what is with macs that make them so special?

Re: what is with macs that make them so special?

I would tend to agree but one thing to keep in mind is that a lot of stability depends on the software manufacturer. Apple basically makes all the software for Mac as far as I know so it is bound to be stable. If macintosh was the standard we would have many companies producing software and I doubt the stability overall would seem so high.
 
Re: what is with macs that make them so special?

apple doesnt make anymore software for mac than microsoft makes for pc, in fact microsoft produces much more software than apple
 
Re: what is with macs that make them so special?

:-/ so sensitive...

anyway, i think the mac designers rock...all of their products look sweet. they have a sort of scifi modern look to them. where as most pcs are rather dull looking...but theres nothing wrong with that...pc are hard working and can be configured in a variety of ways to serve your needs. anyway, im a pc guy..but im totaly going to buy one of those little macs...just cause id like to learn more about macs and use some of the software like final cut.
 
Re: what is with macs that make them so special?

I just use my macs to make a living. They work well. I treat them well. Not much more to say.

If I had a bunch of PC's that did the same, I would think they were "special," too.

now, here is the geeky part: I mark this one's "birthday" only because I like to think I acquired it through a random act of kindness.

iamlame9yc.jpg


I feel the same way about my cameras.

Some of you may have sen the underbelly of one my dvx's. :)
 
Re: what is with macs that make them so special?

[quote author=Shaw link=board=Offtopic;num=1105471619;start=60#60 date=01/14/05 at 15:46:35]I would tend to agree but one thing to keep in mind is that a lot of stability depends on the software manufacturer.  Apple basically makes all the software for Mac as far as I know so it is bound to be stable.  If macintosh was the standard we would have many companies producing software and I doubt the stability overall would seem so high.[/quote]

There's tens of thousands of apps for OSX, 99.9% of them from outside developers.
 
Re: what is with macs that make them so special?

I use macs and pcs and I prefer mac. Althohgh it is more expensive (unless you were to buy an equivalent pc), i see it as paying for a very controlled, safe and stable system. I know that when I get my dual g5 it will run all programs with ease because those programs are designed to run on that machine.
PC is different, it can be "optimized" for an athlon or a pentium, it can have compatibiliy issues. sure you can build a system for cheaper, but Id rather it be pro. built and know it will work.

Ive built far too many pc's that just give me headaches because some part of the computer isnt high quality enough and blah.

plus, networking on apples is just sweet :)
 
Re: what is with macs that make them so special?

[quote author=Carlos Crespo link=board=Offtopic;num=1105471619;start=60#66 date=01/14/05 at 17:52:10]

plus, networking on apples is just sweet :)[/quote]

what are you networking?
 
Re: what is with macs that make them so special?

There's tens of thousands of apps for OSX, 99.9% of them from outside developers
Click to expand...

I stand corrected :). In that case I am quite impressed with their stability.
 
Re: what is with macs that make them so special?

[quote author=Pooh link=board=Offtopic;num=1105471619;start=60#67 date=01/14/05 at 18:10:53]

what are you networking?[/quote]


just a home network and at work.

it took me a whle to get my pc's networked and for everything to work (file sharing, shared printer, shared net, etc etc).

when I bought my powerbook, I turn it on with airport enabled, it asks me "please choose server" , and there it is, my network, I click connect...voila, connected. no need to run any wizards or install drivers. and actually, right now my pc cant see the other pc's on my network...i have no idea why, i didnt touch anything. mac is running just fine
 
Re: what is with macs that make them so special?

ok I think I need to intervene with my knowledge here...

Anyone that says Macs are less vulnerable to viruses because of smaller market share knows squat about programmin and about Operating system design.

I was a comp sci major before changing my "ambitions" in life, so I am not talking out of my ass.

Unix, by it's nature is far more stable than windows. Unix is designed from the ground up with security measures, it permeates the system and is not something superficial or tacked in many cases like in Windows.

To get a virus to even infect your system, you would have to download it from an email, then purposely open the file to start it. Unlike in windows where and Executable can auto run and your screwed. There goes your system. Also, a program under OSX cannot bypass an admin password on it's own, it needs user interaction. Hence making life much harder for the virus write, who would then need to figure out a way to circumvent this. Not an easy thing to do.

with crap like IE and OutLook Express, and all the fun Buffer problems in MS programs, it's a wonder they run at all.

and what is really funny is that, the buffer problem in Word on the PC, where a hacker could write executable code to get stored in an overflowed data buffer carried over to the mac version of Word.. not the exact same problem, but same idea...

I felt the need to explain. I am stopping now before I go into many technical details.

PS: I am not saying that one day the mac won't be overrun with viruses like the PC... but it is a lot harder to do..
 
Re: what is with macs that make them so special?

[quote author=Tlalconetl link=board=Offtopic;num=1105471619;start=60#71 date=01/14/05 at 23:56:15]Macs are just too motherf--ing sexy. Knowwhatamsayin'?[/quote]

Eloquently put.... eloquently put..

...and a boom shaka laka.
 
