Mac OS X Leopard vs. Windows Vista

[screwballl]

Limited hardware capabilities, limited hardware upgrade paths, limited userbase, limited availability....
or
almost unlimited hardware capability and upgrade paths, 85% of the worlds users, seen everywhere, plays 99.9% of all software

The only thing that is keeping MS from a Monopoly right now is the growing number of linux users. Their numbers are climbing fast and before long will bypass the number of Mac users. The actual functionality of the mentioned items in this article explains perfectly the difference. Mac puts many of the features into their program by default whereas there is always a Windows program that can do it the same or better but rarely from MS themselves.
This is where Windows excels. It packages just the basics so that if you want major photo editing software, you get Photoshop, if you want proper backups, you get Norton Ghost or whatever works well. the 3rd party programs are what makes or breaks an OS. Mac has some extra features but almost no 3rd party software because they don't want someone doing something better than they can.
Backup software - with Norton Ghost and Acronis and all the other options, they spank Mac's options. Windows has its own backup, and has a system restore... separate programs. So if one goes down the other should function properly.
Photo software - Windows takes the lines of reasoning of simply sorting and managing your photos, not using functions that have almost photoshop-like abilities from the folder itself.
Mail - email is email, except for granny and that funny parent on your kids soccer team, who else would use any stationary? Most incoming email providers or programs strip out external content anyways and show you a basic text message with maybe a few HTML links, and an attachment.
Video chat - either way, gotta keep them damn teenagers happy so either way should work fine
Spaces vs Flip3D - Who cares, just use Alt-tab or move the mouse to click on the window in the taskbar like everyone else has for the better part of 2 decades.
Gadgets/widgets/Sidebars - so they go from using a large number of small icons on the desktop to a small number of very large icons that tell you the same information as the clock/calendar in the bottom/top right corner and the same information you can see by making 3 clicks to the website. Browser (1 click) - Favorites button (click 2) - Weather (click 3).. better than 50 clicks and typing just to get the widget setup.

So based on this information, Windows has been able to do most of these things itself for many years, just using 3rd party software.. then Apple liked the ideas so integrated them into the OS itself. Thus started the Mac Fanbois "Mac can already do this" crap when in reality a majority of those abilities/apps started as 3rd party software on a Windows machine.

Software is created for windows, but adapted for Macs which sometimes causes slowdowns and emulation issues.
Hardware is created for a purpose.. windows can use pretty much all hardware to its full potential versus Mac can use a fraction of all hardware to most but not all of it potential.

With linux coming up as fast as it is, Mac is in serious trouble. The only users they have are hardcore fanbois with very few new users. Generally the usage cycle goes like this for some... windows user.. buys a Mac... works great for a year or so until they actually try to use any 3rd party software or put any strain on the system.. then usage slowly drops until around 18 months after buying it, it is left in the corner as a novelty and replaced by a $300 Dell that can do everything that Mac can plus run the software the Mac couldn't. Maybe 1 out of every 50000 Macs sold actually makes a long term convert out of someone. Everyone else goes back to Windows or jumps into linux.

[Jokerswild]

Screwball you make some valid points. Personally I'd switch to linux before going to a mac. There's even some gaming with wine now.

[gvblake22]

I've turned the way of Linux, now I just need to figure out how to use it!

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

BTW, for the drivers point.

It's not ALL that hard to fix up a Mac driver. I've made my own drivers by simply taking a close Mac provided driver and editing it with my devID and such.

Other drivers are harder than others, but Mac programming is pretty easy.

EDIT: I didn't think this would cause this much of an argument! So far, the summary is that most say no to Mac due to lack of major gaming support (there's lots of Mac versions available to many games if you haven't noticed). Mmm.... I don't have much else to say. You guys are very quick to shun it. I expected a little different.

[Jokerswild]

Originally Posted by wtcnbrwndo4u

BTW, for the drivers point.

It's not ALL that hard to fix up a Mac driver. I've made my own drivers by simply taking a close Mac provided driver and editing it with my devID and such.

Other drivers are harder than others, but Mac programming is pretty easy.

EDIT: I didn't think this would cause this much of an argument! So far, the summary is that most say no to Mac due to lack of major gaming support (there's lots of Mac versions available to many games if you haven't noticed). Mmm.... I don't have much else to say. You guys are very quick to shun it. I expected a little different.

It's not just the lack of gaming but the fact that you have to use proprietary software.

[screwballl]

its not a matter of being windows or linux fanbois... or "shunning" Macs because we do not like them or whatever other excuse many Mac fanbois choose to use. Right now, Macs are not able to do things as easily or with as much support as things created for the Windows OS is.
Windows works with a very wide range of hardware and software vendors and is not locked into a specific list.

Can you just take any given application/program, put the disc in the mac and get it to work at the same speed and functionality on a Mac as it does in Windows? This is a big NO for at least 95% of all software available (likely a higher percentage for games, maybe a bit lower for popular games).
If your video card ****s on you, can you just toss in a temporary PCI video card until the new one from Newegg comes? Not likely, you have to check the HCL and make sure the specific revision and brand is supported for both the temporary PCI AND the new card before ordering. With windows all you have to worry about is PCIe or AGP on the new one.

It is about everyday functionality and usage why we do not care for or otherwise discourage Mac usage outside of its specified abilities. This should be expected with a computer enthusiast site that deals with fixing, rebuilding and tweaking the hardware and software (which are on the low end of Macs abilties).

[Capper]

Originally Posted by wtcnbrwndo4u

BTW, for the drivers point.

It's not ALL that hard to fix up a Mac driver. I've made my own drivers by simply taking a close Mac provided driver and editing it with my devID and such.

Other drivers are harder than others, but Mac programming is pretty easy.

EDIT: I didn't think this would cause this much of an argument! So far, the summary is that most say no to Mac due to lack of major gaming support (there's lots of Mac versions available to many games if you haven't noticed). Mmm.... I don't have much else to say. You guys are very quick to shun it. I expected a little different.

I don't look at it as an argument Sam, I look at it as good constructive conversation......all generated by an extremely well thought out and written article by you.....I don't want that fact to get lost in any of this

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Originally Posted by Capper

I don't look at it as an argument Sam, I look at it as good constructive conversation......all generated by an extremely well thought out and written article by you.....I don't want that fact to get lost in any of this

. Thanks Rich!

OK, but yeah, one thing I did forget to mention in the drivers part... There's a TON of drivers available... And I mean a bunch. There's drivers for most parts... if not, you can easily tweak one to your specification.

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Hmm, talk on this one died... Yay!

[Capper]

well, take the stuff people mentioned as constructive criticism, and touch up the article.....I'd have no problem posting this on the main page to generate more conversation