“If you needed any further testament to the colossal failure that is Microsoft Windows Vista, just read this Wall Street Journal article detailing PC manufacturers attempts to design around Vista’s shortcomings, shortcomings that no amount of marketing are going to fix,” Matt Asay writes for CNET.
…[S]ome PC makers are trying to improve that [Vista] experience by adding their own proprietary software to their machines. In some cases, they’re creating new user interfaces intended to make Vista faster and easier to use. In other cases they’re replacing applications from other software companies with their own….
Today, Microsoft encourages PC makers to build software “on top of Windows Vista that enhances the customer experience,” according to an email from Lauren Moynihan, a senior product manager at Microsoft.
Asay writes, “This is the problem: they can’t. At least, not as much as they’d like. PC manufacturers are trying to stand out, but given that they’ve ceded so much power and control over the computing experience to Microsoft, the best they can provide is ‘Windows dressing.’ For Sony, HP, or other PC manufacturers hoping to create an Apple-esque experience, forget it.”
Full article here.
I had to use Vista for a course and it’s sad. It fights the user every step of the way. I use it only under duress.
BUT Windows is SOOO open every MS fanboy states. Also isn’t CNET a MS shill?
@ Huh? and elgarak
Nah, you haven’t missed anything. A number of applications—that don’t follow Apple’s User Guidelines—implement their own File Open/Save dialogs. And they do it the wrong way.
But you’re completely right: 7over is silly to blame that on Apple.
Why isn’t full file management (create, delete, rename) available from with Open/Save dialogs?
Uh, because it’s an open/save dialog?
why should you have to get out of the dialog, go create the folder separately in the Finder, and then return to the Open/Save dialog, navigate to the folder you just created and then save?
I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a “save” dialog that doesn’t have a “new folder” option.
OPEN/SAVE edit dialog.
“Nah, you haven’t missed anything. A number of applications—that don’t follow Apple’s User Guidelines—implement their own File Open/Save dialogs. And they do it the wrong way.
But you’re completely right: 7over is silly to blame that on Apple.”
A few things here. There’s no reason you should not have a simplified version of the finder in such dialogs. With ability, to find, move, delete, and copy files. The lack of this ability does not improve these dialog boxes. Making them function like a version of a finder window would enhance them.
The inconsistency in part I believe stems in part from Carbon vs Cocoa, where Cocoa apps get certain system wide abilities “for free” such as built in spell check, services menu, etc. It’s a further reason Apple just needs to kill off Cocoa and move forward with one consistent framework.
Any inconsistencies that rise from various flavors of app development frameworks are inherently caused by Apple and their “fault”.
“It is simply impossible to apply chrome plating to a turd.”
~Arnold Ziffel
I don’t know, guys and girls, I’ve been to McDonalds.
You dip anything in enough honey-mustard and it tastes pretty damn good.
The solution, poor Windows sufferers, is to dip your PC in a big vat of honey-mustard dipping sauce.
That will make things better.
“Why can folders only be created at the top-level of a expanded folder tree?”
I gotta admit, this one surprised me. You’re right, that’s very odd.
Not what I’d call a huge deal, of course. Create the folder at the top and drag it where you want it to be.
“Why isn’t full file management (create, delete, rename) available from with Open/Save dialogs?”
I sort of agree with the others…
Why do I want to create/delete/rename files in an “Open” dialog. I can see creating folders in the Save dialog, which is why there is a button to create a folder.
One of the differences between Mac OS X and Windows is that it’s pretty easy to get back to the Finder to do whatever file management you need. Trying to turn the Open/Save dialogs into a “mini Finder” would be a waste of Apple’s time.
“Mac OS X is still not ready for mass adoption.”
Ah! That’s why Apple labors at a mere 7-8% market share–you can’t delete files in the save dialog! That explains it! Why if Apple were to implement this, they’d have 90% market share in no time!
Why, just the other day I heard someone at an Apple Store saying just that. “Sure, these Macintoshes look nice, they’re virus free, have simple wireless networking, and have great multimedia software. But if I can’t rename files in the open dialog box, forget it! I’ll stick with Windows!”
