Latest Mac ads

[K.Mandla]

The latest Get-a-Mac ads are pretty funny.

http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads/

Personally I like the one about viruses. Too bad there's no Ubuntu commercial.

[endersshadow]

Their timing is impeccable (http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/01/0359225).

[Engnome]

Maybe, but compared to windows they still rule.

[halfvolle melk]

I like that dude on the left better when he appears on the Daily Show.

[prizrak]

Macs were never immune to viruses, in the same way that Linux is not. However any virus designed for Windows will not run on OS X or Linux (unless we use wine ;) )

[BoyOfDestiny]

Macs were never immune to viruses, in the same way that Linux is not. However any virus designed for Windows will not run on OS X or Linux (unless we use wine ;) )

Indeed. It kind of irks me it's still Mac vs PC. Macs are PC's now (in the IBM PC compatible sense).

As you said there is no such thing as full immunity with OS's, and I don't think it's fair to get lumped with "virus-prone PCs". I'm a PC user, but use Ubuntu only... Linux and BSD flavors have this perk too! :P

I can understand some people may not know what OS X means (i.e. OS X vs windows), but on the other hand, one can install windows on a "mac", and it won't make things more secure...

[endersshadow]

I definitely get irked by Apple's continued claim at how secure OS X is, which then just brainwashes their userbase into believing that they're immune. The fact of the matter is that the majority of OS X users are ignorant about the underlying system they use as well as what security threats are posed to them, and Apple is doing everything they can to perpetuate this feeling. Moreover, there are not 114,000 viruses written for a PC...there are 114,000 viruses written for Windows. It just really gets me going that Apple is setting their users up for a huge fall from grace.

[helpme]

I definitely get irked by Apple's continued claim at how secure OS X is, which then just brainwashes their userbase into believing that they're immune. The fact of the matter is that the majority of OS X users are ignorant about the underlying system they use as well as what security threats are posed to them, and Apple is doing everything they can to perpetuate this feeling. Moreover, there are not 114,000 viruses written for a PC...there are 114,000 viruses written for Windows. It just really gets me going that Apple is setting their users up for a huge fall from grace.
But you forget a simple fact. If you run OSX you really don't have to worry about viruses today, while you certainly have to running Windows and that's putting it very mildy.

[endersshadow]

But you forget a simple fact. If you run OSX you really don't have to worry about viruses today, while you certainly have to running Windows and that's putting it very mildy.

Yes, Windows has more viruses by far. However, to say that they don't have to worry about it is quite simply not true (http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/01/0359225) and exactly the type of attitude which I was talking about.

[prizrak]

But you forget a simple fact. If you run OSX you really don't have to worry about viruses today, while you certainly have to running Windows and that's putting it very mildy.
Well the link above suggests that you DO have to worry about viruses today. The person did get attacked by a virus through a website no less, something that was Windows exclusive for quite a bit (at the very least I never heard of a Linux virus embedded in the webpage).
The problem at hand is that OS X users (in general) have no clue whatsoever about security and how to protect themselves. Even Windows users are more knowledgeable (well they have to be). I won't even bring Linux into this since Linux tends to make people learn at least a little about the OS, so users tend to be more technically proficient.

[helpme]

Yes, Windows has more viruses by far. However, to say that they don't have to worry about it is quite simply not true (http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/01/0359225) and exactly the type of attitude which I was talking about.
I'm sorry, but it is true. Right now, you simply don't have to worry. That you constantly get treated to articles that predict that this will change in the future does not change this simple fact.
And while we are at it, the article you link to is one of the stupidest of those predicting problems for OSX. In fact, it really is incredibly stupid.

However, next time around better use this link. (http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/05/01/sans/index.php)

[DigitalDuality]

The flippant snotty attitude that Apple zealots have.. and that the company encourages, is more sickening than Linux zealots and windows fanboys combined.

They're asking for it. And i hope they have their butt handed to them. Makes me ashamed i even own a mac and gave that company any money.

