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Buy them something that comes with phone support. Seriously.

Sure, the support contract may be somewhat expensive, but it's a lot easier when you don't have to worry about support yourself.

Buy them an iMac and get them AppleCare support for 3 years for 169 USD
Buy them a Dell Inspiron One and get 3 Year Enhanced Support for 149 (I can't find a direct link to a description)
Buy them an HP Envy and get an HP 3 year Care Pack149 USD

Or some other company - it doesn't matter. What matters is that they can bother someone other than you about these things.

It boils down to something like 50 dollars a year for ease of mind - both for you and them. Sure, it's easy to call you, but they also worry that they're disturbing you. Much easier to pay someone else to do it.

It sounds callous and harsh, but honestly, having worked in phone support for two of the companies, I can tell you, that once you explain to these people that instead of having to worry about bothering their friends or family, they can simply call us and not have to worry about bothering anybody, you can almost always hear a a load being removed from their shoulders.

Yes, we like being able to draw on help from friends and family, but we also don't want to come off as needy and helpless.

Yes, it's retina, as in seeing.

You don't think management was involved Apple's decision to use KHTML as the basis for Safari rather than Gecko (the Mozilla engine)? Or the decision to use an open source engine in the first place rather than creating their own proprietary engine? You don't think sales and marketing were involved in the decision to feature the open source nature of the engine when Safari was first announced ("Safari’s features include ... the industry’s best rendering engine based on KHTML, from KDE’s Konqueror open source project, to which Apple has made significant enhancements that will be contributed back to the open source community."). You don't think HR was involved in recruiting software engineers with experience working with open source projects?

The same is true of every other company that has used WebKit. Companies that base products on open source projects are not self-governing programmer utopias.

...cannot easily or securely connect to a SAN (as it would have to be on the same layer 2 network as the Ethernet connection to the Internet).

Since you are paying for a lot of things you won't use in a colo environment (WiFi, Bluetooth, Thunderbolt...

Arguably you could add a Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter, then you'd be using the Thunderbolt and have a second network connection.

Not sure if this will work for your wife, but a single-handed right-click is easy from theIr touchpad: "... you can right-click with two fingers or configure a right-click area on the trackpad." http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/features/ http://www.apple.com/magictrackpad/

Not sure if this will work for your wife, but a single-handed right-click is easy from theIr touchpad: "... you can right-click with two fingers or configure a right-click area on the trackpad." http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/features/ http://www.apple.com/magictrackpad/

Even the "server" version of the Mac Mini does not support ECC RAM. Many other important server-grade features, such as IPMI, are also missing. Why would anyone choose this over cheaper, more robust commodity PC server hardware? You can't even plead cosmetics, because it's a freaking server; it goes in a rack somewhere and only a handful of IT staff ever need to see it. The only possible reason I can think of why someone would want to run an OSX server is if they were going to be remote-accessing it to run Xcode for iOS development. What else can you do on OSX that you can't do on Windows or Linux?

And what can you do on Linux that you can't do on OS X? Let's leave Windows out of it; because they have some fairly unique abilities in their server OSes, that (although it pains me greatly to say it) I don't think either OS X nor Linux can really match.

But one of the best points of using a Mac as a Server, particularly in a low to moderate-load use-case (like, say, most small businesses) is that in 95% of the cases, don't NEED an "IT" ANYTHING.

Gotta remember: Not every installation is the same, and for every business that needs even a small server room, there are 10,000 businesses who can get by perfectly with something like a Mac mini server sitting on a shelf in the backroom, and the simplicity of setup and maintenance of OS X Server, especially when combined with the drop-dead backup simplicity of its Time Machine Server.

And that most assuredly ISN'T the case for either Linux or Windows servers.

this just some hipster fad? Finding a use for old Apple boxes? Or do they offer something that linux/windows hosting doesn't?

With the Minis, if you need more capacity of any kind, you just add a mini. And at $999 for the iMac Mini with OS X Server, you get a powerful machine with a small form factor and it produces a lot less heat.

