Do Macs get viruses? What is intuitive?

conceived in fire · 10-26-2007, 09:15 PM

I believe that intuitive is kind of what the user above me said, it's easier to use once you get used to doing so. Macs are much more user-friendly in my experience (and I've Windows a lot before buying a Macbook this summer)

For example, when I occasionally need to fix the Airport wireless internet settings on my Mac, I only need to go through a few steps and fewer than about 5 menus and windows.
On the other hand, if you need to do that on a PC, there's quite a few windows and such that can be fairly hard to understand.

I personally would highly recommend getting a Mac, because I really think they're better. The only downside is that a fair amount of programs won't work on them. But you can usually find an alternative, open-source equivalent, or even a better program. (Not to mention the new Leopard upgrade has tons of cool new features.)

ApparentlyNothing · 10-26-2007, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zekthedeadcow

as far as being intuitive... I think OSX's interface is a disaster...If you would have designed a web site with content and controls with a similar layout you'd be shot... plus it reminds me of Gnome from the late 90's...

Well, it's not a website.... so.....

Even then, I don't think I'd agree with that statement at all. Do you think it's just coincidence that people in the arts like design, web design, graphic design, music, etc. are drawn to Macs?

zekthedeadcow · 10-27-2007, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApparentlyNothing

Do you think it's just coincidence that people in the arts like design, web design, graphic design, music, etc. are drawn to Macs?

yes

Most artists I know who get macs get them because thats what they're told to do. sort of like getting protools for audio recording. Back in the day there was a real benifit to the hardware with the RISC architecture compared to PCs... just like back in the day protools was the only option.

Interface aside my only 'real' problems with macs are the expense of repairing them without applecare... and the absolute stupidity of every apple tech I've run into... Apple is the only brand that has told me that what I wanted to do was "Impossible" ... . like data recovery, port forwarding, etc... now obviously all those things are possible on Macs but applecare doesn't seem to know that.

ApparentlyNothing · 10-27-2007, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zekthedeadcow

yes

Most artists I know who get macs get them because thats what they're told to do. sort of like getting protools for audio recording. Back in the day there was a real benifit to the hardware with the RISC architecture compared to PCs... just like back in the day protools was the only option.

Interface aside my only 'real' problems with macs are the expense of repairing them without applecare... and the absolute stupidity of every apple tech I've run into... Apple is the only brand that has told me that what I wanted to do was "Impossible" ... . like data recovery, port forwarding, etc... now obviously all those things are possible on Macs but applecare doesn't seem to know that.

You're entitled to your own opinion.... I just think it's wrong

All kidding aside, I think your opinion on the interface is in the minority, at least with most people I know and hear from. There's even an entire cult of Windows users who use third party software to emulate the OSX interface in Windows to a nearly identical look and added features like the dock and menubar instead of the taskbar. Then there are tons of people like me who were first drawn to the Mac not because people told them everyone in their field uses them or only cool people use them or even the better legitimate reason of the actual merits and qualities of the OS and hardware, but simply because of how attracted they are to how OSX looks. Later, more legitimate reasons are developed for liking Macs, but I'd be lying if I said the interface wasn't the first thing that attracted me. And yes, I am in many of the different fields of digital art, including web design.

What specifically is it about the interface that you don't like?

As for your "real problems", they can definitely be true dependent on the situation, especially repairs outside of warranty. It's an unfortunate truth. But, in defense of Apple Techs, they're taught Apple products. The two things you described, data recovery and port forwarding, are not possible with Apple software (well, data recovery is now possible with Leopard and Time Machine, and I COULD be wrong about port forwarding, but I'm pretty certain that I am not)... nor is it in any Microsoft software, so I'm not sure what your gripe is with that. Should they know every available third-party software out there and how to work it?

**guitarjockey111** · 10-27-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zekthedeadcow

yes

Most artists I know who get macs get them because thats what they're told to do. sort of like getting protools for audio recording. Back in the day there was a real benifit to the hardware with the RISC architecture compared to PCs... just like back in the day protools was the only option.

Interface aside my only 'real' problems with macs are the expense of repairing them without applecare... and the absolute stupidity of every apple tech I've run into... Apple is the only brand that has told me that what I wanted to do was "Impossible" ... . like data recovery, port forwarding, etc... now obviously all those things are possible on Macs but applecare doesn't seem to know that.

I know a guy that is a genius in the apple store. Here's the thing they aren't stupid they can just lose their job if they tell you anything that isn't mac supported. Like I was in their once and this older lady came in and wanted to take videos off youtube and put them on her iPod. They had to tell her that she couldn't but I looked at the genius and she just smirked lol. They told another guy that I know that he couldn't put linux on a mac but I have done that.

See its cool and all the genius's are really bright but they can only say so much. Hope that clears it up for ya some.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 10-30-2007, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApparentlyNothing

One thing I don't understand about the whole "Macs have small market share and thus aren't a target for viruses" argument is the fact that despite their market share, Apple is a pretty well known company, with many PC users believing the stereotype of Mac users being stuck up little pricks (and there being a lot of them out there to back it up unfortunately). It just seems to me that with how often Mac users tout the fact that Macs don't get viruses, someone would have created one just to shut up the fan boys, let alone have the fame of being the first to create a Mac virus that was actually a widespread threat in the wild.

I could certainly be wrong, and I know it's not the best logic for defending the actual security of the OS, and I know that no OS is impenetrable, but it just seems like it could at least point to it being a little harder? Maybe? I dunno, just a thought.

As for whether it's more intuitive or not, that is up to the user really. Some people just don't get OSX, even if they honestly sit down and try. Some people like me could have grown up in Windows, but as soon as I really started using OSX I realized how much more intuitive it was for me. I would repeat the argument Rip gave about how things tend to be cleaner in OSX. But some people still prefer Windows, so that's their choice.

Ok, let me explain a very basic thing here. I am a die hard windows user. Let me get that out in the open first.

1) It is easier to write a virus for windows. The registry system is easier to exploit than the unix based osx.

2) A beginning programmer can write a virus. I wrote 3 my first semester of c++, one very clever. They were never widely distributed, but one could bypass norton by using an interesting exploit I accidentally found in a glitchy program.

3) There is an elitist attitude amongst virus writers. Now the similarity between linux and OSX in structure is probably macs saving grace. IOW, your average virus writer is more apt to use an OS that is more similar to OSX than windows. The fallacy here is assuming an elite hacker will use either windows or mac. Chances are they have both on their spare machines, but I dare say the more elite hackers, crackers, and virii writers I know or knew ran alternative OS's.

4) Generally speaking, the more advanced computer users and modders will not use mac. Unless they are running OSX on an xbox or something. (which has actually been done) The DRM is a pain, and quite honestly, wintel macs ARE PC's.

5) Windows use is generally grudging among more advanced computer users. Games or windows specific programs are usually the only reasons.

6) There have been a few mac viruses over the years.

I think the most intuitive interface I ever encountered was gnome on mandrake linux a few years back.

+SEAL+ · 10-31-2007, 09:41 AM

Regarding Mac security...

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,13...y/article.html

Note the last paragraph, where the guy is quoted as saying that Mac is behind Windows when it comes to security.

ApparentlyNothing · 10-31-2007, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by +SEAL+

Regarding Mac security...

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,13...y/article.html

Note the last paragraph, where the guy is quoted as saying that Mac is behind Windows when it comes to security.

First of all, this thread is about whether Macs get viruses, not whether they have the potential for them. So in that regard, it doesn't change a thing.

Secondly, I'm sure Vista was an absolutely perfect OS a week after it was released....

Give them time to work it out.

gtrdave · 11-09-2007, 10:22 AM

"I like the direction they're headed. I'm just saying that they've got a long way to go to catch up with Microsoft."

Oh, that's funny, right there.

Yes, Macs have had viruses in the past with the most recent and most popular being a non-destructive worm that infiltrated the machine via a flaw in QuickTime.
That was with OS9 about 7 years ago.

While this page is 4 years old, it does provide some hard data regarding viruses on the Mac.
http://www.macobserver.com/editorial/2003/08/29.1.shtml

It's interesting to note that as of the writing of that article, there were no known public viruses for OSX.

**guitarjockey111** · 11-09-2007, 11:26 AM

Like two days after osx 10.5 came out there was something like that with quicktime and it was some kinda of trojan or something. My mom started freaking out and it took me awhile to explain to her that we dont have the new operating system lol

ApparentlyNothing · 11-09-2007, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarjockey111

Like two days after osx 10.5 came out there was something like that with quicktime and it was some kinda of trojan or something. My mom started freaking out and it took me awhile to explain to her that we dont have the new operating system lol

Also, the thing is with that trojan (if I'm thinking of the same one), it only was a threat if you went to this specific porn site and downloaded their "software", and then installed it on your computer using administrative access. Anyone who does something that stupid, whether you're on Windows, OSX, or Linux, deserves to get a trojan virus.

gtrdave · 11-09-2007, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApparentlyNothing

Also, the thing is with that trojan (if I'm thinking of the same one), it only was a threat if you went to this specific porn site and downloaded their "software", and then installed it on your computer using administrative access. Anyone who does something that stupid, whether you're on Windows, OSX, or Linux, deserves to get a trojan virus.

porn site...trojan...virus...oh, the irony just never ends.