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[Raven]

kind of funny: http://www.adotas.com/2009/08/apple-the-church-of-scientology-of-consumer-electronics/

course my dislike of apple is almost as great as my dislike of the cult of sci

As Dan Lyons, he of the Secret Diary of Steve Jobs blog, says, “Apple is less of a company and more like a cult. If the Church of Scientology went into consumer electronics it would be Apple.”

and

Workers on sensitive projects have to pass through many layers of security. Once at their desks or benches, they are monitored by cameras and they must cover up devices with black cloaks and turn on red warning lights when they are uncovered.

two big entities that like to watch people with cameras and control their personal lives hmmm

[mefree]

Yikes!

[Alp]

That's interesting. My mom bought a MacBook BTW, and she LOVES it!

[ethercat]

Microsoft is no better, with their goals for global domination. 

[Raven]

Microsoft is no better, with their goals for global domination.

and as soon as some one writes something comparing ms vs sci I'll be more than happy to post it also. 

However, I would like to see an article comparing the arrogance of mac users vs sci world domination arrogance     If you ahve to admit arrogant mac users ar the worse

[mefree]

I think one consideration for people is the kind of work that they do. Mac's are used by some professions more than others.

I don't know about the arrogance part. I guess I don't know enough mac users.

[SirBedevere]

Macs used to at least have a different processor and hardware platform, so at least back then there could be an in-depth debate.
But since they've moved to the Intel processors, Macs use the same basic motherboard design as any Dell computer out there (they're all done in Taiwan & China off of a reference design).
And the OS has now moved to a unix back end, so the only thing unique about a Mac is the OS's GUI, the computer casing and power supply, and their proprietary programs (namely video editing).  If someone really likes the programs enough to pay for them, that's their choice. 
I'm just saying there's not much unique about Mac's anymore, and they need to adjust the price to compensate.

But I think I digress the thread...  The real issue I believe is that both Apple and Microsoft take a lot of crazy steps to avoid losing intellectual property, to the point that they look "cultish".  The fact that it reminds him of Scientology is really funny (a "religion" reminding him of a "cultish" & paranoid company).   

Finally, if you take a look at the link, read some of the reader comments.  A Sci defender is getting beat on.

[SirBedevere]

As far as arrogance - my experience is most mac users think their mac is perfect.  In reality its just a tool catered to their specific needs.  And usually they like it so much they tend to overlook the problems, as opposed to Windows users where the stuff works pretty well for a decent price, yet all people usually see is the warts.
I've tried Linux and ended up crawling back on my hands and knees to Winders.

[ethercat]

From a comment here: http://tinosc.blogspot.com/2008/03/scientology-and-apple.html

Interesting similarities between Scientology & Microsoft
Both run by supreme egoists who want to control all life on planet earth. 
Both believe their Ideology/Tech is the "Right" Ideology/Tech, and all others are wrong, and should be destroyed.
Both are about using tech to kill aliens.

Both operate a vast Black PR apparatus to identify, discredit, and destroy "enemies"/competitors.

Both attacked by governments for criminal activities on a worldwide scale.
Both universally hated except by core true believers.
Both appeal to egocentric people who are seeking "power"- especially over others.

And let's not forget the diskeeper scandal:

Officials in Germany are concerned that since DisKeeper has access to vast amounts of data stored on a computer, it could theoretically dispatch the information of millions of users over the Internet to Scientology headquarters.
...
"It's come to our attention that the tool could be misused and [may be] an endeavor against the main principles of the Constitution," he said.

Lange's agency runs a special bureau that monitors the Church of Scientology in Germany to "make sure it is not using its power to work against the democratic principles of Germany. We are responsible for putting a stop to efforts and activities that [violate] the Constitution and ensuring no contact occurs between the government and Scientology."
...
Georg Stöffel, a representative for the Church of Scientology in Germany, said the DisKeeper fray "is being used to discriminate against members of the church who work in the computer field.

"Politicians have this theory that we will invade the government and German firms. This really is a stupid thing. What use would we have for all of this data?"

