Macs Becoming a Growing Favorite Among the Government And Military
Macs Becoming a Growing Favorite Among the Government And Military
Posted 10/06/2010 at 11:41am
| by Seamus Bellamy
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At one time or another, everyone who putters about with a Mac computer has muttered the phrase "it just works" under their breath. the reliability and durability of Apple's hardware acted as the company's calling cared for years before the iPhone or iPod made the scene. Consumers and professionals around the world understand and rely upon this truth on a daily basis, confidently plowing through home computer and strict work deadlines without fear of crashes, freezes or other world-stopping errors. Whether balancing your checkbook, editing video or designing missiles, a Mac computer is the way to go.
Yeah, that's right: Designing missiles.
It's a little known fact that Apple's desktop and server hardware has been relied upon for years to command, create and control some of the American government's most vital technological assets. Deployed by a number of agencies, Mac computers have been known help NASA render the surface of far away asteroids, host the official web presence of the U.S. Army, and help to educate the soldiers of the Texas Air Nation Guard before being deployed to Iraq. If you've got a few minutes to scan a single page that could lead to hours of in-depth reading later, MacDirectory plays host to an excellent gateway of instances where Apple technology has been deployed by the American government in the defense of this great nation. With a history of federal Mac computer use spanning back to 1989, a visit to the page is sure to see you stumbling across at least one fact you weren't aware of. So, navigate on over--it's some fascinating stuff.
Follow this article's author, Seamus Bellamy on Twitter.
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Mac Help
October 07, 2010 at 6:50am
@jiubreyn - You said: 'While Mac computers are less susceptible to viruses, it does not mean they don't get them..."
I think one could make a case for saying that 'Macs are less susceptible to viruses'. But the facts on the ground are that are are NO viruses currently infecting Macs. There is a HUGH difference between being 'less susceptible to viruses' and having NO viruses (even after 10 years of public availability).
'...Most of the viruses out there are targeted towards PC users as the Mac market only makes up about 10% of all computer sales.'
Almost ALL viruses are geared toward PCs. They have a bigger presence in the market. But then why don't Macs, with a 10% market share, have 10% of the viruses? 150,000 viruses for the PC. Macs SHOULD have 15,000. Instead Macs have none.
No viruses—Yet another reason to own a Mac.
Mac Help
October 06, 2010 at 5:38pm
@axeyouden said: "All this means is the threat of a viruses is growing. Once Apple computers are targeted, the whole gated-community atmosphere of the Macintosh will disintegrate."
You'll have to do better than flying that old canard again. There are NO MAC VIRUSES currently. Neither have there be for the last ten years that Mac OSX has been available to the public. Apple is currently selling 1 million Macs per month. And they've been doing that for the past 16 quarters! That would certainly seem to be a large enough number for some enterprising hacker to be able to win the 'I Was The First Person To Create a Self-Replicating Mac Virus' Award. But alas, not one. Nada. Nil. Zero.
The problem is, is that most PC hacks seem to believe that because there are no Mac viruses that no one is trying to create one. Far from it. I believe that there are a great many hackers trying to claim the prize. It is a testament to Apple's operating system (and their somewhat closed garden), that there are no Mac viruses.
Does that mean that Mac users should be complacent? Of course not. At some point in the future someone will find a way to break into Apple's Operating System. But so far it's been 10 years and still no viruses. How long will we have to wait? Who know. But we've got a ten year jump on them at the get-go.
jiubreyn
October 07, 2010 at 4:57am
While Mac computers are less susceptible to viruses, it does not mean they don't get them. Most of the viruses out there are targeted towards PC users as the Mac market only makes up about 10% of all computer sales.
In addition, have you USED a Mac before? It's like night and day when compared to a PC. Most major companies, and educational institutions prefer to use a Mac because they are reliable, don't require a restart very often, are not as susceptible to viruses, and can run both Windows and Mac OS X.
axeyouden
October 06, 2010 at 12:14pm
All this means is the threat of a viruses is growing.
Once Apple computers are targeted, the whole gated-community atmosphere of the Macintosh will disintegrate.
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