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Apple, grow up and act professionally

Published on Thursday, October 19th, 2006

Recently a minor number of Apple Video iPods were shipped with a virus, namely RavMonE.exe. What do Apple do? Well, blame Microsoft, of course.

Taken from the Apple web support site:

As you might imagine, we are upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses

Seriously, are you fucking kidding me?! Apple, here’s how it is:

You shipped the product
You were responsible for testing it

Just because some of your employees has used a Windows machine (oh, the irony) and didn’t how to protect it from viruses, and consequently gave this virus to some small poor iPods, you can never ever blame Microsoft. Microsoft aren’t responsible (as far as I know) for starvation in the world nor for when you do a piss-poor job.

This is exactly the reason why Apple have such a hard time being accepted by large companies all over the world: total lack of professionalism.

If a kid is playing in the sand together with another kid, and he then suddenly hits the other kid with the shovel in the face, it sure isn’t the the poor flat-nose-and-sand-all-over-the-face kid’s fault for just sitting there. Grow up, Apple.

Posted in Apple/Mac, Technology, Travel | 26 comments

26 comments

Kanashii
October 19th, 2006 at 12:10

I hate Microsoft more than anything and even I think that statement is so wrong in so many ways.. And to have that on the official site as an official statement is unbelievable. Not what I would expect from them. How hard is it to just own up and take responsibility.
Peter
October 19th, 2006 at 13:12

How about acting professionaly and mature yourself and stop using curse words in every other sentance. Thank you.
Robert Nyman - author
October 19th, 2006 at 14:37

Kanashii,

I’m glad that you agree.

Peter,

This web site is who I am. I know some people don’t like swearing, but if I’m in the mood to swear because I’m upset, I will. So, if you don’t like that it’s probably best that you don’t read, because I’m fairly sure I will swear next time I get upset over something similar to this topic above: a company behaving like a three-year old.

And regarding maturity: if you want to write comments here, please have the decency to enter a valid e-mail adress.
Nick
October 19th, 2006 at 15:49

Well if I understand what you are saying is correct:

That a few employees at apple that were running (infected) windows caused iPods to go into product with viruses on them.

If that is what you are saying, to me it is somewhat justified. I would be pissed two if someone elses product caused a big flaw for my product. But it is still on me to test my product before releasing it.

Hey they haven’t been producing things for windows that long so something like this was bound to happen sometime.
Stijn
October 19th, 2006 at 16:27

As you might imagine, we are upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses, and even more upset with ourselves for not catching it.

To give it some context
Ed
October 19th, 2006 at 16:44

we are upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses

Absolute classic! Why can’t a company such as Apple take the shame of getting something wrong? Why limit the humiliation? They now look even bigger fools.

How about acting professionaly and mature yourself and stop using curse words in every other sentance

Swearing for swearing sake is wrong. Swearing to convey expression, something the web is weak at, is right. It adds weight to an opinion and gives the reader a better understanding of the emotion of the author.Reading a blog is also an optional pastime. It’s up to you.
Ed
October 19th, 2006 at 16:47

But it is still on me to test my product before releasing it.

And that’s all there is to it. This has nothing to do with Microsoft whatsoever.
starbird
October 19th, 2006 at 18:44

as Stjin pointed out, they are commenting that Windows should be robust enough to catch it, but that even more importantly, they should have caught it first

but not one blog/news sight states this. They edit to make it look like they are not taking any responsibility, which they are.
Maaike
October 19th, 2006 at 18:59

They shouldn’t have mentioned Windows at all, that’s just childish. I like Apple computers for their good looks, but I can’t believe there are still people who think that Apple (the company) is worthy of their sympathy.
Ryan Peterson
October 19th, 2006 at 19:05

Unfortunately, part of the responsibility of using Windows is being aware of security its security risks. I don’t think there are any excuses for Apple - a computer company(!) - to not be aware of this, especially when it flouts its own security in its own marketing.
Gustaf
October 20th, 2006 at 1:01

As you might imagine, we are upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses, and even more upset with ourselves for not catching it.