What use, indeed?  Shall we ask Marc Headley, Gerry Armstrong, Arnie Lerma,  Paulette Cooper, Gabe Cazares, Bonnie Woods, and a whole list of others, what use scientology would have for "all this data"?

Ahem.  Now where was I?  Oh, yes. 

In my experience, Operating System Religious Wars rarely end well.   

[Raven]

yes they do rarely end well, but it sure can be fun: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=DED094DC7559526D

[ethercat]

Windows: Where do you want to go today?
Linux: Where do you want to go tomorrow?
BSD: Hey, are you guys coming, or what?

[Stutroup]

I do NOT really mean all of this!  It's for humor only

Mac: Let's make a video! Oh! Image editing!  Bored?  Wanna play a game?!  I have an idea! Let's make a video!

Windows: Point, click, point, click, point, click, point, click "CRAP!That site has malware!" *googles how to remove it*  "I want some new software" *install ... restart .... restart ... restart ... restart ..........*

Linux: "I want to watch a video" *google how to add codec repository, how to make it work with which media players, find out you need a different media player .... attempt to install, find dependencies. Install dependencies. install media player. Install codec repository ... Video is jerky.  googly why: Video card driver issue.  find third party driver.  Monitor cannot be changed from 320x240px resolution. Remove driver.  Google solution: You need a slightly different variation of the driver.  install falure. Partial install failure. install failure: some components already exist; remove these to continue. You cannot find which components already exist.  But the monitor can be set at least at a usable resolution.  Video sucks, the mouse jumps around ... "F@#% it ... let's do it live!"

BSD: "I want something to fix some digital photos." *find software, 27348948 variations on the same base under the BSD license ... forks of forks of forks of forks of forks of forks of forks of forks.  Finding the still maintained software takes a while, but you find one that looks good.  After installing, you find it's a command-based only image editing program, and the docs are 357 pages long.  Fortunately, O'Reilly Press has a book on it; something new for the library. Six months later, you're learning how to adjust hue, crop as desired, and re-size like a pro, when you run across a BSD port of an intuitive program with a GUI

[mefree]

http://www.tensionnot.com/jokes/operating_systems_and_airlines

What if airlines ran things the way operating systems do? This humorous analogy, applying operating system philosophies as if they were airlines, is a long-standing much-circulated amusing story, and we'd credit the author if we knew who wrote it!

If Operating Systems Ran The Airlines...

UNIX Airways

Everyone brings one piece of the plane along when they come to the airport. They all go out on the runway and put the plane together piece by piece, arguing non-stop about what kind of plane they are supposed to be building.

Air DOS

Everybody pushes the airplane until it glides, then they jump on and let the plane coast until it hits the ground again. Then they push again, jump on again, and so on...

Mac Airlines

All the stewards, captains, baggage handlers, and ticket agents look and act exactly the same. Every time you ask questions about details, you are gently but firmly told that you don't need to know, don't want to know, and everything will be done for you without your ever having to know, so just shut up.

Windows Air

The terminal is pretty and colourful, with friendly stewards, easy baggage check and boarding, and a smooth take-off. After about 10 minutes in the air, the plane explodes with no warning whatsoever.

Windows NT Air

Just like Windows Air, but costs more, uses much bigger planes, and takes out all the other aircraft within a 40-mile radius when it explodes.

Windows XP Air

You turn up at the airport,which is under contract to only allow XP Air planes. All the aircraft are identical, brightly coloured and three times as big as they need to be. The signs are huge and all point the same way. Whichever way you go, someone pops up dressed in a cloak and pointed hat insisting you follow him. Your luggage and clothes are taken off you and replaced with an XP Air suit and suitcase identical to everyone around you as this is included in the exorbitant ticket cost. The aircraft will not take off until you have signed a contract. The inflight entertainment promised turns out to be the same Mickey Mouse cartoon repeated over and over again. You have to phone your travel agent before you can have a meal or drink. You are searched regularly throughout the flight. If you go to the toilet twice or more you get charged for a new ticket. No matter what destination you booked you will always end up crash landing at Whistler in Canada.

