MAC ADVANTAGES OVER WINDOWS PCs
Macintosh computers have significant advantages over Windows PCs with regard to:
ease of use. 1
ease of understanding how it operates.
ease of computer maintenance and keeping it operating.
enhanced computer security and privacy.
enhanced computer stability.
enhanced computer productivity.
Most Mac advantages emanate out of the inherent simplicity built into the Mac at it's inception in the early 1980s. Macs were designed from the ground up around a sophisticated, yet "simple to operate" 'graphical user interface' (GUI) operating system. (OS) 2
By contrast the GUI associated with Windows PCs is a 'patch' tacked on top of an arcane command line interface hastily 'acquired' and cobbled together by Microsoft to meet a rushed commitment Bill Gates gave to IBM in 1979 that he had "a operating system suitable for the planned IBM PC". Windows is constrained by the cobbled together nature of that initial inception of the Microsoft Disk Operating System. (MS-DOS) 3
Below is a list of some of the more significant Mac advantages over Windows PCs. 4
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NOTE 1: The following article specifically applies to Mac OS 'classic'
- that being Mac Operating Systems (OS) up to and including Mac OS9. It does not apply to Mac OSX, which is a totally new operating system based on a UNIX kernel and which, whilst providing a solid basis for an operating system of the future, is by necessity very complex and as such negates some of the key advantages associated Mac OS 'classic'.
NOTE 2: The following article specifically applies to Windows 95/98.
It does not apply directly to Windows 2000 or Windows XT which are based on a totally new operating kernel called Windows NT. Windows NT is a powerful operating system and proving to be far more stable than Windows 95/98, but it is very complex and certainly well beyond the ability of the average computer user to either understand or maintain. Many of the criticisms of Windows 95/98 listed below apply equally to Windows 2000 and Windows XT- especially those pertaining to the complexity and poor user interface of Windows.
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SITE INDEX
1. Macs are Easier to Understand and Use
2. Macs can Bootup off most External Storage Devices
3. Macs are more Secure and Private
4. Macs suffer from far fewer Computer Viruses
5. Macs are Faster
6. Macs are more Stable
7. Macs have Superior File Management
8. Macs have Superior Backup Capabilities
9. Macs have Superior Internet Capabilities
10. Macs can run more software
11. Macs are Cheaper
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1. MACS ARE EASIER TO UNDERSTAND AND USE
Macs are easier to understand and use than Windows PCs due to the design simplicity of the Mac Operating System (MAC OS).
Specifically:
Macs are far more intuitive to use than Windows PCs simply because much more effort and care was put into designing the Mac desktop metaphor at its inception than was put into the design of Windows. Windows is a poorly executed copy of Mac OS. The operation of Windows is further constrained by the fact that its Graphical User Interface (GUI) was tacked on top of the arcane command line interface of MS-DOS.
For more on this subject see:
Mac Interface by David K Every.
Macs have superior file management capabilities than Windows. File management is at the heart of computer use and many of the "ease of use features" associated with Macs are a result of the inherent superiority of the Mac OS file management system. The superiority of the Mac OS file management system and ease of use confers upon Mac users a far higher degree of productivity than that experienced by most Windows PC users.
For more on this subject see: Macs Superior File Management capabilities below.
Macs usually require less steps to perform tasks than Windows, rendering Macs much faster and simpler to use. Tasks that can be performed on a Mac in one or two steps often require twice as many steps to perform on a Windows PC.
For more on this subject and some examples see Macs Superior File Management capabilities listed below and click on this footnote. 5
Macs only ever display one dropdown menu on the screen. The menu in question applies to whatever program is currently being worked on and therefore at the forefront. By contrast, Windows programs each have their own drop down menu which is displayed at the top of each window even if the said programs are not in current use. This presents Windows users with a plethora of unusable drop down menus on screen resulting in cluttered and confusing mess.
For more on this subject see:
Mac Interface by David K Every.
Macs are designed to use of a single button mouse. The Mac desktop metaphor is a simple one - use the mouse to point to a file or button and click once or twice with the mouse button to launch it. By contrast, Windows is designed around a two button mouse, with the 'right ' button performing totally different functions to the 'left' button. Whilst experienced Windows users get used to this concept, new computer users find this arrangement very confusing. In the eyes of the author, a two button mouse is a bit like driving a car with two steering wheels.
NOTE: A two, three or even three button mouse can be used on a Mac if a user so chooses.
