“During the 1990s, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln was split down the middle – not by anger or intolerance, but by computer technology,” Mark Mahoney reports for The Daily Nebraskan.
“Windows PCs and Macintosh computers were all over campus, split evenly across the university in residence halls and department computer labs as the age of the Internet was taking off,” Mahoney reports.
Mahoney writes, “Tom Eads, who has managed UNL’s Information Services computer labs since 1997, said the current ratio is no longer even. It now favors PCs, which make up 70 percent of the 500 machines in the 31 labs Eads is in charge of. ‘Over the years, I’ve adjusted that ratio based on how users are actually using the computers and the labs,” Eads said. “I think the ratio we have now is about right, based on the fact that we track very closely user preferences.'”
MacDailyNews Take: Get ready to adjust that ratio again, Mr. Eads.
Mahoney continues, “Eads said PCs and Macintoshes are on an even playing field since they usually have the same programs, but he said Macintosh has a slight advantage in security.”
MacDailyNews Take: We hereby announced the Grand Prize Winner of “The Understatement of the Decade Award” to Mr. Tom Eads, who is, amazingly, the UNL’s Information Services computer labs manager. For the Grand Prize, we award Mr. Eads a clue, as he obviously needs to get one: According to the FBI, Viruses, spyware, other computer-related crimes cost U.S. businesses $67.2 billion per year. According to Sophos, there were 114,000 known viruses for Windows PCs as of the end of 2005. Apple’s Mac OS X has had zero viruses and no known spyware for it’s over five years of existence which cost businesses worldwide $0 per year. Just “a slight advantage in security,” you see.
Mahoney continues, “Although each college has its own computer labs, Eads said his office doesn’t keep track of the number of computers in individual colleges. ‘I can’t speak to what other colleges and departments have,’ Eads said. ‘I know certain colleges, like journalism, used to be specifically Macintosh, but I think recently they turned to Windows, but I’m not positive on that.'”
Full article here.
Hey MDN, take it easy on the guy. At least he admits that Macs are more secure. Most IT department people I know say things like: “Oh you can’t have a Mac on our network because its a security risk” or “Macs aren’t compatible with our network, so we don’t allow them” or “We don’t allow Macs because you can’t get Symantec Anti-Virus for them”.
“I know certain colleges, like journalism, used to be specifically Macintosh, but I think recently they turned to Windows, but I’m not positive on that.”
Keep inspiring confidence there, Eadsie-old-boy!!!
Why should MDN take it easy on the guy? He has made a statement that is far from the truth and anyone who does that should be taken to the woodshed for it. Keep that woodshed handy, MDN.
I’m in journalism and we still use Macs… thank you very much.
Yes, and Detroit has a slight advantage* over Kansas City in tonight’s Tigers-Royals game.
(*AKA a 36-game lead.)
“Eads said PCs and Macintoshes are on an even playing field since they usually have the same programs, but he said Macintosh has a slight advantage in security.”
Good thing he works for an institution of higher knowledge. Otherwise, he might be accused of being an idiot.
E.mail Mark Mahoney at with some real stats.
editor@dailynebraskan.com
MDN, the hag is in heat and she is shouting out for attention. Her takes are always written prior to thinking. It’s sad for apple to be self-associated to website like MDN
Can’t say I don’t have a bit of shame here as I’m a journalist in Nebraska who knows how much better OSX is when it comes to, well, everything.
Keep in mind this story came from a college newspaper — and it appeared to me to be worthy of a C- in terms of effort. Then again, when I was in college (at a different institution in Nebraska), I handed in my fair share of got-drunk-slept-in-too-late-ran-out-of-time reports.
At least this is an ‘issue’ on a campus and that Macs are mentioned without being totally dismissed. These are the small ripples that have to preceed any major waves in the modern platform wars. It’s a slow process, but I love watching it unfold each day while reading my macdailynews.
The article mentions that one of the students has to use Windows for her 2D and 3D software
“In Architecture Hall, Megan Peterson, a junior interior design major, was working Thursday night in the “Barn,” the nickname given by architecture and interior design students to the giant hangar-like room on the third floor.
Peterson said she is required to use a PC for her major-specific classes because students use the computers to work on 2-D and 3-D representations of their work.”
Is this a weaker 3rd party area for Apple?
“…Macintosh has a slight advantage in security.”
Other equally idiotic uses of the adjective “slight” —
Bill Gates has a slightly larger bank balance than I do.
The Sun is slightly warmer than Pluto.
etc.
