Gulf News pissed with EmiratesMac

[venky83]

Scott Shuey of Gulf News is absolutely pissed with the members of EmiratesMac especially ultrablue662 for this particular post of his in the thread about the gulf news article helping people choose, especially the last line which was to form a lynch mob.

Here is the quote of the article:

I hope you enjoy this column. It may be my last. I have offended the Mac users of the world. Apparently, that means the death penalty.

Last week I wrote a small piece on some of the basic differences between Macs and PCs. (OK, Macs technically are PCs, but most buyers still see them as something apart.) I knew I was asking for trouble, but I wrote the piece anyway.

The Apple Defence Forces went ape. Apparently, my lack of accolades for Mac was too much to bear. One user on a local Mac forum wrote, "Let's form a lynch mob!"

I'm pretty sure he was joking, but I don't think the person who said he hoped I was a fast runner was. I was also told I should have written about how secure the Mac OS is and how maintenance costs are lower.

One user wrote of how "Mac users are accused of being blind cult followers, loyal to the cause." He then tried to dissuade me of that notion by writing a missive twice the length of the original story.

Then there are the Mac users who like to quibble about the price. They say you get what you pay for, and you get more with your Mac. You can spin it anyway you want to, but when I compared prices last year, Macs ran about $300 (Dh1,200) more than a similar PC system.

Apparently, the extra money covers your membership into the snobbish I-own-a-Mac club, because no other add-ons justified the extra money.

Other people pointed out that I failed to mention that Macs can run Linux or Vista. True, they can, but why would I want to pay money for OS X only to go through the trouble of putting on another system? If I want Linux, I'll buy a PC.

Viruses

Then there are the people who complained about Mac viruses. Mac users repeatedly told me there are none, or at least none that are actually causing problems for users.

I found three: OSX.Leap.A, OSX.RSPlug.A, and OSX/Inqtana.A. There will be more. According to Symantec's website, "Mac is becoming popular enough that the bad guys think it's worth spending time and effort in developing Malware for the Mac OS." That's right, until recently, Macs just haven't been popular enough for the thieves to care about.

And let's face it, Apple products are not known for being difficult to crack. Consider the iPhone.

Apple put it out last year. But Apple had an idea: offer the phone exclusively on one network in exchange for a portion of the networking fees. But so-called Apple fans had none of that. They lined up, bought the phone, and cracked the software - using a Macintosh, we assume - so fast it made people's heads spin. With customers like that, who needs corporate espionage?

I have only one thing to say to you people: Get a life! A computer should not define your identity. You are not a hip person because you own a Mac.

That said, I can already hear the lighting of torches and lifting of pitchforks. So let the abuse begin. If anyone wants me, I'll be hiding out in Redmond.

[iaindxb]

man is he pissed!!! LOL

[venky83]

I have many issues with this post. First, it portrays members of EmiratesMac as violent and as if we are really out to get Scott Shuey, come on mate, you aint as important as you make yourself to be because you simply do not understand the mac and there are many facts missing in the article we are upset with it, here are some for you to think about:

1. Macs (the ones running Mac OS X) are actually Unix machines under the hood. Unix has been much longer than either Windows or Mac OS X, they used to completely dominate the market before and there arent many viruses today.

2. This relational thing about the lack of viruses being due to Macs low market share is pathetic, as per IDC Linux had roughly 12.7 percent of the overall server market in 2007. That is definitely higher than the market share of macs, also I have takne server numbers because servers are prone to not just virus attacks, malware but also cracking attempts. But, Linux servers are pretty stable because they use a Unix foundation. So, why is there not many viruses on Linux.

3. Also, when you say that the additional price that you pay for Apple does not justify any add ons is wrong again as you yourself pointed out that there is a difference of about $300, which again can be disputed. For one, you get bundled apps in a suite called iLife. Also, many people have said that even the Intel processors that go into the mac machines are cherry picked by Apple. Plus, what about you spending less time in managing your machine - how about that, isn't saving your time spent maintaining a computer over its lifetime not worth $300? Isn't your time precious? Also, macs generally tend to last longer than macs, ask many people on this site would still use the powerbook, G4/G5 towers, etc. Also, macs tend to give you better resale value. Are these enough for you?

4. The point about Mac viruses is that the incident of having them is lower. Also, specifically the virus mentioned by you, as per Symantec which you quote, this is how it classifies the viruses listed by you:

OSX.Leap.A - Risk Level - Very Low. First virus detected on macintosh affecting Mac OS X 10.4 in Feb 2006 (Mac OS X been around since 2000). Threat containment and removal is easy.

OSX.RSPlug.A - is a trojan horse not a virus as per Symantec. Risk level low, threat containment and removal is also easy.

OSX.Inqtana.A - It is a proof of concept, risk level is low, threat containment and removal is easy.

If you want a list of viruses on the mac please go here (check the mac virus timeline on the right), it has been listed year wise and the number is 11 viruses since 1982, don't think that is impressive?

Also, the reason why people say a mac is safer than windows is because of the way OSX.RSPlug.A which is a dual platform virus affecting both Mac and windows platforms. On windows, its name is Trojan.Flush.A.

