I actually work with Microsoft employed developers and technologists. I can say first hand that many Microsoft employees also have Mac envy but are very careful about what they say publicly. Windows Vista is basically trying to catchup to Mac OS X as it existed in 2004. Look at this article, "Stop Mac Envy Forever" written in 2004. What is ironic is that 2.5 years later, 'forever' never arrived or was attained. More users are opting for the Mac and Apple appears to have forward market momentum.
Today in 2007, well I tell you that based on reviews I have read about Windows Vista they did not attain the goals set out in 2004 while creating a Windows that is as good as Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger). Look at all the reviews of Vista lately and approx 75% of them (see this post) mention Mac OS X Tiger in some manner as the baseline comparison for usability, security and 'fun' factor. The Apple commercials are a big hit across the board.
I use Linux, Windows and Mac OS X everyday. At work, Windows is the platform and I get to use Linux in virtualization. In research and at home, I use all three platforms. My primary OS is Mac OS X, followed by Linux and then Windows XP. Windows is a necessary platform just due to market share.
Why deal with Mac Envy? Rather than sit on the sidelines, just get a Mac! You will not regret it if you are open minded and are willing to stretch your computing horizons. Like Apple says, "It just works." It does. I now use my MacBook as a Java development platform and multimedia everything device. iTunes on Mac OS X runs so much cleaner, snappier and consistently compared to iTunes on Windows. No more hiccups or other strangeness that tends to occur when listening to MP3s or watching a DVD on Windows.
I haven't even mentioned the next release of Mac OS X, Leopard. It has even more significant enhancements that will propel Mac OS X above and beyond what Tiger can do today. If you are interesting in the future, check out Apple's info about Leopard and watch the Leopard sneak peak videos. I am impressed and will upgrading to Leopard when it comes out later this year.
Bottom line, if are envious, I feel for you. While you wonder about what it would be like if you got a Mac, I will just keep writing about how my Mac works better than Linux and Windows for me and just keeps improving on a daily basis. In the mean time, good luck with all your patches, worries about security, slow-downs, strange unexplained delays/lockups, and perception that you are running the best OS that exists today. You do have one consolation, you are with the majority running Windows so group therapy is an option.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Zero Effort Installs
I blogged earlier about how I really liked the "Mac way" of installing software, just drag and drop into your Applications. How simple! Well, it looks like the Linux world is catching up to this concept. The Java world has Java WebStart which is very similar. Why should you have to run an install wizard/setup program and answer a bunch of questions, the Windows way? How archaic.
Hence, Zero Install. This is a new product that works on Linux packages your applications into a container very similar to the .app package in Mac OS X. There is no installation step with Zero Install. Rather than install and run, you just run. Zero Install handles everything else. Wow! Like I said, it is very much like the "Mac way" of doing things. Intuitive, simple and it just works. Nothing to read, figure out, configure or waste time 'working through' the encountered issues.
You can do something similar to how Zero Install works on the Mac OS X by just running your application from within a .dmg file (disk image file) but it adds additional overhead and you take a slight performance hit. At least, in my experience running Mac applications directly from within .dmg files.
Anyway, it looks like Mac OS X, Java and Linux are leading the way to the future of computing in yet another area, application installation/execution, with Windows is far behind. At least, Java WebStart is cross platform. Have fun!
Hence, Zero Install. This is a new product that works on Linux packages your applications into a container very similar to the .app package in Mac OS X. There is no installation step with Zero Install. Rather than install and run, you just run. Zero Install handles everything else. Wow! Like I said, it is very much like the "Mac way" of doing things. Intuitive, simple and it just works. Nothing to read, figure out, configure or waste time 'working through' the encountered issues.
You can do something similar to how Zero Install works on the Mac OS X by just running your application from within a .dmg file (disk image file) but it adds additional overhead and you take a slight performance hit. At least, in my experience running Mac applications directly from within .dmg files.
Anyway, it looks like Mac OS X, Java and Linux are leading the way to the future of computing in yet another area, application installation/execution, with Windows is far behind. At least, Java WebStart is cross platform. Have fun!
Friday, February 9, 2007
Another One Makes The Switch
It looks like a prominent Windows expert, Scott Finnie, who has been evaluating and using Mac OS X on his new MacBook since last November has arrived at a conclusion, he is switching to the Mac entirely. This is after a 3-month objective trial of switching to Mac OS X in comparison to Windows Vista. "Windows Expert Jumps Ship".
I bought my first Mac in the same timeframe and can say that I have come to the same realization. I really like my MacBook and more importantly Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger in comparison to my experience with Linux and Windows. I have been a long time Linux and even longer Windows user/developer. If I need Windows, then I can use Parallels virtualization to run Windows on my Mac.
I am glad I am not the only one that has made a recent switch. My results are extremely positive. As I have stated previously, I will continue using Linux and Windows but for my preferred environment, I am making Mac OS X it. After over two-months of working on my MacBook, I am getting to the point of becoming proficient using it. Sayonara Windows!
I bought my first Mac in the same timeframe and can say that I have come to the same realization. I really like my MacBook and more importantly Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger in comparison to my experience with Linux and Windows. I have been a long time Linux and even longer Windows user/developer. If I need Windows, then I can use Parallels virtualization to run Windows on my Mac.
I am glad I am not the only one that has made a recent switch. My results are extremely positive. As I have stated previously, I will continue using Linux and Windows but for my preferred environment, I am making Mac OS X it. After over two-months of working on my MacBook, I am getting to the point of becoming proficient using it. Sayonara Windows!
Monday, February 5, 2007
Stability, Reliability, Consistency
It has been a little over two-months since I switched to Mac OS X. I can objectively report that I have not had a any OS crashes, reliability or inconsistent behavior from my MacBook. I have been using it in place of my Linux notebook at home and can say that it has been even more solid than my Linux notebook I used prior to the switch.
If you need a rock solid, consistent platform to work, then the Mac is it. If you are a hard-core Windows user, have a bias towards that platform, have never used Linux/Unix, and are not open to new experiences, then I would say you should stay with that platform.
If you are tired of Microsoft Windows, have issues with stability, having hardware problems, and inconsistent application behavior, and want a change, give the Mac a shot. What will make your switch easier is a gradual migration. In other words, start using OpenOffice.org instead of Microsoft Office, find cross-platform or web-based tools for all your software needs. Then make the switch.
My MacBook has been like an appliance. It just works reliability and consistently all the time. Kind of like my refrigerator. It is exactly what I was looking for in a new notebook computer.
If you need a rock solid, consistent platform to work, then the Mac is it. If you are a hard-core Windows user, have a bias towards that platform, have never used Linux/Unix, and are not open to new experiences, then I would say you should stay with that platform.
If you are tired of Microsoft Windows, have issues with stability, having hardware problems, and inconsistent application behavior, and want a change, give the Mac a shot. What will make your switch easier is a gradual migration. In other words, start using OpenOffice.org instead of Microsoft Office, find cross-platform or web-based tools for all your software needs. Then make the switch.
My MacBook has been like an appliance. It just works reliability and consistently all the time. Kind of like my refrigerator. It is exactly what I was looking for in a new notebook computer.
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