You can sure tell they're not trying to capture any portion of the server market. :\

[Harold P]

http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/global/vinfodb.html


Hehe!

[endersshadow]

I'm sorry, but it is true. Right now, you simply don't have to worry. That you constantly get treated to articles that predict that this will change in the future does not change this simple fact.
And while we are at it, the article you link to is one of the stupidest of those predicting problems for OSX. In fact, it really is incredibly stupid.

However, next time around better use this link. (http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/05/01/sans/index.php)

The link I gave wasn't a prediction: It happened, from the article:


Benjamin Daines was browsing the Web when he clicked on a series of links that promised pictures of an unreleased update to his computer’s operating system.

Instead, a window opened on the screen and strange commands ran as if the machine was under the control of someone — or something — else. Daines was the victim of a computer virus.

Such headaches are hardly unusual on PCs running Microsoft Corp.’s Windows operating system. Daines, however, was using a Mac — an Apple Computer Inc. machine often touted as being immune to such risks

The fact is that there's a web-based virus out in the wild for OS X and Apple's "Security Team" has been notoriously slow to respond to holes, flaws, and other problems with Apple products. You can live in denial all you want, but the fact of the matter is that this is a growing problem.

[helpme]

The link I gave wasn't a prediction: It happened,
You are right, I'm sorry, but let's keep this in perspective:

He and at least one other person who clicked on the links were infected by what security experts call the first-ever virus for Mac OS X
Wow, troubeling...

Seriously, I really get tired of all these people predicting or even wishing for doom for OSX everytime someone dares to mention that there are 10 000s viruses for Windows, while there are none (wait, two people just got hit according to msnbc by the first ever osx virus...) for OSX.

Why is that?

[endersshadow]

You are right, I'm sorry, but let's keep this in perspective:

Wow, troubeling...

Seriously, I really get tired of all these people predicting or even wishing for doom for OSX everytime someone dares to mention that there are 10 000s viruses for Windows, while there are none (wait, two people just got hit according to msnbc by the first ever osx virus...) for OSX.

Why is that?

There are at least 40 viruses for the Mac (http://www.faqs.org/faqs/computer-virus/macintosh-faq/). That article was in May 2004. This is one of the first web based virii for Mac...it's not just a proof of concept, it's been done in the wild.

My point isn't an "OMG!!!11!!! OS X IS TEH SUXORZ!11!!" it's that Apple builds up a false sense of invincibility among its users that is incredibly dangerous, especially with the notoriously slow response of Apple's security devels.

The fact of the matter is that problems exist, and Apple and its users simply turn around with hands over their ears yelling "LALALALALALALALALA" to ignore them. Apple needs to, needs to focus more on security. However, they aren't spending anything more on security now. Instead of nipping it in the bud and addressing the problem before it grows to larger-than-can-handle proportions, Apple is ignoring it and simply claiming the opposite.

Is OS X safer than WinXP? By any stretch of the imagination, absolutely. My point is that Apple has neglected and will continue to neglect this problem in the foreseeable future. If you want to live in denial, as well, feel free. But Mac is not "virus-free," nor even wild virus-free, and Apple is doing nothing to let its users know that there are measures that they can take to protect themselves and that they aren't invincible. It's irresponsible and it's going to end up with a bunch of unhappy Mac users. I'm not saying there will be 100,000+ viruses or anything for Macs, but it only takes 1 to make a dent.

[YourSurrogateGod]

I can't view those videos. How did you guys do it?

