Mad as hell

I've got news for this guy. Except for the security thing, which is really the only thing the Mac has going for it (and not by design but as an artifact of low market share)... he's in for as frustrating an experience with OS X.

Why? Same bullshit as Windows. OS X is just NeXT guys listening to Windows focus group participants. It's equally, if not MORE guilty of "trying to be everything to everyone." And it's failing miserably at that.

It's why the Mac is painted into a casual use/passive entertainment corner. Even at the high end. Of course it PRETENDS to be adequate for pro use, but the reality is it ain't even close.

Still, I like the way this columnist seems to be yearning for Less is More and simplicity just like us.

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This is the sort of thing that has kept me in gridlock for so long in thinking about which way I go in my inevitable future move to a more contemporary computer. How do I choose between two OS's that are devolved in user-freindliness from what I'm used to?

But as I've alluded a few times recently, a new factor has entered the picture. That's the matter of internet security, viruses, spyware, etc. It isn't just that the Mac has such a low market share that it isn't worth the hackers' time. It's also that the much-reviled permissions system in OS X makes it hard for malware apps to be secretly installed. That's worth something, and it will have to be taken into consideration by a fence-sitter like me when the time comes.

Markle

quote:

It isn't just that the Mac has such a low market share that it isn't worth the hackers' time. It's also that the much-reviled permissions system in OS X make it hard for malware apps to be secretly installed.

Web sites on unix servers use the same "much-reviled permissions system" and they get hacked and vandalized all the time.

I dunno man, I see how often my permissions BREAK, in other words how often I have to fix them... and I really don't feel even a false sense of security.

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Just when I thought something might make a difference.......

Well, it's still true that Macs are attacked LESS, he said grudgingly.


Markle

I think the thing that protects Macs, is that the digital hub, casual use crud isn't worth stealing. I mean, somebody could crack a Mac and maybe get a juicy iTunes music library, but most of that stuff is easier to steal elsewhere.

It's really personal identity theives that any Mac person would need to be worried about, but you never know your identity has been stolen until it's too late. And this kind of hacker is almost never anything more than a wannabee. Meaning if there are no warez, they won't try. Virtually all the hacker software out there is written on and for PCs.

The second some "developer" writes something for a Mac, it'll be used. But I'm guessing right now there simply are no Mac hackers willing to devote the time and energy to the slim pickin's.