Mac Envy Thoughts

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.