David Pogue is going to get a nasty letter from Microsoft PR on Monday! He’s a bad, bad man for suggesting that Vista and OS X have glaring similarities. I’d embed the video here, but the New York Times is very Web 0.5, so go ahead and visit David’s little travelogue of the specific points where Vista and OS X diverge. Good stuff.
Blaring any directy copyright theft, I could never wrap my head around people that complain that Microsoft is stealing from Apple – it always seems to be from the same people who think that Os X is better then Windows, too.
If you think Apple’s perfected the OS, why are you so bitter if Microsoft takes a few ideas from them when creating their next version of Windows? Is it because they’re worried about loosing market share? I’m pretty sure no one who uses Tiger right now is very concerned about switching to Vista.
I tried the Vista Beta 2 and I really liked what I saw. Instant searching from the start bar is going to save me tons of time when I eventually pick up a copy, and being able to preview windows from the start bar has proven to be a lot more useful then I originally anticipated it would be; in fact, it’s something the dock could use.
I love os X and i don’t think that many people that like it are bitter about Microsoft taking a few ideas for Vista. However, I do think that the entire tech community expects a little more from a company that has taken way too long to release it’s new amazing OS codename longhorn. Who knows though, maybe Microsoft does have an OS that is simply amazing. I’m anxious to see when it’s released what it’s like when it’s released.
Oh man, that was a funny video. Not because of the childish sarcasm that was dripping from David Pogue’s mouth, but because that video had not point.
I’ve been a big fan of the NYTimes and the circuits section, but sometimes I think the tech community can get to wrapped up over “small” things. Yes, Vista is taking cues from OS X. Consider a complement, not an attack. As That Canadian said, I wouldn’t worry about people running OS X to run and switch to Vista because of the amazing 3D chess, the ‘Gadgets’ and the lower left hand search bar.
As far as new OS’s come, I think what Vista is big on is not that it is a brand new OS, but that it is combined with a big effort on the otherside of the market by Microsoft to update their entire system. With Vista comes a switch to the new 3.0 .Net network for software developers, a switch to a stronger platform against malware, the latter being a big move which is being emphasized in all stages of software development for Windows across Microsoft.
Finally, I think the biggest reason why Vista hasn’t been groundbreaking is because Microsoft isn’t expecting Vista to be another XP, to be an OS which will last until it can grind out a new one. Why this is the case I don’t know, maybe to accomodate for more tech increases, to reduce market saturation, to increase interest, who knows. But that’s what I think.
Here is something David, in his infinite wisdom, did not mention. Vista is a complete rewrite of Windows from the ground up. In fact, it is built on top of the open source linux distribution Debian. Now some may be quick to point out that this is just following in Apple’s tracks with OS X. But listen carefully. OS X is built on Freebsd, Vista on top of Debian. Freebsd, Debian. Not the same at all, is it?
ribbit.
Sorry to the antagonist.
I personally believe that Microsoft ’s image is going to be it’s downfall. They produce spectacular software which ranges from running servers to entertaining 5 year olds, however they still come off as an overbearing big brother. They try to change with the times, but they just end up being awkward, like the forty year old father at the school prom dressed up in baggy jeans and a heavy metal t-shirt. They need to embrace who they are and work with that to become more “hip”. Google is also a multibillion dollar behemoth and yet they still seem like a mom and pop shop, friendly and human.
The apple commercials hit the nail on the head. (the one with the two guys comparing products with the apple being the young adult). This brings me to what I would do to change the current view of microsoft:
1) Get a mascot … like the reddit alien.
2) Get rid of the clutter. Hire some artists to help you.
3) Take credit when you do something right, like the zune-arts.net website. (They should place a microsoft logo on it)
4) Give things away for free.
5) It’s okay to admit you are not perfect. Release things as beta, instead of releasing products and then forcing a million patches.
6) Heavily target the youth so they become loyal fans… on their own accord. There once was a time when you were the only game out there and it didn’t matter if your users liked you or not. Times are changing, change with the times.
7) Overall, become more human and less robotic.
Sorry for the rant, but this brings me to my point about copying Apple. If people thought of Microsoft the way they think of Google, then the NYtimes article would have been about how Apple stole the idea from Microsoft, even when Apple’s OS was released years ago! (please don’t over analyze the chronology of this, I was just making a point)
Just my two cents,
Amit
I think that the diffirence is getting greyer between the two and it is partly our fault. Most of us spend our time on the web. It runs the same, looks the same on a Mac or a PC. Or for that matter a cell phone or PDA.
So Apple inveted desktop search, widgets / gadgets, and 3D graphics? Forget it, that’s not even the point.
Why are technologists so cynical?
I used to skateboard a lot. When we were skating in competitions and someone nailed a great trick – we (everyone, including those competing against each other) would clap and slap our boards on the pavement. We were passionate about skateboarding and others that learned new tricks and improved old ones.
Contrast that with American football – where athletes mock each other and do stupid little dances when they score a touchdown.
The technology world feels like American football right now. Imagine how much more fun it would be to work in this industry if we treated advancements and improvements like the skateboarding world. Where we congratulated people for improving their own products and creating new ones.
Sigh…
The OSX/VISTA snark has been going on for a while. As for me, as a Mac user, I am glad MS is incorporating the best elements of OSX into their OS … Windows users get a more secure, more usable operating system and that benefits everyone.
Should we harrange Nikon for introducing features in their SLRs that appeared nine months ago in Canon?
All that said – great clip by David. HA!
Well, I feel that it’s quite alright for him to make these comments about the upcoming Microsoft operating system. After all, Microsoft has made claims that it will be much more advanced that any other operating systems, except it says OS 10.2 when you look at it.
