journals

When Mac Zealots Embarrass a Mac Zealot

By Mac Fan, March 31, 2008

I’m sure everyone has heard the news about how Apple is pushing Safari 3.1 to Windows iTunes customers through the Apple Software Update utility. If you don’t have Safari installed, it still offers you Safari 3.1 and it’s checked, by default, to be installed. How is new software an update?

I thought it was just common sense about how sleazy this is. I thought everyone would agree that Apple should do this differently. But no! The Mac message boards are loaded with the Mac faithful defending Apple’s right. I find it amazing.

The arguments submitted by the Mac zealots are typically the following:

1. You aren’t forced to do anything and it’s your own fault if you install it accidentally.
2. Microsoft has been doing it for years.
3. Apple told us they were going to do this.

In response to #1, I tell them to remember this argument the next time they accidentally install some malware on Windows. This argument is just really weak. Yes, you can uncheck Safari and not install it, however I agree with John Lily of Mozilla that people should trust their software updater to just update their existing software and not use it to…
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Okay Apple, we get the point

By Nick, March 21, 2008

So Apple unveiled a new “Get a Mac” web ad today (YouTube link). That’s well and good, and the ad itself is amusing, but I think it’s time to quit the Vista bashing. Yes, we get the point; Vista sucks (though I beg to differ), and Mac OS X has been on the receiving end of generally positive reviews, but is it really necessary to point and laugh at the class loser? ("HAHAHA OMG VISTA IS T3H SUX0RZ!!!!11!11!") I mean, the poor thing has suffered enough! Just leave Vista alone!!!¹

In all seriousness, here’s the thing: it’s been pounded into people’s head that Vista sucks. Whether or not that is really the case depends on who you ask, but the perception is already there. Apple has already added to that perception with their earlier ads, and the press is certainly doing their part too. Why keep at it?

There are so many things Apple could be highlighting about the Mac, but aren’t. They could be spending more time answering the question, “What makes the Mac so great?” And they’ve done it before. The Time Machine ad is nothing short of a stroke of genius. It demonstrates a clear advantage of…
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On ‘A More Perfect Union’

By Nick, March 19, 2008

I typically don’t like posting articles that are political in nature here, but since I have nothing better to write about (and don’t have a personal blog), here goes…

In light of Senator Barack Obama’s speech ”A More Perfect Union” and the whole brouhaha over Rev. Wright, I have three questions:

Would the response be the same if any of the other Presidential candidates were embroiled in a similar controversy? Would there be such a large uproar (or maybe a bigger uproar)? And how would the other candidates handle such a situation?

How much should the expressed beliefs and views of a close friend or family member impact a candidate running for office?

Should someone leave a congregation because they strongly disagree with the pastor?

Leave a comment. I may or may not post my opinion, depending on how much I want to get into the debate.

And with that, we return to our regularly scheduled programming!

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Windows Vista SP1 Released

By Liam, March 18, 2008

It’s coming...

It’s here. Impressions if it works; ranting if it doesn’t.

Thoughts

I didn’t really pay attention to my PC while SP1 installed, but it couldn’t have taken more than half an hour to complete. It was installed like any other update, with downloading and preliminary installing occurring in a Windows Update window. Then it rebooted the PC and finished up before letting me log in. The only problem I’ve had so far occurred when I got to my PC after it was finished. The screen seemed compressed; it was the result of my display resolution on my primary monitor being changed from 1280x1024 to 1280x768. I haven’t noticed much of a responsiveness increase, though I never had an issue with the responsiveness of Vista.

Microsoft has published an article on TechCenter that is the be-all end-all of SP1 information pages. This page is long, but does contain some useful information. The most notable change to me is the removal of the Search item in the Start Menu’s right pane, which I used every once in a while (thanks Google :rolleyes: ) I don’t have the means to test it, but apparently network file transfer speeds have improved.

In…
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What not to do with your MacBook Air

By Nick, March 11, 2008

Here’s a quickie…

After Newsweek’s Steven Levy threw out his MacBook Air with the trash, I started thinking, what else should you not do with your MacBook Air? Here’s what I came up with in, oh, about ten minutes:

Use it as floatation device: As light as air? Maybe. Able to save you if you were drowning? Probably not.
Use it as a beverage tray: It would work as one, but it’s a little costly for use at your local Applebee’s or Chili’s.
Leave it on your spfa while hosting a party:Beware your uncle who doesn’t look before he sits.
Fry an egg on it: Computers don’t like gooey messes.
Use it as a frisbee: Your dog probably wouldn’t care if you played frisbee with a MacBook Air, but the MacBook Air may not be slobber-proof.
Dance with it: This one isn’t entirely outside the realm of possibility, but if you value your social standing at all, just don’t.
Use it to stabilize a wobbly table: Uhm, no.
A shield: What’s more important? Your personal safety or a $1800+ piece of computer equipment? The computer. Duh.
Whack your annoying younger sibling upside the head: For the sake of the MacBook Air, don’t do it.