Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Santa Claus is Coming...

just wondering, but how did you figure out about this?

Just randomly going to santaclaus.com?

Well, that is very strange. Maybe an error?
 
Perhaps it has something with the Will Ferrell / Santa Claus ad on the front page of the apple site perhaps?
 
It's gotta be a hacker on a Mac don't you think!?!? I just read about Mac osx being the newest choice for hackers because of the unix ability. He or she probably has stock in Apple and is trying to boost it's value by getting all of those kids to get their parents to buy a Mac.;)
 
Originally posted by ChicagoMac
It's gotta be a hacker on a Mac don't you think!?!? I just read about Mac osx being the newest choice for hackers because of the unix ability. He or she probably has stock in Apple and is trying to boost it's value by getting all of those kids to get their parents to buy a Mac.;)
Click to expand...

Once again, a hacker is not necessarily someone who tries to break into servers with malicious intent. This is how it is used often but its true meaning is outlined below. For those of you who are too lazy to read it, it says that it is a dedicated programmer.

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (09 FEB 02):

hacker

<person, jargon> (Originally, someone who makes furniture with an axe)

1. A person who enjoys exploring the details of programmable systems and how to stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most users, who prefer to learn only the minimum necessary.

2. One who programs enthusiastically (even obsessively) or who enjoys programming rather than just theorizing about programming.

3. A person capable of appreciating hack value.

4. A person who is good at programming quickly.

5. An expert at a particular program, or one who frequently does work using it or on it; as in "a Unix hacker". (Definitions 1 through 5 are correlated, and people who fit them congregate.)

6. An expert or enthusiast of any kind. One might be an astronomy hacker, for example.

7. One who enjoys the intellectual challenge of creatively overcoming or circumventing limitations.

8. (Deprecated) A malicious meddler who tries to discover sensitive information by poking around. Hence "password hacker", "network hacker". The correct term is cracker. The term "hacker" also tends to connote membership in the global community defined by the net (see The Network and Internet address). It also implies that the person described is seen to subscribe to some version of the hacker ethic. It is better to be described as a hacker by others than to describe oneself that way. Hackers consider themselves something of an elite (a meritocracy based on ability), though one to which new members are gladly welcome. Thus while it is gratifying to be called a hacker, false claimants to the title are quickly labelled as "bogus" or a "wannabee".
Click to expand...

Notice definition 8 is deprecated.
 
Presumably the derivation is from "hacking your way in" (rather than using the front door). Therefore your definitions 1 thru 6 are questionable.
 
Maybe the owner of the domain had nothing else to do with it and is an Apple fan?
 
RE:benjaminpg

Originally posted by ChicagoMac
It's gotta be a hacker on a Mac don't you think!?!? I just read about Mac osx being the newest choice for hackers because of the unix ability. He or she probably has stock in Apple and is trying to boost it's value by getting all of those kids to get their parents to buy a Mac.;)
Click to expand...

benjamin,

i don't see malicious intent in trying to boost apple's sales. :)

peace of the season to all.
 
Maybe Santaclaus is a new type of computer that Apple is developing....blah blah blah..... after that, it will be iClaus, a Santa for consumers....blah blah blah.....

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

:p :) :p :) :D :D :D

p.s. Don't drink and drive
 
Originally posted by dricci
Maybe the owner of the domain had nothing else to do with it and is an Apple fan?
Click to expand...

The owner:

Organization:
Coral Technologies Inc
Chris Riley
830-13 A1A North, PMB Ste 141
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
US
Phone: 507-299-5283
Email: postmaster@coral.net

Registrar Name....: Register.com
Registrar Whois...: whois.register.com
Registrar Homepage: http://www.register.com

Domain Name: SANTACLAUS.COM

Created on..............: Tue, Aug 30, 1994
Expires on..............: Sun, Aug 29, 2010
Record last updated on..: Sun, Dec 22, 2002

Notice the intersting last update?

I'm thinking he wouldn't sell it, but Apple made him an offer to point it to apple.com for the holiday season - why not? Everybody wins in this case.

Now why couldn't I have been smart and registered that name? ;)

D
 
Sorry to keep replying, but this is from Santas FAQ

<quote>
What kind of computer does Santa Claus use?

Santa uses Apple Macintosh computers -- this site is supported using three Power PC machines (PowerMac 8600/300, PowerMac 7500, PowerMac 7100, and a PowerMac 6100) and a Quadra 700, Centris 650 and IIci.
</quote>
 
Originally posted by dukestreet
I'm thinking he wouldn't sell it, but Apple made him an offer to point it to apple.com for the holiday season - why not? Everybody wins in this case.
Click to expand...

I agree. Go to http://www.coral.net and you'll start to see why. Not sure if an offer needed to be made though... the halloween.com page has a link to Netcraft, where its made overtly obvious that the machine is running MacOS X.

Case closed, if you ask me....

dan
 
Originally posted by dboy


I agree. Go to http://www.coral.net and you'll start to see why. Not sure if an offer needed to be made though... the halloween.com page has a link to Netcraft, where its made overtly obvious that the machine is running MacOS X.

Case closed, if you ask me....

dan
Click to expand...

In addition...The halloween pages link to apple's site for the iCards. There seems to be several literal, and implied, links to Apple. That is interesting...

--
Jason
 
Right away when I saw this on the front page I checked out www.santaclause.com/index.html. It goes to this guys (weak) page. Doesn't surprise me if he puts the page out to bid every year to the company that has the most wastable money laying around. If somebody wants to do some imvestigatvie work, see what this domain pointed to last year (just check out the whois records, or netcraft). It's probably another big company.

BEN
 
Originally posted by skunk
Presumably the derivation is from "hacking your way in" (rather than using the front door). Therefore your definitions 1 thru 6 are questionable.
Click to expand...

No, actually, the etymology stems from "a hack", which is an unskilled for-hire worker (which, as per many subculture idioms began as a derisive comment and evolved into a point of honor; see "geek"). "hack (n.)", in turn, stems from "to hack (v.)", which is to mangle a peice (of wood) (with an axe).

Etymology aside, within the computing industry definitions 1-6 are definitely the accepted meaning of "hacker". "cracker" is the term used for one who breaks in to systems and/or bypasses protective measures ("cracking" the protections open).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back