Microsoft is trying to get it, and imitation is a compliment in its greatest form, however I feel they do not understand what makes Apple… Well, Apple. Apple has a way to change their image in the public eye, before the iPod everyone felt Apple was a dead company that wouldn’t make it past the year 2005. Those people were quickly proven wrong by Apple who sold a record amount of iPods in 2005 and sold their 1 billionth song from the iTunes music store in 2005.
I could also mention the people that claimed Apple would never leave IBM’s processors and switch to Intel. Once again, they were proven wrong by Apple and after the IBM/Intel switch Apple’s sales of their computers (not the iPod this time) skyrocketed.
Microsoft has not be able to do that, they have been living off businesses like leeches. Expecting companies to buy their operating systems when they’re release, or the newest version of Office. Microsoft Office is actually a decent application, however, there are some other well suited players in the field.
OpenOffice is an excellent example. It’s free, and easy to use. It comes with a decent spell checker and grammar checker. The only downfall to the application is the use of Java to power it. But it’s a free application, did I already mention that?
Apple has found their foothold on the modern computer industry and they will not give it up. Microsoft is (near) officially a company that has been left in 2001 when they felt that Windows XP was the greatest Windows to date. (Even though it is, much better than their 9x releases.)
Nothing will spark some long and fiery comments like the good ol’ Microsoft v. Apple rivalry.
I’d have to agree that mimicking OS X should be seen as a form of flattery. What happens in the fashion world? A designer makes something that people like, others take elements from it and re-brand it. Then the whole cycle starts over. It’s what innovation is all about.
the review is pointless
Amit
They’ve doing many of the things you pointed out for quite a while now.
When it comes down to it though, Microsoft’s strongest detractors are likely people who’d pirate software even if they supported the company (the
…. damn, my post got cut off
Oh well, saved you from 1/2 a page of scrolling :)
That Canadian,
I am assuming you were going to say that “People who pirate Microsoft’s products are causing the company to lose revenue”. I bet that is partly the reason, but I would be interested to know how much money they actually make by OS sales to individuals. Also, now that people purchase computers more often (another assumption), I would think that they come prepackaged with Microsoft OS anyways.
Pogue’s satire is hilarious. Honestly, why did Microsoft have to go preinstall chess. I love the game but they couldn’t they see that it seemed like they were just copying Apple. There are tons of games out there that they could have utilized instead.
They need to bring back good old MS Bob. jk.
Amit,
MS Bob was awesome.
Honestly guys, Microsoft is doing what it does best, which is marketing products to the masses, a lot of which are the computer illiterate and those who don’t know or care what a Mac is besides a big rig. Thus, they don’t really care whether or not tech junkies like David Pogue say “ooh boo, you guys are copying apple”, they’re going to be pleasing computer n00bs with their awesome new OS which has nifty features not available in earlier editions of windows.
Microsoft is in the OS business for the money, not for its pride.
Any rich husband here?
Hey Blake, I’d like to introduce you to Ivanka…
This is just utter bullshit. Fine, they may be similar features, but features such as these are common place in many applications. For example, the search feature was something that many programs like had incorporated and it just proved to be a smarter better search concept. Microsoft picked up on the trend. Apple didn’t invent it. Having a chess game was probably the smartest thing Microsoft did, but that didn’t result from copying. It resulted from the inbuilt games with Windows being utter crap. People were sick of solitaire and freecell back in Windows 98. Just because they have a 3D chess game doesn’t make the copiers. As for widgest, gadgets and sidebars, when Longhorn was leaked years ago, the sidebar was not even heard of. And it excited a lot of people. I can’t remember which version of Mac OS had widgets, but the idea was introduced a long time ago. Not to mention all those programs that added gadgets to your desktop. That whole video is a piece of crap, and it annoys the fuck outta me that people are complaining with that. Vista is a great operating system, and after using it solely for over a month, I can say that with confidence. If you want to complain about it, complain about the fact that it needs a lot of resources, and compatibility issues with programs like SQL Server (god help MS get over that one)…
Achinda:
I think most rational people realize that Windows Vista is not infringing on any copyright infringements, and realize that Apple did not invent 3D chess, the search bar, or use(less) thingys to sit on your desktop. Most of us just find it funny that Microsoft is drawing on exactly what Apple used to make its more recent OS’s and products some of the most successful the market has seen.
Again, techboys can be a little bit snide about their beliefs. However, I think if we took David Pogue with a bit of salt, we’d all agree his dripping sarcasm and ridiculous expression throughout that video was hilarious.
Let us get the facts straight… BOTH Apple and Microsoft copied their idea from Xerox – BOTH… in that sense they both started from the same seed. Where they diverged is their application – where Microsoft decided to be a jack of all trades at the expense of their soul, Apple decided to remain on its own isolated island and innovate. Both OSs have their problems and stability issues – OS9 wasn’t the cats meow if I remember correctly, nor was ‘98 or ME.
Now they are both on the same convergent path, the difference being that Apple, being on its own isolated little island, was able to release and innovate faster because they had less people (and companies) to please or that got in the way. The fact that Microsoft even had the guts to release a new OS speaks to how urgent things have become for them to refresh their product line… seems anything they touch turns to mud except for Office and their standardized OS.
As for me, I couldn’t care less who I use as long as it doesn’t crash too often ;-)
Jon
I wish everyone would shut the fuq up. I remember using the konfabulator years and years ago for wigets. Who the fuq made that program? I could have sworn Apple bought it from some software company. And here is some fuq head talking about it. Could say Windows had 3d effects in the OS way before Apple put a basic graphic card in their system because of Window Blinds…
Everything is shit so shut the fuq up idiots.
P.S. Competition is goooooood.