The Good, the Bad, and the Intrusive
Thoughts on Windows and the Mac OSes
- 2002.07.05
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While I'm sure many of my readers despise the Windows operating system, I would like to point out some of the things I like about it that may or may not be present in the Mac OS. I would also like to point out some of the things that I prefer in the Mac OS. In addition, I will mention some of the faults of both operating systems.
I really like the Start menu. While it is technically possible to create something like it using the Apple Menu, you have to manually add the applications that you want to appear in the Apple Menu. In Windows, the application's installer will almost always do it for you. The Start menu is just as customisable as the Apple menu in OS 7-9, as you can add application links, folders, and even a link that lets you browse your entire hard drive.
I also appreciate how fast the solid/active window dragging and resising is under Windows 95-XP (95 only had it if you installed the "Plus" package or had the "c" version), unlike Mac OS X, where it is still, in my opinion, way too slow. I don't think it's the hardware - if a 120 MHz Pentium tower has no problems with it, I don't see why a 400 MHz Power Macintosh G4 should.
It could be due to the interface, which is far more elegant on
the Mac, and almost always has been (except for maybe Windows 3.0
vs. System 6, but I think I'm probably the only one that liked
Windows 3.x). The colored bar at the top of a window in Windows is
somewhat 
annoying unless the window
or application is in full screen mode. The x and other
symbols don't blend in nicely with the window (the red, green, and
yellow buttons not blending in with the titlebar is one of the few
complaints I have about OS X).
The other thing I just don't get about the Windows interface is how the x and other symbols can somehow appear over the toolbar when a window in a fullscreen is maximised, but if the window is in normal mode, it appears below the toolbar. It just doesn't make sense to me.
Then there are things that don't make sense on the Mac. Why should I drag a disk or network folder to the Trash? I'm not trying to throw it away! I'm just done using it for now. Yes, I do know the reason behind it - but it needs to be changed, because it is extremely confusing for new users, which seems to be who Apple is trying to attract these days. OS X has improved this a bit by showing a small eject logo when you drag the disk or folder to the Trash, but you still have to know to drag it there first.
I like some of the other options in Windows, and how nicely things can be integrated into the OS. For example, the drivers for my video card work flawlessly in Windows 2000 Pro, installing a systray icon, a control panel, and even adding an additional button to the three at the top right of a window. But in the Mac OS, Apple ships drivers even better integrated, and third party manufacturers don't do too badly when trying to integrate their drivers into the OS.
The only OS to position my icons the way I want them by default is BeOS - I prefer to see my icons horizontally across the top or bottom of the screen. Windows puts them on the left, the Mac OS puts them on the right, and the only way to change that is to move them myself.
The other thing I really like about Windows is the Internet Explorer type interface for browsing your files, which first came out in an OEM version of Windows 95 for Compaq (and possibly other companies). I really like having those convenient buttons in the toolbar that let me instantly delete, move, cut, copy, and paste files. I appreciate even more both the forward and back buttons and the fact that new directories open within one window.
Mac OS X does this, and it does it pretty well. However, it is missing the back button, which I have gone up to click on in many occasions, only to find that it's not there. It would be nice if Apple included it.
So does this mean that I suddenly love Windows and hate the Mac? No. I like both operating systems to an extent, but I have learned not to take things too seriously.
Yes, I hate Windows XP. Not because of features, interface, or anything else like that. I hate it because of the registration scheme, the way Microsoft can obtain a list of DVDs, CDs, and MP3s that you listen to, and the way they can automatically update your software without your permission (well, technically you gave them your permission to update the software when you clicked "agree" the first time).
If I don't like something, I don't use it. Windows 2000, Mac OS 9, and Mac OS X all work fine and do most of what I want. When you use a computer, you want to get work done, not just spend time working on making the computer work.
Recent Apple Archive articles
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- More in the Apple Archive index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: 'Sawtooth' Power Mac G4, Aug. 1999 - Available in speeds from 350-500 MHz, 'Sawtooth' introduced AGP video to the Mac.
- Group of the Day: G4 List is for those using Power Mac G4s or G4 upgrades.
