[Az-Geocaching] Virus

[Bill]

Oh please...  I have been teaching computer science at the college level for 20+ years now, and
I teach my students what I call "Bill's Law."  (I'm Bill.)  "With computers, it is important to
have what everyone else has, even if what everyone else has is not the best."

In other words, compatibility is more important than performance, in most cases.  (I also don't
accept that these systems outperform Windows.  My XP machine has been up continuously now for
176 days.  It just doesn't give me any problems.)

Besides, the reason few viruses are written for Macs or Linux has nothing whatever to do with
the relative security of these operating systems vs. Windows.  The simple fact is that virus
developers are no different than other software developers.  They write for Windows because
most people have Windows.  About 90% of all personal computers run Windows, and the vast
majority of these users use Outlook or Outlook Express.  It would be silly to write a virus for
an operating system that few are using.  So, if you Mac and Linux owners want to remain
relatively untroubled by viruses, you should discourage others from coming over to your side.
If you succeed in making these operating systems popular, you will also succeed in making them
just as attractive a target for the virus developers as Windows is now.

Please send flames by email directly to me at:  bill@willcox.net.

Bill

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chelby Geiss" <chelby@desertsol.com>


> Linux rules...but don't forget us Mac people!  As my hubby says--"If
> more people used Macs and Linux, the world would be a better place!"