TechTicker

I’m seeing a disturbing trend coming out of Mac-land right now, and it’s starting to piss me off.

As I mentioned yesterday, the slimy push to get Safari installed on PCs via the Apple Software update is poor form, but in and of itself it’s just irritating.  The motives that drove the decision on the other-hand are more disconcerting; but what makes me really angry is the arguments in support of the move coming out of the Mac-head camp.

In a comment on Paul Mison’s post “A Translation of “Apple’s Windows Invasion“, Tom Insam writes:

“Obviously Apple realised that if they wanted to get accepted by all those windows users, they had to install irritating system tray icons and background processes and intrusive update software like everyone else. Not to mention apps with their own look-and-feel that don’t look like anything else on the desktop. It’s just Apple trying to fit in on the platform.”

This argument is pathetic and echoes of school-yard me-toism, where the only logic is “Everyone else is doing it.  Why not us?”It reeks of an application that lacks the appeal and quality to be adopted on its own merit and therefore can only get into the user radar through underhanded tactics.  It reflects very poorly on Safari, as is being demonstrated by the outrage across the web as we speak.

If Steve Jobs was trying to gain the ear of PC users this way, it hasn’t worked.  The move is being seen for what it is: a desperate ploy for attention.

But to be fair, as has been explained elsewhere, this tactic is nothing new. Apple hasn’t sunk to depths unexplored by other companies.  They’ve just joined their ranks.

Let’s get this straight, Apple: This tactic is unacceptable no matter who does it.  This goes for Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, and Apple.

From my standpoint as a consumer, this has broke my trust, my confidence in the company and eliminated any desire at all to use the browser.  I choose to use an application; it cannot be forced on me.  And the fact it is being forced on me means I will never use Safari by choice.

I am not a zealous PC-user either.  My laptop is a MacBook which has virtual installations of Windows XP Professional and Ubuntu Linux Gutsy Gibbon.  I see computer software as a tool through which I can achieve the aims and objectives I set for myself.  I do not see the borders of operating system or program that some people get hung up on.  If it serves the purposes I need it to, I’ll use it.

However when I see companies like Microsoft, Google, and Apple breaking my trust it alienates me - immediately.  I used to love Google but have begun to shy away from them; I used to trust Microsoft, but have done the same.  Now I do the same with Apple.

I’ve developed quite an appreciation for open source philosophies, and the freedom, choice, and openness they advocate.  Apple’s move with Safari has reminded me of what I don’t want to return to with proprietary companies.

References:

• “A Translation of “Apple’s Windows Invasion“, more chaff, 21 March 2008