[endersshadow]

I use the mplayer plugin, but here's the direct link to the videos:

In HD format
Viruses (http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/apple/getamac_ads1/viruses_848x496.mov)
Restarting (http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/apple/getamac_ads1/restarting_848x496.mov)
Better (http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/apple/getamac_ads1/better_848x496.mov)
iLife (http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/apple/getamac_ads1/ilife_848x496.mov)
Networking (http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/apple/getamac_ads1/networking_848x496.mov)
Wall Street Journal review (http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/apple/getamac_ads1/wsj_848x496.mov)

In the medium format
Viruses (http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/apple/getamac_ads1/viruses_480x376.mov)
Restarting (http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/apple/getamac_ads1/restarting_480x376.mov)
Better (http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/apple/getamac_ads1/better_480x376.mov)
iLife (http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/apple/getamac_ads1/ilife_480x376.mov)
Networking (http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/apple/getamac_ads1/networking_480x376.mov)
Wall Street Journal review (http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/apple/getamac_ads1/wsj_848x496.mov)

Have fun.

[Super King]

I can't view those videos. How did you guys do it?

Sudo apt-get install mozilla-mplayer

It's a plugin that should let you view it in any Mozilla-based browser (Firefox, Ephiphany, etc).

[htinn]

Doesn't OS X have a similar permission setup as Linux? It seems to me that unless you give them your user password, the worst thing a web site could do is trash your Home directory.

[aysiu]

Doesn't OS X have a similar permission setup as Linux? It seems to me that unless you give them your user password, the worst thing a web site could do is trash your Home directory. It has the exact same security setup as Ubuntu, actually--Mac OS X uses sudo. I think a /home directory getting trashed is pretty tragic, to tell you the truth. That's why I always back up my files.

[Caligula]

Sudo apt-get install mozilla-mplayer

It's a plugin that should let you view it in any Mozilla-based browser (Firefox, Ephiphany, etc).

It didn't work for me...(konqueror)

What format is it? do I need to allow restricted formats(no. NO! NOOOO!) for it?

](*,) ](*,)

[YourSurrogateGod]

Sudo apt-get install mozilla-mplayer

It's a plugin that should let you view it in any Mozilla-based browser (Firefox, Ephiphany, etc).
I have that installed. But it still won't work. Oh well, I just right-clicked on those links that endersshadow provided and saved them to my desktop.

[edit]

And for some ungoddly reason I now can't play *.mov files.

[ubuntu_demon]

I like the video's although it should be mac vs windows.

[Sheinar]

I like the video's although it should be mac vs windows.
It should, but they could face legal action if they had done that.

[3rdalbum]

It has the exact same security setup as Ubuntu, actually--Mac OS X uses sudo. I think a /home directory getting trashed is pretty tragic, to tell you the truth. That's why I always back up my files.

An OS X virus/hack attack could probably trash all mounted drives that don't contain the running system software. Judging by how many Mac users seem to keep Firewire hard disks plugged in at all times, this would be a major disaster.

[drizek]

I like the video's although it should be mac vs windows.

but you can run windows on a mac now.

Apparently windows only sucks when you run it on a pc.

[manicka]

hilarious :lol:

[Resurrection]

The flippant snotty attitude that Apple zealots have.. and that the company encourages, is more sickening than Linux zealots and windows fanboys combined.



The fact of the matter is that problems exist, and Apple and its users simply turn around with hands over their ears yelling "LALALALALALALALALA" to ignore them. Apple needs to, needs to focus more on security. However, they aren't spending anything more on security now. Instead of nipping it in the bud and addressing the problem before it grows to larger-than-can-handle proportions, Apple is ignoring it and simply claiming the opposite.

I hate these commercials and I agree with the above quotes. But to me this isn't about whether Mac is "better" than Windows / PC / whatever. I hate these commercials because of the BS snotty holier than thou attitude which I continually run into amongst Mac users. Yes that was a generalization, but it is my opinion, based on my experiences that there are far more Mac users (when compared to other OSes) who are completely ignorant of all things computer, and who are mindlessly droning on to whatever Apple sells them in its commercials. Funny how mac likes to pretend to be a company to appeal to the "cool" people in society who aren't a slave to the "man" or some "evil corporation", yet they truly have a very Big Brotheresque way of telling their users what they should believe.