Mac programs are relatively consistent regarding their 'rules' of operation. Apple have managed to instil in most Mac programmers an ethos of using core rules of thumb with regard to how Mac programs work - meaning once a Mac computer user learns how to use one Mac program they can often learn how to use another Mac program by intuition and applying the skills learnt on an earlier program. This "consistency of operation" often negates the need for Mac users to read an instruction manual.
Mac OS has not changed much in nearly two decades meaning if you learn one Mac you learn them all. The latest version of Mac OS (Mac OS 9) still displays the same basic look and feel as the original Mac OS seventeen years earlier. (albeit with many more features) By contrast, each new version of Windows is a significant departure from the previous version and usually requires users to completely relearn new operating skills.
The Mac System File structure is easier to understand because:
it is transparent. (i.e. there are no hidden or hard to find 'bits' - even invisible System files can be easily made visible if need be)
it has an organized, hierarchical System Folder, as opposed to the flat mess of cryptically named files such as NDDEAPI.DLL scattered all over the place in Windows. The Mac System Folder has a place for everything and everything is in it's place.
it uses plain language file names which describes their purpose. 6
This rigid system file structure makes viewing and understanding how a Mac works far easier to grasp than with a Windows PC with their arcane, cryptically named files like NDDEAPI.DLL, MSCDEX.EXE, BOOTSECT.DAT, CONFIG.SYS, AWUPD.INF, VFINTD.386, and ODBCINST.INI. scattered all over the place.
Because the Mac System file structure is so much easier to understand, Macs are far easier to trouble shoot and remove unwanted programs, resulting in Macs being generally more stable and reliable than their Windows counterpart. (see 'Macs are more stable' below)
Further, because the Mac System structure is so easy to follow, many problems occurring with Macs can be easily resolved by a telephone call to the user's local Mac expert who will invariably be able to talk the user through the problem over the telephone. This is far more difficult, if not impossible to perform on a Windows PC due to the complexity of the system and the inability of most Windows PC users to understand what is going on.
And because Macs are so much easier to understand, Mac users tend not to so nervous about exploring the boundaries of their computer knowledge and experimenting, something most Windows PC users are far too frightened to do "in case it does something to the computer."
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2. MACS CAN BOOTUP OFF ANY EXTERNAL STORAGE DEVICE.
What this means is that Macs can be successfully started up off any external storage medium except a tape drive. Thus a Mac can be booted up off an external Hard Disk, another Mac, a Zip or Syquest Disk, a Magneto Optical Disk, a Compact Disk (CD) or solid state Flash Memory Card and then be operated as if it had been booted up off the computer's own internal hard disk.
This feature is unique to Macs and provides significant advantages over Windows PCs because it allows for: 7
# Easier Hard Disk Repair.
A Mac with a damaged Hard Disk or corrupted System file can be booted up using an external storage device, negating the need to remove the faulty hard disk from the computer for diagnosis and repair. A faulty Mac hard disk can often be repaired in situ using a program like 'Disk First Aid', a process taking just a few minutes. By contrast, Windows PCs usually require a faulty hard disk to be physically removed from the computer for repair, a task requiring the services of a technician who is invariably located miles away or is not immediately available. A corrupted PC computer is usually out of action for at least a day whereas a Mac can often be up and running again within minutes.
# Easier Restoration of files from Backup.
After the Hard Disk has been repaired, any damaged files, including System files, can be simply copied back onto the repaired hard disk from a backup disk, a process taking minutes. By contrast, a Windows PC usually requires the complete re-installation of all Windows System software and Programs from scratch, a process taking hours. (see Macs have superior backup capabilities below)
# Superior Computer Security.
Mac OS provides far superior computer security regarding the generation and storage of sensitive files on encrypted volumes because the said files can be stored away from the computer's own hard disk on an external storage device without the possibility of any unencrypted fragments or reference to sensitive files ever being written on the computer's own hard disk associated with disk caching. 8
Disk caching is virtually unavoidable on a Windows 95/98 computer due to the inability to successfully operate Windows with 'Virtual Memory' selected OFF or the ability to boot up from an external storage device. (see Macs are more secure below)
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3. MACS ARE MORE SECURE.
Computer security and privacy is a major issue with profound implications facing all computer users. Not only are Macs inherently more secure (see items 1 & 2 above), but Mac chips do not have Serial Number ID's burnt into them, unlike Intel's Pentium III chip which does have such a feature and which cannot be securely switched off. 9
This raises serious privacy issues for Windows PC users, especially when coupled to Microsoft's recent admission that Microsoft has secretly included features in MS Office and Internet Explorer whereby a record of all documents created by those programs and Web sites visited is kept in a secret registry within the program which is then secretly sent to Microsoft when the computer goes online. 10
Macs are much more secure than Windows PCs associated with the Mac ability to:
Connect to the Internet with 'Filesharing' turned OFF.
