tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465651050317917262.post8589468092441961315..comments2012-01-06T07:48:18.100-08:00Comments on Real Mac Thoughts: Why Mac OS X’s UI is Fundamentally Superior to WindowsPackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11158324232268547240noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465651050317917262.post-22947716089251685712011-07-12T06:38:13.187-07:002011-07-12T06:38:13.187-07:00"Another method Windows uses for organizing w..."Another method Windows uses for organizing windows is MDI or Multiple Document Interface."<br /><br />I see that you were very selective over the program you chose for that screen shot. This program was obviously poorly implemented just like someone can poorly implement a tool in OSX. but lets look at document centric interface shall we. I have used mac OSX at college and at first I was enthusiastic. But I soon started to realise that all the smoke and mirrors was a little over hyped and I started finding floors that bugged me just like in windows and linux. <br /><br />One of the things that was most annoying was the way tools documents and windows just piled into each other with no clear definition on what belonged to what. not that I didn't find it kind of useful when I had one program open, and Paint.net and GIMP on windows work in this way and i'm quite comfortable using them. But a hole OS interface based on this does not make sense to me in an age when computers run 1-10 programs on the desk top comfortably without a sweat. To me having a program defined in it's own box constraint make sense especially for multitasking with multiple windows.<br /><br />Apple File Menu vs Windows File Menus.<br /><br />Now I can see your point in saying about more space with all the menus being in one place. And I'm sure this made sense back in the day of low resolution monitors. But when we have 1080P monitors I find griping about 20 pixels a little arbitrary. also one disadvantage with this is if you have a programme on the left bottom of your screen. Would it not be more productive to have the menu 2 inches from your cursor rather than the full length of a 30cm ruler? Find this argument prophetic? I do too. Again I'm not going to call either superior for this is again down to personal preference.<br /><br />Windows Notepad Live mail and IE Inconsistent menus<br /><br />OK yes there inconsistent. But does that relay melt your brain?<br /><br />I'd like to point out that its not that difficult to work out. E.G. IE9. home is a house, favourites is a star, settings is a cog. you can't get simpler then that. If someone is confused with that then how do you think they will react when they see file, view, edit Etc. This is another thing that I find arbitrary and it concerns me that apple and your self think little things like that would confuse people. Remember the iPhone camera app that used the + button to shoot? apple's response was that it would confuse users. <br /><br />Also you have to consider that Microsoft is working on their metro and ribbon UI and I can see what they have done in terms of role out. Things that are used most often such as Notepad and windows explore have not received the ribbon UI. Yet less used things such as Paint movie maker and office have. You have to understand that people don't like sudden change and windows caters for most of the market. A gradual role out before a full switch is a good idea.<br /><br />That is all I'm going to say so far and I'll tackle the rest another day. Mac OSX is a grate OS and I've bean dabbling with it at college. But after using it for my self I Just don't get it. It's just another OS and nothing is perfect. And I'm still a windows user. If I get enough for a mac pro I will buy that sexy beast. But windows will never be gone from my drive. Apple, Microsoft, The Open Source community, IBM, Xerox and of course the beloved and forgotten commodore :,( have all shaped this industry and all deserve respect. Now off for some food!Ad-Man-Gamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03016014071032328777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465651050317917262.post-72603415153028940792011-07-12T06:37:30.363-07:002011-07-12T06:37:30.363-07:00Hi there! right lets get started!
Note how the th...Hi there! right lets get started!<br /><br />Note how the this is OPINION and is worded in such a way. This is because I'm not going to assert that the windows method is more logical and I will not call either superior. For this is an objective matter that is determined by personal preference and how you use your computer.<br /><br />Applications: OS X Document Based vs Windows Application Based<br /><br />"To open multiple notepad documents you must launch multiple copies of the application."<br /><br />So. You are saying that running multiple instances is a bad thing? What if TextEdit crashed? Would all of them windows go dead? By running each instance in its own process then only the pad that crashed would be the one that goes down would it not? but if TextEdit isolates each one individually then OSX is just doing what windows does but its just not showing it. The down side with this is that you can't kill the one troublesome process if need be.<br /><br />"To open multiple notepad documents you must launch multiple copies of the application. While this works for small, lightweight applications, it's not as suitable for larger memory intensive programs."<br /><br />making such an assertion that programs behave in this way is absurd. Your right in saying that this method is not suitable for Big applications. But that's why big programs don't do this! Programs like Photoshop, flash, Final cut pro and paint.net will only allow one instance of its self to run. <br /><br />Then again chrome is a grate example of a large memory intensive program that runs like Notepad for it behaves this way with every tab. Yes it clutters your task manager but chrome still runs fine and is quite snappy. Also coming back to running multiple instances, it seams Chrome does an excellent job of killing the offending tab (process) preventing the hole program from falling in case of a crash.