“Apple has been selling a lot of computers to former Windows users this year. At least 1 million buyers switched from Windows to new Macintoshes in the last nine months, according to an analyst for the financial forecasting firm Needham & Co.,” Al Fasoldt writes for The Syracuse Post-Standard. “Apple’s clearly on a roll. Yet the reasons many Windows users cite for switching to an Apple computer greater online safety and freedom from viruses and spyware haven’t convinced some others. Many Windows users are worried about finding software to replace their familiar programs. Others say they are wondering if Apple’s computers will soon be just as dangerous as Windows PCs; after all, they say, wouldn’t the virus and spyware writers go after Macs, too, someday?”
Fasoldt covers some basics, such as Mac OS X vs. older, now-discontinued versions of Mac operating systems, and also writes, “As of now, there are no viruses or spyware for OS X. There are, however, two dozen viruses for the discontinued Mac OS operating system. This is why you’ll sometimes hear about ‘Macintosh viruses’ if this important distinction isn’t made. A Mac OS virus can’t infect an OS X Macintosh. No one has yet reported spyware for OS X, either. Sophos, an anti-virus firm, has counted 103,000 active Windows viruses. Spyware totals are unknown, but the math is frightening; 30,000 Windows PCs are infected each day by zombies alone, according to Symantec. What will happen if the bad guys start targeting OS X? Not much. Unlike Windows, Mac OS X does not allow programs to take over central operations of the computer, nor does it let a program (or even a user) install software without permission.”
Full article here.
For more useful information for switchers, read The Wall Street Journal’s highly-respected technology guru Walt Mossberg’s recent article, “Tempted by the Apple?” and, of course, Apple’s “Switch” pages here: http://www.apple.com/switch/
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Connect iPod to your television set with the iPod AV Cable. Just $19.00.
Related articles:
16-percent of computer users are unaffected by viruses, malware because they use Apple Macs – June 15, 2005
Survey shows Apple Macs owned by nearly 10 percent of US small and medium-sized businesses – February 17, 2005
More people use Apple Macs than you think; 8-12 percent of homes use Macs – March 31, 2004
10 percent of computer users use a Mac; 3 percent is Mac’s approximate quarterly market share – February 10, 2004
Syracuse Post-Standard: 3 percent is a false stat; Mac holds ’10 to 12 percent of the market for PCs – August 27, 2003
Apple’s Mac OS X, Safari web browser show market share gains – December 03, 2005
Want to switch to Mac? Mossberg answers common questions – November 10, 2005
Why people are switching from Microsoft’s Windows to Apple’s Mac OS X – November 09, 2005
Windows PC retailers face tough holiday season, meanwhile Apple stores are packed as Mac sales surge – November 09, 2005
Analyst estimates over a million Windows to Mac switchers during 2005’s first three quarters – November 07, 2005
Windows sufferers: It’s not your fault, but it is your problem – switch to Mac – November 07, 2005
Tech writer: Windows PCs highly vulnerable to zombie hijacking; get an Apple Mac instead – November 06, 2005
Windows switchers, now’s your chance: Apple Mac mini with Mac OS X Tiger for $379 – November 03, 2005
Computer columnist: anti-virus software purely optional for Apple Macs, not so for Windows – November 01, 2005
Microsoft apologists and why Apple’s Mac OS X has zero viruses – October 24, 2005
Someone gets it.
They are all beginning to get it. Slowly the message has started to get through.
If I didn’t know better I’d say we’re looking at a trend here. More & more journalists seem to be “getting it”.
All together now…
Amazing to actually read some good journalism for a change.
Hooray for intelligent journalism!! Finally distinctions are being made about the differences is Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X! And to think that a local paper of the Redmond office is actually researching the security benefits of a none M$ OS does not set well with monkeys or monopolists!
There is hope for the world yet!!
I also have no real-world Mac acquaintences .. not a single one. Zero. Zip. Nada. (except for my sister, and I had to buy her the Mac to even get that to happen). I sure wish those millions of new Mac users would make their presence visible. Anyway, yeah .. no viruses. That’s a fact.
That said, I would comment that, as someone who also has zero experience with Windows, I haven’t found computing to be very socially compelling. I like my Mac, but it’s been a tediously isolating social experience, overall.
Yeah, I know. Times are supposed to be changing soon. I sure hope they hurry up. I haven’t got forever for Apple to pull this off.
I think we just might be reaching a tipping point.
This IS good news! However if Apple would plug its computer line and OS like Dell and Microsoft, sales would increase greatly. The key is to educate consumers to the advantages of the Mac and it’s OS, this will drive sales across the board (education, consumer, professional, enterprise) and more and more developers would produce products for the Mac.
I can see that this works, Dell sees that it works, Billy Bob Gates see this, lots of people do. Why doesn’t Apple?
