Originally posted by: jimmyj68
Maybe this is a surprise to the experts and hobbyists that populate forums like this, but we are a minority of Microsoft's consumers. The bulk of the computer users out there could care less and no less than we might imagine about processor cycles and off loading to the GPU etc. They are hooked by eye candy and enticing marketing lingo. They react to increased security and additional whiz-bang features. And - microsoft produces a very good product.
I doubt they realy even care about that.
Because if they did they would all be using OS X since OS X has much better eye candy, stability, and security then Microsoft Windows.
Most people use Windows because that's what they got with their computer and that's what works with their programs.
They also are not aware that it is in the ranks of hobbyists and experts that all of microsoft's security problems are created. Joe blow knows nothing about creating worms, viruses or trojans but is lead to believe that something is wrong with microsoft's operating systems because hobbyists and experts spend all of there time trying to break or otherwise screw up the operating system. I'm not implying that anyone here does that, but I'm saying that microsoft targets mainstream consumers of prebuilt systems. it has to defend itself against the minority of consumers that live to wreak havoc on the operating system and to bash microsoift.
I realy doubt that virus writers and worm makers are doing it to 'bash microsoft'.
For instance a lot of people make lots of money from spam. Worms attacking people's computers on broadband connections allows a lot of low-cost bandwidth to unscruplious people who buy these 'botnets' and use them to distribute advertisements.
Also most of these 'hobbiests' your talking about are 12-16 year old children that hang out way to much on their computer and use large numbers of Windows computers like a playground. They purchase and obtain scripts and code from 'black hat' hackers that use flaws in operating systems to a purposefull end.. like stealing credit card information or spoofing bank websites. Or redirecting traffic to spammer's websites and things like that.
These 'black hat' hackers go around undetected, when they want to, generally because they don't trash the computers they use, they don't use software that turns up on anti-virus scans.
They also have all these armies of kids running around doing the electronic equivelent of graffity and petty vandalism which people concentrate (and hides the activities of the realy dangerous people) because: A, it's a nuisiance.. B, it's obvious and C, they think thats the extent of problem when its not.