Smartalyx Computer Musings

While they have been around, I was recently asked by a client what I thought about the iPods. It was not until recently taht I had the chance to use an iPod day to day. I have a Creative Labs Zen Vision M, so there wasn’t a real need to run out and grab an iPod. I now have a iPod Touch, I thought it was a good time to share my thoughts. So client A- thanks for asking and here is my response.

I started using an iPod Touch (2nd Gen) about a month ago. There are a couple things I have disliked about the whole i-whatever line of products. One- the claim that Apple created the whole MP3 product. This is just another example of Apple marketing and it is false. Is the iPod the most successful at this point? No question, they just weren’t the first. This claim may not have been directly claimed by Apple but they are not quick to quell the rumors either. The other problem (and it is the biggest problem for me) is the locked down environment you “must”exist in in order to use the products. You cannot use any service other than iTunes in order to get media on or off the i-whatever.

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One of the ongoing debates in the computer world is the security of Windows vs Apple. Now I am not going to rehash the whole thing and or jump on a side, right now. I just noticed in Twitter that a very respected individual posted:
“Despite Apple’s off again on again advisories, I still don’t use AV on any of my Macs. Just don’t run as admin and use a firewall.”

And this got me to thinking that is really the problem. Apple marketing, as cute as it is, made a mockery of the Vista UAC prompt. Basically, this was an attempt by Microsoft to protect people from themselves. Unfortunately, it could get in the way with too many prompts. But a that isn’t my point. My point is this- if you do not run as administrator in Windows a lot of problems go away as well.

So Windows can be secure out of the box, except Microsoft never really enforced this issue until Vista. Now what happened- all the application and hardware developers got all up in arms. “you took away our ability to program” or “Our hardware doesn’t expect to be restricted” et. al. However the same issues arise in the Mac OS- if I try to install something it will ask me for the correct credentials. So why does Apple continue to get a pass on this? Or more correctly, when Microsoft tried to institute the same thing, why were they demonized?

I heard again today that businesses are avoiding Vista. But I propose it isn’t 100 percent Microsoft’s fault. I lay some of the blame on hardware and application developers who refused or resisted teh changes. And Apple is in a much better position to enforce their will- regardless of anything else they still have a small market to concern themselves with. There is no way Microsoft can account for every user situation nor would they be given a pass if they tried to just say “You are outta luck..”. Microsoft is the big evil and it is just too easy to continue to bash them.

Please add your thoughts and let me know your take.