MacDoctor — Baby steps, baby steps.
Better a nice long, slow growth than a seismic shift that floods and overwhelms Apple.
Slow and steady wins the race.
AAPL has been winning the game for a long time.
Apple is just beginning to turn the game around and will snatch it for good by the fourth quarter.
Tell me. Why do we all like it so much when Macs get more market share. To me, that just means worse customer service because the calls are longer.
Unless you’re a stock holder of course.
Call me an elitist if you want – but I like Macs not being in the hands of the masses. I like being a minority.
We should all want more switchers.
The more Mac users the more consideration for Mac users.
No more Windows only services, no more Windows only software for new gadgets, less and less Windows only programs and games and, above all, social acceptance for geeky Mac owners.
“At least 1 million buyers switched from Windows to new Macintoshes in the last nine months, according to an analyst for the financial forecasting firm Needham & Co.,”
How do they know?
Even Apple doesn´t put out wild ass guesses like this.
Does anyone realize what a high percentage of Mac sales that is?
And this news is old – Apple Insider reported it on November 7:
“If we assume that all of the growth in Mac shipments during the past three quarters resulted from Windows users purchasing a Mac, then purchases by Windows users exceeded one million,” the analyst said. “Indeed, the number of Windows users purchasing Macs in 2005 could easily exceed our forecast of 1.3 million switchers in 2006.”
Needham had previously estimated that 500,000 Windows users would purchase a Mac in 2005, but says its model underestimated the number of Windows users the Mac could capture because it was limited to Windows users who had purchased an iPod.”
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1360
——
I love that take: “If we assume that all of the growth in Mac shipments during the past three quarters resulted from Windows users purchasing a Mac, then purchases by Windows users exceeded one million,”
What an assumption – all growth coming from Windows owners – not old Mac owners running OS 7, 8 and 9.
And that same day Needham downgraded Apple stock saying it was fully valued at $61.
ANALysts.
We only believe them when they tell us the news we want to hear.
People who don’t know Macs have a secure DESIGN, and say Macs “will soon be just as dangerous,” must think Macs will soon have 50% marketshare. So soon that it will affect the computer they buy now.
Silly.
Can it be? Is the world starting to wake from its long slumber in Windozeland? Methinks so!
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The handwriting is on the wall.
Hurray! Someone said something I agree with therefore it must be OK!
People buy on price and which is the most common standard.
Unfortunately Microsoft and Intel have this locked up pretty well.
Apple is already caving in on the x86 based processor part and unless Mac OS X runs Vista programs and comes out with a line of cheap computers produced in masse, don’t expect any significant market share gains.
Apple will have to take on Dell and Microsoft directly, don’t expect this to happen as Dell is already making better quality PC’s and Microsoft is coming out with Vista, curing their security and visual quality problems.
You all didn’t really think Apple had a chance did you?
At best Apple will grow a bit, invent new products like the iPod to keep us in Mac’s, but don’t expect anything to change.
Microsoft won on the desktop long ago, and we all have John Scully the “Judas of the computer world” to blame for it.
So live with it.
I wonder why Mac users are always so obsessed with this wanting, hoping, dreaming and praying for a huge increase in market share…its kind of like they really don´t believe in their choice of a Mac, but if more would buy a Mac, if that Mac marketshare would increase then they could justify why they have one: “See, I was right to buy a Mac!”
What or how exactly will your computer experience be better if Apple doubles its marketshare????
Harold,
because our AAPL shares will more than double in that case!
And that improves our ‘computer experience’.
Actually, it’s pretty OBVIOUS how Mac users’ experience would improve if Macs had higher marketshare–fewer IE-only websites to stymie us, fewer Windows-only software, greater Mac expertise for IT admins (permitting more of us to order Macs in the workplace), etc., etc. etc.
Do you just get off being a contrarian, or are you really that clueless?
Kate
harold, increased market share might put an end to “we’re sorry but this website/software/game only works with microsoft windows…” i don’t care a jot if the great unwashed wallow forever in windows mediocrity but i would like my online banking to work
mw hour… cometh the hour, cometh the mac… dude!
MacDude – Your making a few assumptions in your posting. Your assuming that Apple isn’t making strides to gain market share. Clearly with the iPod and introduction of the Mac Mini, I believe Apple is clearly ready to embrass hitting a more mass market with their computers.
To do this, they are doing several important things, the biggest one being slowly changing over to standard, generic PC parts to build their machines. This started a while ago and since then Apple has change over to almost 100% generic, PC parts to make their machines. DVI, USB, S-ATA, AGP, PCIe and with the transition to the Intel CPUs and chipsets, the switch will be complete. With this recipe, Apple will become the equivalent to a Dell or HP – the ability to flow with the market on demand with new hardware. This is reason that the rumors of a much cheaper iBook are probably not only valid but something that really turns heads. If you buy a Dell or Apple laptop, at the same price but the Apple has the ability to run OS X or M$ or Linux (whatever the consumer wants), I’m guessing that most people will buy the Apple.