Also, a regular Linux box makes a lot of noise. So the mini would make a great media server - Plex or something.

They do make good Plex servers.

Deadly quiet, 100% trouble-free, and plenty fast. I set up one for a client in 2010. Running 24/7/365.25 ever since. If it wasn't for the pilot light, you couldn't tell it was even "on" from two inches away in a dead-quiet room.

Actually, the Mini does not support ECC, according to Apple's specs. Unless you know something that we don't....

this just some hipster fad? Finding a use for old Apple boxes? Or do they offer something that linux/windows hosting doesn't?

With the Minis, if you need more capacity of any kind, you just add a mini. And at $999 for the iMac Mini with OS X Server, you get a powerful machine with a small form factor and it produces a lot less heat.

Also, a regular Linux box makes a lot of noise. So the mini would make a great media server - Plex or something.

Even the "server" version of the Mac Mini does not support ECC RAM. Many other important server-grade features, such as IPMI, are also missing. Why would anyone choose this over cheaper, more robust commodity PC server hardware? You can't even plead cosmetics, because it's a freaking server; it goes in a rack somewhere and only a handful of IT staff ever need to see it. The only possible reason I can think of why someone would want to run an OSX server is if they were going to be remote-accessing it to run Xcode for iOS development. What else can you do on OSX that you can't do on Windows or Linux?

Apple's computer revenues have fallen far less than the average x86 and have gained marketshare.

These are Apples figures *published* by Apples for the latest quarter. http://images.apple.com/pr/pdf/q1fy13datasum.pdf there is no spin its simply down 22% year on year 18% down on the quarter...and yes even revenues are down 16% and 17% because that is what happens when you sell less units.

Apple is losing over 1 in every 5 customers

This is what Apple is doing now but people flip out about it. Apps in the app store can only interact with files through the OS file chooser, so they are effectively sandboxed and can only see files explicitly allowed by the user.

Apple is going even further with this, as an App Store "app" - now is encouraged to contain XPC services. Each service runs as its own process (started and stopped by the OS as needed) within its own sandbox and its own reduced set of privileges (and it is explicitly NOT possible for one of these services to get root).

Not hard.

How do I change my Apple ID

You can also change the e-mail address on your Apple account. No loss of your previous purchases.

I think I would do this on anything where they had my CC info on file. Then pick a strong password for both your old and new e-mail address and wait for them to go away.

Apple still maintains their own Java 6 until EOLed

FYI, Java 6 EOLed now, Feb. 2013, no longer supported by Apple

For your information: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5666 :"Multiple vulnerabilities existed in Java 1.6.0_37, the most serious of which may allow an untrusted Java applet to execute arbitrary code outside the Java sandbox. Visiting a web page containing a maliciously crafted untrusted Java applet may lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the current user. These issues were addressed by updating to Java version 1.6.0_41. For Mac OS X v10.6 systems, these issues were addressed in Java for Mac OS X v10.6 Update 13"

Apple patched this vulnerability on feb 19th 2013. After systems had been compromised. Macs which had been upgraded from previous versions where Java was installed *still* has Java installed. Apple obviously felt obliged (as in "egg on their heads obliged") to patch this one. OS X systems all over the world have been compromised because of Apples approach to security, especially Java security.

This payload was Mac specific, and Mac computers were the only one affected.

Well, that's not what TFA says, nor any article I've read about it... but what possible reason would you have for making shit up?

Oh? Try read this one (or just the excerpt):

http://news.yahoo.com/microsofts-macs-hacked-java-attack-045502922.html : "Even more significantly, it wasn't Microsoft's Windows computers that were hacked so much as it was Microsoft's Macs."

Glad I could help.

Everyone who buys an iPhone knows exactly what they are getting in to. Nobody is conned or tricked or forced to buy an iPhone.

