5 ms·

I really don't want to sound elitist, but my choice to go full Macbook and keep my custom built PC at home has never looked better. How long until we hear about

I really don't want to sound elitist, but my choice to go full Macbook and keep my custom built PC at home has never looked better. How long until we hear about other manufacturers also doing this?

yrro 11y ago
If I were looking at a Windows system I would now only consider buying those branded with Microsoft Signature.
- FussyZeus 11y ago
  Except then you have the privacy concerns with Windows 10. That's why I'm still running 7.
  - throwawayaway 11y ago
    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2952664 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2952664 This KB sneaks in diagtrack.dll to windows 7, aka telemetry.
    - tux3 11y ago
      Which you can decline to install, on Windows 7.
      - throwawayaway 11y ago
        Do you always get prompted or does it install automatically in certain circumstances? I have diagtrack on my work win8.1 without being prompted. I'll have to check win7 on monday. This is the first non win10 kb I've seen it mentioned in. I have no clue how it got onto my win8.1 box.
        FussyZeus 11y ago
        If you go into Control Panel, Programs and Features, you can retroactively uninstall updates. It's in the other section of that application. At least for 7, I never used 8 enough to give you useful info there.
        throwawayaway 11y ago
        Although you are trying to be helpful, you did not answer the question that I asked. Retroactively uninstall is not my definition of decline to install. Also, it's not clear which KB snuck it onto my Win8.1.
        greenyoda 11y ago
        It turns out that KB2952664 is pretty hard to uninstall. I tried several times to uninstall it from the control panel on Windows 7, and each time it was still present afterwards. It turns out this update has many versions, each of which need to be uninstalled separately: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/unable-to-uninstall-update-kb2952664/1c0e8b8a-c79b-4998-b6be-f8134cef4e82?page=5 https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/unable... My machine had 27 different packages/versions for this update!
        yrro 11y ago
        Good grief, I have 23 versions installed on my system. None of which show up in 'installed updates' in Windows Update. And when I try to remove them with dism I get an access denied error. A cynical person would think MS is deviously trying to hide them and prevent an end user from opting out from their data collection scheme.
        FussyZeus 11y ago
        Oh sorry, I misread that. You can decline any updates, personally I have mine set to Download automatically but let me choose to install. Then you just untick it. Of course it's a Microsoft Recommended update so it will come checked, but the actual install is still up to you. I believe it will remember this preference for future installs, as in won't keep checking it each time but I've honestly never looked into it so I can't say for certain.
    - FussyZeus 11y ago
      @tux3 can and did.
  - yrro 11y ago
    I said if. I'm stilling running 7 with Debian in a VM. Looking to invert this if possible in my next system--with Windows in the VM with an AMD graphics card passed through so I can still play games.
venomsnake 11y ago
Never leave the original os on a laptop. That has been the golden rule of wintel laptops. Install clean windows and nuke the factory recovery partition.
- mikhailt 11y ago
  Except that has already been worked around in Lenovo's case by using the BIOS to install crapware/malware on a clean install. http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?p=29497693&sid=ddf3e32512932172454de515091db014#p29497693 http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?p=29497693&sid=dd... Ars's news article: http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/08/lenovo-used-windows-anti-theft-feature-to-install-persistent-crapware/ http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/08/lenovo...
  - tedunangst 11y ago
    Not superfish.
    - mikhailt 11y ago
      It could install superfish or anything it wants but you are correct, I've updated it to say crapware instead.
  - SixSigma 11y ago
    Apple products have a similar flaw http://www.extremetech.com/mobile/197005-new-apple-malware-is-undetectable-unstoppable-and-can-infect-any-thunderbolt-equipped-device http://www.extremetech.com/mobile/197005-new-apple-malware-i...
    - FussyZeus 11y ago
      Once you have physical access to the machine, the war is over.
      - SixSigma 11y ago
throwawayaway 11y ago
There's very little to be smug about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotlight_(software)#Privacy_concerns https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotlight_(software)#Privacy_c...
- Retra 11y ago
  I've had a macbook for 2 years and I've never used spotlight beyond the initial "what does this do?" moment. Besides, you can't really do search without knowing what is searched for and from where it is being searched.
  - FussyZeus 11y ago
    The few things that I use spotlight for kind of necessitate location data anyways, I keep it on Cmd + Shift + Space and use Alfred on Cmd + Space. I find it does really well when you're looking for restaurants in your area and things like that.
  - s_henry_paulson 11y ago
    Once you get used to cmd+space. It's so much easier to hit the key combo, type the first letters of the program you want and hit enter than clicking through a bunch of folders and scrolling around.. but after reading this wikipedia article, I think I may have to find an alternative.
    - FussyZeus 11y ago
      Check out Alfred. I use the free version myself, you can un-assign command space from Spotlight in OS X first, then assign Command Space to that. It does basically the same thing minus the Internet connected stuff like location searching and whatnot. Alfred can be setup to index folders, contents of text files, pictures, etc. and harder things like System Prefs screens too. I myself keep Spotlight on Command Shift Space for the rare occasions when I want to take advantage of the Internet connected stuff, but keep using Alfred for everything else (less to do with privacy, more because Alfred is just quicker.)
    - 11y ago
SixSigma 11y ago
you just sound foolish tbh. http://www.extremetech.com/mobile/197005-new-apple-malware-is-undetectable-unstoppable-and-can-infect-any-thunderbolt-equipped-device http://www.extremetech.com/mobile/197005-new-apple-malware-i...
- FussyZeus 11y ago
  I don't count physical access required attacks as something I need to worry about. Besides the fact that I only own and use a very small number of thunderbolt devices, my machine is always in my possession. I didn't say a Mac was bulletproof, but the fact that Apple controls the hardware and software makes it better than the OEM's who make PCs, IMHO. No software or hardware protection will ever do better than a vigilant user, and I know that.
- dang 11y ago
  > you just sound foolish Please don't call names in HN comments. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
  - narrowrail 11y ago
    Blatant ad hominem attacks are not worthy of detachment? Not to mention linking to the same blog post in 2 separate comments w/in a minute? I must say that I am bewildered...
    - dang 11y ago
      This isn't the place for this. You're welcome to email us at hn@ycombinator.com if you have questions about moderation.
      - narrowrail 11y ago
        I was looking for clarity in a transparent process so that others could benefit. I'll just assume there are rules not meant for public consumption and shutup.
jkot 11y ago
Dell fans said something very similar just two weeks ago. Apple has root certificate authority on its own. Here is a list of their certificates :-) https://www.apple.com/certificateauthority/ https://www.apple.com/certificateauthority/

