Some Flash Developer Attempts to Justify Lack of Flash Support on iPad/iPhone
An Adobe Flash developer, a Morgan Adams, has given a new argument for Flash support on touchscreen devices. Simply put, it has everything to do with the way a mouse cursor interacts with Flash embedded objects on a webpage. The hovering and mouseover abilities of the cursor usually have a bit of stock in the way you manipulate games and Flash videos, but I feel that this is quite an exaggeration. While his argument is valid, I feel that this is no way a proper justification.
I really do feel that this man is wrong about Flash not being able to function properly on touchscreen devices because of the lack of hovering and clicking on a touchscreen device. I say he is wrong because I actually watch Flash animated videos on Newgrounds.com and play Flash-based games on Armorgames.com and Kongregate.com. Rarely do I find a game I absolutely cannot play or at least cannot enjoy. Let alone actually beat the game! I played Sonny 2 entirely on my phone.
Web marketing people might be the only people that will feel the pinch as their annoying as hell banner ads that grow in size upon hovering will suffer from views. Even with the ads, websites feel complete and full. I don’t feel I’m missing anything upon viewing websites. Having plug-in support brings me to my next point; being able to go to other sites that aren’t YouTube. Pretty much all popular mobile OSes have an app to view YouTube videos, but what about the dozens of other websites like Collegehumor and Cracked that rely on Flash embedded videos for content?
I imagine most people would agree with this guy about Flash on touchscreen devices, but I would imagine they haven’t actually tried using Flash on smartphones and tablets. His statement is an exaggeration and even though I am not an Adobe Flash developer, I have made silly cartoons using Flash before. This makes me feel more than qualified to call it an exaggeration as I’m in a much higher percentile than the people that merely watch those silly Flash videos.
In Apple We Antitrust
An apparent leak has been revealed that Microsoft will be shipping Windows 7 without Internet Explorer already bundled. While it is not the first time we’ve seen Microsoft hit with anti-trust lawsuits recently, many can only imagine why no one complains about Apple bundling all of their applications by default without alternatives out of the box.
One announcement from WWDC 2009 is that Snow Leopard is only $29 to upgrade from Leopard. That’s good news, but remember that the initial Mac OS X public beta was $29.95 and only lasted a little over half a year. As for Microsoft, we can download Windows Server 2008 R2 Release Candidate, based on the NT 7.0 kernel, and the Windows Server 2008 trial is good for 60 days. Also, Windows 7 has been out for several months now, with official and unofficial releases, for a long haul beta.
The $30 beta for Mac OS X did apply a discount for Cheetah, but was lacking in almost all features, and was rather unstable. Things did not improve for some time after the initial launch of OS X. Not only did the community pay for a beta, but they also paid for a very unfinished, featureless, and buggy operating system for the first retail release of OS X 10.0. They paid to stare at the Aqua UI. The Apple community can say what they want about Windows not being the best out of the box, but it took a couple of years for OS X to achieve usability.
Plenty of people would have became rabid if they could have only used the new Windows 7 toolbar with Jump Lists for 6 months without any real applications, DVD support, or much of any productivity software available, let alone that they received the beta for free. What would happen to Windows 7s sales if it took two years to become useful? Also, people were upset about backwards compatibility with Vista, but what of OS X Leopard/Snow Leopard and Classic? No more native OS 9 support.
I remember when Windows XP first came out. I remember the criticism about exploits, revolving door infections, and shoddy performance. After Service Pack 2 was released, everything then seemed stable enough. The same goes for Vista SP1, but what about Windows 7? There are several reports about glitches and other problems, but this is a public beta from Microsoft for a brand new operating system. No one will see a public beta, or free if “available” in beta, for Snow Leopard because everyone is already using Snow Leopard as Leopard or Tiger. It’s still OS X.
I have and still do give OS X a chance. I have had Mac OS X Tiger for the longest time and doubt I will ever upgrade to further service packs released by Apple. I cannot justify paying for a service pack for an operating system older then Windows XP that has had 5 retail service packs and a sixth on the way! WinXP had 3 SPs and was pretty solid by the second. While Microsoft didn’t focus heavily on themes, the end user can tweak their Windows desktop environment to make it unique.