Add this, the fact that someone will hack OS X for x86 and it will run on generic PCs (and I’m guessing that Apple won’t do much to stop it – it only adds to their market share) and Vista is again delayed, and Apple can really make some headway in the market share dept.
Will they ever take back the desktop market? No, esp. with coporate America IT departments in the equation (no one ever got fired for buying M$ products). But a 10% market share is not out of the question at all. Time will tell…
[Unlike Windows, Mac OS X does not allow programs to take over central operations of the computer, nor does it let a program (or even a user) install software without permission.]
The important distinction to be made is, is that you can install software — just not any software that affects the System Software.
[Microsoft won on the desktop long ago, and we all have John Scully the “Judas of the computer world” to blame for it.]
I would heartily agree — Scully is Computer Judas. Does, that make Steve J our Buddy J
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” /> He is a Pisces!
[What or how exactly will your computer experience be better if Apple doubles its marketshare????]
Double the third-party Mac software and gadgets?
As ‘Big Al’ pointed out, ‘The more Mac users — the more consideration for Mac users.’.
That will be nice, no?
7 7 7 7!
All these coins started shooting out the Apple door on the front of my Mac. Wowzers!
I even got a Chuck E Cheese token!
John Scully is the Judas Iscariot of computer world
Bill Gates is the devil of the computer world.
Steve Balmer is the anti-christ.
Steve Jobs is god.
In February, my business will have the fourth anniversary of the purchase of our first OSx Mac.
We now run 10 OSx Macs of various descriptions and have only one Windows computer left – an old Dell laptop that has been sitting in a closet for the last year “just in case”.
That’s four years of no data loss, no viruses and no computer downtime… not even one hang or reboot needed.
Thank you Apple.
Kate: “…fewer IE-only websites to stymie us, fewer Windows-only software”
Well at least one mac owner finally admits they don´t get to enjoy the computer experience as much as Windows users!
thxdude,
Ok, so Mac’s will be equal to PC’s in hardware SO WHAT?
What do you think M$ did when Steve Jobs got rehired?
They had a meeting and said “what can he do to hurt us?”
This is what they came up with:
1: Our dismal security – improve it
2: Our rather drab Longhorn – change it and copy Mac OS X call it “Vista”
3: Throw around the idea of giving Windows as a free OS just in case Apple try’s to sell Mac OS X for PC’s.
4: Make Vista run all previous versions of x86 based Windows software so it makes it less likely anyone will switch.
So you see Apple is FSCKED really in gaining any significant market share. All they can hope is Vista is a security nighmare, because it’s obvious Windows users don’t think their GUI should look good or don’t care.
Apple will win only by developing new markets and holding the dominant position.
Only that way will Mac’s survive, in fact the iPod division of Apple is already seperate, ready to be divorced from the parent to allow it to go on it’s own.
I actually think we Mac users are being prepared for the enevitable, we are going to be using Windows Vista.
Look at the evidence, a two button Apple mouse with scroll ball.
We are going to die, the iPod is life support, Apple will keep Mac’s going for awhile, but you don’t switch processors to the competitions type unless your ready to give up later down the road.
A Mac will be just another PC with a fancy operating system and less and less software developed for it.
Just look at the games, dismall.
thxdude:
I think you forgot one more thing Apple has done in preparation for an assault on market share:
Didn’t Apple buy a whole lot of real estate in Cupertino recently? 2 million square feet to be exact…
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/7092/
Given that Intel would not have the any of the IBM/Motorola supply difficulties, all Apple will have to do is increase its production capacities.
They’ll do it slowly and carefully, I hope, so that the service quality stays high and no outsourcing is needed.
Mac Dude, I’m not reall sure what you’re smoking. Apple is light years ahead of MS, and people are finally realizing it. Do you know how hard it is to change people’s minds once they are set? It’s damn hard, dude, and APPLE IS DOING IT. The games will come with marketshare and the fact that they will be easier to convert once Apple in on intel chips. Watch it happen fool.
MacDude wrote:
“Apple will have to take on Dell and Microsoft directly, don’t expect this to happen as Dell is already making better quality PC’s and Microsoft is coming out with Vista, curing their security and visual quality problems.”
Oh please.
The only Dell products I can currently recommend are their monitors. Their PC’s have had too many quality issues, and their support has been among the industry’s worst. The prospect of dealing with a dead mail-order PC isn’t very reassuring.
As for Vista, we’ll see what’s what, when and if it ships. MS has broken too many promises and missed too many deadlines to be credible on anything related to Vista. The latest howler that MS is dropping the Beta 2 release so they can “focus” on completing the final version should raise more than a few big red flags.