Operate satisfactorily with 'Disk Caching' (also called Virtual Memory) turned OFF.
Bootup off an external storage device.
None of these options are realistically available on a Windows PC. (see points 1 & 2 above)
The Mac's transparent and tightly configured System file structure also makes the secret installation of covert surveillance programs like Back Orifice 2000 (BO2K) far easier to detect and remove. 11
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4. MACS SUFFER FROM FAR FEWER COMPUTER VIRUSES.
There are less than 60 Mac specific viruses in total whereas there are well over 50,000 Windows viruses in existence, with about 250 new ones appearing every month. (Source: Harvey Norman Advertisement, Advocate Newspaper, 29 May 1999)
Viruses are a nightmare to Windows PC users, requiring the installation of expensive virus detection programs costing about $100 - $200 a year and the weekly download via the internet of virus updates for proper protection. 12
Further, virus detection programs themselves can significantly degrade computer performance and stability.
By contrast, most Mac users simply install an elegant freeware virus detection program called 'Disinfectant' TM which, because it is so simple and has such a tiny virus database to keep track of, causes no known computer performance or stability problems.
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5. MACS ARE FASTER *
Power PC TM Macs are nearly twice as fast as an equivalent Windows PC using an Intel Pentium processor due to a superior Central Processor Unit (CPU) chip design based on RISC 13 technology, coupled with level 2 backside cache running at CPU speed (1:1) and a superior computer bus design.
All these advantages mean a 1000mhz Mac runs nearly twice as fast as a 1000mhz Windows PC in many day to day operations. 14
This speed advantage of Macs now makes the use of PC emulators like Virtual PC TM or Soft PC TM a viable alternative to buying a PC to run Windows programs on.
Such a structure provides computer users with the best of both worlds - that is the ability to enjoy the ease of use, file management superiority and productivity advantages of the Mac coupled with the ability to cross seemlessly into Windows land when required to perform specific tasks using a Windows only program.
Macs are now fast enough that more and more individuals, businesses and schools are switching back to Macs and using PC Emulator Programs to run their Windows programs in order to:
avoid the widespread existence of Windows PC viruses (see point 4 above)
enjoy enhanced computer security (See points 2 & 3 above)
enjoy greater computer stability and ease of maintenance (see point 6 below)
enjoy better file management of all files, including Windows PC files. (see point 7 below)
enjoy significant backup advantages over Windows. (see point 8 below)
all adding up to less down time and more productivity.
* NOTE: Although the Power PC RISC chips used in Macs are effectively twice as fast in most day to day operations as their Windows Pentium CISC counterparts, Pentium chips currently available are now running at twice the clock speed of their Mac Power PC counterparts. This means that the speed performance of Macs and Windows PCs are currently about the same.
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6. MACS ARE MORE STABLE.
Macs are far more stable and easier to maintain than Windows PCs due to the inherent design features 'welded' into the Mac OS at it's inception. Mac's simple, yet rigid System file structure - along with the use of plain language file names describing their purpose - makes the trouble shooting and isolation of misbehaving system and program files well within the ability of the average computer user. (see points 1 above & 7 below)
By contrast, the stability of Windows is adversely affected by the fact that Windows itself is a poorly written program tacked on top of an obsolete computer operating system (MS-DOS) that is simply overtaxed by the requirements of a modern computer operating system. 15
The inherent instability of Windows is further exacerbated by the lack of a rigid system file structure resulting in a flat mess of cryptically named system files like NDDEAPI.DLL, MSCDEX.EXE, BOOTSECT.DAT, CONFIG.SYS, AWUPD.INF, VFINTD.386, and ODBCINST.INI. scattered all over the place, rendering the trouble shooting of misbehaving files well beyond the ability of the average computer user.
NOTE: See Mac Advantages #70 & #73 for more on Mac Stability.
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7. MACS HAVE SUPERIOR FILE MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES.
Macs have superior file management capabilities over Windows 95/98 due to the long file name protocol Macs started out with from it's inception (32 character) and a far more sophisticated file management technology embedded within the Mac OS. These factors have ensured that Mac file management is more powerful and stable than Windows. 16
Specifically:
Mac files stay linked to the applications that created them; with Windows this isn't always the case.