It bothers me when I see blind iSheep flocking to the next “big” announcement in hopes it matches the rumors, but no keynote ever does. What is really bothersome is how the slightly positive announcements are given the most attention instead of the elephant in the room, such as a new line of expensive MacBook Pros without a removable battery. Apple can be just as greedy, if not more, as Microsoft and guilty of using guerrilla tactics equal to those committed by Microsoft.
I’d rather not wake up in the morning to see Safari secretly installed and automatically assigned as my default browser again. I uninstalled Apple software on my Windows PC, especially the disappointing Safari 4 release for Windows missing the delightful tab-process feature to kill tabs, which is featured in Chrome. Also, Chrome 2 appears has already “stolen the crown” that Apple gave itself, but was more of a pat on the back.
Mac OS X is a decent proprietary operating system with limited hardware configuration and software support, but Apple is the real culprit here with the misdirection, exaggerations, unnecessary mudslinging, and leaving loyal fans wondering if they are ever thought of in think tanks. I would imagine only true Apple fans can wait out the storm of bad ideas and implementations, but what would be considered the limit? Vista drew a great deal of fire, but when Snow Leopard drops, few will complain that they are paying for only a feature-lite service pack for OS X.
Digitus Medius to Consumerist Masochist
It’s official: Apple and AT&T gave the middle finger to their loyal existing customers this week. There isn’t much to say in regards to the reason why it’s a big middle finger, but it’s more of a question as to why should everyone care so much. No one really expects AT&T and Apple to give loyal customers deep discounts over new customers, that’s the way of the business world.
So, the new iPhone hardware will be hundreds of dollars more for existing customers to upgrade their phone. That’s fine. There are dozens of examples where this kind of new-customer-first policy takes place. One that comes to mind is a video store. Everyone has seen the big bold letters advertising 50% off rentals for 30 days to all new customers, but what about the veteran who has rented over 2,000 titles at New Release wall 5-day rental prices?
I could give more examples, but I’m sure everyone will immediately relate this behavior to many other companies. It’s nothing new, it’s just business. Big Tabacco doesn’t care about the black lunged, existing smokers, they want the new and healthy. The difference between other companies and AT&T/Apple is that there is a fine contract between the consumer and a fancy new gadget that will be a quarter of the price after ten weeks.
The biggest insult is that AT&T could give their iPhone customers MMS, and should have before 3.0, but they refused all this time and will possibly push it out over the summer. They’ll charge for tethering, possibly adding it onto the unlimited data plan, causing the already pricey data plan to become quite a monthly monster.
The WWDC 2009 keynote announcements have stuffed my RSS feeds with enough rehashed news of rabid fanboyism and upset elitists in regards to the same three announcements for me to care. I noticed Apple fans are different. Apparently, no one can be a true Apple fan without appreciating the fact that they will get shat on often.
At least with Microsoft, there is no mystery. We knew Vista wasn’t great, but people bought it anyway. There went all our “ancient” 2005 software and printers that have been in the family for generations. We knew all of this before upgrading to Vista and many have regretted it ever since, but the fact remains that consumers did not have to buy into Vista and even the techie novice knew about many flaws beforehand.
While it may not be quality on release, what operating system is without a few updates to harden? Windows XP wasn’t quite ready until Service Pack 2, but Microsoft didn’t charge each end user to apply the update. Should Microsoft follow Apple in their footsteps and put a price on Windows 7 Service Pack 1? Chaos would erupt. Satan himself would rise from the depths of hell to congratulate Ballmer on a job well done.
Speaking of which, Apple loves to take cheap shots stating that Windows 7 is nothing but a polished Windows Vista, but how can a company that charges for service packs for the same exact operating system over a period of eight years have any room to talk about a rival company charging for a completely new operating system? What a double standard!
Windows 7 is not Vista 2.0. I’ve been using Windows 7 since January and I’ve been thoroughly impressed by it. Microsoft giving Windows 7 Home Premium upgrades for $49.99 for Vista owners is also a great incentive. While Snow Leopard upgrades are to be sold for only $29.99, I still cannot justify a service pack update going retail for just a few system enhancements.