And you think it's reasonable for the average person to read and understand a 325 page EULA? You can try foisting the blame back on the user, but I think it is, at best, misrepresenting the situation to suggest that people know "exactly" what they are getting into when they purchase an iPhone. The average person thinks they're getting a phone. A phone that they own, and can use without unreasonable restriction, and that they have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Now, this isn't true, not by a long-shot, but that's what the average person thinks. The average person is, afterall, a rather trusting, and stupid, sort.

I won't address the rest of your post, other than to say SARCASM! Anyone who hasn't had their sense of humor surgically removed and replaced with a floating point coprocessor can see that my entire previous post contained generous helpings of it.

What exactly are you looking for? The entire source code for the mach kernel?

If so, Apple publishes it here: http://opensource.apple.com/source/xnu/xnu-2050.18.24/

Again, this has zero to do with OS X security. This is all about end user installed software, provided and supported by Oracle.

Oracle should follow Apple and post the following statement in their web site: As you might imagine, we are upset at OS X for not being more hardy against such viruses, and even more upset with ourselves for not catching it.

Darwin is entirely irrelevant. Its not even OSS anymore,

Facts say otherwise.

At least Apple contributes back. http://opensource.apple.com/

In some cases, they made so much progress, the original project took what they did and use it instead (webkit being re-absorbed back into KDE).

O rly?

I'll do you one worse. It is officially supported: http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/

How so? The 13" Retina MacBook Pro does costs $200 more, but for that $200 you get:

2.5GHz i5 instead of the Chromebook Pixels 1.8GHz i5
Double the RAM (8GB)
4x the Storage (128GB SSD)
Longer battery life

Seems to me it's the Chromebook that's a ripoff here.

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MD212LL/A?

If you'd gladly pay that price for the screen get a Retina MacBook Pro, and then put whatever OS you want on it.

$200 more than the Chromebook Pixel, but you also get MUCH better hardware (double the RAM, 4x the storage, and much faster CPU).

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MD212LL/A?

The 13" Macabook Pro Retina starts at $1499.

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_pro

For that you get:

2.5GHz Core i5
8GB RAM
128GB SSD

And out of the box you can run OS X, Windows, or Linux.

So for $200 more than a Chromebook you get 4x the storage, and an actual OS and apps.

Seems a no brainier to me, assuming you HAVE to have a super HD display.

Almost forgot, for OS X and iOs device mgt you can also use http://www.apple.com/support/osxserver/profilemanager/ which can be integrated with AD.

Work without fear.
Decrease your downtime and forget about needing an IT person stationed in the kitchen. PCs were plagued with 114,000 viruses by the end of 2005 and that number skyrocketed to 257,000 in 2007. On a Mac, you don’t have to waste your valuable time keeping up with all those viruses and trying to protect your system from them. Instead, you’re free to amaze yourself with everything you can accomplish.
How interesting.

You do realise that this was a bug in Oracle Java don't you? That's a cross platform vulnerability, the Mal/JavaJar-B trojan for example also affected Windows, Linux and Unix systems.

A few years ago, when Apple shipped iPods with Windows Virus they said "As you might imagine, we are upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses...". So now they now should be upset with themselves.

Actually, before you ripped it out of context, the full quote was: "As you might imagine, we are upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses, and even more upset with ourselves for not catching it." So even at the time they admitted they were upset with themselves even though they could't help but take a shot at Microsoft for reasons that have to do with events that took place while you were probably still in diapers. Come to think of it I could fill a book with snide comments by Linux Fanbois about Windows security made on this forum, comments that ignore the fact that there is way more malware targeted at Windows than there malware targeted at Linux. If you take that into account Microsoft is doing a pretty good job on security, snide comments by Apple Marketing drones and Slashdot Linux fanbois not withstanding.

You do realise that this was a bug in Oracle Java don't you? That's a cross platform vulnerability, the Mal/JavaJar-B trojan for example also affected Windows, Linux and Unix systems.

A few years ago, when Apple shipped iPods with Windows Virus they said "As you might imagine, we are upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses...". So now they now should be upset with themselves.

New Macbook batteries can be purchased at the Apple store for the white/black Macbooks that came out in 2006.

