3 ms·

Windows gets updates, bad! Windows has security vulnerabilities, bad! Seriously? This is why no one takes these people seriously. The one valid argument about s

by geuis 17y ago

Windows gets updates, bad! Windows has security vulnerabilities, bad! Seriously? This is why no one takes these people seriously. The one valid argument about standards completely overlooks IE and instead focuses on OpenOffice, which has no significant marketshare.

branden 17y ago
They mention the OpenDocument format, which is a great example of Microsoft actively resisting the adoption of an open standard, arguably for business reasons. Yeah it's Sun's baby and so naturally OpenOffice supports it, but I don't think that or their marketshare are relevant to the point.
ajross 17y ago
Oh, stop it. They say that Microsoft "forces updates on it's users" and list some examples. They aren't complaining about windows updates. And how is an OS with security vulnerabilities not a problem? Windows does have a history of poor security. Using a linux distribution is undeniably less of a security risk than running windows. Why wouldn't this be a disadvantage of windows? And I'm not understanding the mindshare argument. Your point is that locking standards work out is only a problem if you're not (!) successful at it?
phsr 17y ago
To your point, all software has vulnerabilities, its just that Windows is more often the target (if not almost exclusively much of the time) because its a considerable market share. At CanSecWest, the MacBook was the first system hacked, and Vista was hacked on the last day of the conference (soure: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-9905095-37.html http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-9905095-37.html ). Having a virus/worm targeting windows will have a higher number of infected machines than other OSs, even if another OS has a higher infection than the infection rate of windows, because windows outnumbers the others. Last time I heard, OS X has a 10% share... Disclaimer: I use XP at work, and OS X at home

by geuis 17y ago

branden 17y ago

They mention the OpenDocument format, which is a great example of Microsoft actively resisting the adoption of an open standard, arguably for business reasons. Yeah it's Sun's baby and so naturally OpenOffice supports it, but I don't think that or their marketshare are relevant to the point.

ajross 17y ago

Oh, stop it. They say that Microsoft "forces updates on it's users" and list some examples. They aren't complaining about windows updates. And how is an OS with security vulnerabilities not a problem? Windows does have a history of poor security. Using a linux distribution is undeniably less of a security risk than running windows. Why wouldn't this be a disadvantage of windows? And I'm not understanding the mindshare argument. Your point is that locking standards work out is only a problem if you're not (!) successful at it?

phsr 17y ago

To your point, all software has vulnerabilities, its just that Windows is more often the target (if not almost exclusively much of the time) because its a considerable market share. At CanSecWest, the MacBook was the first system hacked, and Vista was hacked on the last day of the conference (soure: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-9905095-37.html http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-9905095-37.html ). Having a virus/worm targeting windows will have a higher number of infected machines than other OSs, even if another OS has a higher infection than the infection rate of windows, because windows outnumbers the others. Last time I heard, OS X has a 10% share... Disclaimer: I use XP at work, and OS X at home