Should we really have to pay any money to be able to give our desktop more of a brushed metal theme or to take it away in a future update with something more unified? What about a smaller footprint for the operating system? Ridiculous.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean to blast Mac OS X. Sure, OS X has come a long way, but I’d rather use another open source Unix-like environment that allows Wine, which is fantastic software. Wine is rather experimental with OS X currently, but Apple could really help out the community, and possibly themselves, by embracing the Windows emulation software.
Why buy a completely different Office version specifically for the Mac when everyone already has pirated Office 2003 for Windows? Imagine the Switch commercials!
Speaking of switching, Apple is beginning to look like a pack of goons without some puppet CEO to hold up shiny new products. How will Apple be without Jobs? That’s easy, look at what they were before Jobs. A history of messy hardware choices and poor customer support. Without Jobs on the job, they have already made some potential costly mistakes at WWDC 2009.
The new MacBook line will be cheaper, powerful, but without a removable battery. That’s pretty bad, so much for executive professionals. Just keep it charging the entire time the MacBook Pro is in use! It’s healthy for the battery.* Also, the little bit about ExpressCard being removed seems a mystery to some, but not to me. Apple has always tried to adopt different technologies, switch it up, and, at times, tackle completely new connections that become unique to their systems.
While it is nice to attempt to be revolutionary and take a different road at certain forks in difficult technological decisions, I think Apple, right now, said silently, “I’ve made a huge mistake.”
Another slap in the face is, of course, the “new” iPhones looking exactly like the “classic” 3G model. I can see the fanboys getting frustrated now! “It’s not iPhone3G! It’s iPhone3GS! Gawd!” Everyone else can imagine that, I’m sure. Though, the only real difference is video recording and that’s too little, too late for the cost of the 3GS.
As for the mud slinging, it won’t end. Without Microsoft and Apple feuding over marketshare, I shudder to think about an alternate universe where we would be right now in terms of home computers. Would they would even be as affordable or easily obtainable as they are now? To think that only certain organizations could afford, or donated, computers, such as libraries and schools. This is a terrible thought, but enough of future-speak and what-if scenarios.
Gadgetry like the iPhone3GS is not special, nothing to clamor over or freak out globally on every tech blog on the internet. There are few apps to truly want and the hardware upgrades just don’t seem worth the cash to upgrade. Too expensive, but still want it? Wait a few weeks and buy three for the price it cost for one during the release weekend.
* – It’s not.
Windows 7, Antitrust Lawsuits, and Linux
No one can ignore the fact that Microsoft is losing market share. Not to their Apple rival, but to a completely different beast. Microsoft may have a lot to fear now that Linux has become quite a force in a variety of different areas.
While Microsoft will not go under as a company, the prestige and respect that was associated with Windows over the last several years may have been tainted by negative media reports, Steve Ballmer, antitrust issues, and rising alternatives.
Read More of “Windows 7, Antitrust Lawsuits, and Linux”…
2009 Predictions: Apple
Hi, my name is Dan. I use a combination of systems including OS X 10.4 Tiger, Fedora, SabayonLinux, Debian, and Ubuntu. I also have FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and OpenSolaris installed. I do not see it as a hobby. It has been necessary that I learn multiple operating systems a year. The knowledge and experience gained in my field has been absolutely invaluable.
I have no side, but I am against the critically negative views that Apple has been spending millions of dollars on that only infuriate the world. These are reasons why Apple’s share in the market will go back into a muddy hole while they rely on their MP3 track and player sales once again. Unless, of course, Amazon doesn’t become anymore of a threat.
- Guerrilla Tactics: Apple will begin to slowly decline in sales thanks to actions bordering malware practices thanks to Apple update software opening the gates for other services without user confirmation. We installed Safari as your default browser while you were asleep, I hope you don’t mind!
