dc0de’s & friends notes…

This is why I'm not getting one...

The iPad may be “cool” but I fail to see the point.  It’s not going to be the “next big thing”, tablets have been out for YEARS people, and they are relegated to minimalistic roles in the computing industry.  Would I use a tablet? Sure, if I had a way to input information as fast as I can type, which at last test was in the 55/wpm range.  Voice recognition isn’t there, handwriting analysis isn’t there, so what is the purpose of a “tablet” based computer?  Here’s what I can see as a viable use for such a product:

• reading documentation (similar to a kindle & other ebook readers)
• drawing and sketching
• surfing the web with a mouse only, as typing is cripplingly slow on any tablet interface
• performing tasks that currently have specialized equipment, such as retail inventory systems and bar code scanning
• a new pretty interface for McDonalds(tm) POS terminals

Aside from those, this is just another pretty toy.  When you couple it’s fixed configuration and limited battery life, you’re going to be sending it to the scrap pile in 3 years, adding to the pile of trash that we as Americans produce.  I’m still not giving up my laptop or my netbook, as they are both upgradeable (to a point), and provide all of the same functionality that I could get with the iPad.  Until there is a fully upgradeable tablet computer with a full keyboard that has the battery life of my netbook, I really don’t need this toy.

Way to go Apple, another non-green product for our future.

Security Fix – Apple issues security updates for Mac OS X.

How can this be?  My father recently went to the Apple Store outside Chattanooga TN, and they told him, “Apple doesn’t need any anti-virus, or other security software.  It’s just secure.”

Apple’s Advertising program makes it out to be impervious to the threats that all of the other computers might also have

Even Brian Krebs (While I like and respect him), stated in his blog a few weeks back that to be secure on the internet, you should do your online transactions on a Mac.

Well… something seems to be amiss.

Let’s be clear here:

All Operating systems:

• Are flawed
• Will be attacked
• Need some sort of Anti-Virus
• Need a client based Firewall
• Need constant care and attention

The major issue with most operating systems is the User.  Most users, of any operating system, fiddle with the configuration.  This is similar to saying that “All drivers of a car, modify their car”.  This is somewhat true.  Let’s explore this for a minute:

Types of modifications drivers do to their cars:

• Seat Covers
• Floor Mats
• Rims / hub caps
• Exterior and Interior Trim
• Stereo System/GPS
• Tires
• Engine Modifications/Upgrades
• Suspension Modifications/Upgrades

Except for the last three items, most of these things, in moderation, are harmless to the driving safety of the vehicle.  However, if you don’t know what you’re doing, and you make some or all of the last three changes, you’re going to fall into one of the following categories:

• Outside your ability to drive the vehicle
• Creating an unsafe engine
• Creating an unstable vehicle to drive

Now, taking this analogy back to computers, if you make modifications on your computer system, like installing software un-proven software, or installing many of the gazillion web toys to play games online (for example, flash-based games), you’re inviting your system to be taken over.  When you add any of the other high risk behaviors that we’ve been asking people not to do for the past 12+ years on the internet, (e.g. surfing porn, downloading music and movies, file sharing, opening un-requested emails, not having a firewall, not having Anti-Virus & Anti-Spyware tools, etc…) you have a recipe for disaster.

I think that it is high time that we hold the software manufacturers accountable.  (Including Apple)  Software manufacturers have to OWN the risk, and share the risk with the general public.  After all, if you purchased an automobile that was prone to blowing up while you used it normally, wouldn’t it be recalled?  Couldn’t you sue the manufacturer?  It’s high time that companies get with the program, and start making software that is SECURE BY DEFAULT, instead of bolting on thousands of “patches”, “fixes”, and even stating, “We rely on third party companies to provide that functionality”.

Apple is the biggest failure in Truth in Advertising, and since there are so many Apple Fan Bois, (sic), it doesn’t seem to be happening.  Sorry, I’m not falling for the smoke screen.  Sadly, many of you are.

How about you “Man Up”, and ask your wonderful Apple manufacturer to be truthful?

That’s my 2¢, YMMV.

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dc0de.