My real, first impression of Vista.

[Sesshi]

So UAC is how to make an OS more secure? Placing the responsibility on the user for choosing between "Cancel" or Allow" to protect your system is not the definition of security. Granted, there's likely to be a bit of spirited MS-bashing (this is a Mac forum, after all), but if it was a matter of simply badmouthing another OS, where's all the Solaris disrespect, or the trashing of Linux? Nah, MS deserves it for the most part.

Years overdue, missing all the major components that were the keystone improvements to XP, requiring most average users to upgrade hardware or miss all the GUI-goodness, six freaking versions, and major corporate and edu IT staffs refusing to get anywhere near it forcing MS to "allow" OEM XP builds for an extended period. Whew. Not a successful release, in anybody's book.

UAC covers more than constant nag screens when you're running as Administrator like most people do.

It's because you're running as administrator you get more nag screens - because Microsoft, probably rightly given the reaction from the masses and certainly here, thinks that you're too dumb to consider the security implications of running as Administrator.

Set yourself up as a Standard User and you'll find the experience much more OS X like. If it needs permissions, it will ask you to present yourself as Administrator.

The reason that MS gets much bashing is that Windows is probably the only other OS apart from OS X where people who don't have any clue what they are doing can pick up and use on an everyday basis. And in many ways, it is certainly less forgiving of ignoramuses than OS X.

 

[McGiord]

Avoid Windows and you'll be always happy.
________
cannabis collective

 

[Neil321]

Avoid Windows and you'll be always happy.

Id love too but have to use it at work

 

[JNB]

UAC covers more than constant nag screens when you're running as Administrator like most people do.

It's because you're running as administrator you get more nag screens - because Microsoft, probably rightly given the reaction from the masses and certainly here, thinks that you're too dumb to consider the security implications of running as Administrator.

Set yourself up as a Standard User and you'll find the experience much more OS X like. If it needs permissions, it will ask you to present yourself as Administrator..

Good point (and one I didn't mean to ignore for obfuscation), but as the sole user on all of my machines, I have always run as Admin; in fact, I don't even enable Guest accounts in either my Windows or Mac environments. Is a better answer than to create a local user that is allowed to administer, or one that has full access, but no Admin privileges? I'm just resistant to more layers than I need on a routine basis. And, having run that way for years, what's the impact of changing this late in the game?

 

[Sesshi]

For just general working I create a Standard User for myself, be it on OS X or Vista. I elevate privileges only when necessary in everyday situations. I am also the sole user of all my machines.

 

[contoursvt]

After the initial setup is done, I virtually never get bothered by UAC. New installations or changing system settings but outside of that, day to day usage it never really comes up. SO basically I can go days without seeing a UAC screen.

Also sure anyone can click "allow" but its your own computer so you're clicking "allow" or "deny". In a work environment, the user is locked down anyway so they cannot install anyway unless they have some kind of admin rights given to them. In a work enviornment you can lock the console when you walk away from your desk so nobody can get in anyway.

I hardly think that you could even consider comparing OSX authentication with UAC. On average, with default settings, how many times do you have to click cancel or allow, and how many times do you have to authenticate on a Mac over the course of a day? Plus, how does requiring a mouse click ensure security? Literally anyone could be clicking "Allow" on that Vista box. I don't think one would have the same ease trying to install something on my Mac without having my password.