Mac computer owners can now run Windows on their computers

[Xru]

Greetings - There is a thread here on Computer Lab about which computer to buy. There still seems to be the misconception that PC or Windows programs can not be run on a Mac computer. This is not correct.

Late model Mac computers with the Intel CPU, made withing the last couple years, have a utility called "Boot Camp" which partitions a Mac computer to accept a Windows O/S.

I installed a Windows XP O/S about 6 months ago using "Boot Camp" and installed all the PC games and other software I want. They work perfectly . . . WiFi connection, audio, etc.

You do need a Windows O/S disk to install it . . . They can be had for $100 or more . . .

I spend a bit more for a Mac computer because the quality of Mac's, IMO, are substantially greater that PC's. The Mac OS X is also build around the Linux O/S customized for use with the Mac. Included with the Mac is a bunch of programs that would cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars if bought from a commercial company. Examples are GarageBand, iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes, PhotoBooth, QuickTimePlayer and others. OpenOffice can be downloaded and used for free from Oracle software which is an approximate equivalent to MS Office. Firefox, my favor Web browser is available.

Most important to me is the stability of the system. Mac OS X is much more stable that Windows, doesn't need to be defragmented, doesn't have to have the registry cleaned, and is a much more secure system in general as it is based on the Unix OS. In the Mac OS, my programs virtually never lock up or crash. In my Windows XP . . . well, its Windows XP.

Most people don't use antivirus software on Mac's because few if any virus' are vectored toward Mac systems, but I do. If you get a virus through email it probably won't infect your Mac, but if you forward it to a friend with a PC it can infect that computer.

A great free antivirus is ClamXav. It's free and does a great job. There are free firewalls to install, but Mac's come with one already installed. All you have to do is enable it. If ya like ccleaner it is available for the Mac. There is also an software uninstaller (free).

Edit: If I have not made this clear, the resulting computer has a dual boot capability . . . that is if ya hold down the alt key on startup, a menu will show the option to start either the Mac OS or the Windows OS.

[Raphael]

The Mac OS X is also build around the Linux O/S customized for use with the Mac.

No. it isn't. MacOS is based on BSD, which is an implementation of Unix. Linux is a Unix-like kernal written by Linus Torvalds.
There are some serious differences between the two.

Included with the Mac is a bunch of programs that would cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars if bought from a commercial company. Examples are GarageBand, iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes, PhotoBooth, QuickTimePlayer and others.

All of which either run on Windows or have excellent free Windows alternatives.
And if you're running Ubuntu, then you have access to thousands of comparable free and opensource applications.

OpenOffice can be downloaded and used for free from Oracle software which is an approximate equivalent to MS Office.

Oracle is washing it's hands of OpenOffice. They never wanted it, all they wanted when they bought Sun was Java. OpenOffice is being handed over to the community to continue support and development.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/04...openoffice_go/
It will be interesting to see what happens to the LibreOffice fork that was started after devs refused to work with Oracle. Oh, and OpenOffice again runs on Windows and Linux as well. (heck until the LibreOffice fork it was the standard for Ubuntu.

Most important to me is the stability of the system. Mac OS X is much more stable that Windows, doesn't need to be defragmented, doesn't have to have the registry cleaned, and is a much more secure system in general as it is based on the Unix OS. In the Mac OS, my programs virtually never lock up or crash. In my Windows XP . . . well, its Windows XP.

Of course a 10 year old OS is not as good as one that is 2 years old. Try running Windows 7 sometime, or Natty Narwhal.

Most people don't use antivirus software on Mac's because

because they are stupid.

few if any virus' are vectored toward Mac systems,

there are an ever increasing number that do target MacOS and security analysts are warning that more on the way.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/05...crimeware_kit/

TheRegister.co.uk

A crimeware kit discovered over the weekend promises to bring a flood of advanced malware that steals passwords and other sensitive data from computers running Mac OS X.

The kit is being advertised as the Weyland-Yutani Bot in underground crime websites, where it's being sold for $1,000. The first ever crimeware kit for the Mac comes with the ability to grab data entered into Firefox, with the Chrome and Safari browsers soon to follow, according to Danish IT firm CSIS Security Group. The makers of the new DIY malware kit claim they are close to releasing versions that will work on iPads and Linux machines as well.

© source where applicable

Heck MacOS even has fake security ransomware like Windows has (just had to clean one off my Dad's Windows XP machine)
http://blog.intego.com/2011/05/02/in...ake-antivirus/

Intego

Malware: OSX/MacDefender.A

Risk: Low; in the wild, but not very widespread for now

Description: Intego has discovered a fake antivirus program called MAC Defender, which targets Mac users via SEO poisoning attacks (web sites set up to take advantage of search engine optimization tricks to get malicious sites to appear at the top of search results). When a user clicks on certain links after performing a search on a search engine such as Google, they are sent to a web site that displays a fake Windows screen with an animated image showing a malware scan; a window then tells the user that their computer is infected. After this, JavaScript on the page automatically downloads a file. The file downloaded is a compressed ZIP archive, which, if a specific option in a web browser is checked (“Open ‘safe’ files after downloading” in Safari, for example), will open. The file is decompressed, and the installer it contains launches presenting a user with the following screen
[article continues]

© source where applicable

MacOS, like Linux, has been considered safe because older version of Windows were not only less secure, but exceedingly more popular. Malware writers were targeting the most popular OS (to avoid the potential argument most popular != best. Most popular simply means it's running on the greatest majority of machines)
As MacOS has gained in popularity, and the iOS devices, so it will increasingly be targeted. As Android rises in popularity, so too will it (and Linux because Android is a Linux OS) be targeted.
And I would suggest the security on the modern OS's are nowadays all pretty much on a level playing field.

but I do.

