“I have not used a Windows machine for any serious purpose since 1999. And in those six years, I have never had a computer virus, trojan or worm. Not a single one. Neither has any adware or spyware taken over my browser (which also comes with a facility for automatically blocking pop-up windows as well as the ability to do tabbed browsing). And all this despite being connected to the net 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” John Naughton writes for The Observer.
“How have I achieved this blissful freedom? Simple: by using only computers running Apple or Linux software. No special geeky skills required – just common sense and a desire to avoid pain. For six years, I have enjoyed all the benefits of networked computing without experiencing any of the downsides,” Naughton writes
“But now comes the really puzzling bit. When friends and family tell me their woeful stories of viruses and worms, I have learnt to bite my tongue and make sympathetic, but incoherent noises. This was not how I used to react. Once upon a time I would say, in a smugly superior way, that if people would insist on supping with the devil then they should expect to get scorched; and if they wished to get off this torture-rack then they should move to a different – Apple or Linux – platform,” Naughton writes.
“But I rapidly learnt this was not what these wretches want to hear. They do not want to be told that they should abandon their Microsoft-ridden machines and worship in a different church. So in the end, I stopped telling them about Apple and Linux and began mouthing the soothing bromides favoured by vicars when dealing with terminal cases,” Naughton writes. “And the moral of the story? Simply this: as far as computing is concerned, most people are masochists. And I am a sadist, because I have stopped flogging them with the truth.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: For our Windows-only friends: If you’re considering adding a safe, powerful, elegant, and fun Mac OS X machine to your computing arsenal, information about how to do so smoothly, can be found here. For inexpensive entry to the Mac platform, you might want to take a look at Apple’s new Mac mini which starts at just US$499 — it just might be the perfect machine for you.
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Same article over and over again.
but people need to hear it!!
How many more times will it take for the obvious to sink in for the masses chained to Windows?
I would guess about a million based on some “IT types” that I’ve met.
Life’s too short: Get a Mac!
Tthe people who read MDN already know it.
I think Apple should change it’s logo from “Think Different” to just “Think”.
New people read MDN all the time since it’s in Google News – type virus and up pops up MDN. Good for those who think Windows is a personal computer. They need to see the wonderful Mac from Apple!
Every little bit helps – keep up the pressure, MDN!
I tell them (most recently yesterday) that I just don’t have the patience to deal with all that crap (viruses, malware, etc..) and that the reason most scientists and artists prefer the Macintosh is so we can spend our time being productive, instead of making the damn thing work.
Yesterday’s example was when a Dell laptop user at my university couldn’t access the WiFi network. She saw me surfing away and wanted to know how I got it to work. I told her “it just works” and told her it was set to ‘automatic’ and connected by itself as soon as I lifted the lid.
I spent a few minutes with her going through the XP control panels, etc.. to no avail (I’m certainly no MSCE!) Everything appeared to be correct and the status for her 802.11g card said it was working, but no connection.
Her only questions were “how much do they cost?” and “Does it run Word?” When I said “Starting at $500, $800 for a laptop” and “Yes” she was obviously intrigued.
Mac users have not enjoyed all the benefits of networked computing. The most glaring deficiency on the Mac platform is games. This is now the single biggest reason people do not switch to Macs. Until this problem is rectified Macs will still be a hard sell for a large portion of consumers. If they or their children cannot play the games they want they will be forced to buy Windows PCs.
me: that’s because Macs are computers, the others are actually toys.
That s–t cracks me up – all we heard in the late 80’s and early 90’s was that Mac’s were toys and not serious computers – and now the only reason they won’t switch is because they don’t have enought GAMES???? HAAhAhaHAHhhhhaaa
losers.
to me and to to me: These kind of consumers will soon realize that buying a PC to play games in throwing money out of the Windows. Nowadays consoles are getting into networking, play games much better than the highest end PC ever in the market and at 10% of the price.
To buy a PC to play games is becoming more and more a gadget of people wanting to waste their money on something mediocre at all tasks, even the less used task as use it as a computer.
I know hundreds and hundreds of personal computer users — laptops, desktops, Macs, Windows-based PCs, kids, adults, you name it. None of these people play games on their computers. The whole gaming argument is overblown.
Regarding this “Virus/Malware for Macs” argument: it’s really getting old and will soon become an irrelevent argument because of its “broken record” factor. Like, “That’s all you’ve got?”
It’s time to stop talking about what a Mac won’t do (run virus/malware) and start talking about what the Mac WILL do. Aside from the abilities within the OS, productivity software for the Mac is great software — usually written first with Mac production workflow in mind.
There’s more to Mac than virus immunity.
