Apple vs Windows PC

[Chuckanut]

Yes, I will also place an order for the caramel pop corn. And maybe some of the cheesy popcorn also?

These discussions are fun. But, in the end we are talking about some very sophisticated machines. And they are just that - only machines.

 

[Chuckanut]

Phishing, script enabled attacks, social network exploits, water hole attacks, etc) Since the OS you run is irrelevant to most of these types of attacks, we discovered that our clients who were using Macs were actually a bigger security problem for us. Many of these users had bought into the, "I have a Mac so I don't need to run any protection suite." line of thinking. This made them more susceptible to these web based attacks. 40% of our compromised clients used Macs, but only 5% of our clients were Mac users.

Other types of issues like Malware, are far more common on a PC because people that create these things are smart and want the biggest bang for their time and effort. But the biggest threat we have now is the browser, not the OS. And since browsers must support various standards, they have all been susceptible. Even TOR has been hacked.

It's best to not run as an Administrator in one's day to day business regardless of what OS/Computer one has. That will neutralize a lot of malware's ability to infect a machine.

 

[Ready]

I have used a MacBook Pro Retina for several years now after having been a Windows/DOS user my entire life. However, I have avoided buying a Mac desktop because I find the resolution on the external monitors to be disappointing after getting used to the retina display.

As several other posters have mentioned earlier, the latest rumor is that Apple is going to announce a desktop with a retina display next week, along with the new iPads. If they do, I would definitely consider a Mac desktop. The retina display just makes using a computer so much more enjoyable.

I don't see myself going back to Windows. I do run Windows 8 on my Mac so that I can use Quicken, but I find it really clumsy and annoying. If I ever replace Quicken with something that runs on Mac, I will no longer have a need to run Windows at all, which would be very nice.

BTW, there was an early rumor that the new iPads would have a glare shielding screen that would allow them to be viewed outdoors in full day light. I've thought about buying a Kindle paperwhite over the years because I like to read books outdoors, but if the iPad rumor turns out to be true, I think it would be a huge improvement. Unfortunately, I haven't seen any mention of it in the latest rumors, so it may turn out not to be true, at least for this round of upgrades.

 

[Midpack]

I have always used a Windows PC and would never consider switching to Apple. I don't feel like going through the learning curve with Apple. I tried helping a friend with something simple on his Apple laptop recently. It was very frustrating for me...didn't seem very intuitive. Having said that, it's probably because I had never used one before.

I suspect just being confronted with something different was the issue, not that the Apple OS is more/less intuitive than Windows (which you've had years of experience with). I offer as evidence the mass of experienced Windows users who went completely bonkers when Win8 was rolled out - 'how dare Microsoft actually change anything!!!" And my first lengthy Apple experiences were the iPad and then an iPad, I found both to be extremely intuitive. So much so that I almost bought my first iMac last year, the 60-100% premium was all that stopped me. When I play with iMacs in stores, they don't seem foreign to me anymore, probably because of my iPad experience. YMMV

 

[frayne]

Popcorn, popcorn you say ! The reason I made the original post was to get the various viewpoints as I am seriously thinking about upgrading my Windows PC desktop to an Apple desktop. The discussion and comments have been very good and enlightening to say the least. Thank you to all who have voiced their opinions and thoughts. I will probably hold off for awhile but will probably try the Apple route for the following reasons; its graphic (pictures/movies) intensive capabilities, reliability, and I do like the thought of integrated programs that work flawlessly together, cost and learning curve are not an issue. If I don't care for the Apple, I can always go back. That said, try finding someone who has gone the Apple route and then switched back to Windows PCs, it doesn't seem to happen, ever. I already have two Ipads, an Ipod touch, Iphone and find them very easy to use. I do agree with the comment about ITunes and the Apple store, they need improved on many levels. As for my computer savvy, I've done everything imaginable to a PC from changing processors, adding ram, hard drive, sound/video cards to debugging software conflicts and frankly I am ready for a rock solid platform that Apple seems to provide.