OSX Air:

You enter a white terminal, and all you can see is a woman sitting in the corner behind a white desk, you walk up to get your ticket. She smiles and says "Welcome to OS X Air, please allow us to take your picture", at which point a camera in the wall you didn't notice before takes your picture. "Thank you, here is your ticket" You are handed a minimalistic ticket with your picture at the top, it already has all of your information. A door opens to your right and you walk through. You enter a wide open space with one seat in the middle, you sit, listen to music and watch movies until the end of the flight. You never see any of the other passengers. You land, get off, and you say to yourself "wow, that was really nice, but I feel like something was missing"

Windows Vista Airlines:

You enter a good looking terminal with the largest planes you have ever seen. Every 10 feet a security officer appears and asks you if you are "sure" you want to continue walking to your plane and if you would like to cancel. Not sure what cancel would do, you continue walking and ask the agent at the desk why the planes are so big. After the security officer making sure you want to ask the question and you want to hear the answer, the agent replies that they are bigger because it makes customers feel better, but the planes are designed to fly twice as slow. Adding the size helped achieve the slow fly goal.

Once on the plane, every passenger has to be asked individually by the flight attendants if they are sure they want to take this flight. Then it is company policy that the captain asks the passengers collectively the same thing. After answering yes to so many questions, you are punched in the face by some stranger who when he asked "Are you sure you want me to punch you in the face? Cancel or Allow?" you instinctively say "Allow".

After takeoff, the pilots realize that the landing gear driver wasn't updated to work with the new plane. Therefore it is always stuck in the down position. This forces the plane to fly even slower, but the pilots are used to it and continue to fly the planes, hoping that soon the landing gear manufacturer will give out a landing gear driver update.

You arrive at your destination wishing you had used your reward miles with XP airlines rather than trying out this new carrier. A close friend, after hearing your story, mentions that Linux Air is a much better alternative and helps.

Linux Air

Disgruntled employees of all the other OS airlines decide to start their own airline. They build the planes, ticket counters, and pave the runways themselves. They charge a small fee to cover the cost of printing the ticket, but you can also download and print the ticket yourself.

When you board the plane, you are given a seat, four bolts, a wrench and a copy of the seat-HOWTO.html. Once settled, the fully adjustable seat is very comfortable, the plane leaves and arrives on time without a single problem, the in-flight meal is wonderful. You try to tell customers of the other airlines about the great trip, but all they can say is, "You had to do what with the seat?"

[SirBedevere]

Stu:  You described my Linux experience exactly.

Free:  Thanks for the big laughs!

[Ultrapoet]

I've been using Macintoshes since they were little beige boxes with monochrome screens.  It's simply what I'm used to.  I think a lot of Mac users have a bit of that cultish mentality because the Mac OS was the underdog for such a long time, which tends to cultivate a certain defensiveness.

I'm personally glad that they're using a Unix back end now, since it allows me easier access to a lot of open source programs.  I can also run a Windows emulator on it if I really needed it.

[Raven]

k guys this was posted for fun!  I didn't mean to offend anyone.  Everything said in here was done so with a smile

[Lorelei]

I started off with Macs and love(d) them. I only switched to Windows because I thought I'd get more consulting gigs with a Win system...only to have 4 out of 5 people hiring me to work for them use Macs.

I love my current Wintop machine, but I have to admit it has given me more hassles and troubles in 5 years than all my Macs did for 15+ years.

If you need compatibility with other users and cheaper parts / upgrades, go for Win. Expect issues, BSoDs, crashes, but an easier time getting help and finding programs that run on your machine.
If you do creative work and are sick of viruses trying to eat your harddrive every week, get a Mac. Expect that components for it will cost the earth, and if you somehow lose a vital install disk for a vital program, few if any of your friends will be able to lend you their disks to help you re-install it.

I started my mom off with a Mac. She called me with problems five times in as many years. Now she has a Win machine, and hassles me with tech support questions (and dumb stuff like "how do I set a picture I like as my desktop background image?") every three weeks or so, and has gotten viruses and other crap on her machine repeatedly.