Wednesday, January 28, 2004

Gates takes a side-swipe at Apple, Linux security As the MyDoom virus spread rapidly across the Internet on Monday, Bill Gates extolled the value of such attacks and warned against other operating systems' complacency [...] "A high volume system like [Windows] that has been thoroughly tested will be by far the most secure," Gates told the audience at the Developing Software for the future Microsoft Platform conference at London's Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre. "To say a system is secure because no one is attacking it is very dangerous," said Gates, referring to operating systems that have a smaller share of the desktop market, such as Apple Mac OS and Linux...more [ZDnet UK] HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!! My OS is more secure because it's so insecure. Bill you really reached on that one...mj 1:32:10 AM

Saturday, January 24, 2004

Apple's core: The Mac turns 20 Despite Microsoft's dominance, Apple fans remain loyal Its dedicated users are so passionate they're often described as religious about their love for the machine. Twenty years ago, on January 24, 1984, Apple Computer launched the Macintosh. It contained virtually unknown features, including simple icons, and an odd little attachment called a mouse...more [CNN] 20 years ago today computers were turned from machines without personality, to machines you could personalize to your hearts content. The future of computers was put on display and nothing has been the same. This is more then just hyperbole, it's true. Whether you are on a Mac, Windows, or Linux, the interface you use all descend from that machine released 20 years ago today...mj 12:00:09 PM

Friday, January 16, 2004

Dancing to oblivion the M$ way... Last year Microsoft made three decisions that it will come to see as the beginning of it's fall from dominance. The little things are what kill you in the end. Makes me think of the second level manager who said it isn't the last sick day that cost you the job, it's the 1st day you just stay home because you don't feel like going to work. One event was it's decision to expose it's source code to the Chinese government in a failed attempt to stave off Linux. Ask yourself, if Microsoft can show the Chinese government it's source code (a historic enemy of the US), then why can't it show the rest of us? The second event was the decision to pay SCO for a UNIX license. The thinly veiled attempt to sow fear, uncertainty, and doubt in the linux community combined with it's new ad campaign only shows how afraid M$ is of Linux. It's a good thing, because they should be afraid of Linux. The third and most important decision was to sell Office for just $37 in Thailand. It begs several questions: 1. Why are we paying $400-$600 for it?, 2. The only product that can have a 69% margin is a monopoly product, 3. It means that we are all subsidizing Thailand's purchases of Office, 4. Shouldn't we all just refuse to buy it unless we can get the same prices! That's what the government of Israel is doing. ... Soon this blog will go silent. I do not plan on paying up for another year of service. It's been one hell of a ride. I hope you got something out of this, I know I did. Bush still sucks...mj 1:40:23 AM

Saturday, January 10, 2004

So what's the big deal? Are you wondering about the big HP/Apple iPod deal? You should be. It was the big deal that didn't get done in time to spin our heads at the Macworld keynote. It's a huge deal that trumps Dell, and deals a blow to M$'s desire to own the music market with it's pathetic Windows Media Format. For a great insight into the deal go check out bill palmer's commentary. Stay tune...mj 11:38:02 PM

Sunday, November 23, 2003

Apple faces the music The iPod will be on many gift wish lists. But can Apple hold off challenges from Dell and others? Digital music players are likely to be one of the hottest selling tech gadgets this holiday shopping season. And no company should benefit more than Apple. Apple's iPod music player has been a huge success. Apple sold 336,000 iPods in its fiscal fourth quarter (which ended in September), generating $121 million in revenue, or 7 percent of Apple's total sales -- more than twice last year's levels....more [CNN-Money] Apple has caught the market, now the question is how long will the ride last? With Pepsi set to turn on the music with it's Superbowl launch, and McDonalds still rumored to have big plans in store for the music store, we will see how far the rocket flies...mj 7:53:10 AM

Monday, November 10, 2003

Quick Reads... Plan A for Microsoft: Is Microsoft's new version of Windows a radical innovation or a return to the company's winner-take-all software strategy from a decade ago? Microsoft Faces Showdown at the EU Corral: Microsoft faces a major showdown in Brussels this week when it gets a last chance to defend itself against European Union regulators' charges it abused its dominance of desktop computer operating systems. Microsoft: Back to its old ways?: Is Microsoft's new version of Windows a radical innovation or a return to the company's winner-take-all software strategy from a decade ago? Lindows-Microsoft legal spat builds: Microsoft proffered legal papers seeking to disavow California class-action settlement claims submitted via the Linux distributor's MSfreePC Web site. More MS BS...mj 7:59:58 PM

Friday, October 24, 2003

What's New Pussy Cat? Today is the public release of Panther - OS X 10.3. It marks another milestone for Apple. OS X keeps being refined, made more stable, and getting faster...mj 6:05:24 AM

Thursday, October 16, 2003

Mac Supercomputer: Fast, Cheap  The brand new "Big Mac" supercomputer at Virginia Tech could be the second most powerful supercomputer on the planet, according to preliminary numbers. Early benchmarks of Virginia Tech's brand new supercomputer -- which is strung together from 1,100 dual-processor Power Mac G5s -- may vault the machine into second place in the rankings of the worlds' fastest supercomputers, second only to Japan's monstrously big and expensive Earth Simulator....more [Wired] Fast I figired, but cheap, a Mac! I am sure that Michael Dell is sitting in his office figuring out how to top this one. I also expect that the Windows whiners will try and say that the test was rigged...mj 12:08:29 AM

Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Security Report Puts Blame On MS Viruses, worms and other cyber-attacks that are crippling computers with increasing frequency cannot be stopped as long as the software of one company -- Microsoft Corp. -- dominates computing, according to a paper prepared by corporate technology officers and researchers. "The security situation is deteriorating," says the report, which is to be released today. With Microsoft operating systems used on more than 90 percent of the world's personal computers, the authors write, most computers are vulnerable to attack and networks are easily compromised...more [Washington Post] Monopoly May Pose a Security Risk Such widespread use puts all users in jeopardy, report suggests. Whatever Microsoft's strengths or failings as a developer of reliable software, the mere existence of an operating system monopoly is a critical security risk, argues a new report released Wednesday at a Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) gathering in Washington, D.C. Written by seven IT security researchers, "CyberInsecurity -- The Cost of Monopoly" calls on governments and businesses to consider in their buying decisions the dangers of homogenous systems, and to diversify the software mix deployed in their organizations. It also urges the U.S. government to counterbalance Microsoft's user lock-in tactics by forcing the company to offer multiplatform support for its dominant applications, including Internet Explorer and Microsoft Office products....more [PC World] Gee, you think someone might start getting the point. Instead we just push forward to an even more limited future, with even more MS 'features' designed to restrict our choices. It was also nice of Bill and Melinda to donate $160+ million the week after it was announced that they will get $180+ million in a dividend check...mj 10:10:21 PM

Friday, August 15, 2003

"IT...Full Employment Act" ...Why are Linux computers gaining in popularity with large organizations while Macs, which are based after all on BSD Unix, aren't?... ...Adopting Linux allows organizations to increase their IT efficiency without requiring the IT department to increase ITS efficiency. It takes just as many nerds to support 100 Linux boxes as 100 Windows boxes, yet Linux boxes are cheaper and can support more users. The organization is better off while the IT department is unscathed and unchallenged...more [I, Cringley The pulpit] The cranky old man of computers is dead on in this equation. He also makes some compelling points about the dangers and misconceptions of outsourcing...mj 5:00:36 PM

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