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50 Reasons to switch from Windows to OS X?

Or, a lost sheep’s ongoing struggle to stay relevant in this internet age.

In a post last week, on St. Valentine’s Day no less, Pirillo states his 50 reasons to switch from Windows (any version?) to OS X.

After getting past his preamble about neutrality, he delivers his thoughts.

Actually, we are supposed to take his thoughts as neutral since it is not a Windows bash. Furthermore, since in his opening statements he declared his relationships with some sponsors, we should take the product plugs as gospel. Feel free to ingest a grain/several grains of salt with his recommendations.

I have taken it upon myself to provide a public service by attempting to debunk some of the outright errors, factual errors, product plugs, and gross misconceptions in his beliefs.

His assertions in italics, my answers in green.

  1. Seems that the future of Windows development is happening largely for corporate environments and customers. I don’t take issue with this other than being someone who doesn’t live or work inside a corporate environment at home.


    Bunk. While it is niiiice that he has the privilege of being outside the corporate or enterprise box, the truth of it is that enterprise sales drive the cost of computing downwards. If not for both that fact and Bill Gates’ and Microsoft’s vision of computing for the masses, most of us would not be to afford software. Look to the costs of software as espoused by the IBMs and Oracles of this world. Now, thank Microsoft, for it wasn’t for them, you would not be able to afford software for your Mac.
  2. Excellent power management in OS X. When I close the lid to my MacBook Pro, it falls asleep. When I open the lid to my MacBook Pro, it wakes up. Imagine that! Seems to be the case 99% of the time, and it happens quickly.


    Bunk. Anything less than that would be a shame, since apple delivers a complete hardware and software solution.
  3. I’m ready to experience different frustrations. OS X isn’t perfect, certainly - but I already see its noticeably more stable than Windows Vista has been. Kernel Panics at least look prettier than BSODs. :) Seriously, I just find OS X’s update schedule to be more to my liking - instead of waiting for gigantic service packs, I get minor point releases along the way to major revisions to the OS. Bugs are going to happen, but knowing that showstopping / security bugs are likely to be squished quicker gives me amazing peace of mind.

    Bunk. What a nonsensical statement. Kernel Panics are better than BSODs? More stable? Dude, have you checked the number of fixes each OS X patchfest brings? Compared to Windows Vista? Or any version of Windows for that matter?
  4. There’s more interesting, useful, beautiful, and affordable software being developed for OS X. If you still believe that there’s no software for “the Mac,” you’re simply a fool who hasn’t done his or her research.


    Bunk. Actually, Bro’, you are the fool for making such a simplistic statement
  5. VMware Fusion makes it possible to have every operating system at my fingertips (as well as every app that runs on ‘em, FTW). Performance and stability is a reality, not a dream. More importantly, with USB 2.0 support in VMware Fusion, I have near complete compatibility with any external hardware. Parallels is also there, which should keep competition lively.


    Product plug!
  6. I believe that the future of Windows (or any OS software layer) will be experienced in a virtual machine of some sort. People have been dual booting for years - now I can triple-task cross-platform in seconds flat.


    ??? Space filler
  7. Not to say that Microsoft or Linux haven’t made great strides in recent years, but… at least Leopard feels like only one team was developing the UI. It’s not quite perfect, but closer to what perfect should be. I’m not a huge fan of iTunes or every other Apple utility - but at least with Leopard, they’re trying to make them look and work the same way.


    1st semi-true point. The UI does look good. BFD! However, so is Aero ‘Glass’
  8. I love the fact that most programs and their associated libraries are self-contained (apps). There’s no stress in installing / uninstalling most programs, and for true cleanup jobs there’s always AppZapper.


    1st true point. For which I excoriate Microsoft daily. And cuss them the ‘F’ out whenever I run into it in client environments
  9. I’m not a huge fan of the Dock for task management, but Quicksilver has virtually no Windows equivalent (in terms of elegance and scriptability, although it’s still completely overwhelming to me right now). The dock isn’t a shining example of where OS X is “better,” but I do appreciate the context menu options for each of the Dock’s icons for “Open at Login” management.


    Another space filler
  10. Spotlight is to Windows Desktop Search as a BMW Z4 is to a Ford Pinto (in terms of performance, usability, and UI). No contest. I’m sure some would argue the opposite, but… they’re also probably the extreme developer “but it works if you just learn how to use it right” types. Feh.


    2nd true point. Damn, Windows Search is a product that a) should be elegant in operation, b) should be simple in configurability, c) should be efficient, and d) return relevant and consistent results. It fails on all four points. As I have written before, the entire team should be publicly horsewhipped on the steps of the Island Club in Lagos
  11. The Apple community has been infiltrated by enough people who aren’t smug. You’re not better than me just because you run another OS or support another vendor, nor are you any less of a geek. Not every Windows user is a neanderthal, although some of their dated arguments would make them out to be. I think that most consumers are caught up in the idea that you NEED Windows for everything at home. You don’t.


    Space filler #3
  12. My iPhone is not going away anytime soon. Would I switch for better compatibility with a communications device? Not necessarily, but if the future of OS X is in the present of the iPhone… they’re going to gain consumer market share at blinding speed. Remember, I wanted to hate this device - after years of being a dyed-in-the-wool Windows Mobile advocate.


    Why is this here? Anyways, I also remember the Newton (had one), the Lisa (missed that train wreck), the Cube (missed), the NeXT (missed), and recently, the Macbook Air. Cannon fodder on the path to world domination?
  13. The spyware / malware / virus threat is diminished by an extreme degree. Not to say that one should avoid running protective layers of software or hardware, but… I’m just not as nervous when I try a new app on OS X.