I really don't want to sound elitist, but my choice to go full Macbook and keep my custom built PC at home has never looked better. How long until we hear about other manufacturers also doing this?

yrro 11y ago

If I were looking at a Windows system I would now only consider buying those branded with Microsoft Signature.

FussyZeus 11y ago
Except then you have the privacy concerns with Windows 10. That's why I'm still running 7.
- throwawayaway 11y ago
  https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2952664 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2952664 This KB sneaks in diagtrack.dll to windows 7, aka telemetry.
  - tux3 11y ago
    Which you can decline to install, on Windows 7.
    - throwawayaway 11y ago
      Do you always get prompted or does it install automatically in certain circumstances? I have diagtrack on my work win8.1 without being prompted. I'll have to check win7 on monday. This is the first non win10 kb I've seen it mentioned in. I have no clue how it got onto my win8.1 box.
      - FussyZeus 11y ago
        If you go into Control Panel, Programs and Features, you can retroactively uninstall updates. It's in the other section of that application. At least for 7, I never used 8 enough to give you useful info there.
        throwawayaway 11y ago
        Although you are trying to be helpful, you did not answer the question that I asked. Retroactively uninstall is not my definition of decline to install. Also, it's not clear which KB snuck it onto my Win8.1.
        greenyoda 11y ago
        It turns out that KB2952664 is pretty hard to uninstall. I tried several times to uninstall it from the control panel on Windows 7, and each time it was still present afterwards. It turns out this update has many versions, each of which need to be uninstalled separately: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/unable-to-uninstall-update-kb2952664/1c0e8b8a-c79b-4998-b6be-f8134cef4e82?page=5 https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/unable... My machine had 27 different packages/versions for this update!
        yrro 11y ago
        Good grief, I have 23 versions installed on my system. None of which show up in 'installed updates' in Windows Update. And when I try to remove them with dism I get an access denied error. A cynical person would think MS is deviously trying to hide them and prevent an end user from opting out from their data collection scheme.
      - FussyZeus 11y ago
        Oh sorry, I misread that. You can decline any updates, personally I have mine set to Download automatically but let me choose to install. Then you just untick it. Of course it's a Microsoft Recommended update so it will come checked, but the actual install is still up to you. I believe it will remember this preference for future installs, as in won't keep checking it each time but I've honestly never looked into it so I can't say for certain.
  - FussyZeus 11y ago
    @tux3 can and did.
- yrro 11y ago
  I said if. I'm stilling running 7 with Debian in a VM. Looking to invert this if possible in my next system--with Windows in the VM with an AMD graphics card passed through so I can still play games.