<br /><br />On the other hand lets take Firefox 5.0. If I open two windows of Firefox you will see that windows sees both as two applications. But then when you go into processes it is all running under one process. this means that Firefox windows is running in the same way as Text edit. and my task manager is nice an tidy ^_^. BUT... I tend to find that when Fire fox crashes it pulls the hole program down including separate windows.<br /><br />The main point is that neither is more superior. they're just separate ways of going about it.<br /><br />"This policy also forces the user to quit the entire application when closing the window of a document. Often this is not desirable."<br /><br />This again is an absurd statement to make. windows has something called the system tray. This is and area where applications can run in the background and still inform you of activity. now admittedly for some reason Live mail does not use this API in windows 7 for some obscure reason and I'm planning to suggest that they add it back. But your article seams to be suggesting that all applications are doomed to work in this way.Ad-Man-Gamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03016014071032328777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465651050317917262.post-79732515841255431112011-04-23T18:45:44.300-07:002011-04-23T18:45:44.300-07:00Great article, but you made some serious grammar m...Great article, but you made some serious grammar mistakes. The most glaring issue in my mind was apostrophe use.<br /><br />For example, you say "Mac OS X is not without it’s flaws." In this sentence, you should use 'its', because it is possessive.<br /><br />You got it right in other places, like "it’s my experience," but sometimes said things like "are it’s lack of backup frequency" which is incorrect (what you said is like saying "are it is lack of backup frequency").AriXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17244774898217363701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465651050317917262.post-64246090502182045772011-04-22T06:10:24.252-07:002011-04-22T06:10:24.252-07:00Basically apples and oranges here. I personally fi...Basically apples and oranges here. I personally find Dock (and new Windows 7 taskbar) pointless and Finder abysmal, usability wise.Vitalyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05540148271031925535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465651050317917262.post-41354777861689316102011-04-14T07:44:10.732-07:002011-04-14T07:44:10.732-07:00Joe,
I looked at your pdf it shows no inaccuracie...Joe,<br /><br />I looked at your pdf it shows no inaccuracies. The windows 7 start up graphic (most users aren't on windows 7) doesn't show for all users it's graphic dependent. Then you showed some other random images like UAC and a context menu that enables the user to click new email. Again still 2 more clicks than dragging a file on to the mail icon in the dock. Then you showed the icon slider/file view menu that requires again one additional click to get to. Your "dossier" actually made some points for the post title.Packhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11158324232268547240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465651050317917262.post-47143099105933406182011-04-13T15:46:40.173-07:002011-04-13T15:46:40.173-07:00I felt that you've made several inaccuracies h...I felt that you've made several inaccuracies here, and I have taken the time to compile a dossier detailing your mistakes. I hope you read it and take the time to alter your article.<br /><br />http://www.mediafire.com/?m50wu8ep2122giyAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01003037575773280324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465651050317917262.post-6239543365216924792011-04-13T12:53:09.700-07:002011-04-13T12:53:09.700-07:00Macs are just so expensive, and apple won't re...Macs are just so expensive, and apple won't release their software for pc.<br />Windows has office on mac, all i want is logic for pc, but when Apple bought the company which made it....oh no, no more logic. <br />Also, why can't i legally install osx onto a new computer i build? because then no-one would buy macsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465651050317917262.post-39478816536880208322011-04-09T13:37:16.240-07:002011-04-09T13:37:16.240-07:000e7b2f92-62e8-11e0-9686-000bcdcb2996,
You are ab...0e7b2f92-62e8-11e0-9686-000bcdcb2996,<br /><br /><br />You are absolutely correct osx does have it's own short commings, but the premise of the blog post is that mac OS X's ui is superior to windows with which you agree.Packhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11158324232268547240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465651050317917262.post-60214504372829352242011-04-09T13:30:26.764-07:002011-04-09T13:30:26.764-07:00While MacOSX GUI is miles ahead of Windoze, it'...While MacOSX GUI is miles ahead of Windoze, it's still fundamentally flawed. In other words, it sucks (too). I could write a thesis about its ridiculous shortcomings and I would be valid for the task considering I've used all short of OSes for decades, from the superior AmigaOS to the lame unix/windows/macosx copycat Linux.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465651050317917262.post-35903706706143059782011-04-08T11:04:42.764-07:002011-04-08T11:04:42.764-07:00Techtonics,
