SubscribeI checked out Apple’s website recently and have noticed that they’ve replaced their generic anti-PC content with specifically anti-Vista propaganda. And I think there are a few things that need to be cleared up.
They say that Mac OS X is still the best OS, and then proceed to say why.
While Vista does its best to copy some features that have been in Mac OS X for years, Mac OS X offers an experience that is simply years ahead.
So what do they do after saying that? They go on to list features that Mac OS X has (all of which Vista has too) or will have in Leopard (all of which appeared in Vista first). Sounds a little turned-around to me.
Spotlight, for example, is always there to help you find that elusive file hiding somewhere in your computer. It shows search results literally as you type, in emails, contacts, PDFs, images, contacts, calendars, and applications.
Dashboard Widgets are small, focused applications for accomplishing discrete tasks (like tracking deliveries, checking the weather, playing Soduku, printing envelopes, reviewing your stock portfolio, etc.).
Based on what they said above, it’s clear that they’re trying to imply that Vista doesn’t have these features, which, of course, is totally false.
Unlike Vista, which comes in four distinct flavors at four distinct prices, each with its own distinct set of features (and each in 32- and 64-bit dialects), there’s only one Mac OS X. It runs on every Mac. With a full set of features.
OK, I do admit, Vista’s editions can be a bit confusing. However, it does ensure that you’re not paying extra for features you don’t really need.
But even as Vista falls short in features that have long been part of Mac OS X, it’s about to lag even farther behind. Because Mac OS X Leopard is right around the corner. And with it will come an even richer set of features to make using your Mac easier and more amazing.
This is where I start laughing, because all of these features have been in Windows for years.
With the new Time Machine, built into Mac OS X Leopard, you’ll be able to peer into any folder on your Mac and travel back in time to retrieve an earlier version of a document. It’s an all-new (and fantastically cool) take on data backup.
This four-year-old (at least) Windows feature has been around in Windows Server 2003 (and quite possibly earlier versions, though I don’t know for sure), and is now entering the consumer editions of Windows.
The Spaces feature allows you to create multiple desktops so that you can organize your workspace differently for different tasks. And that’s just scratching the surface.
Excuse me? This feature is a free Microsoft add-on to Windows XP … that’s right, it’s a five-year-old feature. Sure, so it’s not integrated in the OS, but this still sounds like a rip-off of Microsoft innovation.
The choice today is between an OS trying its best to catch up— or Mac OS X, which continues to lead the way.
Pah! I do respect the Mac OS X, but this “marketing” just seems to be deceitful propaganda designed to take advantage of people who don’t know the full feature set of Windows Vista and earlier versions.
Apple feels threatened. I can tell.
Nunuv responded on 08 Feb 2007 at 3:00 pm #
Your depth of knowledge and history of computers is seriously lacking, though I suppose that’s understandable given your youth.
First, the point is that Apple has the features MS just added by way of Vista, plus more. In other words, they list Spotlight because it is an important part of the OS, which MS clearly recognized, albeit late.
Second, virtual desktops have been around forever in other OS’s. It’s available on Windows or Mac via third party products, but has long been around in varous Unix flavors. (The Apple implementation, though, will be pretty slick.)
Third, the backup feature of 2003 server is pathetic compared to time machine, and is not available in the consumer versions of Windows. If you watch the video demo of Time Machine it crushes traditional backup methods. Server 2003 uses the traditional method of full, incremental, etc. style backups. The only innovation there was volume shadow copy. TM, on the other hand, uses clever file structure techniques to have continuously rolling backups without taking up too much space. (Unix does this too, but TM makes it easy and accessible.) TM will find data within files, not just files, so if you delete a record (for example), that record by itself can be restored. TM is also space efficient.
The shuffled deck view of open applications is just dumb. I much prefer Apple’s approach of seeing full thumbnails of all applications, or (within an app) the files in an app.
Sure, Windows catches up in some aspects (search, “gadgets,” for example), with this release after 5 years. Too bad a new version of Mac OS X is coming out in a couple of months that will incorporate even more innovation.
You also should know that Apple has never been about inventing (though it does from time to time). Rather, Apple looks over the world of technology, picks and chooses the right components, and, when the time is right, packages them together in a way that makes computing accessible to the masses and easy and fun to use.
