p_cho

Hi Haleemur Ali.

Mac OS X is not only derived from unix, but it is unix http://www.apple.com/macosx/technology/unix.html. Mac OS

10.5 is certified to run UNIX software - most Mac users don't bother though.

Your post general proves what pro-window people say. The assumption that the OS is effectively the same between

the platforms and therefore hardware/price is only difference. A computer is not just a photoshop terminal, but

a way to interact with your work and do other things. One of my favorite features on a Mac is Expose. Microsoft

made a pale imitation of it in Vista. Likewise, some Window-> to Mac -> back to Windows transition people I know

hate the Dock on the Mac and pointed out some things they don't like in OS X. There are differences in how you do

things between the platforms. For most hardcore Windows users, I would never suggest a transition to Mac.

Especially if they are used to Windows keystrokes, have a windows software library investment, and enjoy

tinkering with their computers. For people who are sitting on the fence and asking about the Mac, I strongly

believe they should try the other platform because sometimes the grass is greener on the other side.

Ironically, if I had to go back to 2000 - I would tell everyone to buy a Windows PC. Apple was abandoning System

9, Mac OS X was a mess, the hardware was doing radically things like not even including floppy disk drives (very

controversial when the iMac was released in 1998), Win 2K was super stable and showed the good future of Windows

software development, etc etc. Mac got my interest because I was hearing good things about the OS (Mac OS 10.3

was when things really got better), it's better OS design principles. Then the Intel transition sealed the deal.

If I don't like the OS and how things work, then I can go back to windows. I like the OS and how it works so much

that I have never touched bootcamp or even touched parallels to run Windows software. I started my transition in

2005 and finished in 2007 when my last windows PC (which I built - I remember using PCs starting around DOS 3),

would no longer boot up and I didn't care to trouble shoot it anymore. The parts were donated to my Windows using

friends.

Its amusing that now I encourage people to try Macs if they are open to it (compared to 2000), while you simply

state that Windows PCs are just simply better focusing only on price/hardware as well as suggesting the current

mac users are just inertial carry over users from 2000.

PS I strongly believe that there should be both healthy populations of Windows and Mac users. As long as there

is competition, both Microsoft and Apple will improve their OSs. Oddly most of the Windows posts seem to want a

non-existent Mac population. The other funny thing I have observed is that most Window users complain about

Microsoft and make jokes about windows (BSOD anyone? three finger salute?), but throw in a Mac user and suddenly

Windows is the greatest thing out there.

The difficulty in making a recommendation is that you know Windows but know nothing about Mac and OS X.

That being said, OS X is a very power operating system and well designed. The OS is the reason why to consider a Mac - not the hardware. It is UNIX at its core. Mac OS X is very well designed. Microsoft has been emulating and adopting Mac OS features for the past 20 years. In addition, Apple also is a forward looking company and has no qualms about disrupting backwards compatibility to make a better OS or computer (which can cause short term grief and/or pain). Windows on the other hand goes to great lengths for backwards compatibility, and (in my opinion) is becoming a convoluted mess. Vista came out late, and even now quite a few people prefer XP over Vista. Obviously, depending on your opinion, you might think one model of software development or the other is preferred.

Most of the people here who encourage you to go windows without even trying a mac focus on the hardware/price, not on the OS/usability. Most windows people assume that OS X is the same in usability as Windows, which in my opinion is very wrong. Likewise most Mac OS X users can't do a good job of explaining why a Mac is better because it is difficult to explain an opinion/preference and Macs aren't about hardware or cheapest price. Usability preference is a personal decision that can only be made by each person. Some will naturally find windows better, others will find Mac OS X better. Until you try a Mac, you will never know. People's opinions are no substitute for direct experience.

The bottom line is you really need to try a Mac to make your own determination. If you do not have free access to a Mac (ie store or friend), you can always buy a Mac first and then run Bootcamp/Windows if the Mac OS is not to your liking. Yes, you could play it safe and stick with windows, or you can gamble to see if you like something better - it's your personal decision.