Thank you Liam, for the solid points and clear focus in this piece. I agree with you 100%, except the “myth” part of spyware and viruses. They do exist, and though they are far, far less annoying in the latest version of XP, they still do exist. Thankfully, folks like you and I who spend even a few minutes learning about these issues can easily avoid them at all times. Unfortunately, many people either do not have the time or wherewithal to learn more about their computers to easily avoid these things - and that’s why companies spend millions on antispyware and virus protection.

But thank you more for posting a public blog that isn’t sarcastic, divisive or offensive to other parties. You are simply making an easy statement why it works for you, and I think that, like me, you are just dead sick and tired of people telling you how dumb you are for using Windows. The real myth is that Windows automatically means TEH SUCK. The real myth is that more people hate it than like it. Maybe more people are indifferent to it - but if more people didn’t like it, it’s not like the alternatives are hidden under the closet these days.

From my end, sometimes it’s a bit frustrating when it comes to this stuff, since I work in an all-Mac environment and frequent message boards with a lot of Linux and Mac users.

I am fluent in OS X (3 years, 40-80 hours a week, de facto tech support where I work), fluent in WIndows XP and I can install all my drivers and packages in an Linux install - and I just keep coming back to Windows.

It works best for me. It stays out of my way better than anything else, and it feels polished, solid and streamlined. I feel like it’s Silly Putty, and that I can easily and swiftly alter just about anything I would want to to conform to whatever new, efficient way I want to use the thing.

In short, as long as Windows is this smooth and seamless for me, I won’t switch. The cost/performance ratio is unmatched for my uses, and I don’t see that changing any time soon (where performance is a combination of speed, stability, personal choice of software and upgradability).

Part of the reason Windows just works for many is because they know how to be careful online. I’m going to have to teach my niece to surf safely--she infected my nephew’s laptop with all kinds of crap. Either that or give her my old iMac… :/

Arden’s comment pretty much sums up my sentiments as far as Windows is concerned.

Nice little writeup, add me to the list of people who has never had their work affected by viruses or spyware.  But then, I don’t visit hacks, porn or money making sites like what a lot of kids do.

Most people who barely uses a computer except for the use of Office, solitaire and e-mail, only seem to get viruses/spyware from opening those 41kb attachment mails.  I can see no other way of contracting viruses via yahoo or hotmail.

And, I can never switch.  Not with the vast amount of games, software and the internet access available to me all on the one computer.

Funk, you can take part of what you said, reverse “OS X” and “Windows” and basically describe me.

“It [OS X] works best for me. It stays out of my way better than anything else, and it feels polished, solid and streamlined. I feel like it’s Silly Putty, and that I can easily and swiftly alter just about anything I would want to to conform to whatever new, efficient way I want to use the thing.

In short, as long as Mac OS X is this smooth and seamless for me, I won’t switch. .”

I don’t think anyone understands what the Mac is really about until they use it regularly. One may not prefer the Mac over anything else even after using it a lot, but one can probably see why people do like it. Likewise, the same could probably be said about Windows.

It’s nice to see some Windows fans coming on and correcting the notion that viruses and spyware are myths.

The great thing about OS X is you don’t have to learn how to avoid these issues. These issues don’t exist. I always see Windows fans saying that Windows doesn’t have problems as long as you use it with kid gloves.

I prefer OS X because it doesn’t have any of these hassles and I prefer the user interface, which has been covered extensively in the past. Unfortunately, the user interface I see in Vista doesn’t look much better to me. The task bar I hate looks the same and I hate how Microsoft continues to vomit user interface elements all over the screen illogically and waste huge amounts of screen real estate.

You seem to have managed to avoid all of the security problems with Windows, and I congratulate you for it.  That doesn’t change the fact that the problems that Windows has are very real.  They’re documented issues.  That aside…

I’m glad you can be productive on a Windows machine, but I simply can’t.  Too many things are just enough… off.  Now, maybe this is just because I’m an amateur Windows user at best, and an experienced Mac user, but everything from toolbars that change unexpectedly to unintuitive keyboard shortcuts seems designed to work against me.  Don’t even get me started about Wizards.  I think that for me the biggest problem with Windows is that the path from “novice user” (like me) to “expert user” seem murky and scary.  With OS X, a novice user learns how to be an expert user simply by doing.