 

[Chuckanut]

Yes, the Apple ecosystem tends to work very well with each part doing its job. And, if one part acts up, you talk to a genius.

 

[aja8888]

DW's Iphone refused to accept her security code after a software update yesterday. Of course, I am out of town in Pittsburgh. So she has no phone and I am not around.

She can't call Apple Tech support because she has no phone.

She tries an e-mail but no response.

She goes to the Apple store and has to wait two hours for help because the place was buzzing with shoppers.

They fix her phone.

She asks me last night if I still have her old Motorola Android phone...which, of course, I do. Looks like we can easily activate it with a $10 plan in 5 minutes the next time the Iphone quits.

 

[Lsbcal]

It's best to not run as an Administrator in one's day to day business regardless of what OS/Computer one has. That will neutralize a lot of malware's ability to infect a machine.

Maybe it's just me but on Win 7 I've just found it much more convenient to run from Admin mode. Haven't had any problems yet over 4 years with Win 7.

From Windows XP I used to run some workaround program to bring up the browser in non-Admin mode. I haven't heard of a way to do that in Win 7.

 

[explanade]

DW's Iphone refused to accept her security code after a software update yesterday. Of course, I am out of town in Pittsburgh. So she has no phone and I am not around.

She can't call Apple Tech support because she has no phone.

She tries an e-mail but no response.

She goes to the Apple store and has to wait two hours for help because the place was buzzing with shoppers.

They fix her phone.

She asks me last night if I still have her old Motorola Android phone...which, of course, I do. Looks like we can easily activate it with a $10 plan in 5 minutes the next time the Iphone quits.

One thing to be careful about. If you enable Find My iPhone on an iPhone running iOS7 or later, you have to be absolutely sure of your Apple ID login and password.

If for some reason you can't unlock your phone because it's not accepting your pass code, you'll be unable to reset the phone to factory without that Apple ID.

They put this in as a security measure, in case your iPhone is stolen or lost. The phone either would have to be unlocked with a the correct passcode or with Apple ID unlocking it with Find My iPhone.

With iOS 8, Apple is saying they will encrypt more of the data on the phone (if you're using a passcode or TouchID), to the point where they can't even decrypt your phone, so they would be unable to respond to subpoenas from law enforcement to access the encrypted data.

Since the announcement, Google has said they will do the same and now law enforcement officials like the director of the FBI are complaining that companies are locking up data on personal devices this way, because it could encourage criminals to use such devices.

Of course, before smart phones, did law enforcement have a way to get at incriminating evidence which is all put together in a nice tidy package like a cell phone, which contains all the communications and location tracking?

So yeah if they can't look for incriminating info. in a suspect's iPhone, they might actually have to go back to investigative methods used about 10 years ago, before these modern mobile devices.

 

[aja8888]

One thing to be careful about. If you enable Find My iPhone on an iPhone running iOS7 or later, you have to be absolutely sure of your Apple ID login and password.

If for some reason you can't unlock your phone because it's not accepting your pass code, you'll be unable to reset the phone to factory without that Apple ID.

They put this in as a security measure, in case your iPhone is stolen or lost. The phone either would have to be unlocked with a the correct passcode or with Apple ID unlocking it with Find My iPhone.

With iOS 8, Apple is saying they will encrypt more of the data on the phone (if you're using a passcode or TouchID), to the point where they can't even decrypt your phone, so they would be unable to respond to subpoenas from law enforcement to access the encrypted data.

Since the announcement, Google has said they will do the same and now law enforcement officials like the director of the FBI are complaining that companies are locking up data on personal devices this way, because it could encourage criminals to use such devices.

Of course, before smart phones, did law enforcement have a way to get at incriminating evidence which is all put together in a nice tidy package like a cell phone, which contains all the communications and location tracking?

So yeah if they can't look for incriminating info. in a suspect's iPhone, they might actually have to go back to investigative methods used about 10 years ago, before these modern mobile devices.

After reading this (more than once), I am thinking about the good old days of flip phones. Life was easier then, and we could make calls.

