Apple's Leopard Demolishes Microsoft Vista

News Type: Opinion — Seeded on Thu Nov 1, 2007 3:05 PM EDT

Article Source: Slate

technology, apple, software, review, windows, computers, vista, os, leopard, bugs, operating-systems, fixes, bug-fixes

Apple is smart to underpromise and overdeliver. Its approach stands in contrast to that of Microsoft, which trumpets each new version of Windows as an epochal breakthrough, thereby raising expectations so high that it can't possibly meet them. Windows Vista, for instance, has been saddled with the slogan "The Wow Starts Now" and an ad campaign that claims the OS leaves users speechless with wonderment. It turns out that "wonderment" isn't quite the emotion that Vista has evoked. Nine months after Microsoft's new operating system reached consumers, it's been forced to reassure customers that they'll be able to order new machines that run Windows XP, not Vista, well into the foreseeable future.

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{"commentId":1148777,"authorDomain":"belarius"}

Belarius

It's easy to understand why many PC users are clutching onto the six-year-old XP.

Guilty as charged. But I have to say, using Macs as work has made the prospect of going Mac and never going back a whole lot more promising.

{"commentId":1148777,"threadId":"170211","contentId":"1066460","authorDomain":"belarius"}

3 votes

#1 - Thu Nov 1, 2007 3:06 PM EDT

{"commentId":1149332,"authorDomain":"pobox522rlyeh"}

Smiling Jack

Yeah, I had to get Vista because I'm under a lot of pressure to keep the same operating system as some of my customers. I haven't been particularly thrilled with it.

{"commentId":1149332,"threadId":"170211","contentId":"1066460","authorDomain":"pobox522rlyeh"}

2 votes

#2 - Thu Nov 1, 2007 6:09 PM EDT

{"commentId":1150513,"authorDomain":"rutty"}

David Rutt

When it was time to renew my PC I decided to get an iMac rather than a windows box. XP is OK (I use it at work) and I was a Linux user at home but Vista just didn't interest me at all, especially with all the problems that people have been having. OSX just looked - gorgeous, and I'm enjoying my first introduction to Leopard - or even any Apple OS for that matter.

I don't like the way that Microsoft foist the necessity to reactivate the OS if you change too many parts/drivers. That was the showstopper for me with Vista, although there are plenty of other problems causing enough concern for me not to even consider it as an option.

I'm sure Leopard has its issues but it's looking hot to trot at the moment.

{"commentId":1150513,"threadId":"170211","contentId":"1066460","authorDomain":"rutty"}

1 vote

#3 - Fri Nov 2, 2007 7:01 AM EDT

{"commentId":1150771,"authorDomain":"chum"}

Chum

I've got an iMac that I've had for about 4 years. It still does everything I need, but I'm looking for an excuse to upgrade (and give my mom my old one).

{"commentId":1150771,"threadId":"170211","contentId":"1066460","authorDomain":"chum"}

#4 - Fri Nov 2, 2007 9:33 AM EDT

{"commentId":1151001,"authorDomain":"tcervo"}

gecko85

Nine months after Microsoft's new operating system reached consumers, it's been forced to reassure customers that they'll be able to order new machines that run Windows XP, not Vista, well into the foreseeable future.

This is particularly true in the corporate world. Many companies currently making large computer orders are doing so with XP, not Vista. I know that my company has no current interest in Vista (we just bought 3,000 XP boxes), and there have been hints that in 3 years when the service contracts run out, if XP is not available, it may be time to contemplate a switch. (We've experimented with Linux in student labs, and our entire programming and development department have used OS X for years, but upper management is scared of switching company-wide...for now.)

{"commentId":1151001,"threadId":"170211","contentId":"1066460","authorDomain":"tcervo"}

#5 - Fri Nov 2, 2007 10:54 AM EDT

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Over A Year Later And Windows Vista Is Still Not Worth It	DWing	Fri Nov 2	117
Macworld Review: Mac OS X Leopard	Macworld	Tue Oct 30	0
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Reviews. Macintosh OS Reviews by CNET	CNET.com	Tue Oct 30	0
Apple OS X 10.5 (Leopard): Full Preview - Reviews by PC Magazine	pcmag.com	Tue Oct 30	0

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Apple's Leopard Demolishes Microsoft Vista

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