Mac file names can be changed and files still work; with Windows this isn't often the case. 17
Macs have superior folder management capabilities over Windows. 18
Further, the interface of the Mac file manager program (called 'Finder') is still far easier to understand and configure than that of Windows and:
maintains links with multiple aliases of files.
has spring loaded folders that open automatically. (MacOS 8)
has no limit on the imbedding of folders within folders, unlike Windows 98.
Windows file management is further complicated by the fact that Windows employs two separate file management systems - those being the Standard file manager accessed by double clicking the left mouse button on a folder or file and the more complex 'Explore' file manager function accessed by first clicking the right mouse button on the volume or folder one wishes to 'explore', then selecting 'Explore' from the drop down menu that appears after right clicking the mouse button and then using the left mouse button to gain information about individual files and folders once in 'explore' mode. It is the opinion of the author, that the dual file manager structure of Windows, coupled to the inherent complexity of a two button mouse and the two pane window of Explore mode, is a needlessly complex way to peruse and manage computer files and goes a long way to explaining why the vast majority of Windows users never gain any real understanding of basic file management in general or the underlying system file structure of Windows itself.
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8. MACS HAVE SUPERIOR BACKUP CAPABILITIES.
It is virtually impossible in the 'real world' to backup Windows' System files because Windows suffers from a design limitation in that does not permit 'open' system files to be copied. This means Windows OS itself, and practically all Windows Programs, cannot be successfully backed up because certain system level files associated with the same would be in use and therefore cannot be copied. The only files that can be successfully backed up on a Windows PC are user generated files such as documents, spread sheets, graphics, webpages etc and only if they are not in use. 19
Macs do not suffer from this limitation which means an exact backup copy of a MAC computer can made and copied on to any storage medium (e.g. CD, Magneto-Optical drive, ZIP disk, External Hard Disk etc) from within 'Finder'.
On a Mac, backup copies of individual files, including System files, can be copied straight back on to a repaired hard disk from a backup volume within minutes. This ability is closely related to the transparent and rigid System file structure of Macs as described in points 1 and 2 and 7 above and a more sophisticated file management technology embedded within the Mac OS itself.
By contrast, Windows 95/98/NT are so complex and their system file structure so crude, it is not really possible to just copy system files across from a backup, but rather requires the complete re-installation of most programs from installation disks, a process that invariably takes hours and which is usually well beyond the ability of the average computer user.
Finally, the unique MAC ability of being able to bootup off virtually any storage medium means a MAC with a corrupted Hard Disk can be booted up and restored from the backup disk in minutes, as opposed to the hours it usually takes to restore a Windows PC because it must be booted up off a floppy and then all programs, including Windows, must be re-installed from scratch .
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9. MACS HAVE SUPERIOR INTERNET CAPABILITIES
Macs have considerable advantages for Internet access at both a personal and business level because:
# Better Virus Protection. Macs experience far less problems regarding computer viruses.
60 Mac specific viruses verses 50,000+ PC viruses. Windows is a cesspool of viruses. See point 4 above.
# Superior Internet Firewall Security.
Macs inherently have superior internet firewall security capabilities associated with the Mac's transparent and rigid System file structure as described in points 1 , 3 & 7 above. 20
By contrast Windows 95/98/NT are well known and documented to be riddled with security 'holes' that are routinely breached via the internet. 21
Only one known successful breach of a Mac Internet Server has ever been effected or reported associated with a competition set up to examine the same. That 'hole' was subsequently fixed. 22
Apart from being inherently more secure, most computer hackers are unfamiliar with Macs, so Macs are rarely targeted by them anyway.
# Business Internet Gateway Servers. Macs are well suited to act as small Business Internet Gateway Servers for all the above reasons, as well as the fact that they are far cheaper to setup.
The program 'IP Net Router' TM is simple to setup and maintain, yet is very fast and stable and only costs $85 for an unlimited site license.
Older secondhand Macs costing a couple of hundred dollars are more than capable as acting as Internet Gateway Servers in most businesses, government departments or schools.
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10. MACS CAN RUN MORE SOFTWARE.
Not only can the latest model Macs run nearly all Mac specific software ever written, but Macs are now fast enough to realistically run nearly all Windows software as well using PC emulator programs like 'Virtual PC' TM or 'Soft PC' TM
Generally speaking, (but not always) Mac specific software is usually better written, meaning it displays less bugs, is less bloated and more stable and far easier to use than their Windows specific counterparts. Mac specific software is considered by most computer users familiar with both platforms to be "the jewel in the crown" of MAC OS, a vast pool of excellent software simply not available to Windows PC users. 23
It is worth noting that practically ALL the computer innovation now taken for granted by Windows users emanated out of Apple or from Mac users and very little from Microsoft itself. Thus, although Macs represent less than 10% of world computer sales, nearly 40% of all new software written today is still written on a Mac. 24
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11. MACS ARE CHEAPER.