    Actually C, you should be. The success – relative to historical installed base not the negligible real world market share – of OS X makes it a suddenly attractive target for malware. Doing the ostrich thing will not make the problem vanish
  14. Many of my friends are considering making the switch as well. This dovetails nicely with my first point. I can tell you that just by showing off the fun features of CamTwist and Colloquy with my live stream, a few of those community members have already purchased MacBooks - or are strongly considering doing so in the not-too-distant future. Interestingly enough, those are two FREE apps that work amazingly better than most overpriced Windows shareware titles.


    After them, then……what? Surprising how 2 free apps make a platform! Overpriced shareware?
  15. Microsoft Windows completely abandoned its power users, period. Where are the Windows Vista “Ultimate” add-ons? Where are the new Power Toys? Why doesn’t Windows Media Player have podcast support yet (despite me telling them to integrate RSS back when WMP9 was in beta, years before podcasting was a buzzword)? I’m not saying that Windows is dead - not by any stretch of the imagination.


    I don’t think so. While you may seem to have a point with the mention of Windows Vista™ Ultimate, the truth of the matter is that all Microsoft is guilty of is that the benefits of Windows Vista Ultimate were not clearly defined, leading to buyer angst. Nonetheless, BitLocker alone, makes it worth the price
  16. Boot Camp, if all else fails.


    Space filler. Microsoft does not make computing hardware. Leastways not in the US. As a result, adding a bootloader to the package is not necessary. Then again, there is that little consent decree and the art of ‘bundling’. Finally, Microsoft has the Hyper-V (server, $28), Virtual Server (free) and Virtual PC (also free). Take your pick
  17. A single SKU of Leopard is both 32-bit and 64-bit compatible. This, alone, is a fantastic reason to embrace the platform. It’s seamless. Why should a consumer have to come to a decision on which code to run - or understand the differences between them in the first place? Remember, I’m to be considered a “home” user.


    All versions of Windows Vista are also 32-bit and 64-bit compatible. The retail box contains both images. Take a stroll to any electronic mega-mart to verify.
  18. Time Machine. Wow. Can it really be this simple? “Simply select your AirPort Disk as the backup disk for each computer and the whole family can enjoy the benefits of Time Machine.” Do you understand what that means? And no, Windows Volume Shadow Copy is not the SAME thing.


    Time Machine, my ass! My thoughts from August 2006 here. And no, I haven’t changed my mind on that
  19. Leopard’s Finder will allegedly search networked computers seamlessly, as well as allow you to access those results remotely (through a paid .Mac account, which would totally be worth purchasing at that point).


    Network discovery is such a new thing? Allegedly? Puhleeese
  20. Java app performance is decent on OS X, and the same code looks infinitely better when it’s not running on Windows. In fact, most third-party apps are very well designed so as to integrate seamlessly with the entire OS. That’s beyond refreshing.


    Heck, you certainly like comparing onions to oranges, eh?
  21. You never need to defrag a Mac’s hard disk.


    As well as with Windows Vista
  22. Adium is there - an Instant Messaging client that allows you to use AIM, Yahoo, Google Talk, and other accounts through a single client. It’d be my replacement for Miranda IM. Skype also works on the Mac. I expect to see even more universal IM apps reveal themselves over the coming months.


    Product plug and space filler combo
  23. Bonjour is proving to be quite useful on my home network. Computers with Bonjour-enabled services are automatically discovered with virtually no fuss - even my networked Windows machines have been playing along.


    Same as #22
  24. Joining wireless networks in OS X is easier and more refined, easily accessible. The tools for networking don’t seem overly complex, either.


    Erhh, NO! Much simpler in Windows Vista
  25. Setting up services such as Windows File Sharing, FTP, and even Web sharing can be done on OS X with just a few clicks. If you’re telling me that I could set up FTP just as easily in Windows, then… it obviously can’t be done as easily.


    For all others, yes. Call for help if you cannot get it done.
  26. Almost all of the audio and video formats out there can be played on the Mac with Video LAN Player (VLC). One less barrier to entry.


    Same as #22, #23
  27. Great Web browsers that work in Windows also work on the Mac (Firefox, Opera, SeaMonkey, Flock). The only exception here is Internet Explorer, or any third-party overlay to IE (such as Maxthon, which has been taking a slight turn for the worse with 2.0). Of course, there’s always the “invisible” virtual machine possibility (read: VMware Fusion’s Unity mode). Moreover, Safari / WebKit is gaining speed on all platforms.


    Space filler. Get the Flock outta here.
  28. Erasing deleted files placed in your trash (also known as a Recycle Bin in Windows) can be securely erased in OS X. No need to mess with third-party software.


    3rd good point
  29. You can still right-click in OS X - and the way Apple decided to implement it is far more convenient than you’d think. In fact, I find double-tapping the mouse pad far more intuitive than using a second mouse button. Didn’t take long to get used to it at all.


    You gotta be kiddin’ me! Space filler and factual error
  30. Wanna set up a VNC server on your Mac? No problem, its already apart of the operating system! Moreover, the feature isn’t buried three levels deep. It’s sitting right there in the Finder. Moreover, unlike Windows Remote Desktop, a Screen Sharing session doesn’t lock the remote user out of his / her session - one reason I’ve always loathed RDC.


    Space filler with a lotta gratuitous verbiage. GIGO
  31. Microsoft doesn’t have an iLife. Not even close. It has a set of multimedia applications, but they don’t seem to be cohesive in the slightest. Maybe things will get better as Live continues to evolve? 

    No iLife, but life goes on for the rest of us
  32. You really don’t get to play the blame game with Apple. They make the hardware AND the operating system, so… they really know what’s going on, and they really know if the problem is widespread.