- Snobbish Public View: Apple has suffered greatly from annoying TV advertisements and Steve Jobs’ biased bashing of Windows Vista. How would you feel if you went to Best Buy to purchase a new desktop or laptop and the salesperson tells you why Windows is a terrible idea, you should buy a Mac. This is no different than what Jobs and Apple have done. If you make a trend seem elitist, the consumer will assume elitism and pass.
- The Latest Trend: There is nothing wrong with OS X, but many users will grow tired of expensive upgrades. Microsoft releases service packs and organizations release the latest one thousand man hour Linux distros for free. It seems we are already hearing about the next Mac 10 version the day after the last one hit retail. This could make a lot of consumers feel that they are luxury items and will never keep up with the trends. The prime example being the iPhone. When iPhone 3.0 is announced, there may be a larger backlash than the $200 price cut.
- Native Applications: To suggest that many Windows users are still using Windows out of ignorance is a terrible marketing ploy. People need Windows to run Windows applications, not just Microsoft Office. Boot Camp is not an option as the majority will never buy a Mac for the sole person to run Windows side-by-side. Why bother when they need Windows more than OS X? Note that almost all Windows software can be installed on Linux and BSD, which are Unix-like operating systems, just like Mac OS X.
- Pushing Geek Stereotypes: The assumption that only gamers and non-professionals in the media field use Windows is more misdirection from Apple. To plant a seed in the back of everyone’s mind that unless they are playing World of Warcraft, they have no business buying a $300-500 machine that they need for school or work. No, instead, they can buy a $2,800 17″ laptop that plays no games, but they will have more fun editing video and images.
- False Security Blanket: Apple needs to stop preaching that OS 10 is far more secure than Windows. Everyone knows the saying that has become a cliche, but if the market share turned around, obviously it would be more valuable to write harmful software for a Mac instead of Windows. By a simple Google search, many can see how this has already changed dramatically over the last five years. There are no safe operating systems, only safe user practices.
- Obsessed Fan Base: The hardcore Mac fanbase frightens people. Who would want to be in a scene with those kids? You will not see these types of people with Linux. Well, unless Ubuntu is mentioned somewhere. Are there hardcore Windows junkies? I have never really met any in my time.
- Learning Curve: People who have switched over know first hand that learning OS X is not an easy. The calming and soothing words of “ease” and “simple” may bring a few dozen people to switch, but they soon realize that it is just another operating system. Nothing more. A new library of software to learn, menus to navigate, and the fear of what they could break. To dispel a common misconception, a Mac can break.
- Free and Retail Support: The lack of knowledgeable persons in the office, family, or IT department pushes potential switchers away from purchasing a new operating system. Not only that, but a local PC tech bench is usually less than a few miles away in a city while a Genius Bar is a 48 hour wait after the one hour drive. Dropping off the Mac with the Genius Bar is best done on a Friday to allow pick up by at least Sunday. My old team in Fire Dog could turn around a baker’s dozen systems in one day. Why the two day waiting period if they are easier to work with than Windows Vista?
- Fear of the Unknown: People are afraid of the unknown, it is our nature. What’s even more of a scare is spending $1,800 on a new system that they do not know how to use. This boils down to a stagnant investment. Especially for a student. Don’t blame Gates for pushing Microsoft technologies on schools, blame the school budget.
- Alternatives to the Mac: Linux is free. This year, everyone will be able to buy a desktop at hardware cost with an operating system preset for no extra cost. Imagine buying a brand new, top of the line PC for under $300 with a fully functional operating system that can run both Linux and Windows applications.
- Perpetual State: You only have to buy Windows once. Your license is perpetual. If you take time to understand the Windows Product Activation and what repairs constitute a simple five minute phone to an automated system, then no one will panic as much when the motherboard catches on fire. We have ten flags to set off and a motherboard is more than 4. Windows on boot needs seven to pass. I have never seen anyone turned down for activation with a legitimate product key.
- Charitable Nature: Bill Gates is one of the most giving philanthropist of our generation. At least, the biggest public philanthropist figure. Steve Jobs swindled over $20 million in stock from his own company and chooses to give nothing back to society, only lottery-type winnings when one person purchased the billionth song on iTunes.
