Another Day With My PC

There used to be a time when OS X seemed too impregnable for viruses and other types of malware. Mac users used to pride their machines as something that doesn’t need an antivirus.

Things have changed since then. The Mac’s rapidly increasing popularity has made it the Apple of every hacker’s eyes. Indeed, the major reason why malicious programmers have focused on Windows is because it’s the most widely-used operating system.

It’s only a matter of time when OS X would become as troublesome and problematic as Redmond’s OS . I don’t know if Apple will be able to ward off attacks from all sides. Maybe it will. But this doesn’t mean that you should just lean on your OS X’s maker for security. Start building a wall on your Mac as early as now by installing the necessary security suites that commonly litter Windows-based PCs. Antivirus and registry cleaner software are must haves.

Don’t you just hate the fact that Mac users just seem to have it all? They have the coolest brand, the hippest laptops, and the sleekest operating system. If you own an Intel/PC-based laptop that’s running on Windows, you definitely know what I’m talking about.

If those facts (disputable) are not enough to make you sinfully envious, then check out PC Mech’s article regarding the file systems which Mac OS X and Windows use. Although the article is littered with geeky gobbledygook, it simply says that Apple’s operating system is virtually maintenance free compared to Windows XP and Vista in terms of defragmenting.

Despite the seeming lead of Mac over Windows, I still prefer the latter because of its superior compatibility with every program available in the market. Maybe the reason why the occurrence of file fragmentation is low in Mac systems is because there are few programs or files that are compatible with OS X (I sound like Bill Gates sour graping over Steve Jobs’ success ).  Just kidding.

There’s no reason for us PC/Windows users to envy Mac people that much. We have excellent system tools which make our lives a little bit less complicated like the ones that our Mac counterparts have.  Support and compatibility is our advantage.  Even though Windows is unceasingly being attacked by various types of malware, the most widely-used OS is backed and defended by all known antivirus and registry cleaners available. So what’s the worry? :)

There are many things that you should consider when buying a computer. For many, these things range from peripherals to processors. If you have wads of cash to spare, then you would definitely not settle for anything less than a Creative GigaWorks S750 or a Harman Kardon SoundSticks II for speakers, and the latest Intel Core 2 Duo chip for your PC’s processor.

There’s a very important consideration, though, that lies beneath the glam of the unit, and I’m not talking about the processor. The PC-Mac rivalry isn’t just about which unit has the coolest shell design. Rather, it’s about which architecture can best serve the needs of the user.

Of Frameworks and Platforms

In order for you to be able to distinguish between a PC and a Mac, let me give a brief background as to their origin. While the term “PC” generally refers to any computer, it also has a technical meaning. IBM gave birth to the PC, and as such, the term refers to computers that are based on the IBM design. On the other hand, the Macintosh (Mac) is a computer built by Apple.

The two were made from different blueprints. The PC is based on the Intel model, while the Mac follows the Power PC architecture designed by Apple, Motorola, and also partly by IBM. Since they were made from different frameworks, the two computers cannot run applications designed for a particular architecture. In other words, you cannot run PC-based software on a Mac and vice versa.

An Attempt to Unify

There really isn’t a competition between the two. For one thing, the PC has long captured the market and is the preferred class or architecture. There’s a growing fondness for the Mac, though. However, the Apple fad isn’t strong enough to unseat the PC as the unit of choice.

While the PC and the Mac could definitely coexist, a good number of users of both platforms are clamoring for the unification of the two. Thus, in 2006, Apple boss Steve Jobs announced that the Mac would depart from the Power PC architecture and would already follow the Intel blueprint. The development now makes it possible for Windows to be able to run on the Mac.

The shift was not well received by die hard Mac fans, though. They consider the Macintosh as a novelty that shouldn’t be modified by the PC. This is one of the reasons why the compatibility issue still exists and that Windows still hasn’t invaded the Apple desktops.

Both Vulnerable

Some Mac fans claim that their unit is less vulnerable to malware attack. This may be true, but not due to the reason that their architecture or OS is more barb-wired than the PC. It could just very well be that hackers favor Windows as the object of their affection since it is the most popular operating system in the world. Macs do need protective software like the PC, such as registry cleaners and antivirus programs.

You should definitely consider the compatibility issue when choosing between a Mac and a PC. If you want to play it safe, choose a PC-based unit. It’s the architecture that is widely accepted and used around the world.