 

[ChiliPepr]

One thing to be careful about. If you enable Find My iPhone on an iPhone running iOS7 or later, you have to be absolutely sure of your Apple ID login and password.

If for some reason you can't unlock your phone because it's not accepting your pass code, you'll be unable to reset the phone to factory without that Apple ID.

While that is true... you cannot log onto "Find My iPhone" to wipe your phone without your apple id and password.

 

[Sunset]

I have used PC's, Mac's, and Linux, I find all are fine for various reasons, if you are into the Apple world, then a Mac will integrate more easily.
I have had to throw away perfectly good PC's because they got too old, but still worked fine, I don't know what people are doing but I have no issues.
I built my own 6 core machine nearly 2 yrs ago, and put Linux on it, and have never looked back, although I did have to use my old win machine to run skype for about one year until it updated for Linux.
Linux and the Mac are similar (both based on Unix type OS underneath).

 

[kcowan]

She goes to the Apple store and has to wait two hours for help because the place was buzzing with shoppers.

They fix her phone.

Go right to the service desk. They treat customers different than prospects. And it is very convenient too.

 

[Ronstar]

The last time we needed service at the Apple Store, we scheduled the appointment online for a time slot. We went to the store at the reserved time and were taken care of shortly thereafter. Very convenient. Once, DW and SIL brought their phones, iPads, computers in and the Genius Bar people synced everything up and answered all of their questions. Saved me a lot of grief.


Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

 

[rbmrtn]

Maybe it's just me but on Win 7 I've just found it much more convenient to run from Admin mode. Haven't had any problems yet over 4 years with Win 7.

That along the same logic as not wearing your seatbelt because you have never been in an accident. More convenient is the source of the problem.

Running as admin is the number one source for malware infections. Nobody "hacks" your computer, you invite them in when running as admin. All of those big hacks at target, homedepot etc were all basically inside jobs, Someone running with admin rights downloaded or opened something and that's all it takes. Running with admin will allow malware to get around your AV software.

almost all the windows PCs I clean up are because the user was running as admin and infected themselves.

Other issues are because people modify/change/delete something without realizing and destroy the OS, all because they were admin.

Sorry for the rant but the admin thing is one my pet peeves

 

[target2019]

That along the same logic as not wearing your seatbelt because you have never been in an accident. More convenient is the source of the problem.

Running as admin is the number one source for malware infections. Nobody "hacks" your computer, you invite them in when running as admin. All of those big hacks at target, homedepot etc were all basically inside jobs, Someone running with admin rights downloaded or opened something and that's all it takes. Running with admin will allow malware to get around your AV software.

almost all the windows PCs I clean up are because the user was running as admin and infected themselves.

Other issues are because people modify/change/delete something without realizing and destroy the OS, all because they were admin.

Sorry for the rant but the admin thing is one my pet peeves

How does BlackPOS get deployed on the targeted machine?

 

[timo2]

Why Mac vs Windows - with all those old computers, they'd probably run Linux very well. Probably less virus issues than even the near-zero level of serious issues on the mac.

+1

 

[timo2]

x.
Linux and the Mac are similar (both based on Unix type OS underneath).

Except Linux doesn't have a giant totalitarian type company in charge of it. IMO.

 

[rbmrtn]

How does BlackPOS get deployed on the targeted machine?

If I knew that it would probably make me a lot of money

What seems to be the source for TARGET was an HVAC vendor ( of all things )
that had remote admin access to do maintenance on their HVAC control software. Once they had access to his credential they uploaded their malware and it wormed its way through Targets network.

Target Hackers Broke in Via HVAC Company — Krebs on Security

 

[target2019]

If I knew that it would probably make me a lot of money

What seems to be the source for TARGET was an HVAC vendor ( of all things )
that had remote admin access to do maintenance on their HVAC control software. Once they had access to his credential they uploaded their malware and it wormed its way through Targets network.

Target Hackers Broke in Via HVAC Company — Krebs on Security

If remote admin is permitted, and pass is weak, then that is the likely vector, I think. Remote admin is possible even in non-privileged role. I believe. The solution is much more than just having all users in non-admin roles, do you agree?