Whilst Macs may be more expensive to buy initially, (because they have standard features like a SCSI bus or FIREWIRE bus which are optional extras on Windows PCs) their inherent stability and usability render them far cheaper to operate and maintain in the long term. Numerous independent studies confirm, that when it comes to total cost of ownership, Macs are far cheaper to own and operate than Windows PCs.
Below are the results of some independent surveys comparing the total cost of ownership of Macs versus Windows PCs.
A survey by the International Data Corporation (IDC) concluded that Macs are less expensive to own and operate than comparably equipped PCs - typically by something like $400 per year per computer.
The Gistics report (which surveyed over 30,000 business professionals) concluded that "In a fully accounted 36 month cost-of-ownership of a system purchase, a Macintosh user saves $2211 more than a Windows user." This amounts to over $700 per year per computer.
Read Apple's Total Cost of Ownership report for more info about TCO and Macs.
Read a thorough discussion as to why the Urbana school district chose to standardize on Macs. The site gives several references for Total Cost of Ownership readings. It includes a particularly good TCO reference for educators.
Read a Mac versus PC discussion paper by John Droz comparing the total cost of ownership of Macs versus Windows PCs.
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CONCLUSION
As argued throughout this paper, Macs confer upon their users a level of computer autonomy 25 (i.e. self reliance) that is simply not attainable with Windows PCs . What makes me such a fan of Mac computers is the fact that the average user has a pretty good idea what their Macs are doing, something which is virtually impossible to achieve with a Windows PC, if only because no one, except for a handful of senior Microsoft engineers, really knows what is going on "under the hood" of Windows.
The simplicity of Mac computers confers upon their owners the ability to trouble shoot and repair their computers themselves - something which is virtually impossible for the average Windows PC user to perform.
This level of computer self reliance is at the heart of the Mac experience. It manifests itself as a calm 'knowing' that whilst the computer will almost certainly start up and perform faultlessly day in day out, week after week, month after month - that if not, the user can undoubtedly resolve most computer problems themselves. (even if it requires being talked through the process via a telephone call to the local Mac expert.)
If you like the idea of being master of your own destiny when it comes to operating a personal computer, then I suggest you research the Mac advantages listed above for yourself and come to your own conclusions.
Alex Paterson (July 2002)
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FOOTNOTES
1. Computer Interface. Apple put significant effort into designing a standard Mac Program layout protocol which it tried to enforce in the early stages of Macintosh. Although no longer enforced, this protocol is generally embraced by most Mac programmers anyway, which has helped make Mac programs far more intuitive and easier to use than Windows programs, which no such protocol was ever seriously attempted and which Microsoft itself is one of the worst offenders at breaking.
As one wit observed referring to Windows 98: "any computer system that requires a user to click on the 'start' icon to shut it down suggests fundamental design flaws regarding the computer interface."
For more about the pros and cons of Mac versus Windows layout see MAC INTERFACE by David K Every.
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2. Graphical User Interface or GUI is a computer interface system whereby the computer user commands the computer to perform tasks by using a 'mouse' to move a pointer onto onscreen icons or buttons and clicking on them, as opposed to typing in obscure computer language instructions along a 'command line' as with MS-DOS.
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5. Macs require less steps to perform a task than Windows. There are countless examples whereby tasks performed on a Mac require half as many steps to be performed than on a Windows PC. Here is just one example involving turning file sharing OFF.
To turn off file sharing in a Mac:
Go to the Apple Menu.
Select Control Panels and File Sharing.
Click on the "Stop" (File Sharing) button.
Note: no restart is necessary.
To turn off file sharing in Windows 95/98/ME:
Click on the Start menu.
Go to Settings, and click on Control Panel.
Double-click on the Network icon.
From the Network window, click on the bar labelled "File and Print Sharing."
A dialog box will appear.
Make sure that neither of the check boxes are checked. Click on the OK button.
Click on the OK button for the Network Control Panel.
You may be prompted to insert your Windows 95 CD, and
will need to reboot your computer for any changes to take effect.
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6. Mac OS Structure. For a more in depth description of Macintosh OS file structure see:
MAC BASICS by Alex Paterson.
