Macbook...

Hell has frozen over.

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Symantec, no friend of Microsoft, said in its latest research report that when it comes to widely-used operating systems, Microsoft is doing better overall than its leading commercial competitors.
<hr></blockquote>

Read 'em and weep.

I´ve read them , and laughed : being faster in fixing a number of bugs instead of having less bugs to start with isn´t the kind of praise I´d go for .

"During this period, 39 vulnerabilities, 12 of which were ranked high priority or severe, were found in Microsoft Windows and the company took an average of 21 days to fix them."

"Then there's Mac OS X. Despite the latest TV ads ridiculing the security in Vista with a Matrix-like Agent playing the UAC in Vista, Apple (Quote) has nothing to brag about. Symantec found 43 vulnerabilities in Mac OS X and a 66 day turnaround on fixes."

Just a point about reading. It's not quite enough to simply run your eyes over the words. You actually have to pay attention if you want to absorb the content.

43 is larger than 39.

At least most people feel that it is.

... and most people would find the next line a key factor : "Fortunately, only one was high priority."

From the same story : "39 vulnerabilities, 12 of which were ranked high priority or severe, were found in Microsoft Windows.." - personally I feel that 12 is larger than 1. But that´s just me.

I've used Macs before so I know more about them than just hype, but caved into Windows for home computers because the software I want is on that. However with the Intel Macs this isn't a problem.

luddite2k2: Yup. BootCamp/Parallels does make the whole migration process a lot less painful. I still wouldn't, but if you're having problems I could understand the temptation. Having worked there in the past I wouldn't touch it with a 700ft pole, but YMMV...

umbrella69: I can see why you'd be frustrated. What MIDI i/f and software are you using, and what other problems are you having?

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<hr>Ria: I keep reading that Mac is safer than PC. No need for firewall or Antivirus etc - but how do you know that? If you don't have a firewall etc - how do you know the Mac isn't infected with something? Just how do 'they' know it's safer?<hr></blockquote>

Mac is more secure is because it is basically Unix under the hood/bonnet (as luddite2002 mentioned). Unix is an operating system that has been around for decades and was created in a networked environment. Security has always been a prime consideration. Windows was developed as a single-user home machine and security wasn't considered until after the Internet became popular. There are no viruses for Mac OS X. There are very very few viruses for Linux either (also based on Unix). Viruses are generally a "Windows only" problem.

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<hr>BobTrips: There is a lot of hostility toward Microsoft. That makes for a lot of attempts to disrupt PC/Windows systems.
There is little, probably very little, animosity toward Apple. Less attack attempts.<hr></blockquote>

It's because Mac OS X is based on Unix. Unix is inherently vastly more secure, whether it is Mac OS X, Linux, BSD, or another variant of Unix.

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<hr>It's become fashionable to hate Microsoft, so that's all you see in the mainstream media - but you don't see many negative comments about Apple - mainly because of the hordes of unhinged zealots who flame you to a crisp if you have the temerity to challenge the Cult of Steve™<hr></blockquote>

It's common for people to hate Microsoft for a reason. Their business practices are awful. They are a monopoly out of control, and that is bad for society not just for computers.

There is plenty of criticism for Apple too...

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<hr>BobTrips: Symantec, no friend of Microsoft, said in its latest research report that when it comes to widely-used operating systems, Microsoft is doing better overall than its leading commercial competitors.<hr></blockquote>

Symantec is an enemy of Microsoft, but that study is profit-motivated. Viruses are generally a "Windows only" problem. So if people stop using Windows, Symantec and all of the "safety software" vendors would go out of business. The worst thing that could happen to Symantec, AVG, McAfee, etc. is for people to switch to operating systems that naturally don't get computer viruses... like Mac and Linux...

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<hr>Symantec is an enemy of Microsoft, but that study is profit-motivated. Viruses are generally a "Windows only" problem.<hr></blockquote>

So are you saying that they faked the data?

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<hr>systems that naturally don't get computer viruses... like Mac and Linux...<hr></blockquote>

What percentage of bad guys do you figure try to attack Mac and Linux systems as opposed to PCs? How much hostility do you see pointed in the direction of Mac and Linux as opposed to PCs?

(Leave out the hostility toward Mac 'true believers'. There's tons of that. It's up there with hostility toward Gates. ;o)

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<hr>So are you saying that they faked the data? <hr></blockquote>

No, but it's a loaded article. It says "Symantec, no friend of Microsoft, said in its latest research report..." -- implying that Symantec is unbiased, which is untrue. It's a profit-motivated "study". Take a closer look at the severe vunerabilities:

Microsoft: 12
Red Hat: 2
Mac: 1

The anti-virus companies are terrified of the thought that people will stop using Windows. Windows computers are frequently infested with spyware/viruses, while Mac and Linux arent.

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<hr>What percentage of bad guys do you figure try to attack Mac and Linux systems as opposed to PCs? How much hostility do you see pointed in the direction of Mac and Linux as opposed to PCs?<hr></blockquote>

Linux powers most sites on the Web. It's a huge target. Mac has a large share of the laptop market. Still -- no viruses at all. The way that Unix is built is much more secure.

Just a couple of reasons that Windows is insecure:
runs in admin account by default making it extremely easy to compromise
- insert thumb drive or CD and take over the system in seconds
- email someone mypic.jpg.exe and user will only see mypic.jpg... code then executes with root access and no warning
Internet Explorer -- Active X, and deep integration into the system
* etc...

I think that Vista will also be insecure for a long time because it was apparently rewritten from scratch. It will take a long time to get the bugs out and harden it. They seem to have made a few steps in the right direction though (not running in admin account, etc.).