- November 22 in LEM history: 99: Gradebooks - 00: Leveraging Apple design - Quadra 630 to Power Mac 5200 - 02: Laptop or desktop? - 04: SuperDuper: Quick, easy, efficient backup - Cross-platform programming for the rest of us - 05: Mac video surveillance on the cheap - Which OS is best for my vintage Mac? - No 'best browser' for the Mac - Sorry state of browsers for classic Macs - 06: Core 2 means cooler running 'Books - 2.0 GHz G4 upgrade
Recent Content on Low End Mac
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- iPhone #1 Worldwide, Google Voice Search for iPhone, iPhone 3G Battery Pack, and More, iNews Review, 11.21. Also British accents throw off Google voice search, lots of new iPhone apps, universal USB car charger, new protective cases, and more.
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- DisplayPort Copy Protection, Trackpad Update, Netbooks Not to Be Taken Lightly, and More, The 'Book Review, 11.21. Also Apple set for record sales, 4-finger gestures on original MacBook Air, MacBook Apple's best consumer notebook to date, Cricket laptop stand, bargain 'Books from $490 to $2,299, and more.
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- Just Right: Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear MacBooks, Charles W. Moore, 'Book Value, 11.20. Some people like small and light notebooks, others prefer huge desktop replacements, but the best value tends to be in the middle.
- Apple Caves to Hollywood with DRM on iTunes Videos, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 11.20. HDCP on the new MacBooks means that you may never really own those videos you buy from the iTunes Store.
- Leopard Runs Very Nicely on PowerPC Macs, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 11.19. Some claim that Mac OS X 10.5 is so optimized for Intel Macs that it runs poorly on PowerPC hardware. That's simply not the case.
- No High Definition iTunes Video for You, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 11.19. The October 2008 MacBooks are preventing users from viewing some high-def iTunes content from being viewed on their external displays. Poor form!
- Every Working Computer Is Useful to Someone, Allison Payne, The Budget Mac, 11.19. Whether it's a PowerBook 1400, G3 iMac, or Power Mac G4, it could be all the computer someone needs.
- 3 WeatherBug Options for Apple Users, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 11.19. Have instant access to current local weather conditions with a Dashboard widget, iPhone app, or Firefox plugin.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best Power Mac G4 and AGP Video Card Deals, 11.20. Used 400 MHz, $50; 733, $100; 800, $199; 1.25 GHz, $300; 800 MHz dual, $200, 867, $300; 1 GHz, $350; 1.42, $400.
- Best iBook G3 Deals, 11.20. Used 300 MHz clamshell, $150; 366, $199; 800 CD, $180; 600 CD-RW, $240; 700 Combo, $290; 900, $369; 14" 600, $360; 900, $449.
- Best Power Mac G3 and PCI Video Card Deals, 11.20. Used beige 300 MHz, $25; blue & white 350, $80; 400, $90; 450, $105; PCI video cards from $15; shipping additional.
- Best iMac G4 Deals, 11.18. Used 15" 700 MHz Combo, $243; 800 MHz, $280; 1 GHz, $380; 17" 1.25 GHz SuperDrive, $400; 20", $549.
- Best MacBook Air Deals, 11.18. New 1.6 80, $1,150 after rebate; 120, $1,744 a/r; 1.8 80, $1,794 a/r; 1.6 128 SSD, $2,150; used 1.8 64 SSD, $1,500; new, $2,200 a/r; 1.86, $2,398 a/r.
- Best Mac OS X 10.0-10.3 Deals, 11.18. Mac OS X 10.0.3, $30; 10.1, $20; 10.2, $60; 10.3 CD, DVD, $100; CD, $119; 10.1 Server, unlimited users, $58; 10.3 Server, unlimited, $150.
- Best iPod nano Deals, 11.17. Refurb 3G/4 GB, $79; new, $114; refurb 8 GB, $99; new, $125; 3G/8 GB, from $134; 16 GB, from $189. Prices include ground shipping.
- Best Titanium PowerBook G4 Deals, 11.17. Used 1 GHz with SuperDrive, $478 plus shipping.
- Best Xserve deals, 11.17. Used G4/1 GHz, $999; G5/2 GHz, $1,288; new 2.0 4-core Xeon, $1,900; refurb 3.0 4-core, $2,599; 2.8 GHz, $2,499; 3.0 8-core, $3,499.
- More deals in our archive.
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