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7. The BIOS (Basic Input/Output Instruction Set) of some late model PCs now has a feature enabling these PCs to be programmed to boot up off a CD or external storage device. However, changing BIOS settings cannot be performed from within Windows itself, it can only be done from within BIOS setup, something beyond the ability of most PC users. This difficulty is further exacerbated by Windows structure of normally storing program 'dynamic linked libraries' (DLLs) in the System folder of the computer's own internal hard disk (C:\), coupled with Windows' file structure being 'Path Name' dependent (e.g. C:\filename.etc, A:\filename.etc) leading to computer confusion when trying to access programs and files stored on the computer's main hard disk, if the computer has been booted up off an external storage device. This confusion arises because the computer looks for the DLLs in the System folder of the external storage device and not on the computer's internal hard disk and usually means that programs and files stored on the PC's internal hard disk cannot be successfully accessed if the PC has been booted up off an external device.
Macs do NOT suffer from any of this confusion because they are NOT path name dependent associated with MAC OS's far more sophisticated file management structure in which all MAC files have two (2) parts assigned to them; a resource fork, where file type and file creator etc are recorded and a data fork where all the rest of the information pertaining to the file is recorded.
For more information on this issue see footnote 17 below.
NOTE: I have personally yet to see a PC successfully booted up and operated off an external storage device. If anyone has done it successfully, they may like to drop me a note. (Alex Paterson 7 June 1999)
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8. DISK CACHING is a process whereby a computer temporarily writes information held in it's random access memory (RAM) to the hard disk to free up some RAM to perform other tasks, a bit like scribbling a reminder note on a blackboard. From the perspective of computer security, disk caching is a serious flaw because these fragments of information are written on the Hard Disk in an unencrypted format and can be easily recovered using a file recovery program like Norton Utilities. Further, all Western Security Organisations (e.g. NSA, CIA, MI6, ASIO etc) and their respective National Law Enforcement agencies (e.g. Australian Federal Police, AFP, FBI etc) have access to sophisticated equipment which can analyse a computer's hard disk sector by sector. Disk caching is to all intents and purposes unavoidable on a Windows PCs due to the inability to operate Windows successfully with 'Virtual Memory' selected off with anything less than 100mb of RAM installed in the computer. Further, the inability to successfully boot up a Windows PC and operate it from an external storage device exacerbates the problem.
NOTE: Windows 95/98 is designed to operate with a maximum of 128mb of RAM. The installation of more than 128mb RAM causes computer instability as the system is not designed to keep track of the extra RAM.
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9. THE PENTIUM III SERIAL NUMBER IDENTITY issue cuts to the core of computer privacy. Serial Number IDs welded into computer chips are a digital fingerprint which can be used to track the activities of computer users worldwide, something with profound implications with regard to privacy and the attendant abuse of power which would undoubtedly occur. Governments and big business have long sought such technology to keep tabs on people. For more on Pentium III Serial Number controversy see:
"Pentium III serial number is soft switchable after all".
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10. MICROSOFT PRIVACY ISSUES. The admission by Microsoft in March 1999 that it had been secretly downloading and storing information from user's computers about personal file structures and internet habits associated with undisclosed capabilities buried within Microsoft programs like 'MS Office' and 'Internet Explorer', has caused great alarm within the ranks of privacy advocates. Some of the information reportedly trawled by these programs include the URLs of Web sites visited, email addresses, source code directories, credit card information, private mail and passwords to locked files. Microsoft's admission prompts the question; what else has Microsoft been doing at an operating system level and who else has been tracking the activities and files of Window/MS users?
As quoted from MacInTouch 9th March 1999:
"A major Microsoft privacy issue was brought to light by Richard Smith, who discovered that the company is tracking unique user identifiers in its registration database, as well as hiding those identifiers invisibly within MS Office documents, so an Office document can be traced back to an individual computer user."
For more information on this disturbing issue see:
http://www.macintouch.com/o98securitysamp.html
http://www.macintouch.com/msprivresponse.html
http://www.macintouch.com/msie-mystery.html
http://www.junkbusters.com/ht/en/new.html#MSFT
Macintosh is the only platform that a computer user can avoid Microsoft altogether, which given the recent revelations of Microsoft's hidden agenda of attempting to invade the privacy of computer users and control their activities by ensuring they only have access to Microsoft products, is not such an unreasonable desire.
See: Footnotes 9 and 10 below for more on computer privacy issues.
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11. BACK ORIFICE (BO2K) is a 'Trojan Horse' computer virus that has infected tens of thousands of PCs worldwide enabling third parties to surreptitiously control an unsuspecting person's computer remotely via the internet. The source code for this program was released by it's authors in June 1999 which has ensured a plethora of new variants to the program will appear on the internet over the next couple of years.