“Eads said PCs and Macintoshes are on an even playing field since they usually have the same programs, but he said Macintosh has a slight advantage in security.”
Eads has a slight disadvantage in intelligence.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/127336-1/article.html?tk=nl_dnxnws
Yeah, only a slight advantage.
His name should be Mr. Egads!
I understand that the Titantic had a slight accident…
Actually many lab computers running Windows are more secure than Macs, simply because you can’t do things like Save files that might compromise the machine.
“Although there are 18 Macintosh computers in the “Barn” at her disposal, Peterson doesn’t use them because they couldn’t support some of the programs she uses on her PC.
“We never use them,” Peterson said. “I don’t really use Macs except to check my e-mail.””
Here’s the telling quote from the article. What. No MDN take on that?
Hey, take it easy on the guy. It is a Nebraska school and the guy is probably the gym coach and has been “pasted” into the job of computer expert.
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He seems to be willing to keep on open mind vs some schools that we have “heard” about recently (Have Macs – get rid of them for PCs –
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And there is a good chance that they have not bought a new computer in the last year or three, so they may be using system OS 9.
later,
N.
Hey Norm,
Yeah, working here and going to school here (at the Univ. of Nebr. Lincoln) sucks. I’m a student now, but have also worked at the institution too. They use active directory which is the pits. They marginalize Mac and Linux at every turn. There’s essentially a bunch of old guys running everything and think that M$ is the answer for everything. If you present a better way, they’ll look to see if M$ makes something similar, they’ll then try that, but not anything outside of that sphere. Often times they won’t even consider any alternative. Just as people here (myself included) are dogmatic about Macs, these guys think M$ is the only answer for everything. It’s a complete waste of public dollars often times and as has been well documented here many times a “command and control” issue for the few that actually have the ability to make the decisions. These guys running stuff have no clue. Well, stated!
“These guys running stuff have no clue. Well, stated!”
What about the students who have free access to the Macs but would rather use PCs? Are they stupid too? Seems you can make a Mac free to people and they still choose a PC.
I also work at the University of Nebraska. I work for the Television Department (PBS). I work in the Graphics Department in the building (80% Mac based). We do all of the Video, Print and Web graphics for the Network. None of our Avid Editing systems (M$ systems) are attached to the outside world. Reason: Security. Result: Sneaker your networking (i.e video graphics) and forget about downloading upgrades or bug fixes to your M$ boxes. Our I.T. Department which is separate from the University’s is forever creating security issues that will boggle your mind. During the last year our I.T. department shutdown Port 110 into our building. Reason: Security. Result: No iChat and find another way to get your POP mail accounts. Last week our I.T. department told me that we are turning off POP 3. Reason: Security. Result: I.T. would rather that I only use my Lotus Notes account to get mail. Forget about all of the other mail services that you used to use when all you need to do use is Notes thank you. Have you ever used Notes? What a disaster of a program. Conclusion: We’ve reduced the security threat to all of P.C. (which I understand Apple is only slightly better at), but now have NO SERVICES at all. I can only guess at what else we will shutdown in the name of… security.
Dr.:
I hope you were being sarcastic in the next to the last sentence, because at the moment there is ABSOLUTELY NO KNOWN VIRUS OR MALWARE THREAT IN THE WILD TO OS X. PERIOD. There is no qualification, as in slight, similar, you add the adjective. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO KNOWN THREAT IN THE WILD AT ALL TO OS X FROM VIRUSES OR MALWARE.
“ABSOLUTELY NO KNOWN VIRUS OR MALWARE THREAT IN THE WILD TO OS X. PERIOD”
You’re right. All those that have been discovered are just figments of people’s imaginations. Likewise you can ignore all those security patches Apple issues. they’re not for real vulnerabilities. Silly Apple. Why do they wast their time patching non existent vulnerabilities?
“Port 110 into our building. Reason: Security. “
Security no, that’s an excuse: stopping you using that service, yes, that’s the objective.
I’ll repeat. IN THE WILD, there are none, and never have been, any viruses or malware for OS X. Again, in the wild. NEVER. All of the patches have been for theoretical, not actual, vulnerabilities. Look it up. If I’m wrong, show me, and I’ll be the first to admit I’m not only wrong, but over the top on this as well.
I don’t think I’d ever be accused of being an Apple fan boy. I’m simply stating the facts. Theoretical versus actual is a whole order of magnitude difference.
PC 300,000 viruses
Mac 0 viruses
You call that a slight advantage?
I agree with MDN, understatement of the decade for sure.