The Top 15 Tech Myths
We love lists -- you should have figured that out by now. This time, PC World came up with 15 tech myths, bursting one bubble at a time. We list a few highlights here.Using third-party ink in your printer voids the warranty
Just plain not true. Of course, if the third-party ink damages the printer, then you're out of luck. But simply using third-party ink does not let Epson off the hook if your printer suddenly bursts into flames.
'Unlimited' cell phone data access is really unlimited
Think that extra $19 a month has you covered for all the data (e-mail, downloads, Web surfing) you want on your cell phone? Think again. Verizon's Terms of Service (TOS) forbids streaming media, uploading and downloading files and even has a 5 gigabyte-per-month cap on data. Cingular/AT&T also forbids media streaming and file sharing but has no data cap. And Sprint says it "reserve[s] the right to limit or suspend any heavy, continuous data usage that adversely impacts [its] network performance or hinders access to [its] network." Annoyingly vague, to put it lightly.
Macs are virus-free
Despite what the Cult of Mac tells you Macs are not 100 percent safe. A security researcher named Dino Dai Zovi took home a $10,000 prize for remotely hijacking a MacBook Pro. It took less than 10 hours to discover a security hole in Quicktime and set up a Web page to exploit it. Also, January was The Month of Apple Bugs as a pair of hackers revealed a new security hole in the OS for each day. In February the first worm virus for OSX was discovered. Macs are still more secure than Windows PCs, but because they're less popular, they tend to be less of a target.
From PC World
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Dr. Nicholas Donovan @ May 18th 2007 10:13AM
Actually, as it relates to the OSX platform, the reason why it's safer is not because it's not as popular as Windows. If that logic were true then the millions of web servers that run Linux/Apache (The majority on the internet) would be infested with more viruses than Windows but they are not.
It's because the structure of the OS does not allow applications to have the same privileged level of resource access as they do on Windows.
Additionally, unlike Windows, both Unix (OSX included) and Linux are true multi-user operating systems.
Cheers,
Nick
R. Cavaretti @ May 18th 2007 10:14AM
The statement "Macs are not 100% safe", coming from a narrow focus magazine entitled PC World, is hardly surprising. Interestingly, the boys over at Cnet.com hold other opinions.
Dr. Nicholas Donovan @ May 18th 2007 10:25AM
To clarify, all operating systems are theoretically capable of having viruses, with the possible exception of some read-only realtime Operating systems.
The truth is that for every 1 virus or exploit that occurs on the Linux or Unix OS, there are hundreds of applications that are on that platform (i.e. cron, various compilers etc. etc. the magazines are generally not that technical and lump it all under that platform name.
Viruses do occur to be sure, not in the numbers you see on the Windows platform however.
Cheers,
Nick
shorty @ May 18th 2007 10:59AM
fucking computer nerds
John @ May 18th 2007 11:33AM
I always think it's odd, how Macs are not affected by viruses, especially when taken in view of the strange animosity of Mac users for PC users and manufacturers. Could it be that Mac users or manufacturers are creating PC viruses to "get even" with Bill Gates and his crowd?
If Macs are so great, why are there not more of them in workplaces and homes?
Just curious, so please hold off on sending me viruses and hate mail.
robert @ May 18th 2007 11:34AM
Rosie, Ria, Babs &Peanut are BIG FAT PIGS!
Bartleby @ May 18th 2007 11:43AM
A Mac exposé from PC World. Wow, heavy-duty reporting. What next? The "truth" about the Democratic Party from the Republican National Committee?
lvalladares420 @ May 18th 2007 11:51AM
Nick, with everything i've read that you wrote...i've come to realize three things:
1) Nick, you're a loser
2) Nick, get a life
3) Macs suck, the only cool thing about Macs, are their ads.
Oh, and i forgot...Nick, who says cheers? That's right...losers. thank you.
Adam @ May 18th 2007 12:02PM
I think "cult of macs" is a good description.
Just read the hysterical comments these mac users post after one small critisism of there beloved mac. Get a life and maybe a girlfiend.
steve @ May 18th 2007 12:04PM
John, you ignorant slut...
