“Mac sales grew 43 percent in the first quarter of 2005 and 35 percent in the second quarter, much higher than the PC industry average of 14 percent during the first half of 2005. Analysts are now wondering aloud whether the spyware problem that bedevils Windows-based PCs–but not Macs or Linux machines–is a contributing factor to Apple’s sudden success with the Mac. Some suggest it’s the single biggest factor–far more relevant to new users than the iPod halo effect,” Paul Thurrott writes for Windows IT Pro.
“The evidence is compelling. For the first time, PC users are simply throwing out computers that are infested with spyware, rather than trying to fix them. The problem is that spyware-infested PCs are often impossible to fix. Instead, you need to wipe out the system and start over again. In managed environments, this isn’t a huge problem beyond backing up crucial data, but for individuals, it’s a nightmare. With PC prices now starting at less than $300–or about $500 for an entry-level Mac mini–consumers are just starting over. It’s simpler,” Thurrott writes.
“When the personal computing market first kicked into high gear in the early 1980s, computer enthusiasts were responsible for getting big business excited about the technology. First, VisiCalc-equipped Apple II computers began appearing in businesses, followed by IBM PCs running Lotus 1-2-3. Today, Mac laptops–called PowerBooks–are beginning to appear more and more often in the planes, Internet cafes, and press rooms I frequent around the country. Tech enthusiasts–what we might call tech influencers–are turning, increasingly, to the Mac,” Thurrott writes.
“For Microsoft and its Windows-using customers, this change could be a problem. Or, if you’re interested in a safer computing experience, it could be a solution. Although many business users require Windows-specific applications that won’t run on the Mac, a good percentage of Windows users today require only very basic services, including word processing, email, and Web browsing. These needs are well served by a Mac or even by a Linux-based PC, both of which are arguably safer today than Windows machines,” Thurrott writes. “Questions emerge, of course. Is a more heterogeneous environment really safer, or is that just an added layer of complexity? And are Windows alternatives more secure because they’re better designed or because so few hackers attempt to infiltrate those machines? These are questions for the ages, I suppose. But in a world where spyware is only the most recent attempt at tearing down the House of Windows, I’m beginning to wonder whether the alternatives don’t make some sense.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: If your business has locked itself into some Windows-only apps, why not get yourself a copy of Xcode or hire someone to help free your business from Microsoft’s shackles by writing a Mac OS X version? Or find a Mac equivalent and put an end to the limiting and short-sighted platform-specific apps? Your business will most likely end up saving money in the long run by ending the dependence on the security-challenged Windows platform. Mac software for business can be found here. Apple Retail Stores near you hold “Business Day” every Wednesday featuring special presentations and demos for business professionals. In every Apple Store, a team of trained Business Consultants can provide one-on-one consultations to answer your questions, demonstrate products and help you find the perfect solution for your business everyday of the week.
If you’re just an average computer user who’d like to be able to surf the Web with impunity, send and receive emails without fear, do some word processing, spreadsheets, and organize and share your digital photos, movies, and music, the choice to switch from Windows to Mac will be the best decision you’ve made in a long time. Apple’s Mac is simply better than Windows.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Microsoft Windows Sober.P worm shows ‘epidemic’ spread; Macintosh unaffected – May 03, 2005
Viruses don’t have to be a fact of life; there are no viruses on Apple’s Mac OS X – not a single one – April 21, 2005
Mossberg: ‘consider dumping Windows altogether and switching to Apple’s Macintosh’ – April 18, 2005
New ‘highly critical’ Office flaw embarrasses Microsoft – April 13, 2005
Apple touts Mac OS X security advantages over Windows – April 13, 2005
97,467 Microsoft Windows viruses vs. zero for Apple Mac’s OS X – April 05, 2005
Symantec details flaws in its antivirus software – March 30, 2005
Apple’s Mac OS X is virus-free – March 18, 2005
68,736 Microsoft Windows viruses vs. zero for Apple Mac’s OS X – March 12, 2005
Microsoft tries to turn its own security flaw into commercial gain – February 25, 2005
Cybersecurity advisor Clarke questions why anybody would buy from Microsoft – February 18, 2005
