“I have certain misgivings about Vista resembling Mac OS X. With its translucent windows, such comparisons are going to be hard to avoid. But Vista’s similarity with OS X goes well beyond window dressing. Certain applications, such as Calendar, Sidebar, and Photo Gallery, appear to be directly, ahem, influenced by similar applications in OS X. Microsoft has a response to that claim, which I’ll reveal in part 3 of this review, but suffice to say they’re going to get eaten alive for these similarities,” Thurrott writes.
Thurrott also claims, “Of course, Windows Vista is still Windows, and that means you can be far more productive with Vista than is possible with OS X, especially if you’re a heavy keyboard user like me. Virtually all of the familiar Windows keyboard shortcuts work just fine in Vista, and since the system is basically laid out just like XP–with a familiar Start menu, taskbar, desktop, and folder structure, most users will be able to get right to work.”
MacDailyNews Take: That assumes you’re a Windows user for life and you’re incapable of ever unlearning keyboard commands for the bad copy of the old classic Mac OS that is Windows and learning the more productive Mac OS X way. That’s way too big an assumption for us. Familiarity doesn’t breed productivity; it helps, but it doesn’t trump a thoughtfully-designed UI in the hands of a power user. That way-too-big finger stretch from the command key in Windows to any letter key is just one example. On a Mac, it’s done right, with the command key more centrally-located, right next to the spacebar. On WIndows, you have to perform feats that would make Stretch Armstrong proud. Multiply that by thousands of other Windows UI mistakes and the end result doesn’t equal “far more productive.” Windows wasn’t designed to be more productive for the user, it was designed like an upside down and backwards Mac in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid triggering a lawsuit from Apple.
Talking about the 6-8 new Windows Vista versions, Thurrott continues, “it’s too confusing. One thing Apple gets right is that you get OS X, and you’re done. There’s only one version of the OS (well, there’s a version for servers too, of course) and Apple doesn’t try to bifurcate the market with a bunch of silly versions, most of which offers certain features not found in other product editions. It’s inane.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Anyone who claims Microsoft is an innovator with Windows only need look at Apple’s OS release dates versus Microsoft’s throughout history. On every single day of the last twenty-two years (Macintosh debuted on January 24, 1984), Apple’s operating system UI was first, ahead, and leading the way and Microsoft copied it later – usually poorly. But, hey, there’s always one exception, so thanks to Microsoft (or whoever thought it up first) for that Mac OS X Command-Tab thing that we never use.
[UPDATE: 10:27am EST: Revised first “Take” description of Mac command key location on keyboard.]
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As I read the threads regarding Windows Vista looking very much like OS X, I thought about Steve Jobs goal to differentiate OS X from Windows. Microsoft knows this all too well. It is quite apparent that Bill Gates is a huge fan of OS X and is worried about what Steve Jobs is doing with it.
Bill apparently realizes that OS X is far more attractive visually, laid out more logically, works far better and is simply a superior operating system.
By making Vista look and work just like OS X, he is probably expecting Steve Jobs to radically change the look and function of OS X. Then, by default, he will have the OS X that we enjoy so much and windows users will become as passionate about it as we are and Mac users will have something less functional and attractive.
I love Command-Tab for switching apps. I also use it for quitting and hiding apps. While holding Command, release the tab and press Q or H. Don’t know if you can do that in Windows.
Thurrott is a tool. I do love the command-tab function though. Very quick way to jump from one app to another.
Even though M$ loves there photocopier, they fail to grasp the most basis rules of GUI. The “eye candy” in OS X is almost always useful in telling you what is happening. The gennie effect shows you that a document is being minimized to the dock. Double-clicking an app icon zooms out to show you that the app is launching.
From what I have seen of Vista, they have added some effects that are arbitrary and meaningless, like windows wiggling. They just don’t get it.
Also, I hope Vista changes the copying graphic. I want to laugh everytime I see that sheet of paper moving 6 inches across the screen to the other folder. It smacks of a very sorry cartoon.
If Vista introduces any elegance, I’ll be shocked.
Vista will incorporate a new feature not seen in Mac OS X. It will be a flush key. It will be used when you have a blue screen of death error and will incorporate quartz like graphics as you will see the whole screen swirl and a 6 channel digital sound file of a industrial toilet flushing. You can either map the flush key to your keyboard or a sidebar icon.
So, do you think he will claim (in part 3) that it is really the mac that is copying Windows? And that only in-the-know people like him know the real truth?
How can Bill Gates not be totally embarrassed? He has thousands upon thousands of the worlds best engineers and programmers, and after many years of effort, all he has is a regurgitated XP poorly cloaked under a GUI obviously stolen from Apple.
“All the kings horses and all the kings men couldn’t put Humpty back together again.”
is command-tab, great when you’re going back and forth between 2 apps or more on a consistent basis (and it’s directional sibling command-shift-tab…which is nice when you have 10 apps open and accidentally tab by the one you want).
use it every day
ummm, command-tab to switch apps has been in the Mac OS for a looong time (way before OS X). OS X just made it look sexy instead of stupid and ugly like in Windows.
