My Take on the OS Debate
I own a Mac, and am constantly surprised at how well it works. I can't even remember the last time an application froze, and I haven't had a computer fully seize up since Mac OS 9.1. I'm not the only person who feels this way, either. My mother has a Mac that runs OS X 10.2.8 and it has a few glitches, but has been a great computer, and I can't think of a person who owns a Mac who isn't pleased with it.
OS X 10.4 Tiger isn't just good, however. It's great! Pair that with a 20" inch widescreen and I actually feel spoiled. I'm not kidding, it's computing paradise.
And no, I don't have a hard time getting software or communicating with the windows world. To be sure, I don't ever email MicroSoft Word files (although I could), but I wouldn't if I used Windows, either. In fact, several of my favourite programs are made only for the Mac. Here is a short list: Mellel (a great and low cost word processor), OmniOutliner (probably the best outlining application on the planet), Safari (the best looking web browser), Shiira (a Safari based browser with some unique features), Adobe Lightroom (a Mac only public beta for processing photos), Mail (the best email program I have ever used). There are many more great applications that come with every Apple computer like iPhoto, Preview, and iMovie, and they all work well. I just recently ordered Aperture, Apple's professional photo workflow program, and I expect it will work well, too.
This brings me to the reason why I think Apple is producing such great products: it has the right approach to software development. I bet that when the Apple developers get together, they ask themselves "what is this software going to do?" or "what is it going to produce?" Then they go about making software that does exactly that, keeping in mind that what the user wants is to do that specific task or produce that specific thing. They do not want to spend their time learning to use software.
I've heard Macs compared to appliances. They are intended to have output without the need for understanding the workings of the machine. This is true of both their operating system and their applications. It is also why so many professionals use Macs: it allows them to concentrate on their craft, and not on the machine that they use for that craft's production. This might sound like a small thing, but for someone who spends a lot of time on their computer, this can translate into countless hours of time saved. What's more, the time it does save would otherwise be spent in frustration and rage.
Somehow, I think, Microsoft misses this point. It's not just about giving users features and speed, it is also about providing them with an interface that enhances their production process, saves them time, and makes their work more enjoyable. This Apple does, and they're getting better and better at it. And it starts with their superior approach to software. I hope, for the sake of Windows users everywhere, that Microsoft will finally figure this out.
OS X 10.4 Tiger isn't just good, however. It's great! Pair that with a 20" inch widescreen and I actually feel spoiled. I'm not kidding, it's computing paradise.
And no, I don't have a hard time getting software or communicating with the windows world. To be sure, I don't ever email MicroSoft Word files (although I could), but I wouldn't if I used Windows, either. In fact, several of my favourite programs are made only for the Mac. Here is a short list: Mellel (a great and low cost word processor), OmniOutliner (probably the best outlining application on the planet), Safari (the best looking web browser), Shiira (a Safari based browser with some unique features), Adobe Lightroom (a Mac only public beta for processing photos), Mail (the best email program I have ever used). There are many more great applications that come with every Apple computer like iPhoto, Preview, and iMovie, and they all work well. I just recently ordered Aperture, Apple's professional photo workflow program, and I expect it will work well, too.
This brings me to the reason why I think Apple is producing such great products: it has the right approach to software development. I bet that when the Apple developers get together, they ask themselves "what is this software going to do?" or "what is it going to produce?" Then they go about making software that does exactly that, keeping in mind that what the user wants is to do that specific task or produce that specific thing. They do not want to spend their time learning to use software.
I've heard Macs compared to appliances. They are intended to have output without the need for understanding the workings of the machine. This is true of both their operating system and their applications. It is also why so many professionals use Macs: it allows them to concentrate on their craft, and not on the machine that they use for that craft's production. This might sound like a small thing, but for someone who spends a lot of time on their computer, this can translate into countless hours of time saved. What's more, the time it does save would otherwise be spent in frustration and rage.
Somehow, I think, Microsoft misses this point. It's not just about giving users features and speed, it is also about providing them with an interface that enhances their production process, saves them time, and makes their work more enjoyable. This Apple does, and they're getting better and better at it. And it starts with their superior approach to software. I hope, for the sake of Windows users everywhere, that Microsoft will finally figure this out.
Related Tags: Apple, Apple Computers, Microsoft, Software
posted by Andrew Stark at 3:07 AM
10 Comments:
Hey, dude. Howdy way up there in the Yukon from a Mac lover in Colorado. Do you have broadband internet up there? Well, if not, lots of time for dialup downloads, I suppose. Keep on truckin',
Hello down there in Colorado. Good luck to your Avalanche hockey team. Every community in the Yukon has high-speed internet. In Whitehorse we now have broadband wireless. People come for the scenery and stay for the broadband.
I'm eternally jealous of people who own Macs. I agree with what you said: MacOS just works. You don't need to mess around with it constantly like you do with Windows, which exposes way too much of the lower-level stuff to the user.
I miss the days when I could work on Macs.
I've been using OS X since early 2002 and it's gotten better and better with each version. Apple continues to kick butt.
OS X is quicker, more intuitive, and heck, more fun with each new edition of the system. Compare this to WIndows: increasingly extra bloat, obnoxiously coloured themes and all sorts of intrusive security "features".
I use Macs both at home and at work, and considered myself pretty darned blessed to be able to type away on such an incredible computer day in, day out.
There is certainly something to be said about Apple's policy of upgrading it's operating system once a year, even if it costs more than $100 each time. Each upgrade has been significant, I think, and 10.4 is twice the operating system of the first OS X release. They've nailed the the look with 10.4, too.
The beauty of the Mac, also, is that you will never need to mess around with it, but you still can if you want to.
Amen to the Mac. I have only ever used the Mac because of being an elementary school teacher in the Yukon and having no other choice but I have to say that if I had started on a PC I would probably have hated computers. But needless I love them. I agree OS X is great. The new ads are really good too. (http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads/)
Colorado did not look so good in their first game. Go Sens Go.(They looked awful too) I just hope it is an all Canadian final... Sens and Oilers.
I'm calling an Anaheim - Ottawa Final, but I'll probably be wrong.
See, I told you I'd be wrong.
Just wanted to say I'm having trouble with my Mac!! I bought the thing because I liked what I'd heard (but have never used one).
I got it about 9 months ago and the hard drive went on it a month ago. That was replaced, but now Safari keeps quitting on me. I'm not exactly sure why.
Although, it could just be me not knowing how to use the thing.
I'm interested to check out the word processing programs you mentioned - I've been using NeoOfficeJ and it's been decent enough.
I'm sorry to hear that. A certain amount of hard drives will just quit. It's a problem with all computers, and it has happened to me before, too. Sucks when it happens, though.
Safari has always been stable for me. I'm unfortunately not an expert, so I'm not exactly sure why that would happen. Have you been updating it? It is extremely important to use the software update in OS X. Shiira is a Safari type browser, so you coud try it out if you like Safari. It's free and you can use your Safari or Firefox bookmarks with it, too.
Mellel is nice and simple, but NeoOfficeJ is free, so if you like it I would stick with it. It always takes me a long time to get used to a new word processor. I used Appleworks for years and I found it difficult to adjust to my new program even though it is 100 times better.
I Hope you have better luck in the future.
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