Microsoft’s Gates espouses homogenous operating system environments for better security – February 07, 2005
Windows’ mounting security problems make some consumers eager to purchase Macs – January 03, 2005
Windows Media songs and videos found to carry Windows malware payloads – December 30, 2004
Anzae/Inzae worm affects all Windows versions after 3.1; Macintosh unaffected – December 28, 2004
Unlike Windows users, Mac OS X users surf the Internet without a care in the world – December 28, 2004
Multiple unpatched Windows holes crop up; Windows systems compromised within minutes in experiment – December 24, 2004
Windows spyware mess is out of control, get a Mac and surf with impunity – December 21, 2004
New Microsoft Internet Explorer exploit spoofs Web sites on fully patched Windows XP systems – December 17, 2004
Microsoft may charge extra for Windows spyware protection software – December 16, 2004
Detroit Free Press: Windows malware problem getting worse, it’s time to get a Mac instead – December 16, 2004
Sick of spyware, adware headaches? Get a Mac and surf the Internet freely – December 13, 2004
Mossberg: Windows PCs plagued with problems, Apple’s Mac is ‘rock solid, elegant and affordable’ – December 09, 2004
Security expert: Don’t use Microsoft Windows, Office, Outlook, Internet Explorer – December 09, 2004
Security test: Windows XP system easily compromised while Apple’s Mac OS X stands safe and secure – November 30, 2004
Sick of spyware, adware infecting your PC? Don’t fret, just get a Mac – November 01, 2004
Microsoft: The safest way to run Windows is on your Mac – October 08, 2004
Spyware plagues Windows users while Mac users surf Net with impunity – November 01, 2004
Ballmer blames Windows users for not upgrading systems as Microsoft’s biggest security problem – October 22, 2004
Windows users line up to pay for spyware removal; Mac users surf Web with impunity – October 18, 2004
Microsoft: The safest way to run Windows is on your Mac – October 08, 2004
Windows users’ security woes spark interest in Apple’s secure Mac OS X – October 06, 2004
Windows desktop monopoly threatened by secure, safe Apple Mac OS X – October 04, 2004
Even Bill Gates can’t avoid Windows malware; Mac users surf the Web freely – October 03, 2004
Cyber-security adviser uses Apple Macintosh to avoid Windows’ security woes – September 27, 2004
Information Security Investigator says switch from Windows to Mac OS X for security – September 24, 2004
Mossberg: Apple iMac G5 ‘powerful, affordable, virus-free with better, more modern OS than Windows XP’ – September 23, 2004
USA Today: people are switching from Windows to Mac because of security issues – September 21, 2004
Windows besieged by hackers; number of Windows viruses soars by more than 400% – September 20, 2004
USA Today columinst angry about Windows viruses, adware, spyware – September 15, 2004
University of Chicago recommends all students patch Windows at least once a day – September 14, 2004
Windows XP worm speaks to users as it deletes their files; Macintosh unaffected – September 13, 2004
Security is top priority in Apple’s Mac OS X – September 12, 2004
Millions of Windows PC’s hijacked by hackers, turned into zombies; Macintosh unaffected – September 08, 2004
Mossberg: Dump your Windows machine and get an Apple Macintosh to free yourself of spyware – August 25, 2004
Tired of patching patches to patch Windows patches? Writer suggests getting a Mac – August 03, 2004
Windows ‘Scob’ virus designed to steal financial data, passwords; Macintosh unaffected – June 26, 2004
Gartner: Worms jack up the total cost of Microsoft Windows – May 07, 2004
Spyware, adware plague Windows users online; Mac OS X users surf freely – April 19, 2004
SmartMoney: Long-suffering Windows users can only dare to dream of Mac’s ease-of-use – February 12, 2004
Mac OS X has no viruses; what’s wrong with Windows? – February 11, 2004
Gates: Windows ‘by far the most secure’ system; tries to use ‘Mac OS X secure through obscurity’ myth – January 27, 2004
Columnist tries the ‘security through obscurity’ myth to defend Windows vs. Macs on virus front – October 1, 2003
New York Times: Mac OS X ‘much more secure than Windows XP’ – September 18, 2003
Wall Street Journal’s Mossberg on making the switch from Windows to Mac – September 18, 2003
Fortune columnist: ‘get a Mac’ to thwart viruses; right answer for the wrong reasons – September 02, 2003
Shattering the Mac OS X ‘security through obscurity’ myth – August 28, 2003
Is Mac OS X really inherently more secure than Windows? – August 26, 2003
Chicago Sun-Times columnist: Windows ‘many holes in its security’ but ‘none of my Macs have ever been affected – August 26, 2003
Sick of worms and viruses? ‘Move to Mac OS X’ suggests Chicago Tribune columnist – August 25, 2003
Virus and worm problems not just due to market share; Windows inherently insecure vs. Mac OS X – August 24, 2003
And how long have we been saying that. Duh!!!
