“I believe Microsoft should take full responsibility for the faulty design of Windows and recall every last copy of Windows ever sold. Buyers should get a working, safe, secure operating system in return,” Al Fasoldt writes for The Syracuse Post-Standard. “Some say that’s just not going to happen. But I can’t find anything in the realm of common sense that requires Ford or General Motors or any other automobile manufacturer to act responsibly by recalling defective vehicles while leaving Microsoft free to do as it pleases in its monopoly software market.”
“In light of Microsoft’s record and because of the current flood of Windows spyware and Windows viruses – an uncountable number of spyware infections and an estimated 125,000 active Windows viruses as of this month – I recommend two approaches,” Fasoldt writes. “I urge anyone who uses Windows to consider the two main alternatives to the Windows operating systems, Mac OS X and Linux. Both are much safer than any version of Windows and are free from spyware. There are only a few viruses for Linux PCs and none for Mac OS X.”
“Linux has a big advantage: It can be installed as a replacement for Windows on just about any Windows PC. Mac OS X is an operating system designed for Apple’s Macintosh computers, so you have to change from a PC to a Mac to switch to OS X. But Mac OS X has a huge advantage. Apple makes the Macintosh computers and the OS X operating system, and they work together seamlessly, without the problems that plague many Windows computers and some Linux PCs,” Fasoldt writes. “Nobody else makes the computer and the operating system. Apple’s advantage here is immense.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: More information about smoothly adding a Mac OS X machine to your computing arsenal can be found here.
Amazing, first post!
I like the recall thing. If it works for cars and governors, why not an operating system?
Nice piece!
Amen !!!
“As member of Apple Board of Directors I have been informed by the John Kerry campaign that, in America’s best efforts to ensure a properous economy, maximize America’s security from hackers and nere’ do wells, increase competition and promote national socialism, the US government will issue a $6,999.99 tax rebate to Windows users who switch to the Macintosh.”
(This offer does not extend to iPods. Void were prohibited. Employees of Apple computer and members of the right wing are excepted.)
So, keep your receipts. Right?
MS has basically had a free ride ever since IBM selected them for the OS when the PC was first introduced. During all this time then have sucked in a lot of dollars and delivered third rate software. While they have continued to enjoy sales because people buy computers from Dull or at Best Buy times are changing.
The virus/worm situation has hit a crisis level – to the point where MS pulled Longhorn programmers to work on XP SP2 and that is a flop itself. 200+ programs that will not work properly (including MS apps) and less than a week to find the first security flaw.
Now the landscape is different. Linux has shown that other OS approaches can work and the iPod, of all things, has shown that Macs can be pretty interesting.
Pressure is on MS and I don’t know if they can deliver – they just don’t have the history of delivering quality and it might be too big a leap for them.
Pity.
I just finished reading the book “No Hands: The Rise & Fall of the Schwinn Bicycle Company: An American Institution.” Schwinn, at one time, was so dominate in the market it was thought it would always be around.
However, its size and outdated factory made it difficult to react to the market. Huge mistakes were made leading to their bankruptcy in the early 90s.
Microsoft is having many of the same issues and while its cash position is outstanding it is not unthinkable for MS to fall from its lofty position. Perhaps not bankruptcy but to lose its monopoly.
FYI
PCWorld has a nice article about Safari. A PC mag picked Safari over IE and Netscape. One more reason to switch.
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,117439,00.asp
iSteve,
Funny you should mention Schwinn. The company is making an amazing comeback. There was a feature on TV a few days ago – perhaps 60 Minutes or a program like that. They still make their bikes in the U.S. too.
I also invented Apple, the Mac, the iPod, Windows, Bill Gates and everything else. I’m also a total moron.
Schwinn cruisers are cool. Electra ones are better tho IMO
The group that bought Schwinn out of bankruptcy in 1993 went bankrupt in 2001. In 2001 Schwinn Bicycles & Schwinn Fitness were split up – going to different buyers. Richard Schwinn is the only family member still in the business but he can’t use the name Schwinn! He operates the old Paramound factory in Wisconsin, Waterford Precision Bicycles which also makes Gunnar frames.
Future for MS? Loss of monopoly. Breakup of company into smaller companies: Windows OS, Office for Mac & Windows, XBox, etc…
Just to clarify, I didn’t invent the Republican party or George ‘Monkey Boy’ Bush.
Both of those are just random accidents, which happen from time to time in an infinite universe.
With support for the two leaders running about 50-50 that would mean 50% of Americans are complete idiots.
I find that hard to believe.
How did politics get so polarized?
Ummm… I’d reckon BSD *nix would be a better choice than Linux if security is most important. Elements of its design are also better.
“With support for the two leaders running about 50-50 that would mean 50% of Americans are complete idiots.
I find that hard to believe”
“I would say that more like 99 % of americans are complete idiots, not just 50.”
“Nobody else makes the computer and the operating system. Apple’s advantage here is immense.”
