I’m not sure I want to talk about this, but, well I feel that I owe it to you. Last night, for the first time, I used Vista. I know, I know—I’m not proud of it. Believe me. I was just helping move my friend’s data from her old computer to her brand new laptop, which just happened to be loaded with Vista. I didn’t mean for it to go this way.
Anyway, this morning, I woke up to find that Apple had released a new ad, this time dealing with Vista’s security. And for the first time, I really, genuinely laughed my ass off at a Get a Mac ad. Because it was spot on.
You see, every time you try to do anything that could remotely be construed as a security risk, Vista asks you if you’re sure. It’s just one of many features that has made me dub Vista the “Operating System Most Likely to Make You Want to End Your Pathetic Existence.”
The thing that just confounds me, as I noted to my friend after growling in frustration at dismissing the confirmation dialog box for the umpteenth time, was that it doesn’t ask you for any sort of security verification. If you want to do something in OS X that requires administrator approval, you have to enter your password (even if you’re logged in as administrator). Whereas in Vista, it just asks you if you’re sure; if you are, you click “Continue.” That’s it. Look MS, security that gets in the way of what you want to do is almost worse than no security at all. Because if you make it too obtrusive, people are just going to turn it off.
My biggest disappointment was that after spending ten minutes trying to figure out how to get Flip 3D, the Exposé knockoff, to work, I discovered that it wouldn’t because it was Vista Home Basic. You know what, Microsoft? Bite me. I was willing to give you a shot, but you blew it. Also, everything in your operation pulses, glows, or flashes. Please hire at least one person who knows something about design. Cheers.
I guess, MS's perspective on security is to be the annoying 3 year old that asks every question.
Apple's commercial on Vista security is not only funny, but right on. However, us tech geeks get the commercials clearly. I'm not sure that the average blasphemer, I mean, windows user will get it. Either way, education is the key.
They should do a commercial where the windows guy is dressed exactly like the Mac and act like the mac and then deny to its teeth that its not trying to be like the mac. I think that will drive the point home.
Yeah, something's funny is that Bill Gates said in a TV interview that Vista only costs $100... What he didn't mention of course was that Home Basic had none of the flashy features which he was talking about in the interview!
I have to agree! That ad is hilarious! By far the funniest of all the Get-a-Mac ads. I've not used vista yet, but if it is anything like that Ad suggests, I will be screaming!
When I read your article I laughed aloud too! Then I realized I have to go to work in a few minutes where I have to use a Windose computer. Oh well, at least I have a Mac at home. Using it helps me recover and relax from a hard day at the office.
So Dan, you're saying you don't want Apple to copy all of Vistas features like Billy Gates would have people believe will happen?
The ad was indeed laugh out loud funny, and based on what I've heard about Vista, entirely accurate as well.
Boy is that one gonna sting!
I knew people would get burned buying Vista computers with Home Basic or that were not even equipped well enough to run Home Premium.
The pundits say "Forget Home Basic!" but the Premium requirements are so stringent that Home Premium is out of reach of most people buying computers today.
Apple might be in the odd position today of selling one of the cheapest computers capable of running transparency effects in the operating system -- the lowly Mac Mini.
D
The last couple of advertisements were somewhat disappointing, but this last one was indeed a real goodie.
@Darth: I certainly don't want them to copy those so-called "security" features. Despite what Billy boy says, OS X is still probably the most secure OS on the block, MoAB threats included.
I had a good laugh over that one, almost as good as the Microsoft "Wow" commercial that compares Vista to the Apollo launch. Look it has Coverflow for your windows!
This is Microsoft's response to anything. Just scream at you like a three-year-old.
YOU'RE HOOKING UP A PRINTER!!!!!!
THERE ARE ICONS YOU HAVEN'T USED!!!!
YOU'RE WRITING A LETTER!!!!
YOU'RE SENDING SOMETHING OUT!!!!
I believe MS has become so fed up of everyone saying that Windows doesn't have good security that it included this ridiculous Cancel/Allow dialog boxes from hell!