Macs are very good, comparatively speaking, but are priced 50-100% higher than a comparative Windows pc, hence the lack of popularity. Even the baby Mac Mini starts at $600, and ya still have to go out and buy a mouse, keyboard, and monitor for it. You can buy a complete Windows system, with a 17" or 19" TFT monitor and multi-function printer even, for that much. The baseline Macbook starts at $1000 for a 13" display, but if you watch sales, you can get a 17" wide-screen HP or Compaq Windows laptop with all the goodies for a lot less. It's called competition and marketing- Windows OS machines are made by thirty-something different manufacturers, not to mention all the build-your-own components available, whereas Macs are ONLY produced by Apple. You do the math. And as far as workplaces go, walk into almost any graphics design house, newspaper publisher, or other business that deals with high-end graphics applications, and odds are you'll find Macs on the desks due to their superior graphics capabilities. The average workplace user of word processing and spreadsheet applications simply doesn't have a need for such capabilities (read: more$$$$), therefore, a Windows machine is generally a more economical choice for most work environments. It's ALL about the $$$$, Baby.
Steve Mk1 @ May 18th 2007 12:08PM
BTW, to clarify, all my PC's are Windows machines, but i sure did drool the first time i saw the new 21" iMac when it came out....
jerryo1314 @ May 18th 2007 1:08PM
Using third-party ink in your printer voids the warranty
This is not quite true. I bought a $3000 HP laser printer for the School. When I needed service I called and they said you have to have HP toner in that laser or the repair person is to walk out. The repair person confirmed that. 3rd party toner leaks anyway.
Jerry
jerryo1314 @ May 18th 2007 1:22PM
I ran a Macintosh network with 200 Mac's. Never got a virus or worm however just to be safe we did install sophos antivirus in the past 6 months. Its not the MAC OS that is weak per say but the Microsoft products we run like Office or other 3rd party software. We also run only Firefox Browser for safety. The Quick time weakness I had not heard of as yet.Simply said there are to many back doors open so nothing is safe.
Jerry
Kathy @ May 18th 2007 1:28PM
Toner for a big shared printer for a school office is not the same thing as ink for a home ink-jet printer. That's comparing apples to oranges.
Kawika @ May 18th 2007 1:36PM
ooops. SOrry. misspelled my email address! Uh-Doy!
Annette @ May 18th 2007 1:40PM
Huh? My Epson warranty specifically states that my warranty is void if I use another company's printer cartridges.
Kawika @ May 18th 2007 1:51PM
I bought my son a mac book pro from our local apple store. One week later, the better, cheaper, model was introduced to the store. Within 3 months of owning his mac, my son's battery pack blew up....that's right I said F...ing BLEW UP! Instead of replacing the mac that was divided into 2 pieces because of the battery pack disaster, they insisted upon fixing the one that was what I considered to be DESTROYED. After climbing the Coroporate Complaint Ladder to exclaim that there method of resolving this issue was not only UNACCEPTABLE, but pretty darn right DISGUSTING, they insisted upon fixing the one that blew up! To make matters worse, it appears that others have experienced the same problem with that particular model, while the newer, better, cheaper model does contains a battery pack that does not explode!!! I warned them that I would tell everyone that I spoke to about this extremely poor decision they made in trying to rectify the problem. What an appropriate venue to accomplish just that!!! Very interested in hearing from others who have experienced this very mysterious flaw from such a "REPUTABLE" company. APPLE SUCKS!
JL @ May 18th 2007 1:58PM
Epson printers suck... well, to be more precise the company sucks, and I will NEVER buy another Epson product every again because they treat their buyers with little respect. Several years ago I purchased an Epson printer. Prior to the warranty running out I had a problem with the printer. I called their 800-number and didn't get a bit of sympathy. Basically it was a disposable piece of crap that they weren't going to stand behind. No, never again will I even look at an Epson without wanting to spit on it.
Gary @ May 18th 2007 2:01PM
There is a federal law called the Magnusson-Moss Act which states that a manufacturer cannot void a warranty if you use third party supplies. Google Magnusson-Moss and you will see this is true. Also the third party toner market has evolved to the point where standards are measured. ISO and ASTM guarantees the quality of third party toner and inks. Third party toner and inks now have the same defect rate of OEM (Original equipment maunfacturer) ink of about 1.5% failure. If you are buying OEM toner you are wasting your money. Why do you think manufacturers come out with new printers every few months? It is because they get a 6 month lead on third party maufacturers duplicating toners and ink. You purists out there need to get back on the Mayflower and sail home.
Gary @ May 18th 2007 2:09PM
Dear Kawika:
The battery packs explode due to high heat concentrations. Transmeta Corp. (tmta) has designed a low heat microprocessor that eleminates this problem. Why more companies are not on board with this product escapes me. Microsoft, Intel, AMD, Sony and others are working with Transmeta to solve this problem but until they integrate the technology batteries will continue to explode.