    Yes, never any excuse. Like when iTunes shipped with viruses, “We blame Microsoft for not making Windows more hardy against viruses…..”
  33. A Mac costs about the same as a comparable Windows PC - for hardware and (for argument’s sake for those who don’t believe me) bundled software. And for those who still claim that Macs are still more expensive, they obviously have never seen or priced a gaming rig. Price / cost is relative. If you want a cheap machine, that’s your prerogative. The resell value on Macs has always been higher than that of an equivalent “Windows” machine.


    You make and refute your own statement. How cyclic
  34. You can record audio and video conversations from iChat 4.0 (natively). That’s pretty amazing, as it takes the idea of “video chat” and puts it into a time-shifted space. This isn’t just useful for those of us who conduct guest interviews regularly, but for home users who want to save calls for posterity.


    Space filler
  35. Dashcode appears to take the geekery out of widget-building. Moreover, the new “Web Clippings” widget appears to work better than anything I’ve seen come from Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, et al. This is putting the user first…


    Imagine 1 billion PC users wasting time writing widgets. Sorry. In the RDF, that is being ‘creative’. FYI, Visual Studio Express Editions are free
  36. With a .Mac subscription, you can save common local settings as global ones. You only have to configure your Dock or System Preferences on one machine to have those same changes appear on all machines connected to your .Mac account. Unbelievable.


    Which can be done on Windows systems as well. Factual error
  37. Unlike Windows font management, you can activate fonts as you need them within Leopard. This translates to less wasted overhead by fonts that remain largely unused in memory. I can only imagine this results in far less resource-intensive sessions. Genius.


    4th good point
  38. Automator now supports UI Recording and Playback, which means you can create “macros” without understanding a lick of logic. The last time I saw a native macro recorder in Windows was… v3.0? You don’t have to be a geek to gain access to geeky-cool features.


    Same as # 22 
  39. Can’t tell you how much I love Spring Loaded folders. Love ‘em.


    Keep lovin’ away. Space filler
  40. Wikipedia information, while not always accurate, certainly stands to be updated a lot more frequently than documentation that ships with (or from) the operating system designer. That Apple has taken the step to integrate access directly from within the Dictionary tool…? It’s just kinda nice to have there. They’re placing trust in the idea of community rather than trying to hide it from us.


    ‘…while not always accurate..’? What is the value there
  41. Mail comes with “Data Detectors” which will highlight phone numbers, addresses, etc. You can then choose to do something with that information, like map it or store it as an appointment, contact, etc. This is a feature I had not seen outside of a pricey plugin for Microsoft Outlook. I may not use Mail.app, but at least they’re continuing to improve its functionality - ugly capsule toolbar icons notwithstanding.


    Been in Outlook (as SmartTags) for a while, P
  42. The Preview tool ain’t no joke - with annotations, basic image editing, Core Animation zooming and scrolling, GPS Metadata support, batch operations, etc. It’s all at your fingertips. 


    Further complexity is a good thing?
  43. Expose works. ‘Nuff said. The only thing that surpasses OS X’s open window management is Compiz Fusion. None of this Flip3D nonsense.


    Space filling product plug
  44. Help. No, seriously - Help is the way Help should have always been all along. I related my “Help” experience a few weeks ago, with the system not just finding what I was looking for help on, but taking me directly to the spot where I needed to be. I’m pretty sure the Help system isn’t 100% accurate, but it hasn’t disappointed me yet.


    No big deal
  45. Guest accounts are purged after every session in Leopard. Wow. Guest privileges, on the other hand, seem to be lacking somewhat on the security front (but most of my Guests are computer clueless).


    ??? space filler
  46. I love the Universal Access zoom feature - and have used it so many times for countless reasons. Really comes in handy when you’re trying to show something to someone from across the room. Never found anything close to its simplicity anywhere else. 


    Space filler
  47. Call me crazy, but I love the fact that in OS X, the keyboard shortcut for opening Preferences is always the same (Command + Comma). Convenient. Dependable. Quick. 


    Space filler
  48. Device compatibility doesn’t seem to be as much of an issue as it used to be with the Mac. While I couldn’t get my brand new HP LaserJet to work inside of Vista, it works flawlessly inside of OS X 10.4 (despite having to use HP’s scanning software). Still, with any USB hardware hiccups in Leopard, compatibility issues are erased with VMware Fusion until newer software is unleashed.
    Same as #22. We kind of like get it by now: you like VMware. We get it, we really do
  49. Thanks to another one of our sponsors, GoToMeeting, I’ve had the opportunity to see quite a few of my friends’ desktops. Quite a few have gone to great lengths to make their installation of Windows look and feel like Mac OS X. At that point, what’s the point of sticking with Windows? Just about the only thing Mac users might want from Windows is the Explorer (FTFF) - and even then, there’s ‘Path Finder.’
    Plug, plug, plug
  50. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Windows users need Apple’s software more than Mac users need Microsoft’s. That’s just a cold, hard fact. And given my severe disappointment with just about everything in Mac Office 2008, I’m even further driven away from Microsoft’s desktop software.

    Thanks for the sentiment. Bye

There you have it: an impassionate dissection of his reasons.

What did I find?

A few – total 5 good, true, or valid points.

Or 8%

8%!

He is true in his declaration that the article was not an Apple lovefest.

It was worse than that.

Without meaning to be invidious, the only thing I can say about the article is that he did his sponsors proud.

 

Posted: Feb 18 2008, 03:05 PM by John Obeto | with 56 comment(s)
Filed under: , ,

Comments

John's Rants & Raves said:

Really? A better title should be: A lost sheep’s ongoing struggle to stay relevant in this internet

# February 18, 2008 3:47 PM

Techitorial said:

Some good points from both sides - I think that it much depends on which is your current OS at the time of writing. I used to be Windows only (from 3.x -> XP) and defended it on all counts. I have been using OS X for a year now along with Windows XP and comparing the two I prefer OS X - but have yet to work on Vista - but articles like these makes we want to try Vista as well.

