Microsoft Brings .NET to the Mac
I was reading my e-mail and found a story about Microsoft's .NET platform on Macs. Well, the subject of the story didn't apply only to Macs, but I ignored that fact, and decided to read the existing comments on the story. I came across a ridiculous comment boasting about how the Mac is superior to Windows XP. While I don't deny that Mac OS X is a Good Thing, the argument was a simple "Use Macs. Because." kind of argument.
My comments are available on the story's comment page as well as below:"The Mac is much more secure th[a]n Windows due to the UNIX base. As one who uses XP every day, I can say, if you want to put up with constant updates to virus programs and such, go ahead and use it."
Are you suggesting that Mac users are immune to viruses, and therefore needn't run anti-virus applications? If so, you are a sad fool. Firstly, *NIX operating systems may be more secure, but "much more"? The security advantage of *NIX over Windows XP is marginal at best. Furthermore, while Mac OS X is based on BSD, there are extensions to it which contain potential for exploiting. The only real reason you don't hear about the Mac being plagued by viruses, etc. is because nobody's really targeting that platform at this time. I will be thinking of you and laughing my pants off when the time comes when Mac users will have NO CHOICE but to be just as careful with security as their Windows-using counterparts. Complacency and arrogance will be your ruin.
Now, getting back to *NIX security, the OS itself is actually pretty ordinary (teetering toward weak!) when it comes to security. It's the programs running on top of the OS that define if it is secure or not. Say you have a program that's suid root, and the program isn't checking user input as well as it should. A simple buffer overflow can compromise the entire system, something to which ALL *NIX operating systems are vulnerable.
Somebody fall for some marketing hype? Hmm?"To be productive get a Mac."
That is the most inane and slanted statement I've seen in a long time. It reeks of fanboyism. What you should've said was something like, "To be productive, try exploring your options and find out what fits your lifestyle and your habits the best."
While it is true that a user interface can have an effect on productivity, I personally find the Mac UI cumbersome and distracting. Remember, there's no such thing as "better". If you find something better, which you obviously do, you merely prefer what the Mac UI has to offer DIFFERENTLY over other UIs.
And before you go off on me for being a Microsoft zealot, I run Debian (and derivatives Ubuntu and Xebian), Gentoo, and Red Hat/Fedora on different machines for different applications.
My comments are available on the story's comment page as well as below:"The Mac is much more secure th[a]n Windows due to the UNIX base. As one who uses XP every day, I can say, if you want to put up with constant updates to virus programs and such, go ahead and use it."
Are you suggesting that Mac users are immune to viruses, and therefore needn't run anti-virus applications? If so, you are a sad fool. Firstly, *NIX operating systems may be more secure, but "much more"? The security advantage of *NIX over Windows XP is marginal at best. Furthermore, while Mac OS X is based on BSD, there are extensions to it which contain potential for exploiting. The only real reason you don't hear about the Mac being plagued by viruses, etc. is because nobody's really targeting that platform at this time. I will be thinking of you and laughing my pants off when the time comes when Mac users will have NO CHOICE but to be just as careful with security as their Windows-using counterparts. Complacency and arrogance will be your ruin.
Now, getting back to *NIX security, the OS itself is actually pretty ordinary (teetering toward weak!) when it comes to security. It's the programs running on top of the OS that define if it is secure or not. Say you have a program that's suid root, and the program isn't checking user input as well as it should. A simple buffer overflow can compromise the entire system, something to which ALL *NIX operating systems are vulnerable.
Somebody fall for some marketing hype? Hmm?"To be productive get a Mac."
That is the most inane and slanted statement I've seen in a long time. It reeks of fanboyism. What you should've said was something like, "To be productive, try exploring your options and find out what fits your lifestyle and your habits the best."
While it is true that a user interface can have an effect on productivity, I personally find the Mac UI cumbersome and distracting. Remember, there's no such thing as "better". If you find something better, which you obviously do, you merely prefer what the Mac UI has to offer DIFFERENTLY over other UIs.
And before you go off on me for being a Microsoft zealot, I run Debian (and derivatives Ubuntu and Xebian), Gentoo, and Red Hat/Fedora on different machines for different applications.