Good, I run AV software on Linux and my Android phone and on my Windows systems (I don't have an Apple, but if I did, I would run it on there as well). In my opinion people who don't run Antivirus software are just asking for it, and there are plenty of good free ones out there so cost isn't an issue.

Footnote: I though everyone knew about Bootcamp, it's been around for the last 4 years. Windows has Microsoft Virtual PC where you can setup either a Virtual PC running just about any OS (except Apple-based ones) available (and the reason it won't run MacOS is because Apple will only allow MacOS on their hardware). Oracle's VM Virtual Box (used to be Sun's VB) will do the same on just about any host OS, including MacOS X, you can think of.
Ubuntu has the Wubi that allows you to install it inside Windows, giving you a dual boot WIndows/Ubuntu machine.

[Xru]

Of course a 10 year old OS is not as good as one that is 2 years old. Try running Windows 7 sometime, or Natty Narwhal.

If you are a fanboy of Windows then our conversation is finished. I've tried every new Windows implementation and IMO they are inferior in file system and the use of the registry.

because they are stupid.

Ah . . . I'd think unaware of the need might be a more generous way to put it.

there are an ever increasing number that do target MacOS and security analysts are warning that more on the way.

True . .

Oracle is washing it's hands of OpenOffice.

Well, I just downloaded it and installed it.

And I would suggest the security on the modern OS's are nowadays all pretty much on a level playing field.

My understanding is that the BSD/Linux systems are inherently more secure.

All of which either run on Windows or have excellent free Windows alternatives.

Maybe . . .

Both BSD and Linux are based on the Unix system, although BSD uses some of the original code.

I've used Ubuntu and it is an excellent system.

Final . . . I've used all the Windows OS since 3.1 . . to Windows 7. They all suck compared to the ease of use and stability of the Mac systems.

GODIHATEWINDOWS.jpg windows-7-yep-still-sucks-windows-microsoft-funny-pictures-1282959443.jpg

[Xru]

I don't have an Apple, but if I did, I would run it on there as well

Hmm . . . if you don't have a current Mac why do you feel qualified to comment on the Mac and the X OS

[Raphael]

If you are a fanboy of Windows then our conversation is finished.

I like Windows (with certain exceptions being ME & Vista). But I'm far from a Windows fanboy, as I would think would be clear from my post. I mentioned Ubuntu Linux about the same number of times as I mentioned Windows.

I've tried every new Windows implementation and IMO they are inferior in file system and the use of the registry.

MS has a big problem with moving to a new file system, and that is because legacy stuff. When you have BIG government departments and major corporations still running Windows 2000 and IE6 you need a FS that they can still access. (yes I am aware that there are nice little things out there like SAMBA)
That being said, I understand there are plans for a new one (ext4 would be nice)

Ah . . . I'd think unaware of the need might be a more generous way to put it.

Ok, I'll steal a page out of Yo Lunch's book. They've been duped!!!! by stupid fanboi's who think that just because no-one was writing virii for their platform that it was secure.
Which is as stupid as Sony thinking that just because the PSN could only be accessed by PS3's they didn't need that much security on it. (which could have resulted in a bot-net more powerful than any super-computer you care to choose )

Well, I just downloaded it and installed it.

It won't be going away, but there is discussions about what will happen with it. The FOSS community is not very happy with Oracle, especially with Apache walking away from working with them over the Harmony issue.

My understanding is that the BSD/Linux systems are inherently more secure.

Than older Windows systems where the average user had Admin rights so anything could happen. Now with the UAC (which pretty much runs like sudo in Linux), the security is pretty much on a par, assuming silly people haven't turned it off because pushing a button is such a chore, compared to having to type your password under Linux.

Maybe . . .

No maybe's about it. There are some really good free resources out there that run on Windows and/or Linux.

I've used Ubuntu and it is an excellent system.

The only reason I'm not running it now is hardware failure on the machine that was running it (and I don't have the space to dual boot my laptop)

Final . . . I've used all the Windows OS since 3.1 . . to Windows 7. They all suck compared to the ease of use and stability of the Mac systems.

Windows 3.11 was very stable (and only just retired from service, the majority of smart printers and in-flight entertainment systems have been running it.), Win 98SE, not bad, Win2k was good, WinXP was good but presented a shift that I know a lot of Technopeasants weren't comfortable with (the Menu looked different which confused them), Vista almost put me off ever using Windows again, Win7 I've been running since beta came out and the only time I've had any issues were hardware related.

[Pilgrim]

Bottom line is that Windows crashes about 10x more frequently than any Mac OS I've ever used and I've been using Mac since 1982. And when something does go wrong with my Mac it's 10 to 1 that it was some problem with a Micro Soft situation. I run Windows through VMWare fusion but I rarely have any need to got there.