Apple isn’t taking Dell or MS head-on just yet, but Apple is occupying PC turf by moving to Intel. Right now Dell and especially MS are doing enough to hurt themselves and turn off customers; why would Apple risk picking a fight?
“How do they know? Even Apple doesn´t put out wild ass guesses like this. Does anyone realize what a high percentage of Mac sales that is?”
Well, you can come up with some numbers from information Apple has published.
Apple has claimed for some years now that, according to in-store surveys, about 40-50% of purchases from the retail stores are people who did not own a Mac. Thus, you can come up with a number by taking, say, 45% of the sales from the Apple Store for the past nine-months. Apple publishes this information in their financial reports.
As for sales via on-line and resellers (eg, CompUSA, MicroCenter, etc.), you might be able to come up with some anecdotal information that would give you some numbers. I think it’d be pretty dubious to include them.
Too Hot! wrote:
“Didn’t Apple buy a whole lot of real estate in Cupertino recently? 2 million square feet to be exact…”
Nice enough, but isn’t Apple’s hardware production done in Asia, much by contracts with other firms? Besides Cupertino isn’t really renown as an manufacturing town.
It’d be interesting to know what Apple is doing with that kind of space. Operations offices? Programming? Room for Ballmer to come over & throw some chairs?
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MacDude –
I always thought being a Mac user and being a constant pessimist were mutually exclusive, but I think after reading your posts I’ll have to recind that theory (unless your just trolling…)
First off, no one is saying Apple is going to magically overtake the desktop market share. They have publically conceeded that long ago (look it up if you need to). But from a financial aspect of the company, even being able to take their current market share and increase it, this is a very large change for Apple as a company.
M$ has a desktop monopoly for mainly 2 reasons:
1) Corporate IT has standardized on it. Changing this is going to be very difficult. Without a ‘reasonable’ alternative (a total package solution with complete software support and management support), corporate IT will not switch. This is not changing anytime soon but the alternatives are slowing catching up. Will they ever catch up? It may not matter, but they need to get to that ‘good enough’ point that corporate IT can accept them. The biggest obsticale for this is software and development tools, both of which are definitely getting better on the Linux and OS X side.
2) End users realize that just because they use Windows at work, they are better off running a more productive and safer OS at home.
Both of these are not easy things to change. But over time, as seen by the last 5 quarters for Apple, things can change. It usually isn’t fast enough for everyone, but change takes time.
Give it some time, invest some cash in AAPL stock if you want to make some money, and be patient. If history has proven 1 thing, its that empires never last forever. And this will include M$ at some point…
Apple has relied on the largesse of Mac users to keep going through the lean times and even thrive with the Return of Jobs.
QuickTime Pro? Sure! .Mac? Hey, I’ll try that. iTMS. Let’s go! Early OS X Versions? Sure thing, let’s give it some launch speed.
I can’t do it any more. The pace of change is breathtaking: 3 years obsolescence; even less on an iPod. I welcome the new blood to take up some of the slack. I hope they get the fever. I’m over it. I need to save my pennies to buy the fastest Mac with the mostest and the baddest screen when it comes time to upgrade. That way, I’ll feel like I’m keeping my spot on the treadmill – not by little steps but by fewer giant strides. What’s great is that the bang per buck has been larger; prices are lower. I break out into a cold sweat when I think of what I’ve spent in the past.
Think of the benefits of volume applied to the iPod – the supply lockdown, the price-power equation. We need this for the Mac; particularly the consumer machines which I’m reluctant to buy. To hell with exclusivity, it’s the experience that counts. I’ve enjoyed my Hondas more than my later Beemers, which I’ve bought for their more comfortable and informative cockpits. I still pine for the 4WS motion, the snick-snick shifts, or the warp speed-like thrill of going deep into VTEC revs.
Volume returns more bang for the buck, whether in terms of affordability or performance value or both. If Macs ever approach 20% share then we’ll be in VTEC territory; further gains will be easy. Call it “critical mass,” if you prefer, but volume would return lower prices or more bang for the buck in hardware, not to mention more software development. And require less spending from existing users for “defense.” Here’s to a minimum of 20% and a maximum of 50%: Volume is our friend [MW]. If you want exclusivity, buy a $3,000 Rolex without date or day display or any other functions.
thxdude:
You are right on the money. I wonder if it would make sense for Apple to donate money to corporates software companies to develop software for OSX.
Listen all as a Mac fan for 20 years I love Apple, but lets face reality here ok?
Why do you think Apple pounced on the portable MP3 market?
Because it was a area they could dominate and get a healthy cash flow going, this is the only way Apple can survive, by developing new markets.