venomsnake 11y ago

Never leave the original os on a laptop. That has been the golden rule of wintel laptops. Install clean windows and nuke the factory recovery partition.

mikhailt 11y ago
Except that has already been worked around in Lenovo's case by using the BIOS to install crapware/malware on a clean install. http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?p=29497693&sid=ddf3e32512932172454de515091db014#p29497693 http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?p=29497693&sid=dd... Ars's news article: http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/08/lenovo-used-windows-anti-theft-feature-to-install-persistent-crapware/ http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/08/lenovo...
- tedunangst 11y ago
  Not superfish.
  - mikhailt 11y ago
    It could install superfish or anything it wants but you are correct, I've updated it to say crapware instead.
- SixSigma 11y ago
  Apple products have a similar flaw http://www.extremetech.com/mobile/197005-new-apple-malware-is-undetectable-unstoppable-and-can-infect-any-thunderbolt-equipped-device http://www.extremetech.com/mobile/197005-new-apple-malware-i...
  - FussyZeus 11y ago
    Once you have physical access to the machine, the war is over.
    - SixSigma 11y ago

throwawayaway 11y ago

There's very little to be smug about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotlight_(software)#Privacy_concerns https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotlight_(software)#Privacy_c...

Retra 11y ago
I've had a macbook for 2 years and I've never used spotlight beyond the initial "what does this do?" moment. Besides, you can't really do search without knowing what is searched for and from where it is being searched.
- FussyZeus 11y ago
  The few things that I use spotlight for kind of necessitate location data anyways, I keep it on Cmd + Shift + Space and use Alfred on Cmd + Space. I find it does really well when you're looking for restaurants in your area and things like that.
- s_henry_paulson 11y ago
  Once you get used to cmd+space. It's so much easier to hit the key combo, type the first letters of the program you want and hit enter than clicking through a bunch of folders and scrolling around.. but after reading this wikipedia article, I think I may have to find an alternative.
  - FussyZeus 11y ago
    Check out Alfred. I use the free version myself, you can un-assign command space from Spotlight in OS X first, then assign Command Space to that. It does basically the same thing minus the Internet connected stuff like location searching and whatnot. Alfred can be setup to index folders, contents of text files, pictures, etc. and harder things like System Prefs screens too. I myself keep Spotlight on Command Shift Space for the rare occasions when I want to take advantage of the Internet connected stuff, but keep using Alfred for everything else (less to do with privacy, more because Alfred is just quicker.)
  - 11y ago

SixSigma 11y ago

you just sound foolish tbh. http://www.extremetech.com/mobile/197005-new-apple-malware-is-undetectable-unstoppable-and-can-infect-any-thunderbolt-equipped-device http://www.extremetech.com/mobile/197005-new-apple-malware-i...

FussyZeus 11y ago
I don't count physical access required attacks as something I need to worry about. Besides the fact that I only own and use a very small number of thunderbolt devices, my machine is always in my possession. I didn't say a Mac was bulletproof, but the fact that Apple controls the hardware and software makes it better than the OEM's who make PCs, IMHO. No software or hardware protection will ever do better than a vigilant user, and I know that.
dang 11y ago
> you just sound foolish Please don't call names in HN comments. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
- narrowrail 11y ago
  Blatant ad hominem attacks are not worthy of detachment? Not to mention linking to the same blog post in 2 separate comments w/in a minute? I must say that I am bewildered...
  - dang 11y ago
    This isn't the place for this. You're welcome to email us at hn@ycombinator.com if you have questions about moderation.
    - narrowrail 11y ago
      I was looking for clarity in a transparent process so that others could benefit. I'll just assume there are rules not meant for public consumption and shutup.

jkot 11y ago

Dell fans said something very similar just two weeks ago. Apple has root certificate authority on its own. Here is a list of their certificates :-) https://www.apple.com/certificateauthority/ https://www.apple.com/certificateauthority/