If you prefer to go online:

http://store.apple.com/ca/product/MA561LL/A/rechargeable-battery-13-inch-macbook-white

  This is the white one, I recently bought a black one)

Of course i do, which is why i wonder why you would present me with an 'unequivalent proposition', you claim you can get a different laptop with the same specs for 1/2 the cost and cannot understand why somebody wouldn't do that. The obvious answer would be that they are unequivalent, as such that should tell you immediately there must be a reason for it and if you present me with a concrete example i will tell you what it is.

there are laptops made by companies other than apple that have equivalent performance specs to apple laptops but are much cheaper (exact fraction being irrelevant; original figures were illustrative only). maybe if take apple out of the picture to help remove any subjectivity; if you had the choice of two hamburgers... both had the same ingredients, both were the same size and weight, but one was cheaper, which would you buy? most would obviously buy the cheaper one unless there was some aspect of the other that you perceived to make the extra expense worth it (maybe you saw the guy making the cheaper one looked like a druggo or something). i guess where i'm coming from in the whole apple thing is that i can't identify with that aspect that makes the extra expense of an apple product worth while when just about everything in cheaper products is the same. the only thing i can think of that's obvious is appearance, and aesthetics is important, but surely its worth in a laptop can only be so much, and i just can't see how it could be worth all of the difference.

How can i give you a valid reason for choosing one item over another when you don't tell me what those items are?

but i did... "q: why spend $2000 on a laptop when you can get a different laptop with the same specs for $1000?"

one is a laptop made by apple, the other is a laptop with the same specs made by any other company (such as toshiba)

if you want to get specific, there are some slight differences (flash hdd for mac over sata for satellite, 256 gb storage for mac vs 750 gb for satellite, different os, 1gb gddr for mac vs 2gb gddr for satellite) but generally they appear to be similar in spec.

http://store.apple.com/au/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_pro?afid=p219|GOAU&cid=AOS-AU-KWG-PLA
15-inch: 2.4GHz
i7,15in,8gb ram,256gb flash hdd, 1gb gddr
with Retina display
AU$2,499.00

http://www.mytoshiba.com.au/products/computers/satellite/pro#
Satellite Pro L850
i7,15in,8gb ram,750gb sata hdd,2gb gddr
AU$1,299.00

so tell me what about the mac justifies the extra $1200?
- i personally think retina is a big wank (what's the point of having smaller pixels if you can't take advantage of them with a higher resolution?)
- flash hdd may be better, but smaller capacity makes it less of an 'upgrade' (likely requiring an additional removable hdd; pain in the ass)
- didn't go into depth with the graphics comparison, but the mac would have to be super fucking crazy awesome to make it worth it

i look forward to your response, but i won't hold my breath :)

No, it is not just him. This corruption problem with Safari is a well known problem. It appears that this problem manifests strongly in the macbook retina. There are ongoing discussions about this in many forums, including apple's own:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4148522?start=0&tstart=0

As reported by many testers, these problems have NOT been fixed in the soon-to-be-released 10.8.3 update, and they are still present in the Webkit nightly. If you are not experiencing such problems, the most probable reason is that you're using a non-retina display.

If only other companies would copy Apple with this:

http://www.apple.com/recycling/

where you can return just about any device they've made in the last 10 years. For credit, if it's worth something.

Including other manufacturer's computers.

First, why not sell the name to Apple?

Because Apple most likely isn't willing to pay what Gradiente wants. Apple has a track record for engaging in long and useless "negotiations" in Brazil. Years ago they wanted the right to set the pace within the App Store (defining age ratings for apps), and the Brazilian government didn't want that. Here the government decides that kind of stuff and Apple thought it wasn't an option, so the end result was that the App Store in Brazil was really shitty for years. Only a few games (those made by Brazilian developers) were available, many other apps were missing. Which even led to people coming up with ways to register their accounts in other countries' stores just to have access to apps they couldn't get here.

