Apple's 2005 numbers say it all... Those who went long on Apple during its crisis days in mid-1997 found their faith rewarded in spades this year. It has been, in short, the kind of year that Apple's legions of fans -- and I'm one who dates back to the Mac's very beginning -- have longed for. And that's going to raise the bar for success in 2006 rather high... The big news for 2006 will be the shift to Intel-based machines. It could be challenging -- or the start of a major upgrade cycle... I hope the new PowerMac is a super-box. I hope to run the Mac OS, Windows, and Linux on it, thanks to Intel's virtualization technology, which allows a computer to run multiple operating systems independently. |
To maintain public confidence in its operating system, Jobs & Co. should consider hiring a security czar. |
Uninformed media sources will do what they do best -- sow fear, uncertainty, and doubt [FUD]. And the first time a really big Mac security incident occurs it will cause some people who are considering a Mac over a cheaper Windows-based system to change their minds. Vulnerabilities in Windows are so common they don't really make the news anymore. But a large-scale, widespread incident on the Mac could badly wound Apple's reputation. It's for this reason that I think the time has come for Apple to consider doing what many other companies like IBM and Oracle have: create a position of chief security officer. |