MacDailyNews - Where Mac news comes first

Jan 25, 08 - 10:13 am Comment from: ron

Yes! They are.

MDN: "Welcome switchers. We think you are stupid."

As for security, most Mac users - including me - are as irresponsible as PC users. That makes us smarter???

Yes, you can't keep people from doing stupid things, it is human nature.

I just wish, as you do, that these idiot "journalists" would get a clue and learn about the subject matter and stop calling a Trojan Horse, a Virus.

Jan 25, 08 - 10:23 am Comment from: IKON

I think long term mac users and new users are equally stupid… sometimes. Stupid can be understood as lazy.

Just because someone isn't well versed in PC or MAC usage doesn't mean they have a low IQ. You can't just pick one specific trade/category and judge everyones IQ based upon it. This article reeks of elitism.

Jan 25, 08 - 10:26 am Comment from: Mr. Reeee

Hopefully we're skimming the cream off the top.

Pee Sea pond scum will continue to sink to the bottom and stick to the sides of the ever churning Windows Quagmire™.

Maybe they could teach some Mac users about security. As far as trojan horses are concerned, stupidity, as in all things, reigns.

If you buy a Mac because you don't want to deal with PC viruses, you're already demonstrating more responsibility than the average PC user.

this is an innane topic. it doesn't matter who the user is. they come because there is something about it they like, or maybe even their rich uncle got them a macbook. as mac people, it's been my experience that we have open arms and help new users, and we never call anyone stupid!

Jan 25, 08 - 10:32 am Comment from: Connor MacBook

Mac users are just lucky enough to have been exposed to a Mac, and/or wise enough to see through the FUD.

Jan 25, 08 - 10:34 am Comment from: madgunde

@DanielN
I agree, the tone of this article is insulting to switchers and isn't helping Mac users shed the stereotype of being smug and having a superiority complex.

Dumb article and dumb MDN's editorial editing.

Jan 25, 08 - 10:37 am Comment from: ken1w

You'd think a tech writer would know the difference between a virus and a trojan horse. If "Liam Tung blogs for ZDNet" decides to switch, he would definitely lower the collective IQ of Mac users.

@DanielN

The quote about diluting the IQ came from the blogger, not MDN.

The issue is not a question of intellect but a matter of taste. Mac users have better taste. PC users don't taste good. I've eaten one, I know!

The notion that we Mac users are more intelligent is a stupid one.

Some of us are, but the majority are a bunch of Steve Jobs lemmings buying up every toy, gadget and hobby he trots out.

Serious, mature Mac users should not be included with the kids and our group knows what to do about outside invasions of baddies without MDN having to explain the obvious.

We can only hope for the day when Steve understands the bonanza that awaits if he would just spin off the toy shop (and run it himself he he's having so much fun with the merchandise) and leave serious computing to serious people.

@ DanielN and @madgunde

Please read the article a bit closer next time. MDN *actually* said:

"... we think that those Windows PC sufferers who have already or will soon be making the switch are the cream of the crop ..."

This is pretty much the exact *opposite* of what you thought they said.

Jan 25, 08 - 10:43 am Comment from: Zune Tang®

No wAy wood i by a MAC. yuo caNnt plAy Gamez. loosers.

Yoor optenshel. Or PaSin.TM

Jan 25, 08 - 10:45 am Comment from: Cubert

Apple needs to start a "Being Smug For The New Mac User" course at their Apple Stores.

"Some of us are, but the majority are a bunch of Steve Jobs lemmings buying up every toy, gadget and hobby he trots out."

That comment in itself shows a lack of intelligence. I know some of the most avid Mac users there are and they do not buy everything Apple trots out, in spite of having the means to do so.

I wouldn't blame them if they did though. it's not Apple's fault that their competition can't seem to figure out how to make a decent product.

In all modesty, I really do believe that Mac users are better human beings ... not just more intelligent, but also wiser ,kinder and even better looking.

Not that I look down on the 'pee sea pond scum' (nice one Mr Reeee), some of my most realiable servants have been PC-users, but then what do you expect from the lower classes?

Jan 25, 08 - 10:56 am Comment from: Occasional Poster

In our organization where computers are personally chosen and personally owned, I have noticed that the PC to Mac switchers HAVE brought about a dumbness into the fold. They are not the cream of the crop, so to speak, but the ones that have gone from one brand to another to another and finally to Macs. Don't know how to follow instructions to install Parallels. Run Time Machine while running Disk Utilities or calculating a spreadsheet; disconnecting the external HD while TM is running and then wanting to know what is the matter with Macs!