News has been lurking around the IT community about the release of a reliable test result on Windows XP SP3 which could further extend the lifespan of Vista’s predecessor. XP users will definitely be elated by the report since that would mean a few years more of mileage for their aging, but still reliable, operating system.

Many are still wondering why Microsoft is still constantly changing the oxygen tank of its most successful OS. Indeed, giving XP more than nine lives would certainly scratch Vista’s chances of dominating the OS market by 2008. Instead of competing with Mac’s OS X, Vista is in a precarious situation wherein it finds itself competing with another product that comes from its own creator.

The reputation of Vista as a very demanding OS is deterring millions of PC users from overwriting their old operating system with Microsoft’s new one. This should serve as a lesson for Redmond and Mac to make sure that their next OS would not unduly tax even entry-level processors.

We know what’s best for you.

It would seem that this is Microsoft’s justification for the unauthorized updates that it has conducted on its latest and previous operating systems. Windows XP and Vista users have recently complained that Windows update has modified some of their system files without warning them about it.

Windows Update (WU) is a feature in XP and Vista which automatically downloads and installs patches and updates to the operating systems. Users are given the option to either let WU get the files automatically or prompt them before downloading the necessary files. While many have taken the laissez faire approach, a good number still wants to be warned whenever patches would be installed in their systems.

So the next time you see your PC’s DSL and hard drive lamps blink like crazy, don’t sound the alarm and raise your antivirus and anti-spyware security level to “high.” Chances are, it’s just Bill Gates trying to rearrange your operating system’s files. If you’re using OS X though, then you might want to immediately cut the yellow cable.

Have you noticed Apple’s fast ascendancy in various fields?

While it hasn’t beaten Nokia and Motorola just yet in the mobile phone industry, it has definitely won the ears of millions of people around the world with the iPod. Its notebook is still considered as a novelty items by many, but it’s fast gaining ground in its attempt to unseat heavyweights, such as IBM, Toshiba, Fujitsu, and Acer as the most wanted brand in portable computing.

I wonder if Apple’s OS would soon end Windows reign. Many doubt it, especially since the OS X has yet to reach a number of countries outside the United States. While I also share the same sentiment, I’m not totally closing the door on Apple. When the iPod was released a few years ago, I thought that the hype was just a fad. I was wrong. It totally shook the music industry and rearranged the order of things, with Apple on top of course.

Many expect the same kind of support for the iPhone. Unfortunately, a few technical, as well as business limitations, may have watered down the market potential of the gadget. But I’m sure Apple will think of something in order to entice people into dropping their N95 or Razr for the iPhone. The same thing is true for the OS X. It’s just a matter of time when Apple will start concentrating on its OS and make a bid for the distinction as the widely used operating system in the world.

Catholics have this belief that every child that is brought out in the world has original sin. This sin comes from mankind’s biblical ancestors, Adam and Eve. In order to get rid of original sin, the child has to be baptized. After being Christened, the child begins life without any burden of sin.

That sinless existence also comes a few times in a PC’s life. The system doesn’t bear the weight of any needless software during the time that it’s taken out of the box. Of course, a computer is practically helpless or useless without any application installed in it. The first burden that it has to carry, then, is the operating system.

First Sin?

Many consider Windows as the first sin or burden of a computer. Everything seems to be perfectly fast and smooth when a new PC conducts that first run or check in DOS or Linux. However, such pristine condition or impeccable performance won’t last long. As no PC could ever survive or be useful without embracing Apple or Microsoft’s religion, the commission of original sin is consequently inevitable.

Putting it to the Test

Of course, operating systems are made to make things easier for the user. Hence, it’s quite wrong to look at it as if it’s Pandora’s box. Of course, your system will definitely slow down once it begins to run on Windows or OS X. That’s just normal considering that DOS or Linux practically needs just a fraction of processing power in order for it to function. In contrast, Windows or OS X will definitely put processors to the test, especially if it’s a single core model.

Still Pure

Despite taking up a few gigabytes of hard drive real estate, as well as keeping task manager busy, your PC should still be able to run smoothly after the installation of XP, Vista, or OS X. I’ve installed XP on a Pentium M notebook with just 256 of RAM and it ran without a glitch. Navigating through the commands or windows was seamless. The ease by which I was able to go through things or tasks made me wonder for a short while if the specs of my notebook were mistakenly labeled.

