Mac Users Stalk Panther

[zybch]

For a company with less than 3.5% of market share it amazing that Apple is still around. With the launch of Panther, the Mac os's feature set moves one step closer to win XP. Fast user switching, 128bit encryption, silly little vid conferencing, it all sounds familiar doesn't it.

[MDLarson]

You might want to check out this website. The webmaster proclaims his bias towards Mac, but it should prove an interesting read for those who are seriously comparing Windows XP with Mac OS X.

I definately plan on buying Panther. All I hear is good things about it, the most important being speed. 10.2 is a little on the slow side on my G4 450 MHz...

[zybch]

There are a lot about the comparison that disturb me.
For example the reviewer appears to have chosen to move the windows XP taskbar to the top of the screen (in an attempt to make it more Mac like?) rather than to leave it at the bottom as is the 'standard' He then spends considerable time complaining how apps and net popups seem to have difficulty with it in this non-standard location.
Comparing the licensing costs of X to XP is also a bit misleading, as Apple have complete control over what hardware their OS will run under but MS has had to implement a design that will work with the millions of different combinations of hardware that is available; this will of course, cost more.

Not bad for the most part, however a Mac bias always seems to be in the background, even though the reviewer goes to great lengths to state his impartiality. However he breaks his own rules by carefully explaining why X behaves as it does in relation to not being able to maximise windows to completely fill the screen, giving examples and trying to get the reader understand (making excuses) why X functions in a less than intuitive way.

I guess whichever system is the best/most accessable/affordable will be the one that has the higher percent usage in the market. Perhaps if Apple hadn't shot itself in the foot regarding licensing its hardware it might be a different story than today where the PC/Windows boxes are responsible for over 95% of the market, while the Mac sits at around 3%.
When will they see that people would buy more Macs if they went back to a somewhat more subdued design, dropped their prices by about 40% and started leaning lessons from their compeditoprs instead of just going their own way.

That being said, I desperatley want an iPod.

[zybch]

One last thing -

"XP: To check your disk for errors go to: Control Panels>Computer Management>Disk Management. Then right-click the disk you want to check and select Properties. Then under the Tools tab, locate Error-checking and click Check Now. "


What the hell is with this? All I do is right-click on the suspect drive, go properties/tool/check disk.
All I've ever gone into disk managment for is to reassign drive letters.

Perhaps the review is even more biased than I thought or just isn't prepared to learn how XP works (what with being used to a mouse with no right button and all).

[MDLarson]

Originally posted by zybch
Perhaps the review is even more biased than I thought or just isn't prepared to learn how XP works (what with being used to a mouse with no right button and all).

If there are issues you have with the shootout, by all means, excersize option number 3:

1. As you will no doubt deduce as you read this site, I prefer Macs.
2. Just the same, I think this site is mostly objective.
3. Use the online forum to keep me straight.

And you are talking to a Mac user who detests the one-button mouse. I use a Logitech two-button mouse that plugs right into Mac OS X, complete with right-click and scroll functionality.

I don't love everything about Apple, but I do very much dislike Windows, especially how Windows' windows function. Reasons:
1. Mac windows have a resize button that zooms up your windows to whatever the optimal size is. Like, if I have a Finder window full of icons arranged in a square, I can click the resize window and the window will automatically "shrinkwrap" around the icons. With Windows you can drag any side of the window to resize it - that's nice, but it's too much work.
2. Windows programs force you to work in that program. There is always a useless dead background behind open documents in a Windows program. What if I want to place an open Word document next to an email so I can view both? In Windows, the steps are simply more complicated and constricting. Mac windows have always had the modularity that people (at least me) expect.

Anyway, I'm still really anxious for Panther. BTW, you might want to check out iTunes for Windows, especially if you're planning on an iPod.

[reneorantes]

"What if I want to place an open Word document next to an email so I can view both? In Windows, the steps are simply more complicated and constricting. Mac windows have always had the modularity that people (at least me) expect."

It's actually really easy to view both windows at the same time. Just open your email window and you word document. Right click on the taskbar and click on "Tile Windows Vertically" and there!!!! Isn't that easy??? Well to me it is.

[MDLarson]

Originally posted by reneorantes
It's actually really easy to view both windows at the same time. Just open your email window and you word document. Right click on the taskbar and click on "Tile Windows Vertically" and there!!!! Isn't that easy??? Well to me it is.

That works on windows in different programs? If so, that sounds good to me.

[reneorantes]

Sounds like you haven't used Windows that much MDLardson

[MDLarson]

Originally posted by reneorantes
Sounds like you haven't used Windows that much MDLardson

LARDson? Who you callin' fat?!?

It's true, I'm not a Windows expert. I don't use Windows on a day-to-day basis, so no doubt I would have a lot to learn before I can speak authoritatively. Anyway, enough said, eh?

[reneorantes]

well if you say you don't use windows that much then you should stop saying bad things about it. I've never used a Mac pc before and that's why I don't go comparing any of the two. But yeah, enough said