Mac OS X Leopard vs. Windows Vista

[Jokerswild]

Originally Posted by Computer-Ed

There is another issue that stops Apple from going more pluic with their OS. Right now their big claim to fame is that they are more bullet proof in security and stability than Windows.

As soon as you make the Mac OS mainstream it will become a larger target for malware creation. Also right now the tight control on software created for the AMC means that Apple can force companies to write the software to their very tight specifications. Something BTW that MS is being critized for trying to do in Vista. With the strict guidelines dropped they would then have many of the compatability and glitch issues Vista faces and their bullet proof OS would prove to be more of the same.

The real STRENGTH right now of the M<ac OS is that Apples keeps a deathgrip on the control of the OS and applications made for it. This stranglehold on coding means the OS runs smoother because the companies creating software have less freedom. Now I agree this is a GOOD thing as it creates stability. however since MS is getting hammered for trying the same thing Apple would risk a serious PR hit if it went public and this control was made more widely known.

What are you basing this on Ed? With the recent hack of OS X winning a individual 10,00 dollars by the way. Then in an interview the same person that cracks OS X said Vista is harder to hack than OS X.
heise Security - News - Hack-a-Mac - security vulnerability found in Apple's Safari

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Originally Posted by Jokerswild

What are you basing this on Ed? With the recent hack of OS X winning a individual 10,00 dollars by the way. Then in an interview the same person that cracks OS X said Vista is harder to hack than OS X.
heise Security - News - Hack-a-Mac - security vulnerability found in Apple's Safari

I'd believe him. There's next to nothing in security for OS X. It's just the smaller userbase... and no one uses internet on Macs....

[Computer-Ed]

I am basing this on simple logic. Anyone that has delat with Apple on a software or hardware end knows that Apple exerts a lot of control over the creation of software and drivers. A great deal more so than MS. Additionally Apple does not have the variety of software and hardware variations to work with and thus less chances for software or hardware compatability glitches.

Now take the Apple OS and throw it into the open market, remove the restrictions Apple places on software creation and force the OS to run on litterally millions of hardware/software combinations.

I feel confident in saying that it will fall flat on it's face. Now no worse than vista does but it would likely do no better either.

As for security be real. The hackers want shock and awe. This means they will hit the place that the MOST people can be effected. If you want to cause as much chaos do you hit a group of 1000 or a group of 100?

There is no way to prove this theory right or wrong. That is unless Apple does open their OS up and go mainstream.

[[Dr. V]]

Apple will NEVER EVER DO THAT!

they see WAY too much "out-of-the-box" ease and performance compared to a windows-based system, and theyre more than right. what are the downfalls? many...

-STRICT BOUNDARIES on the software you run on your mac
-pretty much NO modding can really be done
-NO GAMES --face it you mac fanboys...
-STUCK WITH A PRE-BUILT SYSTEM, and REALLY EXPENSIVE TO UPGRADE!
-what THEY want, is what YOU get

there are probably more, but thats the jist of it.

[Jokerswild]

Originally Posted by Computer-Ed

I am basing this on simple logic. Anyone that has delat with Apple on a software or hardware end knows that Apple exerts a lot of control over the creation of software and drivers. A great deal more so than MS. Additionally Apple does not have the variety of software and hardware variations to work with and thus less chances for software or hardware compatability glitches.

Now take the Apple OS and throw it into the open market, remove the restrictions Apple places on software creation and force the OS to run on litterally millions of hardware/software combinations.

I feel confident in saying that it will fall flat on it's face. Now no worse than vista does but it would likely do no better either.

As for security be real. The hackers want shock and awe. This means they will hit the place that the MOST people can be effected. If you want to cause as much chaos do you hit a group of 1000 or a group of 100?

There is no way to prove this theory right or wrong. That is unless Apple does open their OS up and go mainstream.

So your basing it on your opinion.

[Computer-Ed]

yes I am... that and my experiences when working with (trying to work with) Apple.

[Hitman]

Max PC did an article last year where they installed Windows XP on an x86 Mac. They ran several test and benchmarks and comparied them with OSX. IIRC XP beat OSX in almost every area.

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Originally Posted by Hitman

Max PC did an article last year where they installed Windows XP on an x86 Mac. They ran several test and benchmarks and comparied them with OSX. IIRC XP beat OSX in almost every area.

Yup, I remember that issue. But it was more of where Will used a Mac for a month and compared Mac apps to Windows equivalents (just like this article). The article you're actually talking about was when they installed XP onto a Mac via BootCamp to see if it was faster than a similarly equipped normal PC with XP. The normal PC was better.

[Capper]

Originally Posted by Computer-Ed

I am basing this on simple logic. Anyone that has delat with Apple on a software or hardware end knows that Apple exerts a lot of control over the creation of software and drivers. A great deal more so than MS. Additionally Apple does not have the variety of software and hardware variations to work with and thus less chances for software or hardware compatibility glitches.

Now take the Apple OS and throw it into the open market, remove the restrictions Apple places on software creation and force the OS to run on literally millions of hardware/software combinations.

I feel confident in saying that it will fall flat on it's face. Now no worse than vista does but it would likely do no better either.

As for security be real. The hackers want shock and awe. This means they will hit the place that the MOST people can be effected. If you want to cause as much chaos do you hit a group of 1000 or a group of 100?

There is no way to prove this theory right or wrong. That is unless Apple does open their OS up and go mainstream.

Excellent points.

We've talked about some of this before....the humorous Apple commercials, etc....the real problem is....why should hackers waste their time harrassing an OS that accounts for such a small market share? It is honestly not worth their tiime or effort. Same with Linux.....It really just isn't worth the time or effort to these people, they are attention whores....and lashing out at big bad M$ is their rebellion (Even if Bill and Melinda Gates do so much good for this world).

As to the rest....dead on. Mac's saving grace its its limited exposure. If it were widely used and distributed, it would probably fail miserably.

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by wtcnbrwndo4u

Michael Dell himself said that if OS X was available for PCs, he'd ship all the Dells with OS X by default.

There's a willing market, but a tight mentality at Apple.

I think there is much more at play than just a tight mentality at Apple. The software engineers there would have to figure out how to write code and drivers and have easy (the word that seems to accompany Mac everywhere) support for all the different pieces of hardware out there. I have no reason flame Macs, and I'm not trying to, but people easily forget how many different pieces of hardware, software, and peripherals Windows has to try and accommodate while every other operating system does not. Linux it will either work or it doesn't, and Macs will only use Mac hardware. I'm sure Windows could be amazing too if they only let it run on prebuilt machines with an extremely limited range of hardware options and specially designed peripherals...

But I don't want that to take away from your comparison Sameer. It was very good, and quite in depth but still straight to the point. It is as good as you can get a comparison that is in some ways "apples to oranges". Like everything in life, Macs and Windows both have their ups and downs and nothing is going to be perfectly suited for everyone. It all comes down to what you do (and what you want to do) with your computer.

EDIT:
Just noticed Computer-Ed touched on the same thing I did
Either way, my thoughts still stand...