To PC or To MAC

[MattChicago]

Linux ALL the way !! More Secure, No virus, Better Security
Check out ubutu ultimate its FREE open source as well. I would suggest putting it on a PC.

 

[sheep]

Linux is a great way of squeezing more life from your old pc, and you won't have to spend all your time doing security patches and waiting for the thing to check for virii.

 

[MattChicago]

LOL @ Security Patches. Yeah gotta love the shh command yum update. Yeah that old Laptop its a Compaq it was over-ran with problems when i got it from our old roomate he was going to throw it out since it caused so many issues and would not boot up so found out he had the power supply plugged into the external keyboard slot, then fired it up then it has about a zillion bugs in it so removed the images and music he wanted transfered it to a external drive, then killed the OS system on it and installed Ubuntu Ultimate and called it a day have not had to reboot it in over a month now runs like a raped ape.

Linux is a great way of squeezing more life from your old pc, and you won't have to spend all your time doing security patches and waiting for the thing to check for virii.

 

[MattChicago]

True if they are just starting with linux that is why i suggested ubuntu ultimate since it comes in a nice shell like windows .

But yes it is very hard if you are just running linux from a command prompt or line using ssh or whatever. Its great for running servers. use it as your direct firewall to protect your win boxes.

Matt, Linux is too hard for the masses.

 

[MattChicago]

Yup just go to the ubuntu ultimate site create a ISO or DVD from the package and install it direct boot from your computer basically remove your current windows OS and install the linux on it instead. You can always do a dual boot where you can partition 1 drive to be linux and the other one to be windows either way both are effective. I had a CD for Ubuntu Ultimate Edition (my roomate is in school for internet security) so i got some cool programs i snatch off him lol. The cd was already pre-compiled and driver packages were setup already. The site should explain more if you are doing a clean install from windows just do a search for ubuntu ultimate edition.

Then basically setup that box (linux one) as your firewall and make the Win Box connect to it thru shared internet connection so basically any traffic coming thru your win PC is actually being routed thru your linux pc or box.

For Example : My computer here (windows) all computers in the house connect to this box unless its wireless. using a shared connection they all have different IP address(s) but if my computer internet connection dies so do the other boxes. Also if for example another machine is trying to download a bad malware file or something my computer detects it first and blocks the download or program. so my computer is technically working overtime to protect the house network.

Matt, that notion is utterly fascinating. It'd be interesting to hear how to do it.

Does this involve setting up Linux as the default OS, then running Windows under some kind of emulation? (I am Joe Q. Public).

 

[Corny]

totally off-topic .. but:
you can only run one OS at a time.
You can however run an emulator with the other OS from within the "main" OS.
If you run it as a sandbox nothing can happen (cross-infection is almost impossible or at least not heard of anyway). But you can still "kill" the sandbox. Good thing about sandbox is that you can just kill them and start a new one. This is of course nothing handy if you want to keep files etc.

 

[MattChicago]

Correct like he said you can have a Sandbox for testing applications and programs and it will not hurt your machine. I know alot of linux (security) people who use sandbox mode for testing virus applications and other things so it does not crash the box. Yeah cross infecting is sort of hard from MAC to WIN since they use different protocals application wise they need to be either or. You cannot use both OS systems at 1 time unless you have a Emulator like he said below, however you can have dual boot. 1 system is Win and the other one is linux or whatever. Also you can use 2 boxes, network them together and use 1 for the main system and 1 as a sub system that is sharing your internet connection (use as a firewall) or access point.

totally off-topic .. but:
you can only run one OS at a time.
You can however run an emulator with the other OS from within the "main" OS.
If you run it as a sandbox nothing can happen (cross-infection is almost impossible or at least not heard of anyway). But you can still "kill" the sandbox. Good thing about sandbox is that you can just kill them and start a new one. This is of course nothing handy if you want to keep files etc.

 

[MattChicago]

Windows = already on its knee's without virus's or malware
Basically in that prospective your Mac OS is fine, since it has to be a win32 or win64 application since you are using a MAC it has a different type of file for installing programs and different encoding. However you can still be effected by zip files, doc files, and wmv files and asf files that have bad malware attached to them. As for getting a virus on the MAC they do not really have a lot of them for macs only PC gets jacked with a lot. As for linux they got limited virus's as well but the ones they got are "really" insane and brutal.

I think I get it. (I chuckle at my minimal knowledge; I've never been to a computer class in all my life).