Apple also exploits the market here. Brazilians have this retarded idea that more expensive = better. An unlocked iPhone 5 starts at U$U$650 in the US (today that would be ~R$1300 in Brazil). The Brazilian government imposes the highest and most nonsensical volume of taxes in the world, but Apple starts the iPhone 4S (iPhone 5 isn't even selling here officially yet) at R$2000. Carriers have been offering pre-orders for the iPhone 5 starting at around R$2600 with an expensive plan, or around R$3100 without one. It is believed that Apple itself will sell them in the R$2400-3000 range once it's officially released here.

With those things in mind, the result is very likely that Apple wouldn't settle for a value Gradiente wanted.

The second point is about the name.. They (Gradiente) very likely went with something slightly different for the case Apple eventually does decide on paying for the trademark. In that case, Gradiente's trouble with getting around "iPhone Neo One" should be slightly less complicated than simply "iPhone".

Incorrect, you buy the software. You need a license to distribute copies of software, not to use it.

Wow this is going to be a big wake-up call for you, it is absolutely correct that you have not bought the software, you only have a license to use the software under the license conditions. If you did indeed buy it you would own it and be free to do whatever you want with it, but you aren't because you do not own it.
Here is an example:
Any software or content (e.g., text, images, video, graphics, music, sound, or games) (for purposes of this section, we refer to all of these, as applicable, as "Software") that Microsoft provides as part of the Services is licensed and not sold and is licensed according to the terms of this Agreement unless separate license terms are provided or referenced.
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/Legal/livetou

Or this example from the Apple app store standard license agreement:
The Products transacted through the Service are licensed, not sold, to You for use only under the terms of this license, unless a Product is accompanied by a separate license agreement, in which case the terms of that separate license agreement will govern, subject to Your prior acceptance of that separate license agreement.
http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula/

Show me software that you bought rather than licensed.

Interesting, but I am pretty sure DNT was Mozilla's Idea. And frankly, it always seemed like a waste of time. Given all the ways that one can be tracked though, a technical solution seems difficult as well.

- Cookies
- JavaScript
- tracking pixels
- HTML local DBs
- Flash objects
- fonts
- screen size/colors
- plugin config/versions
- User agent
- IP address
- and now.... "DNT" toggle...

It almost seems as the only way to keep from being tracked is via the TOR browser incognito mode in a freshly wiped VM or something. I honestly wonder if the 'net need to move more towards mesh/tor/ad-hoc networking. Basically if the "darknet" should be the "mainnet".

Anyways, some info:

EFF tool to see how well you can be tracked (fingerprinted)
https://panopticlick.eff.org/index.php?action=log

NAI (Network Advertising Initiative)
Tracking opt out of 99 of some of the largest ad networks, including Google and MS (but guess who isn't there?)
http://www.networkadvertising.org/choices/

Apple iAd opt out
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4228

Or here: http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/iphone_user_guide.pdf From pg. 138: "Set whether iPhone updates the date and time automatically: Go to Settings > General > Date & Time, then turn Set Automatically on or off. If you set iPhone to update the time automatically, it gets the correct time over the cellular network and updates it for the time zone you’re in. Some carriers don’t support network time, so in some areas iPhone may not be able to automatically determine the local time.

iPhone gives you the option to turn time update on or off in the settings app. If turned on, the phone updates time from the carrier network. http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3920 I used to use a BlackBerry Bold 9650. That phone gave me the option to sync time to the BIS (BlackBerry Internet Service) my carrier, or not at all...

You can certainly install the Java for Chrome on Macintosh, but you are limited to Java 6 as the most recent. Google provides a link to the instructions on how to do this.

http://support.google.com/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=2429779

which links to...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5559?viewlocale=en_US

--
BMO

Siri and VoiceOver for input and output. Seems less than ideal, but presumable Apple has been working on improving both, so they might be nearly ready to go for a nano-ish device.

but it is not a microkernel design in that things that are normally in the kernel in monolithic OSs, such as device drivers, are still built into the kernel.

Really? I can't remember the last time I had to RECOMPILE OS X when I installed a new device driver. Oh wait! Yes I can: NEVER!