Thanks for the above.

# February 19, 2008 12:21 AM

mattyohe said:

17. Did Microsoft recently put both versions on discs now?  I know I have seen discs that say they contain the 64bit version only.

18.  You let Chris get away on this one.  Time Machine currently does not support AirDisks in 10.5.2,  only other networked Leopard machines (client or server) or the yet-to-ship Time Capsule.

19.  Chris didn't make his point very clear here.  Spotlighting remote drives of any partition flavor works as advertised.

21.  Ah, but Vista's Transactional NTFS is still just NTFS.  It still requires a pre-determined time of day to run a defrag whereas HFS+ does this on the fly.

32. It was actually iPods that shipped with viruses.

33. Apple is very price competitive.  You just have to make sure not to purchase RAM from them.

36.  What service does Windows offer that allows you to move from Mac to Mac on any network in the world and still have your bookmarks, documents, contacts, keychain (...and so on)?  This is roaming profiles yet implemented on the Internet.

39. Not a space filler.  Spring-loaded folders have been around since OS 8.  Microsoft was developing the same feature, yet held back for 10 years before deciding to implement it into Vista.

42.  Complex function, but simple to control.

Some things not mentioned: Coverflow throughout Finder is very powerful at finding documents and images that you simply cannot use a text search for.  When combined with QuickLook, skimming documents is indeed quick.

Simple Parental Controls.

Forget Sidebar, try Dashboard.

I wish Chris hadn't spent so much time plugging, because he really left out some other great features.

# February 19, 2008 2:02 AM

linkerjpatrick said:

Dude, if all you put on your comments is "space filler" then don't comment at all.  It looked like you wanted to say something but couldn't think of a negative retort.  Just because Chris had 50 didn't mean you had too.

Also, what's wrong with making his sponsor's proud? That's how the guy makes his money! Nothing wrong with a person doing that either.  I'd rather hear from someone like Chris telling me about a product tha the official pieces that come from the vendors.

Although I am glad we have a system where people can openly talk back and all of us can compare notes.

# February 19, 2008 3:26 AM

Chris said:

Impassionate review? LOL, you have *no* idea how passionate this all makes you look! But passion is generally a good thing I guess. Just in your case it seems to look a bit like someone trying to avoid sinking in deeper by struggling harder.

Btw. I use both Systems

# February 19, 2008 3:29 AM

AWx said:

Yeah, but at least he DID have 5 points to switch from Win to OSX.

# February 19, 2008 4:50 AM

Ace DDL » 50 Reasons to switch from Windows to OS X? said:

Pingback from  Ace DDL » 50 Reasons to switch from Windows to OS X?

# February 19, 2008 5:00 AM

Joe said:

Your response to number 2 doesn't make sense.  Chris was explaining that his Mac's hibernate function is more reliable than Windows' hibernate function.  Your response is to explain why it works better? Really?  

Not sure how that's "bunk".  I use and like Windows, but I don't have blinders on.   Mac is capable of doing some things better, in part BECAUSE of the single vendor for hardware/software.  Just like Windows is capable of doing some things better BECAUSE it is open to more hardware.

# February 19, 2008 5:38 AM

John Obeto said:

@linkerjpatrick: Plugging sponsors is not a bad thing at all. Actually, it is 'a good thing', since it gets us more bars of Latinum.

@linkerjpatrick, @chris:However, if you are going to devote that much ink to plugging sponsors, don't disguise it as a softball Windows bash. Come on out and tell your users what it really is: a shillfest, with you being the barker, Pirillo.

@chris: BTW, passion is good. I see it everyday when I talk to Microserfs, and when I interact with them.

@techitorial: The Wonderful World of Windows Vista awaits you. You will be wowed when you make the move.

@awx: he had five good points. Out of 50! If an 8% success rate is your baseline for excellence....

@linkerpatrick: I tried to go mano-a-mano with each of his points. However, if all he was doing wasjust blowing smoke, why should I dignify it. Would you have wasted the time? In order to come up with a snarky retort? I wouldn't. And didn't.

@mattyohe: the retail box of Windows Vista ships with two disks, 32-bit and 64-bit. OEM media ship with only one version.

Defrag is automatic in Windows Vista

#19. I stand corrected, thanks.

Parental controls on the mac cannot be simpler than the implementation on Vista

@joe: it is bunk since the hibernate functionality in every system is a function of both the software and the hardware, as you yourself intimated when you referred to the close-coupling of Mac hardware and software as an advantage.

Furthermore, I get the same behavior on the lappers I use, the HP tx1000, and a Toshiba Tecra M7.

Until you can show me better hibernate behavior on Microsoft-branded systems, then is it bunk, and meant to stir up mac fanboi. BTW, if the hibernate function is so niiiice, how come i see so many mac users carry their systems lid open at the airports? Haven't they heard about it?

# February 19, 2008 5:38 AM

Nighthawk said:

17. I hate to tell you, but the only time you get 32-bit and 64-bit in the same box is when you shell out 400 dollars for Windows Vista Ultimate.

Dumbass.

# February 19, 2008 6:00 AM

Feed Me Feeds » Blog Archive » 50 Reasons to switch from Windows to OS X? said:

Pingback from  Feed Me Feeds  » Blog Archive   » 50 Reasons to switch from Windows to OS X?

# February 19, 2008 6:01 AM

Feed Me Feeds » Blog Archive » 50 Reasons to switch from Windows to OS X? said:

Pingback from  Feed Me Feeds  » Blog Archive   » 50 Reasons to switch from Windows to OS X?