Leave out the hyperbole next time…
ahem you mean carbon, carbon = old Cocoa =new
Peter…
If you need this stuff, it’s called Default Folder X. $35.
http://www.stclairsoft.com/
Otherwise, let’s keep it simple for mom and pop and the kiddos.
“Bah! Poop is poop. It can’t be polished, dressed up or made pretty.”
Its always the smell that gives it away
@ auramac
@ Nutcracker
Mac 360 was one of my must-reads during the “Tera generation”. With her sad passing, i kinda slowed down my regular visits, but after a while i found Mac 360 to be unrecognizable. It was a sad day when i totally stopped going. Wouldn’t be surprised if they changed the name to Windows 360.
Tera was great. And Tera was Mac 360.
Mac 360 is a Windows site masquerading as a Mac site.
The people who run it are obviously selling out to Microsoft as some kind of nasty back-door lets trash Macs on their own site kind of thing.
Kate McKenzie? She is a frickin’ complete IDIOT.
Stay away from this fraudulent site, or better still, go there register and trash them.
because 7over also likes to advertise to the world that he is a moron.
@MacSheikh,
You are 100% correct about what used to be Mac360. Tera was it! The ones running it now dishonor and disrespect her on a daily basis. Like you, I used to visit Tera’s site frequently, and now I look occasionally and just shake my head.
I emailed Tera a few times, and she always answered me. I miss her presence. Shame on Katie and the other goobers who are running Tera’s site into a steaming pile of Vista.
Tera was great. I loved her hair. She personally responded to every email I ever sent her. If there is a heaven she is in it.
@iDon’t,
Amen!
@ iDon’t
Amen from me too!
is that they thought they did a great job
Tera not only e-mailed me but tried to get one of the others to review a product for me- never happened. I am not only saddened by what has become of Mac 360 (right- watch them change it to “Kate’s Windows 360”), but the fact that they dropped the ball and very shortly stopped updating “Tera Talks”- there were supposedly hundreds of entries from her journal that were to be posted on a regular basis after her death. I found most everything she had to say thought-provoking and right on. I now feel that the charlatans who briefly took over those sites, then one by one started to drift away, did both her, her fans, and the Mac community a disservice. Yes, I registered a long time ago- I just advised them to shut it down now and get lost, as both Kate and Ron don’t seem to have anything positive left to contribute. Hope they both have a blast with their new HP Vista machines.
The Mac360 site has gone from a critical pro-mac site to a pandering Windows fanboy site.
It’s a tragedy when someone — someone so very short-sighted — someone like Kate McKenzie — gets to ride the coattails of someone ELSE’S hard work. Like when Eisner nearly destoyed Walt’s hard work.
Eyeballs equal revenue. If we don’t visit — even to slag her — then she’ll have to WORK up her bullsh!t, at a local newsflyer.
For a few Microsoft Zune points — Kate has damaged womens credibility in computer sciences.
We need as many minds as possible in this field. She’s deleted 50%.
I find this beyond sad.
She has contributed to the oldest prejudice — for money.
I just checked out Mac360°. Looks like a Mac site mixed with The View. What a load of crap!
Check out the dates on some of the articles at Mac 360- even those not marked as “encore.” They can’t even be bothered to muster up anything new or positive nowadays. And they’re misleading- they’re posted as being “new.” Kate’s article, in which she basically “threatens” to switch to her HP and Vista (“I just might!”, she says) in lieu of a Mac struck me as an out-of-control temper tantrum by someone having a midlife crisis. And I find it creepy that Ron, her lapdog cohort, exploits his own daughter by posting scantily clad pics of her to lure hits to his own website. I agree- they don’t deserve our visits, though I am so sad and angry by what’s happened to Tera’s baby I’m still venting!
@ 7over
“Want to save a file to a folder that does not yet exist?…. why should you have to get out of the dialog, go create the folder separately in the Finder, and then return to the Open/Save dialog, navigate to the folder you just created and then save? Many steps could be avoided if this simple, and available in Windoze since at least XP, feature were added.”
You *can*create folders in Open/Save dialogs.
I do it all the time.
Just because *you* don’t know how to use the operating system…