Hear! Hear!
HOLY CRAP!! Hell is freezin’ over fer sure!!
“Send lawyers, guns and money. The shit has hit the fan!”
-Warren Zevon
Someone pinch me Paul is making sense !
What the hell is going on with Thurott these days?? Maybe Steve outbid Bill for his services? Who knows but it’s good to see him being a little more objective about the Mac platform for a change.
I would like to announce my next prediction that Britney Spears will have a child, the child will be very rich.
This windows hoes is not getting his paycheck from M$ lately!!! Turd-head!!!
OSX bloody well IS more secure. Just say it Thurrott.
>Because it is efficient and properly engineered.
>Because the Mac community has a zero tolerence attitude to such things – as demonstrated by a greater level of software purchasing.
>And lastly because Mac users are by definition not just ‘followers’.
Paul Thurrot wrote this? WOW! I guess he really is seeing the light. I am really amazed. Good job Paul! And here’s one for the ages… Thank you for writing a thoughtful article.
Let’s not be fooled for one minute, because the logic of PT’s damascene conversion is contained in the article…
[I]Tech enthusiasts–what we might call tech influencers–are turning, increasingly, to the Mac[/I]
In other words, PT is hedging his bets that the bloom is off the Windows rose (although it could be argued that it was a crown of thorns since the day it was created) and that “tech influencers” (i.e. the peer group to which PT optimistically aspires) are likely to fuel a revival in Apple’s fortunes that will render Paul’s current “career” (which is still, when all is said and done, whoring for Microsoft) redundant.
Conversely, there is allegedly joy in heaven over one sinner that repents so who am I to judge…
Well…perhaps Mr Turrot is waiting for being the new official reviewer of OS X when Apple “takes over the world” of operating systems, beating Windows (here, Nostradamus, the Mac Daily News clairvoyant could clarify what will happen). OS X Supersite, anyone?
Close the door on your way out, Monsieur Gates…don’t forget the Windows
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Quick question here for all everyone at MDN that was sparked by MDN’s take. If you compile code on a Mac for both Intel and PowerPC and you don’t use any specific Apple API’s will that code by executible on a Window’s or Linux PC? If so, why would developers hang out on the Window’s side of the fence when they can write their code on a Mac and have instant access to all computer users? There must be something wrong with that logic…….
MDN – Oh how I wish I could use OS X at work but even if I could get the quotation software I use rewritten I would still require rates from the insurance companies. I tried to write my own software for windows because the stuff provided at the moment is crap (even for windows) but they weren’t interested in anything new.
So I’m stuck using an old dos system because I don’t want to commit to spending thousands to get a “new” “windows” syste (which is usually just a bodged upgrade of old dos stuff anyway) which doesn’t work and web based quotes systems that only run on IE.
Unfortunately I need them more than they need me so I’m stuck. The amount of times I’ve rung up complaining about how something doesn’t run on Firefox only to be told that IE is the standard and thus the only thing that will be supported. I’ve learnt amazing self control.
It’s amazing how for all the millions spent on IT in business how backwards peoples views towards it are. Even within the windows world there is no desire for improvement.