I didn't compare browsers because...Techtonics,<br /><br />I didn't compare browsers because firefox is third party software. This should be obvious to any reader of the post title.<br /><br />That being said. There is no meaningful difference between firefox on OS X and windows because firefox is a cross platform browser. Also Firefox tabs absolutely are "enough" and in the bizarre case they are not, the user can have multiple firefox document windows open. Clearly you have never used a mac. <br /><br />Yes I run firefox and safari at the time and there is zero adverse effect besides the obvious added memory usage. Again Not sure what the point of your comment was.Packhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11158324232268547240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465651050317917262.post-69229893003407304732011-04-08T10:44:23.742-07:002011-04-08T10:44:23.742-07:00Yes, MS should have the default View in Control Pa...Yes, MS should have the default View in Control Panel set to icons = annoyance. I'm a computer tech, so an excellent browser is a tool of the trade. Notice the author didn't compare browsers?! The Firefox/FF implementation in OS X is a pita DISASTER! You can't run two copies and tabs are not enough. Have you tried to run FF and Safari at the same time? This doesn't impact eye candy casual users much, the focus of the article.TechTonicshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07965646763787448717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465651050317917262.post-23509395133785217592011-04-06T03:41:43.249-07:002011-04-06T03:41:43.249-07:00Hi Pack,
Both OS's (OS X and Windows 7) have ...Hi Pack,<br /><br />Both OS's (OS X and Windows 7) have their pros and cons, and some of your points are well-made.<br /><br /><br />However, you've chosen to base your article mostly on what OS X can do (or is designed to do) versus what Windows cannot, irrespective of whether it was designed to do such a thing. Moreover, you've taken bits and pieces from an obsolete OS (Windows XP), and the latest model (Windows 7) and compared it to the what seems to be the latest iteration of OS X. Where's the consistency? Previous OS X versions (<10.4, and to an extent, Tiger itself) were hardly paragons of design either. <br /><br />Your point regarding quitting applications is 50-50 for me. Sometimes, OS X's way works better, and other times, the reverse is also true. I really hate that quitting an app in OS X takes an extra step than simply hitting the close button. Then again, I've mistakenly hit the same in Windows numerous times, and ended up cursing because I had re-open the entire application.<br /><br />I've never faced icon inconsistencies in the taskbar, nor does the System tray get overloaded. Your added functionality point is also, for the most part, moot. I can skip ahead, pause, play etc with WMP or MP Classic too. <br /><br />Sure, dragging an icon onto Mail, or an image file onto the Photoshop icon in the taskbar won't open the app (try it anywhere else and it will), but it isn't meant to. It's designed that way, and therefore comparing the two methods is hardly relevant.<br />I could reverse it and say you can't pin frequently used files to their respective app icons in the Dock for quick use, and it's a damned useful feature, which OS X would do well to implement.<br /><br />The Ribbon view is far superior (IMO) to the previous implementation. It's not meant for all apps, but it works really well in Office, and in Paint/Wordpad. I will concede that this is a matter of personal preference.<br /><br />Comparing Time Machine to System Restore is hardly fair as System Restore is not a backup method, as you yourself state. Windows 7's compares more favourably, and yet you use a screenshot of System Restore. There's also Previous Versions, which would be used far more if a. it had a better UI, and b. was more well-known.<br /><br />Finder's lack of libraries versus it's ease of ejecting USB devices, I could go on. <br /><br />I'll say this, one feature I really envy is Quick Look/Quick Preview or whatever it's called. Now that's a feature that really boosts productivity.<br /><br />I also wholeheartedly agree with you regarding applications. The Mac way IMO is infinitely better. A simple DMG (usually) to install, and a single click (or two) to delete/uninstall. I'll also say that the Windows team could really dedicate some more time to 'spit and polish' their final product,. as well as setting down some basic UI principles.<br /><br />As I said at the beginning, you make your arguments well, but the basis of this article is highly flawed. The article could so very easily be reversed to reflect the opposite.<br /><br />Having said that, kudos for the effort. I've learnt something new too; I had no idea about the 'drag text onto mail to use in message'. Thanks for that.<br /><br /><br />Cheers,<br />TusharAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07365909123062123259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465651050317917262.post-35794879446886738372011-04-04T13:35:12.665-07:002011-04-04T13:35:12.665-07:00I'd love to see someone even try to refute hal...I'd love to see someone even try to refute half of what's written here!joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11671591651865175192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465651050317917262.post-19032370394935657152011-04-04T13:32:30.710-07:002011-04-04T13:32:30.710-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05951560780955952310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465651050317917262.post-81231930084714840482011-04-04T13:26:55.569-07:002011-04-04T13:26:55.569-07:00Blacksheep I see you don't have valid response...Blacksheep I see you don't have valid response refuting any of the issues addressed in the blog. Also your market share number is incorrect. Keep trying tho!Packhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11158324232268547240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465651050317917262.post-16918568836661725052011-04-04T13:20:18.045-07:002011-04-04T13:20:18.045-07:00This is by far the dumbest blogspot I have ever re...This is by far the dumbest blogspot I have ever read. enjoy your <5% market share<br /><br />http://yfsgt.com/Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14874011925434105625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465651050317917262.post-42102302613779495112011-03-30T21:00:51.642-07:002011-03-30T21:00:51.642-07:00I'm booking marking this. At one time or anot...I'm booking marking this. At one time or another I've tried to remember many of these points in arguments.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06170528282983946807noreply@blogger.com