You seem to have managed to avoid all of the security problems with Windows, and I congratulate you for it.  That doesn’t change the fact that the problems that Windows has are very real.  They’re documented issues.  That aside…

That doesn’t change the fact that the spyware/virus thing is overhyped in relation to SP2.  I mean, look through your Inbox and tell me how many Windows viruses (executables, scripts etc) you have in there.  The inbox doesn’t descriminate and the typical Mac user wil have just as many viruses in their inbox as the typical Windows user.  Most people look through their inbox and find nothing.

You’d have to be an absolute computing moron to get a virus on SP2 and using any mainstream email client (gmail, hotmail, outlook 2003, eurdora, oe, thunderbird).

Secondly, the only real spyware that ever ends up on most people’s computers is rather harmless.  Most all spyware nowdays comes in the form of cookies and while it doesn’t affect your computing experience, it technically is spying on you.  Some people are more concerned about this than others, I guess.

But this stuff is universal because nearly all the spyware cookies that work on Windows work exactly the same on the Mac and Linux. If these cookies are a problem on Windows then they are an equal problem on the Mac… but obviously people like to blow the problem up on windows and play it down on the mac by saying it doesn’t exist.  It can’t be both.

Maybe that was unclear. I meant that they are a myth to me in the way that I don’t have to deal with them. I am aware that they are out there, and I was more saying it contrary to what some will thell you (If you use Windows, you WILL get malware, no matter what you do).

Versus “If you use Windows, you will never get malware, no matter what you do.”

That doesn’t change the fact that the spyware/virus thing is overhyped in relation to SP2.  I mean, look through your Inbox and tell me how many Windows viruses (executables, scripts etc) you have in there.  The inbox doesn’t descriminate and the typical Mac user wil have just as many viruses in their inbox as the typical Windows user.

Yeah, that’s why nobody recommends Norton or MacAfee for Windows SP2?

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10168_7-554353 8-1.html

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3513_7-5324906.html

CNet has a great section about Windows SP2 nightmares:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10168_7-554349 3-1.html?tag=txt

Here’s one about Windows Media Center Edition:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10168_7-630245 1.html

I’m not saying OS X doesn’t have any technical problems. What I’m saying is I have fewer issues on OS X and many of these Windows issues don’t ‘exist in OS X.

For example, there is no commercial software that fixes your Registry for OS X.

While I personally feel OS X could use a universal uninstaller, uninstalling Photoshop in OS X doesn’t ask me over 100 times whether or not I want to delete a DLL.

From my end, sometimes it’s a bit frustrating when it comes to this stuff, since I work in an all-Mac environment and frequent message boards with a lot of Linux and Mac users.

Like when you said “Crapintosh” in a forum?

It works best for me. It stays out of my way better than anything else, and it feels polished, solid and streamlined. I feel like it’s Silly Putty, and that I can easily and swiftly alter just about anything I would want to to conform to whatever new, efficient way I want to use the thing.

Something I noticed from your comments—you have complained about OS X’s “click through”, which is when you accidentally click outside of an application and OS X switches you to the Finder or other application in the background; you also have stated you never ever accidentally trigger all those hidden tool bars and the task bar in Windows. It’s interesting that you have great hand-eye coordination (your words) in Windows but not on the Mac.

Also, do you still launch your applications in a specific order so that you have muscle memory of their location in the chronologically ordered task bar?

Liam, I assume you are a power user and know what you are doing on Windows, and sure - Windows is fine for people like you and I.

The same can not be said for someone who just bought their 1st computer. And the ones who know me, embarrassingly admit to me that they should have never bought it - or at least talked to me 1st, Especially as I am cleaning their 300+ Virus/Spyware infections.
(Yes, I do actually recommend and build Windows based PCs, but I get them all setup and protected).

Some of them have had enough and refuse to spend any more money just to get Windows protected - and instead switch to either Linux or get a Mac.

And my abandoned PC collection grows. :p

I’m still running on the standard copy of XP with no service packs (though the system does get updated automatically via the online checks).

Still no viruses or spyware.  I must be amazing.

No one here can affect my computer.

Still no viruses or spyware.  I must be amazing.

I guess you learned how to use your PC like Funktron2001 was talking about.

I don’t have viruses or spyware on my OS X Mac either. I’m like every OS X Mac user, not amazing.

CNet has a great section about Windows SP2 nightmares:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10168_7-554349 3-1.html?tag=txt

Did you actually read that article?  It has nothing to do with getting spyware, adware, or viruses.
Monday is how to avoid installing SP2 through Windows update.  Tuesday is how to work with the security center.  Wednesday is dealing with the “this file is not certified to be safe” messages that popup (similar to OS X’s admin install dialog popping up all the time). Thursday is dealing with apps broken or blocked by SP2. And Friday is about how to uninstall SP2.