# February 19, 2008 6:01 AM

Andre said:

I´m tired of all this BS... Switch to Mac if you want, if you have money, if want a "perfect" system designed by Steve God... well... enough said.

# February 19, 2008 6:08 AM

Jim Lunsford’s Lunsford Land » Blog Archive » 50 Reasons to switch from Windows to OS X? - AbsoluteVista said:

Pingback from  Jim Lunsford’s Lunsford Land  » Blog Archive   » 50 Reasons to switch from Windows to OS X? - AbsoluteVista

# February 19, 2008 6:23 AM

Pabs said:

I have to say the only thing I use Windows for is Gaming, thats something the Mac can not do well. There are very little games. I don't use Windows Vista, I have XP.

But to get to the point if the Mac is so good, then why do you need VMware?? Surely that defeats "Windows users need Apple’s software more than Mac users need Microsoft’s." ???

# February 19, 2008 6:26 AM

jordan said:

@Pabs: I use Parallels/VMWare on my mac simply because there are tools that there are no /easy\ replacement for on mac.  I took a C# programming class that required I used Microsoft Visual Studio 2005.  So my choices were spend countless hours on campus or use Parallels/VMWare.  I know that C# apps can be developed on any platform but using VS2005 was a requirement.  Also MS Money.  There isn't a good mac equivalent for that.

# February 19, 2008 7:20 AM

EJ said:

#11 Yes you NEED Windows for everything at home.

Games. Why does Mac suck? Mac don't have DirectX support. It means most popular games just won't run on MAC.

Design. Why does Mac suck? If you are great designer then you can run "SoftImage" or "3DS Max" (3D modelling/design software) on Windows. All latest movies and games were created with these powerful 3D tools. These applications won't run on your Mac.

Business. Why does Mac suck? When it was last time when you saw Leotard to run serious world business applications (for example bank terminal)? Right, Never!

Macs are for neanderthal snobs who tend to choose car by its colour and may the RDF be with you. :)

# February 19, 2008 7:32 AM

Christopher Estep said:

22.  VLC is also available for Windows (including Vista).

21.  Fragmentation *still* happens, even in HFS+; otherwise, why are there so many third-party utilities (some of them free) to deal with it?  Also, has there been an honest comparison of fragmentation on HFS+ vs. NTFS?  If you truly want a defrag-on-the-fly utility for NTFS, one third-party utility has been available for years: Diskeeper (now in a 2008 Vista-certified version).

# February 19, 2008 8:12 AM

Mitch said:

Pirillo bugs the crap out of me.

That said, I recently switched from a Dell Latitude D820 (Vista) to a MacBook Pro.  The switch wasn't easy, but has been well worth it.  I am a Senior Engineer and work with lots of Windows servers and my work mail is always hosted on Exchange (more about that in a few).

Good things:  1. Mac OS is so much more stable that Vista or XP.  2. VMware Fusion does work very nicely.  IMHO, a much better virtualization client than any other I have used.  3. Mac OS is pretty. Stuff just looks good.  I do not see any weird glitches in the UI.  

Bad things:  1.  WTF is up with Exchange support in Mac OS.  Entourage works, but friggin barely!  That's insane to me.  2. Remote Desktop (RDP/RDC). As a Windows server engineer, I am forced to spend some time in my Vista VM to accomplish tasks quickly.    If I could find a Mac equivalent of the MS Remote Desktop tool (the MMC snap-in) or visionapp's Remote Desktop, I would be so set. 3. Office 2008... sucks in comparison to Office 2007 on Windows, I will just leave it at that.

# February 19, 2008 8:54 AM

Kai said:

Some of my 2 cents worth...

5. "every operating system" is wrong... Mac OS X doesn't run in VMWare Fusion? I personally use VMs on Windows 'cos they're a great test platform - configure in any absurd way, wreck it, etc. Applicable to point 6 as well...

8. Thinstall (now part of VMware) impressively is able to package almost any Windows app into a single EXE file. Pity the high costs and entreprise-only target market.

10. Spotlight is to Windows Desktop Search as a BMW Z4 is to a Ford Pinto (in terms of performance, usability, and UI). No contest. I’m sure some would argue the opposite, but… they’re also probably the extreme developer “but it works if you just learn how to use it right” types. Feh.



Well try Google desktop - see the power of Google search...

22. If you like Adium then you can also use Pidgin

23. Actually windows has been able to scan the network for shared folders and printers for some time...

25. File sharing is only a few clicks on Vista. And Windows doesn't come with an FTP server, so you can't really compare. The web-sharing might be true, 'cos it's harder to enable and configure IIS on windows. But how many people use the FTP and HTTP server in OS X? If you know how to use them (i.e. you know what is FTP, HTTP, etc.), you'd probably can install them yourself.

26. You can use VLC for Windows too... VLC is not bundled with OS X. Anyway windows has the DirectShow framework so you can use ffdshow (based on FFMpeg, the library that allows VLC to play most formats) to play most video formats.

27. So this isn't a reason to switch... 'cos these "great browsers" work on Windows too!

28. This could acutally show one thing about Windows - it is modifiable and customizable by third-party applications. Mac OS X is less so.

30. Ever heard of Remote Assistance? This is almost the same as screen sharing. Anyway the default VNC server in Leopard works really slowly on other VNC clients other than the on bundled in Leopard

31. Do the apps have to be cohesive? i.e. do you need a music editing program to work seamlessly with your photo management program?

iPhoto => Picasa

iMovie => Many third party editors (I'm not really considering Windows Movie Maker)

iDVD => why isn't this integrated with iMovie?