John Lamansky responded on 08 Feb 2007 at 3:20 pm #
I’ve been using computers for about 10 years (about half as long as personal computers have been around), so I don’t think my knowledge could be that lacking.
Yes it is. Windows ShadowCopy (a.k.a. Previous Versions) is included in Vista Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate.
I do agree, Apple has every right to point out the features in their OS. However, as stated in my post, they imply that Vista has none of the features that make OS X “cool” and “great,” which is obviously not true.
Jeff miller responded on 08 Feb 2007 at 7:06 pm #
The OS wars are really tiring. I do agree that Apple really makes great OSes, but it is easier when you have a smaller customer base and you can just create a newer OS and not worry as much about compatibility.
I have been using Vista for the last two months since I am an MSDN subscriber and for Microsoft they have made some great improvement and finally an interface that doesn’t suck. They have paid much more attention to detail on little things and I am glad they have looked at OSX and realized they had a long ways to go.
I don’t much care when OS vendors steal stuff from each other since who in the world thinks that these platforms must never include new good ideas. Apple bragging about widgets without mentioning Konfabulator is rather silly and I wish they would realize sticking with a one button mouse is stupid.
As an old geek I have suffered through many Microsoft products from Windows 2.0 on and would certainly like to forget Windows ME. Running Vista I am pretty happy with what they have done.
deridder149 responded on 08 Feb 2007 at 7:45 pm #
You just PROVED that it is lacking, 20 years? the Mac is 31 years old this year, the internet has been round, in some form, for about 50. Computer Development and research has been going on for more than 60 years. Sorry my young friend I will not visit this site again,
John Lamansky responded on 08 Feb 2007 at 7:51 pm #
Notice I said “personal computer,” not “computer” or “Internet.” According to Wikipedia, the term “personal computer” was popularized in the late-1970s to early-1980s. Tack on twenty or so years to that, and you get the 2000s, which is what we’re in now. I know, I rounded.
John Lamansky » Blog Archive » Partially Preposterous Peanut Packaging Propoganda responded on 09 Feb 2007 at 8:39 am #
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tips responded on 10 Feb 2007 at 7:58 am #
I don’t want to nit pick, but the Mac is only 23 years old (”say hello to the macintosh”, 1984). Apple Computer have been around for the 30 odd years you refer to. But still, your point is valid. John rounded, and he’s only been using computers for the last decade, which has been the decade where Windows has been in the prominent position.
“Spaces”, or the concept of multiple workspaces, has been around forever. The implementation is where innovation comes in (for instance, Solaris uses multiple workspaces in CDE, and CDE sucks arse).
I think though John, that you’re being a bit precious about what Apple are doing here.
Forbes magazine leaves the OS wars out of it, and sums it up nicely; “Vista is a fading theme park with a few new rides, lots of patched-up old ones and bored kids in desperate need of adult supervision running things… as Bill Gates winds down his roles at Microsoft, Windows Vista may be the chief software architect’s swan song. It’s a shame his legacy is something so utterly unimaginative, internally discordant and woefully out of tune.”
Mike responded on 10 Feb 2007 at 1:59 pm #
John, got a battle going on here. It’s best to stay out of the OS war. Too many hard core users out there. Too many old timers that just hate to change both ways.
John Lamansky responded on 11 Feb 2007 at 7:37 am #
Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking. But still, I felt like I needed to come to Vista’s defense.
I think part of it was that I had slowly grown a respect for Apple and its products. But when I noticed that they were using deceptive marketing like this, my opinion of them just deflated like a balloon, and this blog post is where it came out. (I realize it’s probably “normal” for companies to do this, but I still don’t think it’s right.)
If I saw Microsoft doing this sort of thing, I’d probably be just as upset.
Jerry responded on 22 Oct 2007 at 4:28 pm #
“Deceptive marketing” seems to me very harsh. You might as well castigate Coke for claiming to taste better than Pepsi. What do you expect Apple to say in its ads? “Vista is a fabulous operating system, and, by the way, we make one too”?
Yes, Apple presents its products in the best possible light. That’s what marketing is. That’s what Microsoft does too, and I’ve never noticed Microsoft crediting any other company for its OS features, either.
And calling XP’s very buggy workspace PowerToy “Microsoft’s innovation” is just ridiculous.