For more on Back Orifice and the implications of this sort of program see:
Back Orifice Detection Webpage : Detailed description of BO2K and it's removal.
Back Orifice 2000 : Download Site
Back Orifice 2000; Coming Soon: Wired News story about BO2K
OTHER RELEVANT COMPUTER PRIVACY ISSUES INCLUDE:
* SINGAPORE ISP CAUGHT HACKING THEIR CLIENT'S COMPUTERS The Straits Times Newspaper (Singapore) reported on 28th April 1999 that the main Singapore Internet Service Provider, SIGNET, had been caught hacking into their client's computers using the "expertise of the Singapore Government to check if they are vulnerable to such an attack". If you believe that explanation then my guess is that you also believe in Santa Claus. The Straits Times' news stories relating to this event can be downloaded at:
Straits Times 'Signet Caught Hacking' 28 April 1999
Straits Times 'Signet Caught Hacking' 29 April 1999
Straits Times 'Signet Caught Hacking' 1 May 1999
Straits Times 'Signet Caught Hacking' 3 May 1999
* 'BIG BROTHER IS LISTENING' aired by CHANNEL 9 'SUNDAY PROGRAM' (Australia) on 23rd May 1999, exposed the international spying alliance between numerous Western Governments called 'Echelon'. In this story, Australia's spy-chiefs acknowledged for the first time Australia's role in this alliance, which routinely monitors the overseas phone, fax and email messages of everyone on the planet. Links to this story include:
Backgrounder
Full Transcript
Related Stories
Echelon FAQs and Related Links
* EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT'S REPORT ON INTELLIGENCE GATHERING which alleges, amongst other things, that Microsoft and Netscape bowed to pressure from the U.S.A's National Security Agency (NSA) to include features in their software to facilitate the retrieval of digital information and the subsequent widespread misuse of such information by US interests for commercial advantage.
* THE WALSH REPORT into encryption and computer security commissioned by the Australian Federal Government and subsequently suppressed. This is the uncensored version.
* See also Footnote 9 above relating to INTEL PENTIUM III SERIAL NUMBER ISSUE.
* See also Footnote 10 above relating to the MICROSOFT INVASION OF PRIVACY ISSUE and
See also: 'AN INTRODUCTION TO PGP' by Alex Paterson for more information about PGP.
See also: COMPUTER SECURITY & PRIVACY by Alex Paterson for a more in depth analysis of these issues.
The above stories provide compelling evidence as to why ALL computer users should seriously consider storing their sensitive data on MACS using encrypted PGPdisk partitions located on some sort of external storage device and why users should encrypt all their sensitive email using PGP.
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12. MELISSA TYPE VIRUS
The Melissa Virus, which infected Windows PCs worldwide in May 1999 causing considerable mayhem, is a good example of the sort of thing Windows PC users can increasingly expect to experience in the future, but which Mac users are generally immune. The intriguing thing about this kind of virus attack is that it is only made possible due to the sort of "progress" fostered by Microsoft associated by the widespread use of "productivity enhancing" features (sic) like Word Macros and 'live' URLs used in email programs like Microsoft's Outlook Express.
The safest way to deal with a Melissa type virus is to carry out all internet work on a Mac and to only use Mac Word 5.x to read any Word documents attached to email messages, as it is the only Microsoft product that can read documents from all Word versions (be they Mac, DOS or Windows) and which does not support Word Macros. In fact, a document filtered through Mac Word 5 is stripped of all Macros and thus 'cleaned'. Further, it is important to only use simple email programs like the early versions of Eudora (i.e. up to and including version 2) as they do not support 'sophisticated' live URLs that could be used to initiate the infection process.
See also: COMPUTER SECURITY & PRIVACY by Alex Paterson for more about the Melissa type viruses.
See also: EUDORA INSTRUCTIONS by Alex Paterson for more on the security advantages of Eudora.
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13. RISC stands for Reduced Instruction Set Computing which is a relatively new processor design conferring significant advantages in terms of speed, cost of production and power consumption. RISC processors generate far less heat than their older CISC counterpart. Macs switched to RISC processors (called Power PC) in 1996 replacing earlier designed CISC processors. CISC stands for Complex Instruction Set Computing, which run slower, cost significantly more to manufacture and generate an inordinate amount of heat, requiring the use of fans to keep them cool. Pentium Processors are all CISC chips.
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14. PowerPC processor. "Independent tests have proven that today's Power Macintosh computers, with the RISC based PowerPC processor, outperform comparable Windows PCs based on the Intel Pentium processor by a factor of nearly two to one." Source Mac Advantages # 51.