Once so much competition sets in, it will be curtains for the iPod just like it is for Mac’s.
This is the story of the buisness cycle and why patents were invented. You got a new product you immediatly try to dominate because overtime competition sets in and eats your market share. Once a company dominates it takes years to whittle them down.
M$ dominates the desktop, that’s a fight long lost. Apple would be foolish to even try to take on M$ which can dump a much improved Vista at no cost on the world market. Office and like software makes all their money anyway. (actually they got so much it’s investments that make the money)
So this leaves Apple trying to find new things for people to buy.
They can improve Mac OS X all they want. Viruses, spyware, trojans and the like won’t deter the world from M$, it’s already well entrenched.
It’s the iPod “halo effect” and the Apple Stores that have slightly increased Mac OS market share.
Once the “halo” winks out, Mac sales will suffer. Until Apple develops a new toy.
No sudden worldwide shift to Mac OS X and Apple hardware will occur, companies don’t like OS tied to hardware anyway and Apple’s hardware is usually very expensive.
Now that the cheap price for performance PPC chips are on their way out, Mac’s will be nothing more than PC’s.
Just look at Apple’s server software, it just plain sucks. Why? Because Apple is not competing with M$. Apple even sells OfficeMac with posters in their store windows.
Apple leaves the “office space” alone and M$ is happy to have a small competitor as to show they are not a complete monopoly.
People choose M$ because they want to, not because they have to.
ummm… except, no company is certain they can pounce on and dominate any market. We can’t disregard how Apple was shoved into a corner by M$ way back when. It had nothing to do with technology, but everything to do with business strategy. Interstingly, if the business strategy was the end-all-be-all, Apple would be dead.
The recent increases say something. Wishfull thinking aside, it bodes well for Apple. Computing is NOT just PCs anymore. It’s a digital lifestyle. While the Mac may be a better “hub” than a generic PC, is it really a problem if some of the stuff that runs on that hub is made by Apple?
For goodness sake, dude, relax.
Does “anyone” know the status on the Mac spyware from Sony?
This is a potential problem for the image of Mac’s being safe from spyware.
I know the user has to inadvertly agree to install the Sony spyware but this could hurt the sqfety inage of Mac’s.
Think of the headlines: Apple infected by spyware!”.
Does anyone know what it does, how to detect if it “is” installed, how to remove, etc.?
I’ve seen the reports but it usually talks about the PC/MS side not Mac, and when it talks about the Mac versionit just says it’s there and has to be installed by the user.
We need to make this topic a major issue and find out “more” about this.
Anyone know anymore on this topic?
What I’m saying is it’s dam near impossible to take M$ down competitively.
Apple has to keep the Mac (and itself) alive by creating and dominating new products.
If M$ was dying then ok, a new kid on the block, but M$ is not dying, it’s just a slow moving beast.
I say we resort to storming Redmond, taking over Vista and send out a hard drive erasing virus directly from their servers via a service pack.
It’s the only way to be sure Apple wins.
I will say this every time I see one of Al’s articles…
Glad to live here in Syracuse, with the man on the cutting edge of technological truth.
John Gee
ANY MAC USER WHO GIVES THEIR ADMIN PASSWORD TO A FUNKY PROGRAM SHOULD GET THE SPYWARE THEY DESERVE.
Hey fools,
1: Enable Remote Login and Apple Remote Desktop from your Sharing Pane of System Preferences
2: Make sure to enable VNC in Apple Remote Desktop
3: Post your IP address, password and login details from the two here on this site.
4: You won’t be owned, trust me. I’ll only take a peak.
Apple is always looking for the next great thing. They were early in DTP, teaming with Adobe (postcript) and Canon (LaserWriter). With mp3s they were late but executed brilliantly. What next: media center? Something will always come up. M$ always lags because they are too focused on how to “own” forward technologies; plus they can’t help bloating it with everything they think you’ll need.
Early on, Apple didn’t have the culture to target the business market. Things could change if M$ stumbles in the inevitable move to open document standards and Apple comes up with powerful applications as sweet as Aperture. Take a look at Aperture’s demo movie … it’s a sign of what Apple can deliver in terms of software innovation. I still fantasize that Apple has a small business suite team in their skunkworks, ready for fast-tracking should it become necessary or opportune. Every once in a while Stevie looks into it and rips it apart because it doesn’t have the character that would give it a two-three year lead over M$’s reaction. The move to open document standards could be the catalyst.
The future doesn’t look too bad. I’m more worried about DRM going too far.
matrix 3: just google it.