So, how can "device drivers" be "built into" a kernel WITHOUT recompiling said Kernel?

I think that most OS X drivers are managed through IOKit, which is a Framework that provides an ABSTRACTION LAYER between the Kernel and the Driver. Other types of "Drivers" are known as KEXTs (Kernel EXTENSIONS), which are MODULES that essentially "plug-into" the Kernel. They are NOT "built in" in any way, shape, or form. They are dynamically linked, and certainly operate in Kernel-space; but they are NOT "built in".

but it is not a microkernel design in that things that are normally in the kernel in monolithic OSs, such as device drivers, are still built into the kernel.

Really? I can't remember the last time I had to RECOMPILE OS X when I installed a new device driver. Oh wait! Yes I can: NEVER!

So, how can "device drivers" be "built into" a kernel WITHOUT recompiling said Kernel?

I think that most OS X drivers are managed through IOKit, which is a Framework that provides an ABSTRACTION LAYER between the Kernel and the Driver. Other types of "Drivers" are known as KEXTs (Kernel EXTENSIONS), which are MODULES that essentially "plug-into" the Kernel. They are NOT "built in" in any way, shape, or form. They are dynamically linked, and certainly operate in Kernel-space; but they are NOT "built in".

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-maps/id585027354?mt=8

Right there

You are a liar. You read his post. You knew what he said. While Apple does sell $20 proprietary cables, they also sell $40 proprietary cables. Thus Kvnslash's statement is not hyperbole. Your "explanation" is just admitting to being a fanboy.

You are a walking talking stereotype.

Yes, I read his post. Yes, I knew what he said. And yes, it's inaccurate.

Yes, they sell $40 adapter cables, but that is not what the OP was talking about and you know it. The charging/sync cable is $19. They sell one very specific adapter cable for very specific circumstances. The cable the OP is talking about is $19. If he meant that specific $40 adapter then he was $10 under. If he meant the $30 adapter block then he doesn't know the difference between a small plastic block and a cord with two connectors on it. No, he meant the regular cable that comes with every iOS device. He simply picked a "crazy high" number out of the air and presented it as fact.

Now you're trying to defend him by saying "he got this wrong, but look, they do sell an adapter cable that is more expensive than he quoted!" - that's not helping your argument. The other guy who tried to claim that he clearly meant Australian dollars because "$30 US converted into $AUS is closer to 30" is also hilariously clutching at straws.

Watching you haters twist around in the wind to defend nonsense at all costs in order to make any criticism of Apple valid is mesmerising. Just perhaps accept that *some* things presented here as facts, even when they make Apple "look bad" might not be accurate.

As you'll note in another comment I mead on this thread, I'm not disagreeing with some parts of the OP's argument - I happen to agree with them, but relying on factual inaccuracies and hyperbole simply weaken his argument.

Also, a walking stereotype of what? If you think I embody the typical Apple user then I think you'd be sorely disappointed. I don't even own hipster glasses, even though I do actually have vision issues and could legitimately wear them with something other than plain glass in the frames. Also, turtlenecks just look awkward on me.

You are a liar. You read his post. You knew what he said. While Apple does sell $20 proprietary cables, they also sell $40 proprietary cables. Thus Kvnslash's statement is not hyperbole. Your "explanation" is just admitting to being a fanboy.

You are a walking talking stereotype.

Tablets are more like game consoles.

It's not a PC because you aren't free to create your own code or the next visicalc or netscape.

https://developer.apple.com/devcenter/ios/index.action

When an Apple device connects to a wifi network, it checks http://www.apple.com/library/test/success.html to see if the network is connected to the Internet. Unfortunately, some bozo deleted that file...

iPads don't have USB ports

Of course it does, and both genders at that.

or any sort of removable storage whatsoever

Come again?

iPads don't have USB ports

Of course it does, and both genders at that.

or any sort of removable storage whatsoever

Come again?

Lol. So clueless.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/autocad-ws/id393149734?mt=8