It’s getting very cold down here, can someone turn up the thermostat?
“If your business has locked itself into some Windows-only apps, why not get yourself a copy of Xcode and free yourself from Microsoft’s shackles by writing a Mac OS X version?” Give me a break!
Who runs this site? A bunch of teen-agers? The answer is not to simply re-code apps that were developed by numerous developers over a lengthy time line. Xcode is not so user friendly that recoding is a snap.
I love macs, but all or nothing is the corporate world is a silly and stupid suggestion. Let corporations bring Macs in where they can – where they are unable, let them stick with Windows.
Thurrott went into damage control big time when the marketshare numbers came out…
Uttering such tripe as, ‘how come the US marketshare is reported when its the whole world that matters’ .. this bonehead clings to that ~2% global share like Linus from Peanuts…
Paul, call me crazy, but, when you go out into the big bad world, you’ll find many no-name Dell-look-a-likes.. what’s the market for the consumer PC in Namibia?
Not that great.
Apple doesn’t make boxes for government offices/kwik e marts/ bank branches..
their marketshare is shit where.. there is no consumer market..
hence, the obsession with ‘first world’ marketshare..
since there is no first world marketshare, the US one will have to do..
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ok, I’m confused. so am I now supposed to click on the link to read Paul’s article, ’cause he’s now drinkin’ the KoolAid?
Doesn’t he have one of those 1 year non-compete clauses that forbid him from writing for a competitor’s product, like Dr Kai-Fu Lee? (boy did he get screwed at the drive-thru)
MW= stood, as in he once stood in MSFT territory
Screw Apples small market share, any hacker that can make the Mac dance the way they do Windows will go down in history, name in lights on Broadway, etc.
2cents
IN THE YEAR 2000
IN THE YEAR 2000
Wintel idiots will back off their Microsoft is God philosophy and jump ship to Apple!
IN THE YEAR 2000
IN THE YEAR 2000
IT “professionals” are scared of Macs. Windows = Job Security.
I don’t think Paul Thurrot is sincere here. This article is indeed about damage control to himself.
He says that “Analysts are now wondering aloud […] Apple’s sudden success with the Mac” and “[…] far more relevant to new users than the iPod halo effect”.
Now, I wonder who those analysts are he’s talking about — besides Paul Thurrot himself? The story that some people prefer to buy a new computer instead of trying to fix them, gives him a very good excuse to dismiss (*still*) the iPod halo effect.
IMHO, the iPod is/has been critical of getting Apple’s mindshare out in the world. When people do buy a new computer (for whatever reason) they increasingly think about the Mac as viable option. Without the iPod, the Apple brand name would still be obscure to many people.
Check out CNN Money for the new and quite funny take on Microsoft’s vaporware OS
http://money.cnn.com/2005/07/20/technology/microsoft/index.htm?cnn=yes
Some of the issue with being locked into certain programs are those such as shipping. We’re a mostly Mac business: Xserve, PowerMac G4 and G5, eMac, etc etc. We do have three Windows machines though, one of which is just for our shipping software. Would that someone would deliver a UPS shipping software for the Mac for high volume shipping. Unfortunately. No one has done this.
Code your own version? Please!…
“I love macs, but all or nothing is the corporate world is a silly and stupid suggestion. Let corporations bring Macs in where they can – where they are unable, let them stick with Windows.”
That is so on the money. I’m with you… not that simple. Being a strictly Mac household and have used them in the past at work, I am also the Apple evangelist at work.
I can’t go into the CEO’s office and tell hime he is running crap, at least not until I have an alternate solution that is ready to go.
We have a very small IT Staff and already work 60-80 hours a week. We are not just patching and de-bugging either. The greatest barrier is the mass of nontech-savvy users. Trying to re-code an app, or a suite of apps written over the course of 10 years by team(s) of developers would be beyound ambitious. We barely have enough time and resources to complete our current tasks. Not to make excuses, but it is true.
Not saying that it will not happen, it will just take time.
This is scary. I know this can’t be the same Thurott! Quit spoofing our favorite demon.