Porsche holds what percentage of the automobile market share? Maybe less than one-percent? What about Volvo or BMW, three to six percent? Rhetorical questions (I looked for stats but couldn’t find any accurate #’s) but the point is, looking at market-shares really aren’t ANY indication of the quality and VALUE of any particular item. Few people would dispute the quality and value of these vehicles, they either don’t have the resources, were introduced to brand-loyalty (dad drove a Ford, dad used a Dell). I plodded through all the pre-X days with the dreaded BOMB, rebuilding the desktop, methodically sifting through my extensions, yet I never once considered using a MS/PC. Since X, I have seen many techno-whizards make the migration (specifically because of UNIX).
Apple will never surpass market shares of MS/PC, simply because of the business sector, but hold on to your hat Maude, consumer/home users will finally learn what Porsche users have learned; you can’t drive or own one on a Yugo budget.
For all the PC Pilots out there. I know there are a lot of you, in facxt the vast multitude of you. You are almost a religion!
Here is a little ‘quote’ from a bloke who has been dead for hundreds of years but knew someone like BG would come along eventually and offer false ideals.
MANY HAVE MADE A TRADE OF DELUSIONS AND FALSE MIRACLES,
DECEIVING THE STUPID MULTITUDE
BLINDING IGNORANCE DOES BLIND US.
O! WRETCHED MORTALS, OPEN YOUR EYES
GET A MAC
Leonardo Da Vinci
Sorry the ‘get a mac thing is my addition, but I think Leonardo would have been a MAc man. DEFINATELY.
This is another example of MDN posting articles from relatively unknown small local sites (syracuse.com ? lol), rehashing the same story over and over again, and the mac followers falling for it.
And people should really stop the luxury car comparisons for Macs, it’s just not true when compared to mid to high end PC’s. If its not Opterons eating up Powermacs in quality and performance and marketshare, its desktop PC’s eating everything Apple has on the table with the latest in hardware advances (with Macs usually adopting the same technology much much later, i.e. PCI express, DDR2, dual cores, etc…).
With Apple now becoming a “PC” itself with the switch to Intel, so the hardware lapses above should become much rare, the only differential between Apple and the PC world is OSX vs Windows (which would explain the sudden hash of anti windows headlines from MDN recently).
Unfortunately, Mac vs Windows isn’t enough for most people, especially since hardware is still superior on the PC side outside of Intel (and in the case of OSX vs Windows 64, Win 64 is actually superior for 64 bit applications).
MacGrumpy:
This is really serious. We are getting new users to the Mac world. A few are not savvy and do not realize legitimate corporations are trying to highjack our right and IMHO violate our right to privacy.
Think about the damage to the Mac reputation when new users become infected with the spyware AND the MS press gets a hold of this. The headlines will be all over the fact that spyware IS on Mac’s and they’ll try to take away one of the strongest arguments abut Mac OSX – safety.
Col. Angus:
Thanks for the suggestion, but all of the articles I have found just say it exists for Mac’s. There are more articles about the effects, removal, etc for the PC/MS side. Do you know of any actual articles about the spyware for the Mac?
MacDailyNews:
We need someone to push this and get it out inn the open. As we get converts there will be greater risk that someone will unknowingly get infected. We just need a few to cause FUD and we will lose the press war that we are safer to use than MS Windows.
We need a repository of information in one place to educate and prevent this from exploding negatively against OSX.
MacDailyNews: Help!!
Cherry Picker:
Didn’t Walt Mossberg tell us that the iMac G5 is the best consumer desktop available?
Wall Street Journal: relatively unknown too?
Why does it matter that small people recognize how great the Mac is? At least the ones who are really big recognize it too.
I’m tired of Windows.
Hey Cherry Picker – the PC can have all the geewiz hardware you can stuff in to that big beige box. With all of the viruses, spyware and that blue screen of death Windows users get the privilege of, it’s nothing more than a boat anchor if it’s not functional.
I’ll keep my Mac and get some work done. That’s real computing power.
Didn’t Walt Mossberg tell us that the iMac G5 is the best consumer desktop available?
Wall Street Journal: relatively unknown too?
Wall Street Journal: I read it daily for financial news on this and other world markets, not hardware reviews. Of course, if you need someone to “tell you” what determines the best consumer desktop based on pure subjectivity, then no wonder drones like you fall head over heels for MDN’s cherry picking….and it seems MDN’s cherry picking is all you refer to spread this FUD.
You think Apple would have included The New York Times roundup of desktops/laptops?
Pound for pound, Apple Macintosh systems are still pricier than many PC’s. The recently introduced Mac Mini, which lists for $500 to $700, is only a good deal if you already own a monitor. The DVD-burning eMac is a surprise bargain at just under $1,000. For iBooks, the performance sweet spot is around $1,300; for iMacs, it’s more, about $1,500.
http://tech2.nytimes.com/mem/technology/techreview.html?res=9400E5D71E3FF930A3575BC0A9639C8B63
And while CNet certainly thinks the iMac G5 is an outstanding machine, it is not “best of breed” as MDN’s cherry picking would have you believe.
http://reviews.cnet.com/Apple_iMac_G5_2_1GHz_20_inch/4540-3118_7-31556109-4.html?tag=sub
A similarly priced PC yields a far more powerful processor (Athlon FX-57) and graphics card (7800 GTX) with much more flexibility. MDN likes to manipulate perceptions with “try pricing a PC with similar iMac options…”, well do exactly the same for the iMac.