My Mac – I create videos, music, surf the web, built web pages, edit graphics, do email, Chat and voice conference, watch movies, TV shows and listen to radio and pod casts.
My Playstation2 – I play games.
My Windows PC – Helps hold up the right side of my Computer Desk. I haven’t turned it on for 8 months now.
(Actually it doesn’t really hold it up…but everything needs a purpose in life, and I already have several Door Stops and a boat anchor.)
iPodder is completely right.
I don’t play many games, but if I did, I’d go buy a PS2, hook it up to my TV, and play games to my heart’s delight.
(By the way, can you rent PC games the same way you can rent PS2 games?)
Most people are scared witless by anything to do with computers. They are loathe to change anything no matter the sense it would make…
[When friends and family tell me their woeful stories of viruses and worms, I have learnt to bite my tongue and make sympathetic, but incoherent noises]
Never-fail excuse to get out of giving away free ‘Windows’ tech support, “Sorry, I can’t give out ‘computer’ advice, I’m on a Mac”.
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[So in the end, I stopped telling them about Apple and Linux]
Not tired of selling ‘The Mac Way’?
It’ll be easier if ‘they’ learn on their own? LIKE WE DID. Who taught us?
‘me’ wrote, in part: he most glaring deficiency on the Mac platform is games.
Hmm… Myst IV demo is out for OS X only right now. How does that feel? (Great!)
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/6654/
simon, that’s Myst V.
Um, since it’s Roman numerals, I was adjusting for the time zone!
<hides under rock>
When I finished a contracting assignment back in 2002, my soon to be ex-boss took me and a co-worker out to dinner. This guy was known as being incredibly abrasive and demanding, but I’m very good at working with hard-to-get-along-with types and he appreciated that.
Anyway, at the dinner he started going on about his new PC, first about how awesome the specs were, but then about all the trouble he was having in installing software and getting it configured correctly. At some point I commented that I didn’t have anything to say on the matter — I’m a Mac user. Everything just works. His response was two words.
“F— Mac.”
Then he turned back to ranting on about his PC. I knew better than to push the matter.
What do you do about people like that? For cryin’ out loud, if you’re in pain, you see a doctor or least take some painkillers. If your car continually breaks down, it’s time to think about a new one. But it’s so ingrained in these folks heads that suffering is just part of computing that they can’t even comprehend that they ARE suffering.
I mean, this guy would tell you flat out that Windows was fine and dandy and he had no problems with it, then a minute later explain all the rigamarole he was going through to install some new application or peripheral. It’s doublethink.
These people will never switch to Mac until they spend a lot time near a Mac user. That’s what switched me in 2001. Here was me, miserable with my PC, and miserable with the PC before it, and miserable with the PC before that one. And here was my best friend, happy with his Mac. And happy with the Mac he had after it. And finally I said “Hey! What am I doing??”
LordRobin,
The fellow you describe is the stereotypical technical moron. These types are less “computer users” and more “technical gymnasts.” They’re not the least bit interested in being productive or getting a job done. They love big numbers (specs), esoteric terminology, and having the appearance of being technically savvy.
Apple should start selling on what they can do. My wife wasn’t at all interested or impressed by the iCandy of the MacOS – I think she just dismissed it, along with the machine design, as ‘designer’ type nonsense – she thinks even customising a Windows desktop is a waste of time – it’s what it does that matters.
When I put her photos into iPhoto and kicked off the standard (Ken Burns Effect) slideshow she was impressed. When I made a DVD from it with another couple of clicks, she was impressed.
When I transferred a video of family Super8 films onto a DVD with menus – she was impressed.
After a few months of things that impressed, she started asking me about an iBook. Even when told that it won’t run Sims 2 or Rollercoaster Tycoon as well as her existing XP laptop, she’s still going for it.
Naughton’s right though – the smugness of Apple users really annoys people, and no one like being told they’ve wasted their money. No one likes BMW owners either, even though most people can admire the quality of the cars.
LordRobin – I know where he’s coming from though.
I was an Atari ST user, happy with the same machine, until it was stolen, then a Mac user and happy with what that did too. Then computerless through several years of living in rented rooms.
Then I bought a PC, and developed an upgrade habit – ended up spending more time downloading drivers and checking my score on 3D Mark than actually playing games.
(Wheras on a Mac you spend more time on Mac forums than using your computer)
LordRobin: you had dinner with a well known character. The “Idioticus Technologicus”
It is a species that is very resilient because it has no real brain. Just acquired reflexes just as when you mentioned “Mac” and the instinct made him burst two words and then continue with its rant. No brain involved into both activities.
Great article.