What’s with the multiple versions of Vista? I think that would create a massive amout of frustration for the consumer –
“Which version should they buy, and if it is too much of a head-ache – to figure out – forget it.”
My guess – they’ll either stay with what they have or purchase the much easier to understand and less complicated Mac.
Thurrott needs to run a small business. We switched from Windows to OS 9 years ago because of lost productivity and the high cost of maintaining Windows PCs.
“Of course, Windows Vista is still Windows, and that means you can be far more productive with Vista than is possible with OS X, especially if you’re a heavy keyboard user like me.”
ROFLMFAO
Oh, god good one! No serious wth is Thurrott smoking?
one of my in-laws once asked me: “aren’t all computers windoze?” this is what we’re up against.
so what about Leopard ?
apple is poised for a great counter-punch
huge opportunity
amazing that there is so little speculation on Leopard and so much on new device configuration
Uh, Doc Bob, far from making Vista “look and work just like OS X”, Billy Boy has, as Mike so eloquently put it, “poorly cloaked” XP. Aside from an overkill of translucence and liberal 3D and animated effects, it’s still XP.
Loving cmd+tab, about tabing past the app you want:
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when you have pressed cmd+tab you can use the arrows to navigate. not for everyday use but it’s a nice feature when you do have 10+ apps open. when you do, expose is no joy either
“Of course, Windows Vista is still Windows, and that means you can be far more productive with Vista than is possible with OS X”
Oooohhh! Paul started off strong and the he had to blow it with that line. Oh well, common sense, like democracy, don’t arrive over night.
_____
I usually use Expose but there are times when command-tab comes in really handy, like when switching between apps that use multiple windows like the Final Cut Studio apps. Expose make a huge mess of those, and they all look very similar, so command-tab is great.
Do NOT click on this guy’s site, no one can be that dense, he’s fishing for hits, “Mamma needs a new iMac.”
Or maybe he is, sadly, many windows are trying to achieve perfection through mediocrity.
MDN pontificates: “That way-too-big finger stretch from the command key in Windows to any letter key is just one example. On a Mac, it’s done right, with the command key more centrally located, right next to the spacebar.”
Oh, yeah, MDN – LOL – why don´t you tell Apple to make an ad campaign on that one. You will get millions of people switching from Windows to Mac because of this.
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Windows Vista will probably dazzle a lot of unsuspecting PC drones, so I hope Apple does what it promised: counter with a new release of Mac OSX. I’m not crazy about the use of cat names, but I hope Leopard will be a revolutionary upgrade. I still feel the FINDER needs to go. It’s not much more than a folder within a folder within a folder. If it’s one thing Windows did right, it was the Start button. Apple’s blue apple would be the perfect place to have something similar. Putting the APPS folder on the dock (forced to the far right) is hesitant, clunky and awkward. Finder just sucks. Reminds me of Program Manager from the Windows 3.1 days. And the dock only goes so far. And forget icons on the desktop; I can’t stand them!!!! Leopard needs to change OSX more towards Windows in certain regards, or forget building marketshare extracting from the Windows base. OSX still has a ways to go, and that’s good, because if there was no room for improvement, there would be nowhere to go but down. Vista sucks, but I don’t underestimate the boost if will give PC sales. Apple has to pull off something big, and I’d love to hear everyone’s ideas about what you think it will be and when?
Productivity with keyboard commands? Why then in Firefox with multiple tabs open do I not see a way to use a key command to switch between tabs? I have to click on it. Unless I just don’t see it, but I try to see as little as possible with windows.
Speaking of “what we’re up against,” last week I was speaking to a person who makes well into six figures–someone who could afford the finest of what Apple has to offer. I mentioned Apple computers, and she was quite taken aback that Apple even still sold *computers*. She was under the impression that they had transitioned to a music devices company.
Command tab rockz
Command ~ rockz even more!!
Nuff said boyz n grrlz
MW= come… uh I leave it up to your imagination
” “Talking about the 6-8 new Windows Vista versions, Thurrott continues, “it’s too confusing. One thing Apple gets right is that you get OS X, and you’re done. There’s only one version of the OS (well, there’s a version for servers too, of course) and Apple doesn’t try to bifurcate the market with a bunch of silly versions, most of which offers certain features not found in other product editions. It’s inane.” “
And yet he considers using Windows to be far more productive?
Inane, indeed.
Command-Tab was there in Mac OS 9 well before OSX came along, it just didn’t work nearly as well. You couldn’t quit applications using it (like you can in OSX), and it also didn’t display a nice menu on-screen when you used it, but OSX hasn’t always done that. I think it was added in 10.3 (correct me if I’m wrong)
Anyway, I think Command-Tab is awesome! Just thought I’d clarify when it came about on the Mac.