And that is just 3 users in one family. Other questions from PC users to me: Why do we need a backup HD if Macs are so good? Why do I need to get more than the basic RAM? (They want to run Japanese language and multiple programs including video Skype on minimum RAM). Their replies are usually, we didn't have to do this with our PCs (but they bought a new one every year to 18 months!

YES I am seeing a dumbness!

Jan 25, 08 - 10:56 am Comment from: Buster

I asked the guy in the next office who just switched from XP to a Mac Pro about this and his response?

Duh!

Jan 25, 08 - 10:56 am Comment from: Ampar

Doc4i: Is it like chicken? I've heard that they taste like chicken.

Jan 25, 08 - 10:59 am Comment from: DogGone

Zune - were you trying to post your message using an windows powered smartphone. Hate to tell you the result wasn't pretty

The reality is with the massive increase in Mac sales, the Mac user gene pool has probably been diluted 4 fold in the last couple of years.

I think it is a good thing and I assume Apple will always provide smarter options than M$ for its users to avoid virus and trojans. Macs are never going to be immune from them so a combination of a good OS and common sense will keep the risk to a minimum.

MDN, your arrogance and meanness astounds me. Someday you will reach maturity and understand. For now, continue as you may.

Both stupid users and testers find ways to break the software. The difference is that stupid users do it accidentally but testers do it deliberately and methodically. Mac fans act as Apple's can only improve OS X.

Slipped out before it was finished.

Both stupid users and testers find ways to break the software. The difference is that stupid users do it accidentally but testers do it deliberately and methodically. Mac fans act as Apple's volunteer support and sales staff, stupid users act as volunteer testers, this can only improve OS X.

Zune Tang, I see that you didn't have a Microsoft PR committee copy edit and dress up your post this morning. I can only imagine what it must feel like to work as a corporate prostitute, but I do know that someday, pointing to this character and long-running series of posts as a reflection of your life's work will make for a pathetic legacy.

What a world.

Have you considered counseling?

Jan 25, 08 - 11:05 am Comment from: Mr. Peabody

Look folks, just put on your personal computing condoms, turn on your built in firewall, set a log-in name and password (and use it), and get back to doing that computing thing that you do. We will eventually get real viruses and worms and whatever, it's inevitable, and we'll deal with it - And, we'll still be 5,000,000 down compared to any version of Windows.

I guess if fear and intimidation don't work then "they" revert to direct insults.

Jan 25, 08 - 11:06 am Comment from: TowerTone

me sa no!

"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy."

Jan 25, 08 - 11:07 am Comment from: Islandgirl

The actual article asked if: "...new recruits have diluted the security IQ of the Mac community?"
MDN's headline says: "Are growing legions of Windows PC to Mac switchers diluting Mac community’s IQ?"
Why did MDN leave out the word "security," which was the focus of the article? Click bait perhaps?

I switched to Mac in early 2007, after using Windows since Windows 95 debuted, and began working with a couple longtime Mac users who learned on the platform and have never used Windows.
Until I showed them, they had no idea Finder offered a view mode other than the Icon view and had never heard of Control Click (They still use the old-style, one-button mouse because that's what came with their 10.2 or 10.3 versions of OS X) to bring up the contextual menu until I showed them those options. Nor did they know anything about many keyboard shortcuts. In fact, my co-workers have never changed the default blue desktop that shipped on their Macs or made any changes to their systems since the company supplied their computers many years ago.
My co-workers are smart people and there is no corporate policy dictating what can and can't be done. One said she just acclimated to the way her computer was set up and figured that was the way it was supposed to be.
In contrast, I customized my system and switched out the Mac mouse for a Logitech VX Revolution with a new Apple aluminum keyboard because I'm picky about input devices.
So this collective Mac IQ thing is frankly, just garbage. For every Windows user to doesn't know what his or her computer can do, there is a Macintosh counterpart.

I've had my share of encounters with spoiled valley girl and punk surfer dude types, not to mention just plain snotty Windows IT types too.

So the answer is YES!

Jan 25, 08 - 11:29 am Comment from: deepdish

yes.

next question please.

Title of this article: 2 cents
Discussion on this board: 1 dollar
Zune Tang's post: priceless!

Keep up the good work ZT!

Jan 25, 08 - 11:44 am Comment from: Hollywood North

Yes, I have noticed as more PC users start working with Macs that the general level of civilization and social discourse is declining. This is unfortunate, but not unexpected. The best we can hope for is for these new users to interbreed with established devotees; poor evolutionary genes (those with weak PC animo acids) will eventually die off and the pure Mac master race will prevail.