Instantaneously Platinum Turkeynized
A young boy has begun to wait outside to be the first in line for Macworld Expo ’09. Why? Steve Jobs will not be there, apparently, and this kid is going to wait almost 27 hours for Apple’s table scraps regardless if Jobs made an appearance. It makes little sense. People should be used to the Apple game. The idea is that first Apple files a bunch of random patents, then they deny any new technology, the rumors begin to sizzle, forums become infected with guesswork, and their stock orbits.
After the expo, of course, their stock goes back to normal, or even lower than normal. Why? Because Apple rarely shows any new technology. Better yet, they rarely show any useful technology. I’ve known one person with Apple TV and the iPhone was a major Mongolian cluster gang bang. Apple is too busy failing in a one sided battle with hackers to truly come up with the next best idea.
If it weren’t for the ability to install iPodLinux on my 5th Generation iPod, I would not own one. Aside from that, the only reason I would want an iPod Touch or iPhone is for Field Runners. Definitely not for the very odd, and pricey, ringer creation software or the process in uploading files. Aside from that, they have Mac OS X and their costly Service Packs released every so often when they should be free like everyone else.
I feel sorry for everyone paying big money for OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. You want speed? Google some freeware and shareware to cut the fat on a Mac. There is nothing wrong with any previous version of OS X, but if Apple says it’s 12% faster, everyone will flock. So, the desktop environment looks a tad bit better to make everyone forget about multiple ancient exploits Apple has yet to fix. So what? As long as it looks marginally better, we don’t have to worry all that much.
I have been using 10.4 Tiger for a while and it runs great on piss poor hardware. How? By turning off the resource sucking eye candy. 10.5 Leopard contained “300 changes and enhancements”. What do you think Apple considers a change or enhancement? You still receive critical updates regardless if you update, so what is the big deal in updating? Why do we need to buy the next service pack from Apple when all it does is make the menu bar semitransparent .
The Expo will undoubtedly feature a little demo of Snow Leopard, but will probably feature a possible iPhone firmware upgrade, new screens for last year’s models, and maybe a slight update for Apple TV. If anything “new” is revealed during this years expo, it will be exciting for a minute, but when the product is released, no one will buy it. Platinum Turkeynized. Like always, keep those think tanks working around the clock, Apple. You’ve been brilliant with stock scandals, forced retail updates, an obnoxious, monopolistic, unhealthy competitive spirit, and an absolute lack of philanthropic activities.
Steve Jobs thinks that Apple products and educational discounts are enough of a contribution to the world. What a poor way to look down at everyone while they raise the stakes for Christmas and let down millions of kids because a cheap 8GB iPod nano costs almost as much as my 30GB 5th Gen iPod Classic. Way to pork Christmas for good. Though, the fault does not lie entirely on Apple for porking Christmas, it’s these materialistic kids who think that they need a scene MP3 player when everything else aside from a Zune would make a respectable purchase. Zunes will never be respectable.
Speaking of MP3s, the big news that dropped earlier is that iTunes is going legit. I mean, DRM free music. You can convert your entire library of music into a non-DRM library for $.30 per song. That would be over $150 for someone with a measly catalog of at least 500 songs. Apple tried to make it right, but had to charge people for product that they’ve already purchased before. The songs are all the same, of course, as in the actual content. Nothing is being upgraded. Not to mention that this is all digital, so why do we have to pay to remove DRM from our tracks when we have already purchased the same songs for $.99?
With bad business practices all around, it’s amazing that such a snobby company can attract such a horde of snobby sheep. Who knew sheep could be cultured and classy? This message goes to the mass of meat that swear they cannot perform on any other system, not to the typical run of the mill Mac users like myself. To the elitist group that swear nothing can hold a candle to their choice of operating system. Enjoy your close minded, self-righteous train of thought while I use several other Unix based operating systems with Wine creating an almost limitless choice of software, customization, and design.
Comparing the Big Three
Note: The following is only a comparison. I see this a guide to many in the main areas of Linux, Windows, and Mac operating systems. This in no way rates them. I have over 13 operating systems installed on systems ranging from OS X, Linux, BSD, and Windows. I may have an addiction, but I hope you enjoy.
