Originally Posted by BestJewSinceJC

Right, but the other differences are that the Mac's processors aren't as fast (2.13ghz compared to 2.44 ghz) and my computer came with 2x the RAM (4gigs compared to 2gigs). The battery I have says it lasts for 4 hrs on power saver mode, I usually use it on high performance and it lasts around 3. I see where the expenses that are in the Mac are coming from. They just aren't worthwhile for me or for the average computer user. Some of those things you listed are unnecessary for most people (online data backup - I have an external, an office suite - I only need Microsoft Works or similar, 6+ hrs battery life - my 4 is more than enough, music/video editing software - I don't use these) ... some of them are found for free online (music/video editing software - I used Camtasia Studios at work once, for example, and it was excellent and free) ... and some of them are standard on a lot of machines (CD/DVD burner, photo management software - assuming you weren't talking about photoshop, which I'd include in the 'unnecessary' category). So again, I have a more powerful machine with the simple things that I need to use for less money. I don't see how that is "buying a machine that is priced $200 less". It is buying a machine that has the necessities, and not spending more money for software that I will never use.

Van der Graaf also mentioned the iPhone, which he called "quite safe" for internet banking.

"Another option is the Apple iPhone. It is only capable of running one process at a time so there is really no danger from infection," he said.

Originally Posted by iamthwee

I've only ever used linux distro's for testing stuff on, now mainly through vmware.

I've remained with windows xp because of the software really. For protection all I do is run sygate personal firewall. And decline anything that looks suspicious. Sure the pop up box is annoying but you get used to it after time.

Originally Posted by jbennet

New south wales poilce are idiots...!!!

That doesnt make someting safe... the iphone isnt invulnerable. Also he doesnt seem to comprehend the fact that it can be lost easialy, or the fact that its sending your data over public airwaves or (usually unsecured) wireless networks

Originally Posted by The Mad Hatter

There aren't any exploits that affect the IPhone's security

Originally Posted by The Mad Hatter

And it has an operating system that the New South Wales police don't warn you against (see previous post).

Originally Posted by The Mad Hatter

Hold on a second - when did I mention online data backup?

Um, tried Microsoft works back in the bad old days (Windows 3.1) and never touched it since, it was so bad. Wordstar 3.3 was better. So was Easy Writer (called Sleazy Writer by fans). Word Perfect for Windows wasn't bad. Word itself wasn't bad (though over the years it's gotten pretty bloated).

Me, I like being able to work unplugged, so the extra time (Apple claims 7, I get 6+) is useful.

Music/Video editing software - use them all the time. But I'm retiring the music editing software, we are buying a Korg Oasys which includes everything you need to produce your own Audio Compact Discs.

As to the speed difference, you may not have taken into account the FSB speed (most people don't) or the actual screen specifications (Apple screens are generally of higher quality).

And it has an operating system that the New South Wales police don't warn you against (see previous post).

There aren't any exploits that affect the IPhone's security, just as there aren't any exploits that affect Linux's security

Originally Posted by jbennet

New south wales poilce are idiots...!!!

That doesnt make someting safe... the iphone isnt invulnerable. Also he doesnt seem to comprehend the fact that it can be lost easialy, or the fact that its sending your data over public airwaves or (usually unsecured) wireless networks

Originally Posted by xan

There are exploits, although they tend to be patched fairly quickly.

Look at this: http://www.forbes.com/2009/07/28/hac...y-hackers.html

Apple did resolve this issue, although there have been others before this and there are, no doubt, undiscovered problems.

Originally Posted by crunchie

And one would actually believe (arguably) the most corrupt police in Australia? Give me a break.

Originally Posted by BestJewSinceJC

I highly doubt that Dell would put together a machine that was unbalanced by putting in a bottleneck in the FSB, if that is what you are suggesting (which it seems it is). In any case, the FSB speed for both systems is 1066 MHz. . . Not that it matters (if you look into it more, I believe the speed does not determine the actual bandwidth, although I'm no expert). The point is that including video editing, music editing, and other software packages that most people don't use into the "price comparison" of systems is pointless. At that point, a price comparison is not useful because you are losing the userbase that doesn't care about your software packages (the ones you mentioned earlier) (which happens to be the majority of users, in my opinion). Take it or leave it, but there are obviously a good number of people that agree with me.

Oh, and I do not think that the opinion of a police organization is very relevant in computer science. (Although I hesitate to reject it right away, but I'm also too lazy to read it). :p

Originally Posted by jbennet

There is exploits for both (and there is probably likely to be more for the iphone seeing as apple keep adding bloat to it e.g flash support)