Re: what is with macs that make them so special?

love the mac but this type of BS can easily happen:

previewscreensnapz0019xd.jpg



I thought I'd be able to use it with all the apps..

can I still use it? yes,..but that wording should have been on the box and promo materials...
 
Re: what is with macs that make them so special?

[quote author=Loki link=board=Offtopic;num=1105471619;start=60#70 date=01/14/05 at 23:11:14]ok I think I need to intervene with my knowledge here...

Anyone that says Macs are less vulnerable to viruses because of smaller market share knows squat about programmin and about Operating system design.
[/quote]

If you took the time to read what I wrote, you'll find that's not what I said.

I said that fewer viruses are written for Macs because they are only 10% of the market, thus making it appear as though PCs are far more susceptible because they get hit far, far, far more often.  Why?  Because there are far, far, far more viruses out there that can.  Why?  Because there are far, far, far more of them . . . and the cycle continues.

There is no invulnerable computer, except one which never goes onto the 'net.  If it was worth the while for those who create viruses to create them for Macs, they would, no matter what safety protocols you think might make them impervious.  But it isn't.  A Mac vrius doesn't have the potential to go flying through every computer in every major corporation in the world, not to mention 90% of homes with computers, as a PC virus could.

Don't mistake a lack of infectious agents for immunity.
 
Re: what is with macs that make them so special?

I did indeed read and understand your post quite well.

I was merely pointing out bad software design choices. Poorly written software is far easier to infect.

I never said the mac was invulnerable no did I ever mistake the "lack of infectious agents" as being invulnerable.

A virus has two options to get onto a computer: someone hacking, or the user opening a program and running it.

This is why OSX is far safer than Windows. The virus writer/hacker has to bypass the built in firewall on OSX (which is on by default, windows just starting putting it on by default) and then plant the virus in a location where they know it will be automatically run or know that the user will run it.

I am simply saying it is much more challenging to infect a mac than a PC. Since Internet Explorer allows pop-up adds to initiate downloads and since things auto run on a PC... nice easy distribution system.

Now, there are certainly many brain dead OSX users that will infect there comps when more are written, but it is harder for them to do it to themselves than on a PC.

see so I win
:P

kidding of course.. but I am just making my point.
 
Re: what is with macs that make them so special?

I wasn't trying to "win;" I was trying to dispel the idea that Macs are immune to viruses. I've heard that little factoid far too many times to count. ::)

It's true that Windows has legacy code predating the World Wide Web, where security wasn't an issue, and it's taking time to address all of those concerns over the millions and milions of lines of code. UNIX systems like OSX developed after the advent of the web have a bit of advantage, but as Windows security tightens, that's changing.

Besides, "security through obscurity" is a buzz term even in the Mac community.

Some interesting reading here:

http://www.winnetmag.com/WindowsScripting/Article/ArticleID/27428/WindowsScripting_27428.html

"Open-source software, commonly used in many versions of Linux, UNIX, and network routing equipment, is now the major source of elevated security vulnerabilities for IT buyers," the report reads. "Security advisories for open-source and Linux software accounted for 16 out of the 29 security advisories--about one of every two advisories--published for the first 10 months of 2002. During this same time, vulnerabilities affecting Microsoft products numbered seven, or about one in four of all advisories."
The stunning report makes several claims that seem to fly in the face of widely accepted beliefs. First, the Aberdeen Group says that Windows-based Trojan horse attacks peaked in 2001, when CERT released six such advisories, then bottomed out this year, when CERT didn't issue any alerts. However, Trojan horse-based attacks on Linux, UNIX, and open-source projects jumped from one in 2001 to two in 2002. The Aberdeen Group says this information proves that Linux and UNIX are just as prone to Trojan horse attacks as any other OS, despite press reports to the contrary, and that Mac OS X, which is based on UNIX, is also vulnerable to such attacks. Even more troubling, perhaps, is the use of open-source software in routers, Web servers, firewalls, and other Internet-connected solutions. The Aberdeen Group says that this situation sets up these devices and software products to be "infectious carriers" that intruders can easily usurp.
Click to expand...

http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=23467
As Gartenberg notes, "The fact that Apple is not in as many hands as Windows means there are fewer people trying to exploit those vulnerabilities in the marketplace."
There is "no question" that its low profile is the biggest factor behind the low amount of attacks on the OS, Wagner said, also pointing out that Apple tends to inspire less animosity in the hacker community than Windows.
Click to expand...

Here’s where the MacObserver agrees with me:
http://www.macobserver.com/article/2004/05/18.5.shtml
Even then, however, spreading anything that takes advantage of this exploit is the kind of situation where Security Through Obscurity actually does come into play. Fewer Mac recipients means that any potential exploit would spread far more slowly than Windows viruses and worms spread. Many anti-Mac partisans have suggested in the past that there weren't any Mac viruses because no one cares enough to write them. no one cares enough to write them. Whether or not that is true, it will definitely be harder for any virus creator to spread them on our platform.
Click to expand...
 
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