Customization:
GNU/Linux: Well over 500 distributions. When it comes to customization, you have an endless amount of options. You can choose that one distro that makes you feel as if it is truly made for you. I’ve been through over 45 distros myself and have always came back to my first love known as Fedora. The preferences for theme and desktop effects are extended even further with the addition of compiz and other free utilities. There is also multiple free desktop environments for Linux such as Gnome and KDE that are completely different.
Windows O/S: The shell is your playground. If you want visual effects disabled, you can do it without adding third party software. Almost all tweaking options are native and you can make your desktop rather personal. You can make your desktop look like other operating systems, including installing software enabling Windows XP to look like Vista. Users can extend customization further with Windows Power Toys (XP Only). A novice can control their startup queue rather easily along with a preference on services. With the ease of customizing a system in Windows Vista and 7, a beginner can easily control their system environment simply by clicking through the aptly named applet titles.
Mac OS X: Typically when faced with changing to another theme or customizing certain aspects of OS X, you have to use third-party tools such as Quicksilver or ShapeShift. Many people think there isn’t a lot of freeware when it comes to OS X, but that’s not true. Most of the highly recommend programs I’ve seen cost under $20, but the fact that they cost any money pushes potential users away. A notable freeware site for great customization is the respectable software from Unsanity. Several programs are listed as freeware that eliminate several annoying quirks and an exploit or two. While a lot of options are not straight out of the box, OS X can be tweaked into that unique snowflake worthy of a screen shot on Digg.
Installation:
GNU/Linux: Here is where it gets a little complicated as most distros has different bootloaders and entirely different setup processes. Many of the more popular ones have a GUI setup process, but there are several that can only be done through a CLI. Though, a lot has changed and with the likes of Ubuntu, SabayonLinux, and Fedora; many new releases will have every step explained thoroughly. The only real difficult choice is which distribution to use and what packages to install. Note that different Linux distros use different package formats and package management.
Windows O/S: Windows has come a long way when it comes to installing the operating system. Windows XP made the process a bit more tolerable, until you had to reinstall XP on several computers without the option of it being unattended. Though, Windows really shines when it comes to unattended or other methods, such as slipstreaming. You can slip in some hot fixes, applications, latest drivers, and Service Packs. When it comes to Vista and Windows 7, installation is a breeze. Though, I have had terrible experiences upgrading a Vista machine. Since Vista, you can upgrade and leave a previously installed operating system in a folder, a feature present in all versions of OS X, but I will always prefer clean slate in Windows.
Mac OS X: Usually everyone buys their Mac from an Apple store. This means that it is already setup for you. There is no further configuration on your part, except the installation of any programs you have on hand and maybe a few tweaks. You can get the same service for Windows from the likes of Geek Squad or Firedog. I’m not sure on the price differences, but considering it is Apple, it might not be any cheaper. I touched on it a bit above, but upgrading OS X is a breeze. It’s quick and you have the choice to Archive your last operating system into a Previous System folder. It works well enough and has been present in all OS X versions. There isn’t much else to say besides installation for OS X is simple and straight forward.
Directory Services:
GNU/Linux: There are several open source options for directory services, but most of them would work under any combination of technology used. Most are custom OpenLDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) or proprietary subscription based, such as the Red Hat Directory Service, which includes a great deal of support. Samba 4.0 is currently in beta, but it is targeting Active Directory to potentially knock the giant down. We can only wait until then, but do not let current software dissuade you from open source, as there are many benefits in choosing a non-MSAD setup. Under certain circumstances, the overall cost and freedom could be the reason, but the complexity might be too much for some.
Windows O/S: The king of the directory service: The Active Directory. I also do not mean solely the directory service, I mean the whole Exchange, file, printer bundle. This is the reason why I see IT return to a Windows based server. While other services have tried to create similar software, nothing seems to compete with scalability, management, and administrative tools. The light weight MSAD known as ADAM can be installed on XP Professional making the Active Directory possible everywhere. No other alternatives seem to be in the position to dethrone Microsoft yet.