The PowerPC processor is based on RISC technology which provides:
superior performance at much lower cost than a Pentium processor.
consumes about a quarter of the power compared to a Pentium processor.
less heat is generated by the processor which is of great significance, particularly in laptops.
better battery life in laptops.
All the above means that Mac laptop computers are significantly faster and more useable than their Windows counterpart.
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15. Windows Instability. A Government expert witness in the long running Microsoft Anti-Trust trial, Professor Edward Felten, gave evidence in court on 10th June 1999 that he (Felten) "had found 3,000 bugs marked by Microsoft programmers in the portion of Windows 98 he had examined -- and he had looked at only one-seventh of it." Felten's evidence goes a long way to explaining why so many Windows PC users can't get their Windows 98 computers to work reliably.
For more on this story see:
Trial Focuses on Security Question - Reuters Special to CNET News.com, 10 June 1999.
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16. Mac File Management. The reason Macs keep better track of files than Windows is that MACS are not path name dependent as are all other computer operating systems. MAC OS employs a sophisticated file directory structure protocol in which all MAC files have two (2) parts to them - a resource fork, where file type and creator program etc are recorded, and a data fork where all the rest of the information pertaining to the file is recorded. Because the MAC OS simply records the name of all storage devices in plain language (and NOT via an arcane path name dependent protocol such as with Windows e.g. C:\ = Bootup Hard Disk etc) the MAC OS file management program (called 'Finder') never becomes confused as to the location of files with the subsequent addition of more storage devices in the computer.
By contrast, Windows' file directory structure is 'Path Name' dependent (e.g. C:\filename.etc, A:\filename.etc) This structure confers considerable disadvantages when compared to MAC OS because a file's location on a storage device is dependent on a cryptic storage device naming protocol determined by Windows itself, leading to considerable confusion when trying to operate a PC with multiple storage devices connected, especially when an extra Hard Disk or storage device is installed into the computer at a later date. Thus for example, A:\ = floppy drive, B:\ = another floppy drive, C:\ = Bootup Internal Disk, D:\ = can be anything, but is usually assigned to a CD-ROM drive, E:\ = can be anything from another internal hard disk to an external hard disk or Zip drive or Disk Partition etc. This rather arcane naming protocol for storage devices is invariably overwhelmed by the later installation in the computer of another storage device or creation of a new disk partition, rendering total confusion with regard to the Operating System file management and usually requiring the complete re-installation of ALL files on ALL storage devices.
For more on this issue see footnote 5 above.
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17. Windows File Management. With Windows 95/98/NT, the association between applications and files is still governed by pathnames and the three character filename extension, unlike Macs where this information is recorded in the File Resource Fork at a System level, not at the file name level. This means that the names of Windows' System files cannot be changed without seriously affecting the operation of Windows, but can be changed on Mac with impunity.
For more on this issue see footnotes 15 & 7 above
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18. Mac File Management. See Mac Advantages #13 & #25 for a more comprehensive list of Mac file management advantages.
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19. Windows Backup. A backup 'copy' of a Windows PC, including System & Program files, can be made using specialised programs such as 'Ghost' or 'Partition Magic' to make 'disk images'. However, the use of these programs is complex and well beyond the ability of the average PC user.
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20. Firewall. A 'Firewall' is the gateway between a 'server' computer and other computers, be they local or on the other side of the world via the internet. A firewall is used to check the authenticity of users attempting to access information stored on the server, with different users assigned different levels of accessibility. Hackers attempt to fool the Server into believing they are authorised to access information they are not really entitled to.
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21. Computer Security Websites:
SECURITY FOCUS - A Website focussing on computer security with extensive links to related Websites
L0pht HEAVY INDUSTRIES - A website focussing on hacking security flaws in computer programs.
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22. Crack a Mac competition. The 1998 competition called 'Crack a Mac' confirmed the inherent internet security of Mac Internet Servers.
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23. Poorly written software is generally not tolerated in the Mac community and as such does not survive very long, unlike Windows which is swamped with poorly written, bloated software every year, with Microsoft itself being a significant contributor.
None of the above negates the fact that well designed Windows software is also written each year.
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24. Computer history. Few Windows PC users are aware that the Microsoft programs, Word and Excel started out as Mac specific programs, not as MS-DOS programs. Further, like most Microsoft products, Word and Excel were never invented by Microsoft, but were bought off other software companies and simply rebadged as Microsoft products. The history of many mainstream Windows programs is similar; they started out as Mac specific programs before they were ported to Windows PCs at a later date.
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