Attack code out for new Apple Wi-Fi flaw

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Ok Harry

Let's do the math and devide by market share.
How is it that this result is not at issue? This is not about one Mac flaw vs one PC flaw. This is about cumulative effect.

You are assuming several things:
1. The number of exploits created is related to the number of flaws in the product. DOS is a security nightmare yet you simply don't see it exploited.

2. The relationship between marketshare and damage due to exploits is a linear one that goes through the (0,0) coordinate. I think this is highly unlikely.

The analysis method you propose is flawed from the beginning and it could just as easily be used to convince people to move to DOS. I doubt that is what you were looking for.

The problem is the monoculture. The solution is neither one OS or another, but the space between them and the ability to switch. Is this sinking
in?

Sinking in? You say that is if I've ever disagreed with that statement. What I've disagreed with is the statement that everyone is forced to use Windows and that Microsoft is to blame for that.

a) No one is forced to use Windows. You use OSX. I use Linux.
b) Microsoft legally achieved and maintained its OS monopoly, in large part due to complete incompetence by its competitors, Apple and IBM included. I blame Microsoft's monopoly on Apple and IBM. Microsoft was only doing what businesses are supposed to try and do: make money. Apple and IBM both had the head start and were absolutely killed by a 20yr old kid.

So yes, monoculture is a bad thing from a security standpoint but ask yourself this: why would MS actively ask its customers to switch to Apple? Isn't that Apple's job? Why don't you ask Apple why it has promoted MS's monoculture by being a really lousy competitor? I'll tell you why. Apple doesn't want the riff-raff, low end computer market, they want to keep their 30% profits on the middle-high end stuff. I'll let you guess what percentage of the entire OS market is installed on low-end machines. Monoculture is bad yet Apple promotes it to maintain 30% profit margins.

You would have us believe that the cost in learnng curve, time and hardware is not consequential to the final cost of a PC.

Really? I don't remember saying that. I remember saying that for me, the time was negligeable and the hardware was cheaper and more fine-tuned for what I need (instead of paying for built-in cameras that I'll never use). Other people have to make their own decisions, I can't speak for them. In fact Harry (and tic/Laff, back me up on this if you remember), I actually have come out and said that OSX is probably the better OS for the computer newbie.

We want to challenge these systems with
popularity and see what happens. We'll live with the results or we'll switch, but we will have openned up choice.

DO IT THEN!!! It is Apple that has, so far, refused to compete in the low-end computer market. You are kidding yourself if you think their marketshare will increase dramatically without entering that market.

Tell me which part of this post is unreasonable or zealotous.

None of it was unreasonable or zealotous. Thanks for the good discussion.

Posted by: NonZealot   Posted on: 11/02/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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