Problem in Disguise?

Slow PC performance starts when you install the other applications. You’ll definitely feel the drag after you’ve installed an antivirus. It’s already a given that the presence of a security software in your system will slow it down. That’s a consequence that every PC user will face regardless of the processor that he has.

Some users try to solve the problem by getting rid of their antivirus altogether and just rely on their cautious nature to ferret out malware attacks. Of course, this is a reckless move. Antivirus or other system utilities will slow your PC down. However, the greatest drag or burden that keeps PCs from running at optimum speed comes from malicious applications and not from legitimate ones. You may not notice this immediately, but you’ll definitely be noticing your nails grow while waiting for your programs to load if you’ll let your system roam around cyberspace without any armor on it.

Necessary

Do not court disaster by dispensing with system utilities that you think would just waste hard drive space or slow down your system. Antivirus programs or registry cleaners may take up some space and may sometimes demand a good deal of processing power every time they’re scanning your PC for malicious instructions. The small inconveniences that you’ll experience from scans and clean ups are nothing compared to the major hard drive sweep that you’ll be doing when unwanted software starts squatting on your main disk.

Have you ever wondered what the OS of the future would look like? Vista was formerly touted as the operating system that would define and dictate the others that would come after it. However, many were disappointed to find out that most of its supposed new features are actually just rehashes of XP.

Everybody’s dream OS should not only be able to run PCs. As every human activity will soon be controlled or supervised by computers, the next version of Windows or OS X should be able to answer or screen phone calls, regulate the heater in the living room, and of course, operate the microwave.

The commercials that we see where everything is automated are not virtual realities anymore. They’re already here. You could operate or set almost anything in just a push of a button. However, we still don’t have that universal remote control which could integrate and harmonize every electronic gadget in our home. I hope Apple and Microsoft would consider extending the reaches of their future operating systems to devices other than the PC, for after all, most of the devices that we have are actually PCs in disguise.

A top executive from Microsoft has revealed that the company has been more successful in squashing the bugs of its previous operating system than in the present one.

Jeff Jones, Redmond’s security strategy director, revealed in a report that out of the 27 Vista problems that appeared during its first six months, only 12 were given a solution to. In contrast, only 3 of XP’s 39 holes that were discovered during the same period weren’t patched.

Jones was quick to add that most of the vulnerabilities were not critical. He pointed out that Microsoft left only one problem unanswered that was considered as severe. On the other hand, the company failed to provide a patch for two critical problems in XP during its first 6 months.

The report didn’t spare other operating systems written by its competitors. The study showed that Vista is fairing better than the OS X and Linux as far vulnerabilities are concerned.

The comparison may be premature as it only covered the first six months of the two operating systems. It would definitely appear that XP is the more vulnerable OS. However, that conclusion or observation might change as hackers now shift their focus from XP to Vista.

Just when it seems that Apple may have shot itself at the foot for allowing its OS X to be the subject of a hack-the-program sort of competition at the CanSecWest conference in Vancouver, Canada, Microsoft has recently found itself in a similar situation.

Joanna Rutkowska, a security analyst who is famous for exposing Windows’ security flaws, will be conducting a seminar, called “Understanding Stealth Malware,” on how hackers could exploit Vista’s faulty design and take over the system. This training session will start on July 28. The five-day event is slated to be held during the Black Hat Briefings and training show in Las Vegas.

I hope Microsoft would be a sport on this one. The training hasn’t even started yet, but it has already assumed a very defensive mode. Conferences such as the one that will be conducted by Rutkowska would actually benefit the software giant rather than hurt it. We all know that Bill Gates’ engineers are not exactly candid when it comes to the flaws of their most famous product. They can’t and won’t be able to anticipate all the problems that might come in their software’s way. Hence, what Microsoft should do instead is to listen to these people who dissect Vista and learn from their discoveries.

• Nov 21 : Microsoft Delays IE8 Release
• Nov 19 : Mac Fans are Just as Vulnerable as PC Users
• Nov 19 : Samsung Beings Mass Production of 256GB SSDs
• Nov 17 : Geneva Sound Systems Releases a Funky iPod Speaker
• Nov 14 : BlackBerry Storm Comes in Nov. 21