If you read the article then you will notice that Symantec mentions the following:

If it is a Mac, then the site will send OSX.RSPlug.A, and if it is Windows then it will send Trojan.Flush.A. On a Mac, the visitor can simply click "Cancel" on the pop-up message to stop the download. However, the Windows version is a bit nastier as canceling the download only causes the pop-up to reappear.

Technically, the Mac version of the Trojan isn't really that complex. It is basically a variant of Trojan.Flush, which has been around for a couple of years. The threat requires visitors of a malicious Web site to fall for a social engineering trick, which in this case is the site(s) informing them that an installation of a video codec is necessary to view the content they are trying to access and asking them to download and install the software. The threat then modifies DNS settings on the compromised computer, just like similar malware that runs on Windows. However, as with any legitimate software for Macs, users will be prompted to enter their admin password during the installation, which may make them think twice about continuing with the installation.

Now, I hope you understand why Macs are safer, if not ask any Linux person or anyone familiar with Unix, I would recommend you talk to Dan, who is pretty familiar with Unix and Macs too.

We, the EmiratesMac members have nothing against you personally, but we believe that you should research and support your article with facts and not feed the readers FUD. That is what we are against, we are also Gulf News readers and do not want half baked articles (in fact it was even less than half baked) and certainly not articles that are not true.

Scott, live with it: Macs are greatest - only if you stop drinking MS Kool-Aid and research on it. :P (intended as a joke, do not take it as snobbery)

[Magnus]

Well, going back and forth like this doesn't do either side any justice, unless we can do it here on the site. If Scott wants to come on this forum and debate, we welcome it. We've had Windows-Mac debates before and will have again I'm sure and they've been rather productive by and large I think.

Sure feelings on the Mac side get a bit heated sometimes when we feel that a reporter doesn't tell the whole story, at least not as we see it. In Scott's defense I think his piece was better than many other tech writers' articles. And he had very limited space, as is the case in publishing, and perhaps some things he had originally written were edited out. I don't know that for sure but I know a little bit about how especially the newspaper business in terms of writing and editing works and as a writer you had little to no control over what ends up in the paper.

I understand that there are viruses that attack/exploit Mac OS X, and I've not had any issue with someone stating that, but not to also say that very few - if any - are in the wild affecting regular users, is misleading users I think. Not adding that might lead readers to think the situation concerning malware is the same on Mac OS X as it is on Windows, which it obviously is not.

And to tell us to "get a life", I don't mind. In fact, we use that a slogan ourselves Some people get it, some people don't. I'd recommend Scott to read the series "Confessions of a Mac Switcher" that Brian has been writing in the last few Shuffle issues. Brian was a very dedicated Windows user for many years who switched to Mac, and now he says he "gets it".

Finally, consider this... isn't it funny that Scott got around 300 words to write his original piece but spent a lot more (more than double!) than that to write his reply?

And very last, whether we agree with Scott or not, isn't it a good thing that there is now a local community that can take issue with this sort of thing and voice opposition? That didn't exist a few years ago. So EmiratesMac.com users and EMUG members, you are making a difference! Be proud of that.

[venky83]

you know there is an old saying in India -

"The day when people start talking about you, you have arrived!!"

Though, I am disappointed that he didn't mention the site's name that would have done wonders for our site hits.

[venky83]

And very last, whether we agree with Scott or not, isn't it a good thing that there is now a local community that can take issue with this sort of thing and voice opposition? That didn't exist a few years ago. So EmiratesMac.com users and EMUG members, you are making a difference! Be proud of that.

Well, Magnus I believe even Apple IMC should actively try to ensure that the local media does not spread FUD, but we the EmiratesMac users are doing what we can.

[hmimthiaz]

Before switching to mac I always used to wonder what is so special about mac and osx? The people who owned a mac are so proud of it and they protect it so much. But no one was able to explain why it was so. All said you have to use it to understand it for yourself. I truly understood what they meant after getting my own mac. It is like love which cannot be expressed you have to feel it for yourself

[ultrablue662]

OMG I AM LAUGHING SO HARD I JUST GOT MOUNTAIN DEW ALL OVER MY WIRELESS KEYBOARD!

Obviously he needs to get a life before I or any of us do since I revolve my life around my FAMILY and not a tech column. The fact that we made him re think his whole usefulness in life and stop the column is proof that he is a sad sad person.

One user on a local Mac forum wrote, "Let's form a lynch mob!"

I'm pretty sure he was joking

Actually I wasnt. Bye bye scotty boy, ve vill miss you and you're ignorant tech rants made for and included into a lackluster newspaper in a (sad) attempt to seem well rounded and "in tune" with technology.

I believe even Apple IMC should actively try to ensure that the local media does not spread FUD

They should. I agree.

And in the end you know what they say, once you've pissed someone off, you know you're doing something meaningful.

FOR ASLAN! :-P

[Zaid Al Hilali]

It is like love which cannot be expressed you have to feel it for yourself

Well spoken.

By the way where is ultrablue?! Is he still searching for Scott around Dubai?!
I didn't find Scott's original article as biased, but it shows that he didn't experience Mac computer and Mac OSX.

Just like me who haven't experienced Harley Davidson bikes before would write in Shuffle about them as a mere motorcycle that is more expensive than a typical Honda, Suzuki bikes, more noisy, and that weird Harley owners fancy black leather clothes under the scorching sun.
How would Harley owners find such article?

[ultrablue662]

From experience I can tell you that they would want your blood.