Jan 25, 08 - 11:50 am Comment from: shiftOpt k

This is one reason I actually don't "evangelize" to "convert" ppl to the Mac community… anymore. I just don't care to invite ignorance in, and don't really have time to educate. I mean, I taught myself most all I know about Macs! I use to be hardcore and "preach the word" all the time, but then I realized it's actually gonna hurt me more than help… cus then I become tech support/teacher, and I just don't have time for all that. I like the small niché, I guess.

Don't get me wrong, I welcome ppl that wanna better themselves and their computing experience. I just don't try to "convert" 'em anymore.

I think the single most thing that annoys me are the ppl that switch solely b/c "the Mac doesn't have viruses [or other malware] like windoze does." That has got to be one of the dumbest reasons to switch, imo. Switch b/c you wanna more intuitive OS, and better computing experience… not b/c you think Mac OS X is invulnerable, b/c it's not—and that's when ignorance will show it's ugly face. The Mac platform is virtually invulnerable partly b/c the users know what not to install, etc etc. (I know, I know, the Mac is NOT completely invulnerable from malware, no OS is, but still.) "There is no way to protect a computer from an ignorant user" states it best—and that goes for any OS. I think windoze switchers will eventually lose their conditioned paranoia and start downloading and installing stuff all willy-nilly. Then all hell will break loose!

Jan 25, 08 - 11:57 am Comment from: Mr. Peabody

@HollywoodNorth - Uh... Yes on the interbreeding, lots and lots of breeding, but no on the master race. The human race is the master race. Yes yes I know you jest, I get it, but let's also hope that Apple never completely shuts out all competition because chances are better than not that we'd just have another MS on our hands, and one of those for all of human history is enough - And please dear God never ever let it happen again.

Good night, sleep tight.

I suddenly recall all the .exe files scattered across the desktop of my recently-switched relatives' iMac.

Jan 25, 08 - 12:49 pm Comment from: shen

"Are growing legions of Windows PC to Mac switchers diluting Mac community’s IQ?"

well, is the author a Mac or windows user? since he is pretty much clueless, that is a sample of one.....

"I suddenly recall all the .exe files scattered across the desktop of my recently-switched relatives' iMac."

ok, sample of 2.....

The idea that Mac users are more "intelligent" is a silly myth propagated by their own. I've seen quite the opposite. Especially on these forums concerning any topics outside of Apple, whether its scientific (the dullard that thought gravity is a factor of electromagnetism), historical, or mathametical. Seems (and this is my myth) that the Mac community is good for blind bias and senseless politics.

Jan 25, 08 - 01:17 pm Comment from: Lurker_PC

Are growing legions of Windows PC to Mac switchers diluting Mac community’s IQ?

Okay, why is everybody looking at me?

Have a good weekend.

Peace.

Meta Data file Exploit still is in the wild.

Of course nobody wants to talk about that.

Basically it's a exploit that disguises itself as file, picture or movie.

Double click on it hoping it will open your approved app for you, instead it runs code, infects your apps and other things until you use admin password then it's got root.

Don't believe me, look it up yourself.

It's rated critical and Apple hasn't done squat about it for years now

No, former PC users just whine more about costs.

I guess that's a good thing?

Everything  said.

But, most especially the FREE tech support for ingrates that can't/won't appreciate my time.

But then, if they didn't take the time to learn the ACTUAL difference between the Mac and Windows. Why expect them to take time to learn basic stuff?

Jan 25, 08 - 01:40 pm Comment from: Roberto

My Mama always told me, "Stupid is as stupid DOS.."

Jan 25, 08 - 01:45 pm Comment from: Buster

@ZT....your growing stench of humour is refreshing and should be encouraged.

So ZDNet is the first to call out openly something we (Mac users) already know. Walk into any Apple store now and compare the experience to the early Apple stores.

I'm not elitist, but I sure liked it better when there were a handful of people in the stores -- all of them (us) longtime Mac users. And the staff typically treated you as such. Not anymore. The moment you pull product off the wall you're approached by a store employee who wants to make sure you're not going to damage it or walk out without paying for it.

I used to look forward to Apple store visits. Enjoyed being approached and recognized by staff members. Used to keep track of in-store events. Now, I get what I need and get the hell out.

Jan 25, 08 - 02:59 pm Comment from: alansky

Are growing legions of Windows PC to Mac switchers diluting Mac community’s IQ?

YES!

@The Truth.

you describe something I wish I could have experienced.

I guess being young has it's disadvantages.

BECAUSE I'm an hyper-intelligent, gayer-than-a-tree-full-of-chickadees, cultured aesthete, I use a Mac.

Jan 25, 08 - 08:16 pm Comment from: donnie

Doh, I feel so stupid.
ZT: good post, some people just don't get it.
I got a virus from a windoze computer because another guy at work must've drooled all over the keyboard.
 only ~ at home