Comments on: Obama: I'm a PC

By: Chill Out! Obama Doesn’t Hate Your iPad [MediaMemo] | TECHNICK

Chill Out! Obama Doesn’t Hate Your iPad [MediaMemo] | TECHNICK — Mon, 10 May 2010 10:45:33 +0000

[...] things first: We already knew that Barack Obama was Blackberry/PC guy, right? Perhaps even a Zune guy? So his “admission” that he doesn’t know how [...]

By: Chill Out! Obama Doesn’t Hate Your iPad | Peter Kafka | MediaMemo | AllThingsD

Mon, 10 May 2010 10:31:56 +0000

[...] things first: We already knew that Barack Obama was Blackberry/PC guy, right? Perhaps even a Zune guy? So his “admission” that he doesn’t know how [...]

By: links for 2009-02-12 | Yostivanich.com

links for 2009-02-12 | Yostivanich.com — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:58:09 +0000

[...] Obama: I’m a PC | Peter Kafka | MediaMemo | AllThingsD Seems odd considering earlier it sounded like most of his staff used Macs. (tags: obama technology intel apple micrsoft windows) [...]

By: Peter Kafka

Peter Kafka — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:53:17 +0000

Scott, you really think the White House is running on Linux?
And mahmoud, I’m pretty sure our eagle-eyed monitors are going to delete your comment. But if you do come back for another visit and want to try again, you might explaining, in a civil tone, exactly what’s wrong with the story. Just like the commenters above you. Try it! It will be fun.

By: mahmoud lababidi

mahmoud lababidi — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:47:03 +0000

pathetic reporting. you should be taken out back and beaten.

By: Leon Jacobs

Leon Jacobs — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 07:17:35 +0000

The photographic evidence would suggest otherwise:

http://r2witco.tumblr.com/post.....o-how-cool

By: Scott Hale

Scott Hale — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:28:45 +0000

Since when does advertising an Intel processor mean you use Microsoft software. All of my computers advertise Intel and not a single one has any piece of Microsoft software running.

By: Peter Kafka

Peter Kafka — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:05:50 +0000

Elim, you’re right. Will tweak. Bill, do you think Obama uses Vista or Windows 7? Or maybe a custom version of XP?

By: Bill Horvath

Bill Horvath — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:38:32 +0000

“In other words, when Barack Obama puts down his BlackBerry and boots up his laptop, he’s using a Microsoft (MSFT) machine. Next crucial question: What OS?”

I assume most readers recognize the inherent error in this combination of statement and question. (In case not: If the computer is using an OS other than a Microsoft OS, it’s not a Microsoft machine; it’s just a machine that happens to use the same processor that is used by Microsoft’s OS…and by Apple’s OS…and by Red Hat’s OS…etc.)

By: Elim Garak

Elim Garak — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:16:15 +0000

“Microsoft machine”?

What? Obama uses an X-Box as his work computer?

Microsoft does not produce computer hardware — just a game console, media player and accessories. They just provide the most used software.

By: Mac Beach

Mac Beach — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:02:09 +0000

It was widely reported (seemed wide anyway) that the Apple users were extremely inconvenienced on entering the White House. I’m not aware of any government-wide ban on Apple computers, but where I’ve seen them used they were treated as special exceptions. I’m quite sure the President has the authority to overturn whatever rules he chooses. It was originally reported that he would have to give up his Blackberry, and didn’t after all.

Can there be any doubt that if he is running a non-Apple Intel machine he is running Linux on it? All cool people do.

By: Steve Conston

Steve Conston — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:58:43 +0000

Interestingly enough, when I was working on highly classified Defense programs decades ago, the only out-of-the-box computers allowed in highly sensitive areas were Macs; PCs had to be retrofit at a cost of $10,000 or more a machine. Macs were built to prevent emitting any signals that could compromise the data even though the construction was not designed with that intent in mind but to pass FCC regulations with flying colors. As someone who continues to work in the field of electromagnetic interference compliance, I have noted that Macs in general emit far less than any standard PC because of Apple’s attention to important details such as EMI gaskets and proper grounding and termination techniques. So in this case I would argue that PCs are less secure (for many other reasons as well) and perhaps our government should rethink the issue and buy Obama a new Mac.

By: SCOTT SMITH

SCOTT SMITH — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:44:07 +0000

I can attest to the campaign using macs. A bussiness partner donated 10 MacBooks to the Asheville NC campaign office.

By: The Toybox mobile edition

The Toybox mobile edition — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:31:15 +0000

[...] with the Apple design asthetic. With that question answered, I ask you just one more, by way of MediaMemo’s Peter Kafka: So what OS do you think Obama uses? posted by Andrew Nusca February 11, 2009 @ 9:27 [...]

By: ross richardson

ross richardson — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:07:24 +0000

Peter, I don’t think it’s an Obama thing as much as it’s a government thing.

The fact that Obama’s campaign was a Mac-driven operation has been widely documented. Let Obama end a few wars and clean up the financial industry first.

The mess that is government computing can wait a little while.