If I were to run OSX, and then run Windows under Parallels (which is really emulation), the Windows portion could open the . exe file, get a horrible infection, destroy a zillion Windows files, even bring the Windows partition down to its very knees—but leave the Mac section utterly unharmed? Hmmm.

What if you had previously moved a Windows file...say, for example, Corny.doc...into an OSX folder on the OSX partition? Would the virus be able to get to it?

Do I understand all of this correctly?

 

[sheep]

2 things to remember. OSX can only be legally installed on an Apple computer. As far as malware when running windoze in emulation mode on a Mac, cant you close all the ports on Windows and only allow communications to the Mac side?

 

[Alpha1851]

Under the menu-bar apple go to About This Mac, then click on More Info. The model name is at the top.

That's a great tip Keeland, and one I wasn't aware of. It's similar to going to the control panel, then selecting system in Windows (that helps me to remember it). Of course, my Mac laptop has Macbook in gray writing in the bottom center of the screen. I finally noticed it.

You can only run one OS at a time.
You can however run an emulator with the other OS from within the "main" OS.

Even if you create separate partitions for each OS? If so, why don't techies call it an emulator?

 

[Alpha1851]

For sheer cost, a Mac is not worth it unless you need the additional software.

I'm not certain if Macs are more expensive in the long run. Even though most of Mac's software seems significantly less expensive, it's easier to download pirated Windows software for free (assuming there aren't any viruses or malware attached to the download). Cracks, serials, keygens, retail copies, it's all out there. I'm sure that's why Windows is offering a deep student discount on their new OS; the company is well aware that college kids make up the highest population of P2P downloaders. Plus, there are more legitimate, freeware programs for a PC. Many more.

Additionally, if your Windows OS screws up (and it will) it usually doesn't require you to pay for professional help. Most people in the U.S. use PCs and most people are also used to the problems that go along w/ the OS, so it's pretty easy to find a help article or a freeware program that will solve the problem, and if not, I'm sure you can find a buddy or a relative who knows how to fix the issue. There are more techs for that OS than the others.

Mac "experts", on the other hand, are few and far bwtn. Better head to your nearest Genuis Bar if you need assistance. Depending on your warranty status, that could potentially cost a lot of money. Nevertheless, it's money well spent b/c those folks seem to know their stuff and don't mind answering any questions. I've tried other professional companies that were marketed towards PCs, and none stack up the Genuis Bar.

So, at face value, it might appear that PCs are the better deal. However, that impression might significantly fade after you factor in warranty issues. Typically, Windows warrants the OS, a different company warrants the machine itself, (like Dell, Toshiba, etc.) and another company warrants their own software that you've installed. Assume your warranty coves the issues you're having w/ your laptop, so you head to the store you purchased it from so it can be fixed. Just watch how quickly they'll claim that the OS is causing the problem and they aren't responsible for it. Thus, the warranty won't work there. Contact Microsoft and they'll blame the issue on the hardware which they aren't responsible for. Toshiba blames Microsoft, Microsoft blames Toshiba. On and on it goes until you finally break down and visit the Geek Squad for big bucks.

The run around doesn't happen w/ a Mac since the physical machine is theirs and the OS is theirs.

 

[sheep]

All the reports I have read indicate in life cycle costing the Mac is cheaper. Depending on what you are looking for a Mac may also have a lower initial cost when fully compared to a well known windows pc. It is difficult to compare however as few pc's have all the goodies that Mac's have.
As far as service for a Mac, this is pretty rare. I've been using them for over 20 years and other than a failed hard drive (usually Seagate) I don't have problems.
Remember there is a ton of software of the open source variety and you can run unix applications too. There isn't a shortage. You want freeware? Go to VersiontrackerOSX. Piles of it. Other than Adobe it is rare to find applications that need a *key* as they have found all the restrictions tend to just piss off the people that did actually buy it. So what happens if you need to put a new motherboard in your windows machine.
end of rant

 

[wraithsa]

i converted to mac over a year ago - more expensive . . . yes - easier to operate . . . yes - less headaches . . . HELL yes
i must admit though the platform isnt great for gaming esp if ur an MMRPG fan and HENSE i keep a desktop computer for that sole use otherwise its mac all the way

 

[Corny]

Even if you create separate partitions for each OS? If so, why don't techies call it an emulator?

If you have separate partitions for each, you are not running it at the same time. You have to chose one OS during startup, so they are only running on the same machine, but not at the same time.