Mac OS X: Apple has their own custom OpenLDAP called Open Directory. I have not actually used OD, but from research, I can see that it is quite good. One day, I want to invest time learning more about OD, but for now, I have to base my experience from comparisons and the setup process. I do see that since OS X 10.5 Leopard Server has a boasting simplified setup and many other features. While only being around seven years (OS X 10.2), OD seems to have blossomed into potential competition for AD.
Corporate Standing:
GNU/Linux: Thanks to Wine, a Windows emulation package, there is little that you cannot install under Linux. Linux is also far more secure than Windows, especially as a server. With KDE, most users can cross over from Windows at a medium pace. Depending on choices made, a common distro can be configured to don the role of a server. Enterprise level Linux does exist, of course, such as SUSE. Regretfully, the amount of choices small businesses may be faced with can be overwhelming. Simply saying, “Windows XP and Server 2003,” can prove to be much easier, but definitely harder on the wallet.
Windows O/S: Windows based machines can be cheap, bought on a lease, or purchased in bulk. Windows is typically everywhere. Microsoft has a powerful grip on the corporate scene. Though, when it comes to Windows Server, I have mixed feelings. Not only can it be a nightmare to install and configure properly, there are many security flaws present within each version that go without a patch or quick fix for a while. Windows Server does not come cheap either as 5-per CALs can rack up some monster costs. Companies have two options: Device and user CAL. I do not see Windows share of the corporate market decreasing substantially anytime soon.
Mac OS X: Unless a company hires a capable tech or lives next door to a Genius Bar, Macs do not seem to be capable of most environments. Many say that companies are ignorant or hostile to Macs in a corporate setting, but this is definitely not the case. Most companies have enough employees to know that forcing them to learn a new operating system might be quite a bother, especially if training is involved. This means all new errors, software, and guidelines for everyone to follow. The OS X server can be pretty expensive with the hardware, but can, of course, be purchased separately. You receive 10 CAL out of the box. Costs for more depend on the server, but Apple offers an unlimited CAL option.
Home Use:
GNU/Linux: This was always seen as more of a hobby to the masses, but thanks to recent developments (Vista), more and more people have given Ubuntu and others a chance. 2008 was a great year for Linux and 2009 is looking even better. Windows market share is decreasingly like no one has seen before to OS X and Ubuntu. The casual home user may benefit even more from using Linux as it does not have Internet Explorer as the default browser, which has always been insanely insecure. With package management managing software elegantly and streaming updates, it’s amazing that it took this long for Linux to explode. Linux is not for hobbyist and programmers only; you can be a computer novice and still enjoy Linux.
Windows O/S: 2008 was a bad year for Windows. Many long time Windows users have split between a Mac and a Linux based machine when faced with Vista. If Microsoft relied on Vista for another year, anyone could have predicted where the market share would have gone, but Windows 7 is looking better and better. I have actually used Windows 7 beta long enough to gather an honest opinion and I think it’s about time Microsoft pushes out a new operating system that has the potential to replace Windows XP. Windows Vista is okay, but I can’t imagine why anyone would truly benefit from the system when Windows 7 offers backwards compatibility and other great features, such as the improved SuperTaskbar, which is not similar to the taskbar in OS X. I should know, I’ve used them both extensively.
Mac OS X: While not predominately used in corporate settings, it is all the rage for home users. Browsing is more secure as Safari was unhinged from OS X sooner than Internet Explorer from Windows. Albeit, that is not to be said that OS X is malware/virus free. With enough time, devastating code can be written for OS X as it gets increasingly popular. For those that flock to OS X expecting a unique and secure experience, they may receive that, but for a computer to truly be secure, users must develop safe browsing habits. Many say OS X is just for graphics and music are being misled by a common misconception as OS X offers more than the credit it receives. A fine operating system, but definitely the least used of the three for me.
Mac OS X Targeted by Trojan and Backdoor Tool
Two pieces of malicious software affecting Apple’s Mac OS X appeared this week: a Trojan horse with the ability to download and install malicious code of an attacker’s choice, and a hacker tool for creating backdoors, according to security vendors.