I really don’t get why you are all so upset about this. Sure, this is Apple’s fault and noone elses, but they’re not trying to blame Microsoft for it. The bluntness and transparency in the statement .. they’re simply being amusingly mischievous
Steve Williams
October 20th, 2006 at 4:06

Yeah, the full sentence does put a different light on it… not soooo guilty as charged, but would love to have seen Job’s face and heard the first words he spoke after he was told… Bill must still be laughing

Cost of continual security fixes for Windows… $ka-ching
Losing the Eolas appeal… $ka-ching-ka-ching

Your OS inadvertently infecting your competitors most successful product ever… fucking priceless
Jason Martino
October 20th, 2006 at 6:43

Silly old Windows that covers 95% of the market and a whole lot of Apple’s IPOD sales. I’m still mad I didn’t win your ipod contest for recommending the iframe tag! fuck, fuck, fuck.
Chris
October 20th, 2006 at 8:16

In my opinion it’s typical for apple’s arrogance to shift the blame to others.
I mean Apple makes good products but can’t stop to emphasize the weaknesses of other’s products. And Apple’s products have also their weaknesses.
Robert Nyman - author
October 20th, 2006 at 10:30

Thanks for your comments. Of course they take responsibility, but to even mention Microsoft and Windows is, in my eyes, extremely unprofessional.
Eugene
October 20th, 2006 at 11:13

The problem is always between keyboard and chair. An OS can’t help that.

Apple is acting very unprofessional by blaming ‘the other one’. It’s like my 5yr old son: “it wasn’t me, i didn’t do it!”
Tobie Langel
October 21st, 2006 at 6:58

Robert,

Citing a source out of context in a way that implies a twist in the meaning intended by its author is not very professional either.

I do agree however that the text published by Apple is not the smartest thing ever.
Johan
October 21st, 2006 at 11:38

Blaming the other seems delberate to tackle the competition. Marketing strategies.

Ipod vs Zune

Read here:

http://www.christianmontoya.com/2006/10/16/moron-alert/
Robert Nyman - author
October 21st, 2006 at 13:07

Tobie,

The citing is, of course, intentional. The gist of what’s wrong in their statement is what I choose to cite. They being angry at themselves is such a given that I didn’t find it necessary to bring up here.

Johan,

Absolutely, it’s not the first time Apple has taken a stab at Microsoft, and it is usually out of context too. Thnaks for the link, too.
Wayne
October 26th, 2006 at 4:56

Personally? I just found it funny. ( The entire incident )
Robert Nyman - author
October 26th, 2006 at 10:19

Wayne,

It is. To some degree…
mackie
November 24th, 2006 at 14:42

In the source cited, Apple also blamed themselves…why is that not professional? Sure they blamed MS as well, because they,re responsible in a way.
Robert Nyman - author
November 24th, 2006 at 14:53

mackie,

Because it is solely Apple’s responsibility to make sure what they sell, and use, is correct.
Fake Steve is playing again with THE PC! | Fake Steve Here, Fake Steve There
August 13th, 2007 at 20:02

[…] hints for both Real and Fake Steve: Apple ships viruses - “Total lack of professionalism”, Unavailable fullscreen view on Mac is such a […]
David Casseres
August 14th, 2007 at 5:28

“Because it is solely Appleâ€™s responsibility to make sure what they sell, and use, is correct.”

Yes, and it’s solely yours to quote their entire sentence, in which they accepted responsibility. But you didn’t. So who’s unprofessional? Grow up, son, your kids are going to need you to.
Robert Nyman - author
August 27th, 2007 at 19:52

David,

FYI: what text is quoted is entirely up to the quoter, to begin with. But I agree, the entire sentence should have been published. But instead please see it as a counterweight to all people loving and defending Apple no matter what they do.

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