Seriously, Mac users always (that I've have seen) try to look down their noses at the rest of us. They say things like "Windows always crashes and is full of viruses, blah blah blah blah". I am no fanboy of Windows, but I appreciate some of its aspects. I also can appreciate Mac OS, even though I don't currently use it. But I don't run around saying "Wow Mac sucks with its proprietary hardware which is usually way overpriced and its complete disregard for security". At least with Windows, my head isn't buried in the sand. After many years of using Windows, I understand full well the danger of viruses, of not properly maintaining your system, of the importance of backing up my data. In a way, Windows flaws have taught me to be smarter about the security aspect of personal computing.

But these Mac commercials are barking up the wrong tree. Seriously, if you have to attack your competitor in order to sell your product, what does that say about your product? This only appeals to the ignorant people who don't know anything about the real differences between Mac and other OSes. I don't mind the old school Mac commercials which detail how it is stable and great for editing video, music production, i.e. playing to its strengths. But these ads have the exact opposite effect on me than desired. I see these commercials and they are so blantantly trying to be "cool" and attack windows, they come off to me as being just sarcastic snotty assholes. "Ooh look at us we're Mac, we don't wear suits, and we are making fun of this Bill Gates look-a-like, and look we speak Japanese, we are not being pretentious asses at all!" Seriously, they don't make me want to buy a Mac, even though I know its definite positive value.

But I guess this is par for th course for Mac, as most of its commercials have always been in this vein. And small wonder while they need gimmicks to sell their overpriced stuff to the mindless automatons who buy them.

I'm glad to see that the Ubuntu commercial (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=41786&highlight=mac+commercial) is not going to be lame like Mac. We don't need to attack Mac. Since Linux is about free (as in choice, not as in beer), we would do well to play to our strengths and inform people, not treat them as though we were their Bourgeoisie betters who know whats good for the common folk.

It really is ironic to me how Mac is turning into the exact kind of manipulative evil corporation that they supposedly have always been the opposite of.

[YourSurrogateGod]

Macs were never immune to viruses, in the same way that Linux is not. However any virus designed for Windows will not run on OS X or Linux (unless we use wine ;) )
Unless they're assembly viruses. There has been one nasty bug going around lately.

[briancurtin]

i like the WSJ one haha. "the awesome computer review...weekly...journal"

[prizrak]

Unless they're assembly viruses. There has been one nasty bug going around lately.
Well I didn't mean crossplatform viruses, just the ones designed for a certain OS.

[RAV TUX]

An OS X virus/hack attack could probably trash all mounted drives that don't contain the running system software. Judging by how many Mac users seem to keep Firewire hard disks plugged in at all times, this would be a major disaster.

It would be must wise to use MAC in coordination with Yellow Dog Linux from terrrasoft solutions:
http://www.terrasoftsolutions.com/

Yellow Dog Linux 4.1

Proven world-wide as the preferred Linux OS for the Power architecture, v4.1 brings Terra Soft into its 8th year of Power Linux development and support. Yellow Dog Linux v4.1 marks a returning point in Terra Soft's effort to again provide a leading desktop Linux OS. Yellow Dog Linux combines the preferred desktops KDE and Gnome with the latest sound and graphic card support, leading (but not bleeding) edge kernels and stable, functional compilers for code development. And of course, the foundation applications and servers expected of all modern Linux operatings systems for web, database, email, and network services.

What will you do with your PowerMac after Apple switches to Intel?

We have an answer--Faster, more stable, and far more efficient as a desktop OS, Yellow Dog Linux is a solid replacement (not just an alternative) to OSX. Breath new life into your PowerPC G3 and G4, giving it a second wind as a personal workstation, or a new function as a web, email, or data server. Want to see how your G5 runs Linux? You may dual-boot both OSX and Yellow Dog Linux or take the leap and run Yellow Dog Linux alone, taking advantage of the multitude of included, freely available, and commercial applications.