Macs have very similar but different problems that manifest just as much if not more (due to more service packs).  Some of those problems on the Mac are far worse than on Windows.  For instance, uninstalling a service pack on the Mac is basically impossible.  You have to do an “archive and (re)install”.

For example, there is no commercial software that fixes your Registry for OS X.

There’s no commercial software on Windows to repair permissions, or run cron scripts.  When was the last time you heard of someone needing to delete preferences or repair corrupt fonts on Windows XP?

While I personally feel OS X could use a universal uninstaller, uninstalling Photoshop in OS X doesn’t ask me over 100 times whether or not I want to delete a DLL.

Great because neither Photoshop CS or CS2 ask you that on XP either.

Yeah, that’s why nobody recommends Norton or MacAfee for Windows SP2?

Why don’t you stop avoiding the question? How many viruses do you have in you inbox?

All the link to cnet does is to show exactly who is overexaggerating the virus problem.  Half the exploits and viruses/worms they talk about don’t affect anyone in the consumer space.  The hype around stuff like Slammer, Code Red, and Nimda is just ridiculous considering anyone running XP and/or not running IIS or SQL Server install simply isn’t affected.  And with the exception of SQL Slammer, pretty much all the outbreaks were patched before any problems popped up.  It would be like attributing all issues with Apache, MYSQL, or PHP with the OS underneath (which is rarely a Mac).

Did you actually read that article?  It has nothing to do with getting spyware, adware, or viruses.

Yes. Did you read the one entitled “A STORY OF SECURITY CENTER WOES” that debunks any idea that SP2 fixes all the security issues, which is what you are trying to sell?

Some of those problems on the Mac are far worse than on Windows.  For instance, uninstalling a service pack on the Mac is basically impossible. 

Launch Disk Utility and Restore.

But uninstalling a service pack is not the same as having to learn how to use a PC in a way that won’t screw it up.

here’s no commercial software on Windows to repair permissions, or run cron scripts

But there are corrupt preferences in XP, so maybe there should be some commercial software for that. Are you sure there isn’t?

There are corrupt drivers, fonts, etc., on XP. If you have a corrupt font, you have to delete it and then find the application that installed it and reinstall the application. In OS X, you just fix the corrupt font with Font Book. When is Windows going to get font management features at all?

So you see, XP has these issues too, and XP-only issues on top of those.

Why don’t you stop avoiding the question? How many viruses do you have in you inbox?

Several. But I don’t use my Windows PC anymore for surfing the Web, email, etc. Most of the time, it’s turned off.

Here’s are a question for you—which virus protection application are you using on your PC?

All the link to cnet does is to show exactly who is overexaggerating the virus problem

I guess everyone on this board too, except for you.

IE flaw puts Windows XP SP2 at risk
http://news.com.com/IE+flaw+puts+Windows+XP +SP2+at+risk/2100-1002_3-5868867.html

KG, you only focus on email worms. You ignore the spyware, phishing, trojans, etc.

Here’s an SP2 worm that disables your firewall and security:
http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/arti cles/2004/10/va_bagleaufw.html

Are you actually advocating to us the idea that we don’t need any security software on a Windows SP2 PC?

Dang, I would have thought “common sense” or “surfing safely” or “No, I’m not going to click on that VBScript attachment, fool!”

“I guess you learned how to use your PC like Funktron2001 was talking about.”

Who is Funktron2001?

Liam, just for giggles - why don’t you test your computer and see if it really has no viruses or spy/adware without using any protection?

http://security.symantec.com/default.asp?pr oductid=symhome&langid=ie&venid=sym

There are probably better online scanners, I just don’t know of any others.

Who is Funktron2001?

Funktron’s username on PC Magazine’s forum where he trashed the Mac with words like “crapintosh” in 2002. I used it because he was on his soap box again complaining about that kind of behavior.

So now that Liam and KG are telling us that this virus/spyware thing is mostly hype, I wonder what Funktron meant when he said

Thankfully, folks like you and I who spend even a few minutes learning about these issues can easily avoid them at all times. Unfortunately, many people either do not have the time or wherewithal to learn more about their computers to easily avoid these things - and that’s why companies spend millions on antispyware and virus protection.

Liam, just for giggles - why don’t you test your computer and see if it really has no viruses or spy/adware without using any protection?

That’s pretty funny. They use a Mac in their graphic!