Garageband => ACID

32. While there may be more device problems when using Windows, consider the CHOICE of hardware devices you have? You can only choose from a MacBook Pro, MacBook, MacBook Air, Mac Pro, or iMac. What if I don't like alumnium or white/black plastic? What if I want a sub-1kg device? What if I want a tablet?

34. Natively it can record. But, again, Windows can do much more with third-party apps. You don't buy an operating system just to use it's in-built applications right?

35. Has anyone heard of Active Desktop? (well it was a similar concept, you put a webpage on your desktop). Anyway Yahoo's Widget Engine recently implemented this feature as well.

36. The .Mac subscription thing is serious bundling. Anyway has anyone tried this on systems that you do not own? What if there are Applications that aren't installed on one of the Macs? I don't think the dock can be identical then.

38. "Now supports" another new Leopard feature... Maybe Microsoft should consider something like this as well - you can already do something similar in Office apps.

43. Thanks to the APIs that Microsoft provides (**), developers have already been able to emulate Expose on Windows...

45. This seems a good thing, but I wonder if it is an option or not. What if my guest is staying at my house for a few days? (ya he won't use a guest account)

50. Sadly Office 2008 doesn't include the bibliography manager (in Word) like on Office 2007 for Windows. And there's autonumbering, cross-reference... I get the feeling that Office is (as with many things Microsoft) more pragmatic and content-centered.

# February 19, 2008 9:06 AM

T Man said:

Something not mentioned when I hear the cries of Boot Camp/Parallels/VM's, etc is the incremental cost of using both OS's.  Remember, if you want to use Windows within a VM, you need a license.

Anyway, I've never been a fan of Chris.  The thing that really turned me off to him was when he droned on about how he wasn't going to get an iPhone, and then a couple days later he got one.

# February 19, 2008 9:17 AM

Mitch said:

T Man:  Agreed on the incremental cost issue.  For me, that's where MSDN license comes in quite handy.

# February 19, 2008 9:25 AM

Izlude said:

I'll tell you what, I'll switch when the 200+ applications installed in my "program files" folder become "compatible"

Otherwise OS X is useless to me. I don't care how stable or feature rich it is. I don't use an OS just to look at it and see how pretty it is. Computers are used for production and enjoyment, not center pieces!

WINE is not something you can rely on either. It's just terrible.

# February 19, 2008 10:21 AM

Mariva said:

Intuit software is better on Windows, and most financial professionals (accountants, planners, etc.) rely heavily on not only Quicken and TurboTax, but on all the vertical-market versions of QuickBooks (not currently available on the Mac).

I participated in the Small Biz "Birds of a Feather" session at the last MacWorld and suggested that Apple work with Intuit to equalize the software and availability of titles on the Mac side. My suggestion was dismissed, however, in favor of "solutions" that seemed absolutely ridiculous to me, such as:

- "look around for financial software for the Mac" (even if it's not as good or as widely supported)

- "hire a new accountant, one who likes Macs" (even if, say, your current accountant saves you a lot of money and keeps you out of trouble)

- "hire an Apple consultant to set up a personalized financial system" (thereby costing several thousand dollars instead of a few hundred at the most for standard financial software)

Don't get me wrong: I find Macs very appealing. Certainly they're beautiful, and there's a lot of great software available for them, especially for creative types. But for business and financial purposes, Windows is the preferred platform, hands down.

# February 19, 2008 11:02 AM

MrTibs said:

Seems that the future of Windows development is happening largely for corporate environments and customers. I don’t take issue with this other than being someone who doesn’t live or work inside a corporate environment at home.



Bunk. While it is niiiice that he has the privilege of being outside the corporate or enterprise box, the truth of it is that enterprise sales drive the cost of computing downwards. If not for both that fact and Bill Gates’ and Microsoft’s vision of computing for the masses, most of us would not be to afford software. Look to the costs of software as espoused by the IBMs and Oracles of this world. Now, thank Microsoft, for it wasn’t for them, you would not be able to afford software for your Mac.

Surely the author hasn't been in the IT world very long.  I was there every time MS added [stole] new features into their OS and jacked the price up. Lets start with Memory Manager (Qemm) and DriveDoubler (Stacker), Netscape (IE) and you'll see the price increase beyond the cost of the base OS and the non-MS product. Even Apple's OS is a bargain by comparison. I believe Windows XP and Vista are the most expensive desktop OS's available.  

Microsoft has had NOTHING to do with lowering prices and to suggest so is well...uninformed.

# February 19, 2008 11:04 AM

Mariva said:

Which is why so many Mac users have a "secret" Windows computer somewhere in their home or office (often for financial software, testing purposes, gaming, etc.), whereas most Windows users have no comparable need to own a Mac. Mac users hate to admit this, of course.

Having said that, though, if someone feels like sending me a free MacBook Air, I won't turn it down! (I'd like to carry it around in a manila envelope, a la Steve Jobs.)

# February 19, 2008 11:16 AM

John Obeto said:

@MrTibs: FYI Sid, I have been in computing since I took my first programming class in 1981. I have worked with VAX, MicroVAX, and Intergraph workstations. And I have owned PCs since the IBM PC.

Every new OS always incorporates the better elements of either current OSs, or includes utilities that make computing easier.

In the timeframe from the release of Windows XP to Windows Vista, how many OS releases have come out of 1 Infinite Loop, each a little more than eye candy?

And how many ducats have the cattle users willingly meted out to their prelate, St. Steve in that time period?

See now? Windows is cheaper on the long run.

Furthermore, if you have been in IT as long as you feel you have, wouldn't you admit that prices are less than a decade ago? Two decades ago?