“Hey Cherry Picker – the PC can have all the geewiz hardware you can stuff in to that big beige box. With all of the viruses, spyware and that blue screen of death Windows users get the privilege of, it’s nothing more than a boat anchor if it’s not functional.”
And it’s absurd rehashed garbage statements like that above with no substance and 100% ignorance (blue screen of death? LOL) that keeps people like you the laughing stock of the rest the world. Leave it to mac zealots to overemphasize “virii and malware” beyond the threat they actually pose, since any PC with basic security measures easily solves that problem. You should pay more attention to your OSX security flaws that need patching every few weeks.
I don’t buy my computing eXPerience by the pound.
I see that the M$ Zealots do.
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Speaking of ‘basic security measures’; is it possible to not boot into Admin/Root while booting-up XP the very first time?
Will the novice/intermediate/pro-XP owner, intuitively know this?
Is it possible that much of Windows troubles – which are VERY REAL too many people – is caused by the fact that clever virus writers use this continuing flaw in Windows OSes to create havoc? Or, is this an urban legend fabricated by the MS/Hater-MacZealot Jihad?
Anyone with “basic security measures” would suggest the latter. Virii vulnerability in windows is a non-issue for anyone running a basic firewall/anti-virus app. Windows by default will enable firewall and remind you persistently to install an AV program if connected to the net. Annoying? Yes. Bothersome enough to abandon the PC world for an inferior hardware platform with far less flexibility? No, and no amount of mac zealot doom and gloom will change that for most people.
Go to any general PC forum. Mention virii vulnerability and many will simply laugh and exploit the obvious bias you insist upon perpetuating. It is a mountain out of a mole hill issue for people like yourselves. PERIOD.
The real threat these days arent viruses, its “ad supported” apps (spyware) that exists for both platforms, and even worse security flaws…..something which OSX has in spades:
http://news.com.com/Apple+releases+OS+X+security+patches/2100-1002_3-5976718.html
Oh, you MS Apologists make me laugh.
[inferior hardware platform]
The ‘Official IT-Endorsed REAL Business Computer’, who’s main feature is that it has a greater selection of video cards – too play FSCKING video games. For several years now, the few differences between a Mac and WinPC have been OS and video cards. Nearly everthing else hardware-wise is the same. Ferchristsakes, even you’re beloved two-button mouse is supported on a Mac.
[Go to any general PC forum. Mention virii vulnerability and many will simply laugh and exploit the obvious bias you insist upon perpetuating.]
Why go there, when I can be amused by the desperate WinPC bias from the likes of you, here. You MS-FreedomFighters are here EVERY day trying to convert us. I think the only thing I could learn there, would be how many successful conversions any one of you had. Are you close to earning your free MS Toaster?
[(spyware) that exists for both platforms]
Name ONE Mac OSX spyware. Please, don’t make-up something. And FWIW, repeating that fiction — ad infinitum — won’t make it come true.
Oh BTW, you’re link is cute, but a wasted effort at diversion. MS ‘patches’ dozens and dozens of flaws every month – hardly equal. But, what’s most important here is there are still ZERO exploits for OSX. NOT BECAUSE IT’S NOT POSSIBLE, BUT BECAUSE IT IS FAR, FAR MORE DIFFICULT. (Or, maybe it’s your market-share excuse – whatever, huh?)
And, remember we discussed that the Root-level is the default on XP, but not on OSX? Please entertain me with some clever side-stepping of this point — for a second time.
Anyway, the MacUsers that you so vilify aren’t as clueless as you’d like everyone – including US – to think we are.
Oh, you MS Apologists make me laugh.
As do you loyal mac cultists
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The ‘Official IT-Endorsed REAL Business Computer’, who’s main feature is that it has a greater selection of video cards – too play FSCKING video games. For several years now, the few differences between a Mac and WinPC have been OS and video cards. Nearly everthing else hardware-wise is the same. Ferchristsakes, even you’re beloved two-button mouse is supported on a Mac.
Wrong. There’s been HUGE differences other than OS and graphics cards, ferchristsakes. Apple’s been playing the catchup game for some time now, for reasons not entirely at Apple’s fault, in CPU, memory, chipsets, buses, etc…
For you to dismiss suc glaring differences is an exercise of pure ignorance and bias. AMD quietly steamrolled ahead while Apple published distorted benchmarks (as usual) to maintain an illusionary lead over its x86 counterparts. AMD introduced integrated memory controllers with DDR2 support nearly a year after its debut, while Apple stubbornly stuch with 400Mhz DDR1. Workstation graphics excelled with PCI express slots (not just gaming). Only now is Apple just beginning to catch up. And as far as quality, Apple has still to match specific aspects found on PC’s (I wouldnt have any other chipset other than Nforce4).
Why go there, when I can be amused by the desperate WinPC bias from the likes of you, here. You MS-FreedomFighters are here EVERY day trying to convert us. I think the only thing I could learn there, would be how many successful conversions any one of you had. Are you close to earning your free MS Toaster?
Blind zealots like yourself need sites with bias like MDN, reality must be a bitter pill to swallow for you, my friend.
Name ONE Mac OSX spyware. Please, don’t make-up something. And FWIW, repeating that fiction — ad infinitum — won’t make it come true.
Don’t get too comfortable…
he SANS Institute last week issued its list of the Top 20 vulnerabilities across all operating systems, including details of what it considers to be critical vulnerabilities in Mac OS X. The company wrote: “Although Mac OS X has security features implemented out of the box such as built-in personal firewall, un-necessary services turned off by default and easy ways to increase the OS security, the user still faces many vulnerabilities.”
The SANS Institute also took Apple to task for not being more specific when issuing patches, thus keeping them from identifying which parts of the operating system are most vulnerable. The firm noted that the Safari Web browser contains “multiple vulnerabilities … and in certain cases exploit code has also been posted publicly.”
http://www.macobserver.com/article/2005/11/29.15.shtml
Oh BTW, you’re link is cute, but a wasted effort at diversion. MS ‘patches’ dozens and dozens of flaws every month – hardly equal. But, what’s most important here is there are still ZERO exploits for OSX. NOT BECAUSE IT’S NOT POSSIBLE, BUT BECAUSE IT IS FAR, FAR MORE DIFFICULT. (Or, maybe it’s your market-share excuse – whatever, huh?)
And, remember we discussed that the Root-level is the default on XP, but not on OSX? Please entertain me with some clever side-stepping of this point — for a second time.
Anyway, the MacUsers that you so vilify aren’t as clueless as you’d like everyone – including US – to think we are.
Zero exploits, eh? I suppose there were zero exploits right before the last security update too, eh…that magically appeared right when Apple posted the patch? I guess Apple will never release a security update in the future, eh?
Talk about clueless.
…the user still faces many vulnerabilities…
…The firm noted that the Safari Web browser contains “multiple vulnerabilities…
…I suppose there were zero exploits right before the last security update too, eh…
Nothing specific though, just conjecture. Typical FUD.
And, remember we discussed that the Root-level is the default on XP, but not on OSX? Please entertain me with even more clever side-stepping of this point — for a THIRD time.
Blind zealots like yourself need sites with bias like CNET, reality must be a bitter pill to swallow for you, my friend. You’ll surely make Symantec richer while you eat your milk and toast.
And, remember we discussed that the Root-level is the default on XP, but not on OSX? Please entertain me with even more clever side-stepping of this point — for a THIRD time.
What exactly is your point here? Explain yourself here, and back it up. Windows gives the option to create non-Admin accounts prior to initial startup.
Nothing specific though, just conjecture. Typical FUD.
Blind zealots like yourself need sites with bias like CNET, reality must be a bitter pill to swallow for you, my friend. You’ll surely make Symantec richer while you eat your milk and toast.
That coming from a self proclaimed mac zealot LOL, residing on probably the most biased Mac site on the planet.
Your arguments concerning Apple’s lag behind the technology curve fell apart, that’s why you’ve conveniently ignored them (after an attempt to downplay). Typical mac zealot denial mode.
And speaking of FUD, you conveniently dismiss all of OSX’s security risks (that even Apple deem critical), as your first sentence clearly shows, all the while clinging on to every minor Windows flaw as gospel. Typical mac zealot making mountains out of molehills.
As of TODAY, name ONE virus that will infect a PC with a basic firewall, and with Norton AV running in the background.
My use of the ‘handle’ MacZealot, was meant to caricaturize and spotlight what you MS Apologists already ‘label’ ALL Mac users. I know it’s difficult for you to recall – what with all your hatred for Apple; Macs and MacUsers – but YOU used the term ‘maczealot’ in your post directly preceding my initial post.
The use of sarcasm is lost on many folks. Don’t feel bad.
And FWIW, you are far too belligerent to actually carry out a debate with. I began my dialog with you, asking some simple questions. You avoided them with feable equivocatation, and demands that I answer to you.
BTW, I’m not personally offended that you PREFER WinPCs, but your reasons for not liking Macs are all artifice.
Maybe I’ll have a debate with your next persona.