unfair press!

[applewhore]

Yet again, Apple is used unfairly in the UK press...

Normally, we see companies using PBs etc. to extol the virtues of PC companies / internet related businesses - but not in situations where Apple stands to make a gain... simply "piggy-backing" the gorgeous designs of our friend, Mr Ive..

Today, in the Daily Mail (UK newspaper), on page 2, they are reporting the "sobig" virus...

Under the HUGE headline of :

"TENS OF MILLIONS HIT BY COMPUTER VIRUS FROM HELL"

they show a drawing of a girl using an original iMac...

For f***'s sake - what's all that about, eh?

The reporter's name is t.utton@dailymail.co.uk (just in case anyone else felt the need to press the point home...!)

[MikeXpop]

I'm writing an email right now. I just have a question though, what exactly is the name of the man I'm writing to?

[Arden]

Tim Utton. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/b...les/timid66877

The online version doesn't have the picture, so I'm not writing anything. If you scan it, I'll write a missive.

[adambyte]

It's not necessarily the writer's fault.... it might be the layout person, or the editor, and he's just taken some stock photography and plopped it next to the article.

Whoever did it, though.... psh. :-P

[applewhore]

Arden - fair call, but I'm afraid I'm visiting my parents in the UK, and although I've got everyone here using PBs now, they haven't taken the step to scanning yet!

Therefore, I can't prove what I'm saying to be true! sorry...

adambyte - I completely agree that it might not be strictly his fault, but his name is the only one given with regards to the article, so I felt vindicated in dropping him a message pointing out their error!

When you get subliminal messages like this in reporting, it's no wonder it takes time for the general populace to learn "the truth"!

[edX]

well, i;m guessing that most pc users don't know that macs aren't effected by all these viruses they spend their days worrying about. so how would some joe shmoe know that an imac isn't just any computer, it's a virus retardent computer? the up side is that it shows a mac as a 'computer' and not like some specialty machine that is only good for graphic artists. still a good idea to let them know their mistake but likely more positive associations than bad ones would come of this in the long run. remember it's not what people say about you, it's whether they're talking about you at all.

[applewhore]

I just thought I'd post a copy of what I wrote to the journalist - I'm not trying to stir up hate mail for him!

The article just pi$$ed me off - sloppy and inaccurate!

"Hi Tim

I read your article in the Mail today, and just wanted to make a couple of points:

A) The “How It Works” list should read :

“sobig arrives in e-mail” etc.
receiver opens attachment

“attachment infects computer” etc.
“virus also loads program” etc.

If the recipient deletes the attachment without opening it, no harm is done – you are scaremongering by not making this more obvious...

B) The drawing used in your article depicts an iMac – made by Apple – the only computers not to be affected by .exe files – VERY misleading to the general public...

Sorry, but couldn’t let this pass... It’s only Windows users who have problems with these virii!

Edward"

edX - perhaps you're right, but I do think that when people see an easily-recognisable iMac alongside a headline that suggests (very strongly) that this is one of the millions of computers that has been hit - it will register, on some level at least, and leave a negative impression that may influence future buying decisions.

If it had been a beige box, it would have been a much more sensible (albeit less aesthetically pleasing) depiction!

I just needed to vent!

[Arden]

I agree, if the average Joe Shmoe is computer shopping, and he sees an iMac, and remembers reading about that virus that was affecting all these computers, and he remembers the picture that accompanied the article, and that this computer resembles that picture, then he is going to avoid it so he doesn't get the virus.

If, however, the iMac depicted was a gumdrop model, then sales of lampshade iMacs shouldn't decrease because of it.