, it appears that we can guess the outcome of this game.


26 posted on 02/02/2007 11:28:08 AM PST by UpAllNight
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To: Mr. Jeeves
Apple could have been as big as Microsoft. But they got too greedy and wanted to lock people into their proprietary hardware. Short term profits that led to reduced market share.

They chose...not wisely.
27 posted on 02/02/2007 11:31:34 AM PST by BigBobber
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To: Blueflag

"Ohh. Talk about peripherals."

LOL.


28 posted on 02/02/2007 11:31:38 AM PST by savedbygrace (SECURE THE BORDERS FIRST (I'M YELLING ON PURPOSE))
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To: L98Fiero

--How about telling me some real info instead of Windows users are goofy squares? --


Real Info:

MacGuy to PCGuy. I am really worried. I am about to go in for a brain transplant. They are going to take out my brain and put in a PCGuy brain (Intel Processor).

PCGuy to MacGuy. Don't worry. I am sure that Apple will also install our operating system so you will still be able to function after your transplant.


29 posted on 02/02/2007 11:33:17 AM PST by UpAllNight
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To: Mr. Jeeves; L98Fiero
They are insulting Microsoft. The characters represent the operating systems, not the users.

Some people think they hit very close to home, and doth protest a little too much...

30 posted on 02/02/2007 11:34:27 AM PST by null and void (<----- Shocked and odd...)
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To: Mr. Jeeves

--They are insulting Microsoft. The characters represent the operating systems, not the users.--

No they are trying to make it "uncool" to not use a Mac. Like their 'camera' add where they say you can only get an installed camera on a Mac. Nothing to do with the OS and blatently false. Lots of PC's come with cameras installed in the laptops.


31 posted on 02/02/2007 11:35:45 AM PST by UpAllNight
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To: L98Fiero
As for security, it's the global warming of the home PC market.

Great way to put it. I have been aflicted by exactly one semi-serious virus in my 15 years of using PCs.

32 posted on 02/02/2007 11:36:42 AM PST by ElkGroveDan (When toilet paper is a luxury, you have achieved communism.)
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To: dmz

"But the game is not over yet, either."

Indeed it's not. It's a fun game to watch, as well.

I have pretty much the same issues with MS as most here do. Fact is, I'm not crazy about making MS too perfect as it would likely land me back in school starting a new career.

Full disclosure, there. ;)

Seriously, though. I am burned out on fixing MS stuff for the last 10 years and am exploring other career paths so I'm taking my dog out of this particular hunt.


33 posted on 02/02/2007 11:36:52 AM PST by L98Fiero (A fool who'll waste his life, God rest his guts.)
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To: UpAllNight
It was the MacGuy that had to go in for the major organ transplants. USB and Intel chips so they could run WINDOWS and be compatible with the Apple IPOD!

Hahahahaha. You think Apple went with Intel chips because they wanted to do Windows and be compatible with the Apple IPOD?

Hahahahahahahaha. Hey, you in the market for a bridge in NYC?

34 posted on 02/02/2007 11:37:42 AM PST by savedbygrace (SECURE THE BORDERS FIRST (I'M YELLING ON PURPOSE))
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To: L98Fiero
As for security, it's the global warming of the home PC market.

On this we disagree.....Global Warming is a myth....security on PCs is very real. I know, I do it for a living. It doesn't take a whole lot of work, kind of like bumping a lock. Once you know how..it's nothing hard.

35 posted on 02/02/2007 11:39:31 AM PST by rightwingextremist1776
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To: savedbygrace

--Hahahahaha. You think Apple went with Intel chips because they wanted to do Windows and be compatible with the Apple IPOD?--

No. Apple MAC went with the USB to be compatible with the Apple IPOD. All the Mac users were complaining that they couldn't hook up their Apple Ipods to their Apple Macs.


36 posted on 02/02/2007 11:39:35 AM PST by UpAllNight
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To: corlorde
"Careful, you'll upset the, "Vista or Die!" crowd, who also get upset when you bring up Windows ME."

But you have admit, other than the "Wal Mart must die" or the "If you buy a Toyota, your supporting our WWII enemy", the Mac v. Windows threads are quite entertaining to watch. In fact they convinced me to become a Mac user when my to current PC's are ready to be replaced.
37 posted on 02/02/2007 11:40:34 AM PST by The South Texan (The Democrat Party and the Drive By Media are a Criminal Enterprise!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

This isn't really true anymore- The new x86 MAC hardware is essentially identical to basic PC designs except for the some lockin mechanisms to guarantee it's MAC hardware, i.e. OS-X won't boot on generic PCs, but XP has been booted on MAC hardware. That doesn't make XP any more hardware agnostic - they are now essentially the same hardware base.

Now - as for security, the Unix security model has till now been a fundamentally better design than Windows. Vista may change that, but you also have sheer numbers playing against Windows. With 90+% of the installed machines being Windows - they are the big low hanging fruit as far as targets go. Billy has a little target painted on his back ;-)

The MAC on the other hand was recently revealed to have 10-year old exploits still in the code base that Apple didn't bother to correct. You won't find those same vulnerabilities in a modern Linux/BSD box. No one has bothered to take advantage of the exploit yet.


38 posted on 02/02/2007 11:42:44 AM PST by fremont_steve (Milpitas - a great place to be FROM!)
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To: ElkGroveDan
Great way to put it. I have been aflicted by exactly one semi-serious virus in my 15 years of using PCs.

But here is a thought....one time that YOU KNOW OF.....you never know who has been in you system and when, unless you know how and where to look. That is exactly the way they (hackers) want it.

39 posted on 02/02/2007 11:44:15 AM PST by rightwingextremist1776
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To: rightwingextremist1776

"Global Warming is a myth"

No, it isn't. There is a provable increase in temperatures over the last hundred years. The myth is that it is man-made or we can do anything about it.

Serious security on a home PC is like putting a lock on Rosie's belt buckle. It will prevent entry to a place nobody cares to go. ;-) Holding a home OS to some standard of security is a canard for the terminally paranoid.

Every PC ever made comes with the ultimate in security. A power cord you can pull out of the wall.

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


40 posted on 02/02/2007 11:51:10 AM PST by L98Fiero (A fool who'll waste his life, God rest his guts.)
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