[YourSurrogateGod]

Well I didn't mean crossplatform viruses, just the ones designed for a certain OS.
Something tells me that the long invincibility that so many Apple users have felt will soon start evaporating. That and Apple has been crappy when it comes to delivering patches (similar to Redmont at one point.)

http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/13/1731245

[prizrak]

Something tells me that the long invincibility that so many Apple users have felt will soon start evaporating. That and Apple has been crappy when it comes to delivering patches (similar to Redmont at one point.)

http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/13/1731245
I agree with you, any sufficiently popular software with exploitable bugs will have malware created for it. After all Apache has viruses for it that affect it even on Linux. It will be funny to see Apple users get owned by the loads upon loads of new malware as on average they don't tend to have any security knowledge.

[YourSurrogateGod]

I agree with you, any sufficiently popular software with exploitable bugs will have malware created for it. After all Apache has viruses for it that affect it even on Linux. It will be funny to see Apple users get owned by the loads upon loads of new malware as on average they don't tend to have any security knowledge.
That made me laugh :) . I think I'll enjoy seeing apple users (who have often looked down on windows and pc users as inept) get their butts handed to them :) .

[RAV TUX]

That made me laugh :) . I think I'll enjoy seeing apple users (who have often looked down on windows and pc users as inept) get their butts handed to them :) .


Apple users are a lot like SUV drivers and they usually use both.

1. they both pay too much for their product:

a. SUV driver in upfront cost, maintenance, and gas.

b. Apple users in upfront cost, maintenance and software

2. They both drive with a false sense of security

a. SUV's have a high roll over rate and due to their overwhelming false sense of security they are usually the first to crash in a snow storm.

b. Apple users again due to thier false sense of security will crash the hardest, and their fix will be costly.

[prizrak]

Apple users are a lot like SUV drivers and they usually use both.

1. they both pay too much for their product:

a. SUV driver in upfront cost, maintenance, and gas.

b. Apple users in upfront cost, maintenance and software

2. They both drive with a false sense of security

a. SUV's have a high roll over rate and due to their overwhelming false sense of security they are usually the first to crash in a snow storm.

b. Apple users again due to thier false sense of security will crash the hardest, and their fix will be costly.
3. Both can't drive worth crap
a. SUV drivers don't know how to handle their machines and get the most out of them

b. Apple users don't know to handle their machines and get the most out of them

[YourSurrogateGod]

Well, primarily it's their arrogance that gets to me. I've had a professor like that, his attitude would irritate the crap out of me. Linux has some of that too, but it makes up quite a bit by people that can be found on ubntuforums.

[briancurtin]

Apple users are a lot like SUV drivers and they usually use both.

1. they both pay too much for their product:

a. SUV driver in upfront cost, maintenance, and gas.

b. Apple users in upfront cost, maintenance and software

2. They both drive with a false sense of security

a. SUV's have a high roll over rate and due to their overwhelming false sense of security they are usually the first to crash in a snow storm.

b. Apple users again due to thier false sense of security will crash the hardest, and their fix will be costly.
as far as 2a goes -- if you know anything about driving, you will be just fine in an SUV. the possibility for things to go wrong is there, you just have to be a complete idiot.

[MenZa]

Man. Best laugh I've had in ages--especially for the 'Virus' and 'Networking' ones.

[K.Mandla]

Well, I suppose since I dragged this topic into the light, I should mention this as well. ...

http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comic.php?d=20060513

:mrgreen:

[prizrak]

Well, I suppose since I dragged this topic into the light, I should mention this as well. ...

http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comic.php?d=20060513

:mrgreen:
Wee CAD!!! It was an awesome comic tho :)

[endersshadow]

Well, I suppose since I dragged this topic into the light, I should mention this as well. ...

http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comic.php?d=20060513

:mrgreen:

http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comic.php?d=20041027

Tim has a great sense of humor, and CAD is an awesome comic. Definitely on my list of webcomics that I regularly read :-D

[bruce89]

PC's are computers too. They work fine under linux!