Ok, I have a confession to make. I'm coming out today. I am something of a closet Apple fan. I
think Apple does have some good stuff. I have not used a Mac regularly in years, so I am a bit of a spectator. And, I
obviously like a lot of stuff that comes from Microsoft. Both companies have been making some great stuff.
What I find most interesting is the similarities in the newest version of both companies' flagship operating system software. With Apple's OS X 10.4 Tiger and Microsoft's Windows Vista, I think both companies have done their research on what users want. The following features are available in both operating systems, and are focused on giving the user more control and a better experience:
- Integrated scalable search, including the ability to find system settings from the search box
- Eye-candy user interface with easy-to-understand icons
- Common sense layouts for common applications and previews
- Widgets: mini-applications that help with common everyday tasks and provide high-level user interaction
- Integrated RSS in the browser and beyond
- Better support for digital media (playing, finding, buying, producing)
- Streamlined applications that run behind the scenes to make tasks and programs run more efficiently
I'm sure there are plenty more comparisons that you can think of. All in all, both are fantastic pieces of software that cater to their respective markets. Both have their strengths and areas in which they can still improve, but in the end provide a lot that users have been requesting for a long time. By the time we actually see Vista in the saddle, Apple may have released OS X 10.5 or at least some strong rumors will be circulating. What is next for both operating systems beyond Vista, beyond OS X 10.5 Leopard?