# February 19, 2008 11:42 AM

Unbreakable said:

I made this little parody...  :-)

computerboom.blogspot.com/.../50-ways-to-leave-your-vista.html

# February 19, 2008 1:22 PM

mattyohe said:

@Christopher Estep:

"Fragmentation *still* happens, even in HFS+; otherwise, why are there so many third-party utilities..."

Capitalism.  Seriously.  You should Google HFS+ and fragmentation and find out yourself.

@Mitch Yeah, it would be nice for Microsoft to allow some open protocols to connect to their exchange server.  Also RDC for Mac is pretty much all you need.  If for whatever reason you HAVE to have the MMC, then RDC to a server and use that.

@Kai "developers have already been able to emulate Expose on Windows"  Yeah, but it still isn't Exposé.  If you've used Exposé much, you would instantly see and feel the difference.

@Izlude  "I'll tell you what, I'll switch when the 200+ applications installed in my "program files" folder become "compatible""

You use 200+ applications... that don't run on OS X?  That might be a problem in itself.

"Computers are used for production and enjoyment..."

Exactly the reason to use OS X.  I want to produce and I can do it much more quickly within OS X.

# February 19, 2008 1:24 PM

Mr Winkle said:

The price of Vista Ultimate is worth it because of BitLocker?

i don't think so. truecrypt is free and open. pgp is cheaper than a vista ultimate license. the source code for both is available for peer review.

given how much drm management is in vista you're telling me you'd trust bitlocker?

more for you.

# February 19, 2008 1:30 PM

louis said:

Something everyone's overlooked: Mac is amazing for geeky developer types who also need compatibility with other environments and beauty in our lives. Consider terminal - it has themes and tabs, yet it's all unix underneath. Amazing for working with linux deliverables and yet with the zero-configuration that Mac is famous for. Consider FTP or web - who has time to install and configure apache with security permissions and everything when its just for personal testing? On Leopard, its a simple checkbox to turn it on or off. So easy.

Also, office 2008 does seem to support citations from the inspector, but I agree with all above about Office 2007, ribbons or taskbased UI will replace menus, longterm. But I can still run Office 2007 with full compatibility via vmware... I would not dismiss it - thanks to the Intel switch, its no longer Mac or Windows, its Mac AND Windows. Plus, 10.5 ain't Classic by any stretch, except for vista's taskbutton dialogues, it would run laps around Windows for usability and integration. With windows 7, we've yet another control panel redesign. Why? Sigh ...

# February 19, 2008 2:15 PM

Bob Jones said:

People say that the reason to stick to windows is because of the games. What games, the PC chart is full of the sims addons, Wow and football sims.

The PC Gaming industry is on it's last legs, microsoft sees this, with companies like nVidia trying to group togeather and reboot the PC industry. The consoles Xbox360 + PS3 have excellent online facilties which was the PC's only trumpt card, now the consoles have it. The pc section of most gaming stores is getting smaller all the time, ive seen big shops stop selling PC games altogether.

The only publisher which seems to keep the PC market alive is valve with the halflife, portal and other online games.

If WOW was ported to the consoles you would see and even greater decline of the PC gaming platform.

Mac vs Windows, it's horses for courses, use whatever suits you best. This is the reason we have a choice, it's the same reason we have a choice of cars. The cars i like probably are not the ones you like. The main difference between microsoft and apple when it comes to online marketing is that they don't directly attach apple they are more reserved with their approach which is something i like. I prefer marketing which informs me of what the product does and not why product xyz is a load of crap.

# February 19, 2008 2:35 PM

David said:

Mac hardware costs more. It would cost me at a minimum $800 to buy a Macbook Pro with a 1440x900 resolution and plus they don't offer it in a 14' model. I agree, otherwise, that whole list is nothing but a ploy for traffic.
# February 19, 2008 6:11 PM

Tech Lookz » 50 Reasons to switch from Windows to OS X? said:

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# February 19, 2008 6:54 PM

Pellerin said:

That's your refutation? You call this debunking? Surely you could have done better than this! Just look at point #2 - you call it bunk, but say you would expect no less from someone who made both the hardware and software. So... ? It's not bunk, it's good, but doesn't count because it's what you expect?

Point 38 is that you can record actions in the Mac macro program (Automator), and you say it's the same as having a chat program?

You really should drop the points that you don't have any real counter to, and stick to the ones you do. 1, 3, 13... you could have hit him on 20, with his claim that Java performance is as good on Mac OS X (which it isn't). Instead you said something about comparing onions that doesn't make sense to me.

Anyway, nice try - at least you got some traffic.

# February 19, 2008 8:01 PM

AlienHrGig said:

"A single SKU of Leopard is both 32-bit and 64-bit compatible. This, alone, is a fantastic reason to embrace the platform. It’s seamless. Why should a consumer have to come to a decision on which code to run - or understand the differences between them in the first place? Remember, I’m to be considered a “home” user."



"All versions of Windows Vista are also 32-bit and 64-bit compatible. The retail box contains both images. Take a stroll to any electronic mega-mart to verify."

What he means is that Leopard is both 32bit and 64bit, it's universal, and runs both code's in a single OS and a single instalation natively, for apps and extensions or drivers or what you want to call them.

In vista you have to decide wich system to install, 32 or 64 and for 32 or 64 you need correspondent drivers etc.

# February 19, 2008 8:31 PM

doggo said:

I use OS X, WinXP, Vista Enterprise, & RHEL on daily basis for meaningful work. OS X wins hands down for productivity, elegant apps, and predictability (the OS will do what I want and expect it to do at any given time).

Windows continues to be a clunky, awkward struggle to accomplish most tasks. OS X just gets better and better.

As for "space filler", well, this whole article is space filler.

# February 19, 2008 8:36 PM

John Obeto said:

@pellerin: traffic not bad. However, this site is not set up to monetize that. Just for me to voice my opinions.