As if that isn’t a Monopolistic….Closed Business model.
yeah closed like practically every other consumer device actually. The only real open scenario would be that you can use any chip any OS and any desired software and they all work together. Until then ‘open’ is a myth. Maybe some moves in that direction but its a long way off and if MS were to remain dominant never.
As for the 50% I was going to ask which 50%.
the other 50 are divided into those who think the ipod won’t work with their eMachines (probably for the best) and those who are in line to get an ipod/ipod mini
Slappin said, “As if that isn’t a Monopolistic…. Closed Business model”.
Let’s see, if the news media is to be believed, Apple has somewhere between 1% and 3% of the market share. There is no way a sane individual can construe that share as a monopoly.
As far as a close business model, you can run OSX, Linux, UNIX, and most versions of Windows (if you dare) on the Mac. All this stuff can peacefully coexist on one machine. Even without Windows, a Mac user can read and write the files on a Wintel-based computer. You will not find that to be true with a Wintel-based platform.
Apple chose vertical integration of its product line to provide a higher quality user experience. This requires more research and effort, hence the higher cost. Because both hardware and software are produced by the same company, stability and overall reliability is far greater than with Wintel-based systems.
Besides, people can choose to torture themselves with Microsoft and Dell. Since most personal computer users have chosen that avenue, I can’t say that it speaks highly of their intellect. I see herd mantality, not grand intelligence.
In a monopolistic business model, choice isn’t allowed and every effort is made, no matter how dishonest, to keep the competition out. Microsoft is in constant hot water due to its crooked tactics. The lack of integration, suseptibility to virus infection, and in the Wintel business model is obvious.
Those who wish to go with the Wintel model are welcome to do so – knock yourselves out. Just spare me your whining when your systems go belly-up on a regular basis. I know they do, as I see it at work on a regular basis.
> “Nobody else makes the computer and the operating system. > Apple’s advantage here is immense.”
>>As if that isn’t a Monopolistic….Closed Business model.
A monopoly stifles competition, which Apple has never done. They have simply chosen to follow their own lights instead of imitating the success of others. Heaven help us when making the best product becomes “monopolistic”!!!
“As if that isn’t a Monopolistic….Closed Business model.”
Nope. There is a difference between a “closed business model” and a monopoly.
The common analogy is with cars. Ford makes Ford cars. They design the vehicle, make the parts that the vehicle will use (or contract it out to their specifications), and sell the vehicles through their dealerships. They warranty and service these vehicles. This is similar to the way Apple works.
Microsoft is somewhat like Mitsubishi–I’m not an expert on Mitsubishi and I’m going from things I heard years ago which may no longer be accurate. So if I’m off, I apologize.
Anyway, Mitsubishi makes automobile engines which used to be used in Hyundais (maybe they still are). Engineers at Hyundai would design their cars around the Mitsubishi engine but they didn’t design or build the engine themselves–they just took what they got from Mitsubishi and built a car around it. By the way, yes, I’m aware that originally Hyundai just sold repackaged Mitsubishis, but I believe they also had their own designs. Anyway, Hyundai would sell, service, and support their vehicles through their dealerships. This is sort of how Microsoft works–they supply an operating system to PC makers, who design their PCs around this operating system.
Now, of course, Microsoft looks at this differently. Microsoft looks at PC makers as “distributors” of their operating system. You can buy Windows from CompUSA or you can buy it from Dell. This was one of the things that was danced around when considering anti-trust remedies–do people buy a Dell computer with a Microsoft operating system or do they buy a Microsoft operating system on a Dell computer?
How did politics get so polarized?
Here’s a hint, from Bill Clinton’s book:
“I won a lot of elections and I think I did a lot of good, but the more I tried to bring people together, the madder it made the fanatics on the right. Unlike the kids [at the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago], they didn’t want to come back together. They had an enemy, and they meant to keep it.”
I used to have a Schwinn Black Phantom. Man, that thing was Cadillac!
I can’t wait for the new AG in the Kerry administration to re-institute monopoly hearings, and implement Judge Jackson’s break-up remedy for the Microsoft monopoly. It’s done wonders for the long distance rates since the ATT break-up.
Re: ” Unlike the kids [at the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago], they didn’t want to come back together. They had an enemy, and they meant to keep it.”
Are you nuts? I was around at that time, and if there was ever a bunch of kids that did NOT want to come together and HAD enemies, it WAS the “kids” at the 68 Democratic convention.
In fact, most of them have remained totally obsessed about it to this day! In fact, with them, it was” find an enemy, any enemy, just find something to rebel against, anything!”
The left and the extreme right are just mirror images of each other.
neomonkey is my love slave. I hate to admit it but George Bush beat me fair and square and I secretly think he’s doing a great job. Kerry is a complete moron!
neomonkey is my love slave. I hate to admit it but George Bush beat me fair and square and I secretly think he’s doing a great job. Kerry is a complete moron!