Category: Apple and Mac OS X

Why I finally embraced computer literacy

Computer illiteracy It’s very likely that you know someone who self-identifies as “computer illiterate.” That person may even be proud of being so. I was once one of these people. I was one of these people for a long time. In fact, I was quite offended when my Latin teacher in high school thought I… Continue reading Why I finally embraced computer literacy

Fanboy isn’t just a generic insult. It means something.

Warning, for those who know me in person: This is an extremely geeky post. Proceed with caution. Just as forum users will sometimes fling the label troll against anyone who argues with them, many forum users (particularly in computer-related discussions) will throw around the term fanboy without making the term meaningful. Most of the time,… Continue reading Fanboy isn’t just a generic insult. It means something.

Firefox 3 Download Day: Good Publicity Stunt

Unless you keep up with tech news, you may have missed it, but this past Tuesday was “download day,” in which Mozilla was hoping to set a world record for downloads by encouraging its users to download Firefox 3 on its release day. I don’t think there was actually a previously held world record, and… Continue reading Firefox 3 Download Day: Good Publicity Stunt

Is security through obscurity better than nothing?

Before I started using Linux and getting into frequent online discussions with other Linux users about security issues, I had no idea about computer security. I thought having a login and password was enough to keep the “bad guys” out, should my computer ever be stolen. Most people I know think the same. My dad… Continue reading Is security through obscurity better than nothing?

Wake-up call: Apple won’t port iTunes to Linux

Introduction I want to bring iTunes-loving Linux users back to reality. As you can see from the following Ubuntu Forums threads, some Ubuntu-ites are deluded about the idea of Apple porting iTunes to Linux: Why Apple doesn’t want to release iTunes for Linux Petition – iTunes for Ubuntu Should Apple port iTunes to Linux? The… Continue reading Wake-up call: Apple won’t port iTunes to Linux

Sometimes I will get PC about “PC”

Yes, I’m a former English teacher, and I tend to be a stickler about word choice, phrasing, and grammar. I’m not ridiculous, though. If you want to split your infinitives, I really couldn’t care less. If you say you could care less when you really couldn’t care less, then I’ll get irritated. But I don’t… Continue reading Sometimes I will get PC about “PC”

Without education, it doesn’t matter which OS is “more secure”

In Linux online communities, oftentimes there are debates about which operating is the most secure—Windows or a Linux-based distribution. The debates usually go something like this: Do I have to worry about security in Linux the way I did in Windows? No, you don’t have to. Linux is much more secure. But isn’t that just… Continue reading Without education, it doesn’t matter which OS is “more secure”