I believe a macro recorder has been an available function in Windows since, dunno, Windows 3X. It is nice to see the Mac catching up. Albeit probably with some really cool eye candy.

As i wrote earlier, it is bunk since the hibernate functionality in every system is a function of both the software and the hardware, as you yourself intimated when you referred to the close-coupling of Mac hardware and software as an advantage.

Finally, his nonsensical points really needed no replies, only for me to point out that it was a space filler, and of no substance.

@alienhrgig: Apple has the advantage here, since they control the hardware as well. Why shouldn't a user know what operating system his/her computer is running? Isnt that sort of analogous to not knowing what grade of gasoline your car runs? Wouldn't you want to know? Shouldn't you?

# February 19, 2008 9:20 PM

Gone Nuts said:

I haven't known or heard of one person that has used OSX and switched to either WindowsXP or Vista (based on any top X listing).  The thought just gives me the willies.  :-)

# February 19, 2008 11:11 PM

MrTibs said:

@John Obeto

Now that we both know we've been around long enough to remember a console only OS, lets get on with it...

I acknowledge your point that computers are cheaper BUT only the hardware.  MS's OS is pricier now than ever.  So, the only questions is weather we can attribute the hardware price drop to MS?

First we should note that Apple's prices have dropped at the same rate even before the switch to Intel so I doubt that you would attribute that to MS.  Of course prices have dropped for all electronics from electronic toys to DVD players to cell phones.  I'm not sure how you would ever connect those to Microsoft.  

I have yet to meet any IT person with knowledge outside Microsoft products to suggest that running MS stuff is cheaper.  MS servers have never been able to do as much per CPU as Unix, Novell, Linux, OS2.  Server proliferation in the server room with MS products is a well know issue.  Tell me, how can installing/maintaining/upgrading 5 MS server be cheaper than one Linux/Novell/Unix server?

MS is not cheaper.  Not it the server room, not on the desktop.  I have about 55 stations, 6 of which are still Windows.  I never touch the Linux machines.

# February 20, 2008 9:26 AM

me said:

Man the guy that wrote this article pisses me off he is such an ass.

# February 20, 2008 11:37 AM

Paul Salzman said:

I find all this quite humorous.

Why is it that people get all up in arms because someone finds that one system is better for them than the other?

This Ford vs. Chevy debate has been going on since the personal computer was invented. Apple ][ versus Radio-Shack TRS-80, then Apple ][ versus Commodore 64, then Mac versus IBM PC and finally Windows versus Mac.

Interestingly, Apple always seems to be in the fight--formerly the volume leader, then the design-leader.

What is it about Apple that creates so much disdain for vanilla-computer users? Those of you who just buy whatever the masses are buying, generally are ignorant to the difference between the mass-market system versus another. Like a safe Camry versus a sporty BMW.

The industry is constantly changing, and although Windows enjoys millions of software titles, most of them are redundant and do not offer any advantage over a Mac title.

Conversely, if you require a specialized application, or you like to play games on your PC, then a Windows box may be your best choice.

Pirillo has decided that Mac is the best choice for him and I would agree that for MOST PEOPLE, Mac is probably a better choice.

 As a cross-platform user, I can surely tell you that all-in-all Windows is, for the hobbyist or specialized user, the better platform, but for most people Mac, with it's "computer-out-of-the-way" environment and software/hardware control is much better for productivity and reliability. Would you buy a microwave oven from one company with the software to operate it from another company? Would benefit would that offer you other than price? Would it cook your food fast, be more reliable?

Not likely and as computer users become more and more concerned with "what can you do for me?" rather than "how much can I tinker with you and optimize you" more and more people will decide on Mac.

# February 20, 2008 2:22 PM

StormyX » 50 Reasons to switch from Windows to OS X? said:

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# February 20, 2008 7:02 PM

AdamR said:

I just want to address some people's comments about 32-bit and 64-bit concerning OS X. While OS X "supports" both, at no point in time is OS X a true 64-bit operating system. The kernel operates at the 32-bit instruction set. They have a 64-bit compatibility layer on top of OS X so 64-bit applications can run. They leave the kernel at 32-bit in order to support all drivers. While this is good for compatibility, again, at no point are you actually getting a true 64-bit system. The kernel, and inherently the OS, is lacking in performance due to this fact.

Windows on the other hand tends to do this opposite. In 64-bit version of Windows, the kernel operates at the 64-bit instruction set, thus gaining all of the performance benefits. Trust me, it runs faster. They have a 32-bit compatibility layer on top of the OS (known as WOW64) which takes care of any application differences. Drivers need to be native 64-bit.

To be honest, I prefer the way Windows does it. True, it's unfortunate that you have to suffer driver incompatibilities, but ultimately you're left with a faster running, true and native 64-bit system. Plain and simple. If Apple keeps up the way they're going, they'll still have a 32-bit kernel running on 128-bit architecture. That's ridiculous and hinders technology progress.

- Adam

# February 20, 2008 8:32 PM

Davy Zou said:

I would like to know, with 5 good points out of 50, how did you get an 8%? I have been told that I make some stupid mistakes sometimes, so I have checked with my math prof, much to his chagrin, and confirmed with the calculator from Windows XP that 5/50 is 10%.
# February 22, 2008 9:51 AM

Davy Zou said:

@Paul Salzman yet what would we do to fill the empty hours if not to standby our beloved OS and strike down those that would oppose us?
# February 22, 2008 10:01 AM

Robert McLaws: Windows Vista Edition said:

Lloyd Ketchum from Liberating Technologies (a Microsoft partner) continues a debate that has been quietly

# February 22, 2008 12:46 PM

John Obeto said: