[Grovenet] MACs for Christmas

Thu Jan 3 13:22:51 PST 2008

Ron, yep, there are things I've liked about the use of both systems, which is I guess why I've used both.  :)

Geri

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" <ron at cobi.biz>
To: "'Forest Grove local interests list'" <grovenet at rdrop.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 1:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] MACs for Christmas

> I'm not surprised Geri! 
> 
> That's the marketing tradeoff Apple made: simplicity, stability and more
> limited functions from a single supplier at Apple's price vs. IBM's greater
> range of options, and capabilities from a great many suppliers in a highly
> competitively priced marketplace. 
> 
> I remember when Mac users were very upset over Apple's lack of internet
> browsers about a decade ago when PC users were exploring the new cyberspace
> arena in large numbers. Apple took the criticism and refused to budge until
> they were completely ready. 
> 
> That's been their approach all along: stability and simplicity first. I'm
> not sure why they haven't won more market share over the years: perhaps
> because of the lower prices on PCs coming from a range of competitors. 
> 
> I've often wondered if Apple didn't "shoot themselves in the foot" fostering
> the cult status of their machine as the "Anti-IBM computer". It sure hasn't
> worked in the marketplace. The Mac is a good machine without trying to prove
> it by claiming the IBM PC is somehow flawed. 
> 
> It's significant to me that Apple gave huge numbers of computers to schools
> a back in the 80's. It helped launch a computer generation who, presumably,
> would grow up to buy Macs, but they didn't. When they pulled out their own
> pocketbooks they bought IBM PCs! I suspect they wanted the flexibility and
> the "leading edge of technology" of the PC over the simpler, more inherently
> stable but more costly Mac. 
> 
> After all, how many youngsters spending their own money would opt for a
> Lincoln Continental over a Ferrari, even if it's a temperamental Ferrari
> after they did a little customization? 
> 
> Maybe as they are getting older and are more dependent upon the PC as an
> essential tool a few are looking back at the Mac. Perhaps that has something
> to do with Apple's growing market share. 
> 
> Ron D'Eau Claire 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
> Behalf Of Geri
> Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 12:01 PM
> To: Forest Grove local interests list
> Subject: Re: [Grovenet] MACs for Christmas
> 
> 
> Chuck, my 2-cents-worth:
> 
> I have used both Mac & Windows for twelve years
> here at home.  As a non-techie, which is what *most*
> folks are, I agree with you that Mac is w-a-y less
> trouble!
> 
> Geri
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "chuck" <chuck at grovenet.net>
> To: <jeff at jeffhowden.com>; "Forest Grove local interests list"
> <grovenet at rdrop.com>
> Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 10:33 AM
> Subject: Re: [Grovenet] MACs for Christmas
> 
> 
>> 
>>>
>>> A truly trouble-free computer for the average non-technical computer 
>>> user does not exist.  All proponents of non-MS operating systems have 
>>> been pushing this mantra constantly, but it's a logical fallacy.
>>>
>>>   
>> In your opinion.
>> 
>> My Linux machine is trouble free.  My opinion.
>> 
>> I'm sure David can say the same with his Mac, as could Jane, or any of
>> the other Mac users on this board. 
>> 
>> Trouble free - to me - means turning it on and having it actually come
>> on.  Clicking my email icon and actually having it work.  Surfing the 
>> Internet with Firefox or Safari - and being able to go to any site 
>> without threat of a dangerous popup, trojan horse, or virus.  That's 
>> pretty much sums up trouble free to me.  A device that works like it is 
>> supposed to.  Like a TV, or radio.
>> 
>> In my experience, Windows has never been trouble free.  Freezing,
>> locking up, driver issues, viruses, spyware, drive-by trojans, blue 
>> screens, support calls to foreign countries, activation issues, more 
>> software to purchase.  This is my definition of Windows.  Not exactly 
>> trouble free.
>>> An average non-technical user should not have to "learn an OS".  They 
>>> should be able to sit down at the machine and just get it to work.
>> I agree 100%.
>>>   
>>>> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
>>>> My other service call this vacation (its hard being a computer guy) 
>>>> was to another relative whom I built a computer for 3 years ago.  
>>>> Not one single Antivirus or Spyware application I had given him had 
>>>> been updated.  Not once.  The computer was inundated with Viruses 
>>>> and Spyware - big surprise.  [...] 
>>>> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
>>>>     
>>>
>>> User error.
>>>   
>> Absolutely User Error.
>> 
>> But 'should' it be his fault?  Had he been using something other than
>> Windows - would it still have been an issue?  I doubt it as most of his 
>> problems were Virus/malware related.
>> 
>> I still stand by my experience that Macs/Linux has far fewer Virus
>> problems than Windows. 
>> 
>> My Linux machine has been running 3 yrs.  eMail, Internet, Word
>> Processing, music/mp3, video/dvd, photo editing/storage, cd/dvd 
>> burning,  web site editing.  I have no firewall and no virus 
>> protection.  None. 
>> 
>> Should I worry?  Maybe.  But I don't.  I may have viruses on here 
>> right
>> now - Windows viruses - and without the proper privileges - they can do 
>> absolutely nothing.  
>> 
>> I have purposely gone to hacking sites, warez sites, torrent sites,
>> myspace, etc....sites I know have trojans, and have even had the 
>> Winfixer popups - I simply close them.  I purposely open email 
>> attachments - even questionable ones - nothing.  I have tried to get a 
>> virus.  Sorry.  They cannot do anything on an OS other than Windows. 
>> 
>> That may indeed change one day - but for now - I feel pretty safe.
>> 
>>>
>>> Want a computer without the false sense of security (ie, the claims 
>>> of being invulnerable)?  Get a PC.
>>>
>>>   
>> And when it breaks - I'm in the book.
>> 
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