XP is good in that
THE DOCK THING WORKS BETTER
because applications close when you close the last window.
-in os x its too easy to wind up with a whole bunch of open applicaitons hidden that you have to go back and close.

BROWSING FILES IS FASTER
because xp uses a simple cascading set of menu opitons

and you have the opiton of always having the path displayed.
Its an opiton in os x but its not always displayed and more difficult to use.

MOUSING IS EASIER
because right click is contextual and therefoer more versitle and right clicking is also faster than keyboard sortcuts

BUT XP IS UGLY AND A UNSTABLE
Xp is uglier than Mac os x but the other problems with the xp interface can be overcome by installing plugins and tweaks (such as google apps).

The big problem with xp is that softwware and hardware installs are more difficult and the OS eems to degenerate over time and requires much more maintance.

Mac is good in that

THE OS PRETTY
Mac OS X is pretty and fun to use.

MENU OPTIONS
are more logical and settings are easier to find and remember

THE WAY HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE INTERACT
The Mac software and hardware are much more seamless and require less maintainance.
if your running xp on a thinkpad or Vaio the hardware itself may be really nice
but any special features of the hardware that interact with the os are usually clunky, redundant, prone to breakdown and often require maintaince.

BUT

Mac versions of Microsoft applications are crappy and I really DO need to use MS office because complex word and excel files still dont transfer well between mac and pc versions.
-i now this is not apples fault but thats another issue.

Iphoto is inferior to Pcasa and theres no picasa for the mac

other services i really like are pc only
for example launchcast personalized music streaming
- like i said before, I now this is not apples fault but its still an issue.

IN SUMMARY

With plugins and good hardware and other extras, the xp interface can be almost as good as os X. But the more stuff you add to xp the more likely it is to degrade and start requiring maintance sessions.

perhaps vista will be better.
but i bet it will still be more of a pain in the ass than os x.

given the stupidity of all the different versions and copy protetions excesses of vista
plus the continuing crappy state of other ms software products
and also the lamenss of zune

I’d be surprised if Vista turns is bbetter than mac os X.

god posting this was a waste of time!
I should be out girl watching or something ….

As for the jigsaw puzzle comment, well Expose never seems to bother me like that. In fact, I get along great with it. I guess it’s just a matter of preference.

Macromedia and Adobe apps look twice as ugly? Again, maybe that’s just a matter of preference. I use Photoshop on both Windows and Macs at work and I’ve never had a problem going back and forth. That’s mainly due to the face the layout is the same on both, and really, that’s what counts. Of course, I think the Mac version looks better, but that has little to no influence on my workflow.

Yeah, for now Adobe’s stuff runs slower on the new Macs, but when CS3 comes out next year, that shouldn’t be a problem. Right now CS2 is still designed for the PowerPC processors Apple was using. Running it on one of the new Intel based Macs means that is has to run in kind of an emulation mode (they call it Rosetta). It’s a temporary fix, but for now, at least I can still use it until Adobe gets an Intel native version of Photoshop ready to ship. So yes, I’ll give you that one, the Windows versions are faster (at least for Adobe’s stuff, I don’t use an Macromdia software).

I beg to differ with you keyboard comment. The Mac OS is based on Unix, so if you want to (as I frequently do) I can go straight to command line and bypass the mouse all together.

I don’t think iPhoto is pitiful, but it could use some work. Mostly I just use it to keep a catalog of my artwork and photos. But I do agree with you, having to drag and drop the image into the iPhoto library, thus resulting in two copies, is a process that needs to be streamline. Beyond that, I never really use for much else. I can create slideshows and such with it, but I prefer to use something more robust, like After Effects for that. For what it is, it serves me just fine.

I think all boils down to what kind of workflow a particular individual is used to. You are used to Windows, so no matter how easy us Mac people tell you it is, for you it won’t be, simply because it’s different from your usual workflow. I do know one thing though, knowing both systems at least reasonably well immediately puts an individual at an advantage over others. My girlfriend recently got her first Mac. And sure enough, she was frustrated with it at first. But once she got used to the idea that things don’t have to be just one way, she was fine. In fact, her Vaio laptop hasn’t seen any use in the past five months. And now, she can feely move from one platform to another without anxiety. With Macs becoming more common these days, that’s a big plus. Of course, Windows is still the dominant platform, but seeing a Mac at work or at school is no longer like catching a glimpse of a unicorn. Plus, I no longer have to play tech support for her. She was always calling me with some problem or another on her Vaio. With the Mac, she nows calls just to talk to me, instead of calling for a computer fix.

Anyway, I’m sorry to hear that you didn’t like the Mac, but, as I always try to remember, it’s your money. Spend it on what you feel most comfortable with.

Take care!

In regards to Expose, I agree–I don’t use the screen corners because I guess I’m a little “wild” with the mouse. I’ll use a function key to activate it.

The mouse one I thought was funny–no offense intended. I’m an old-time Mac user and, therefore, am very comfortable using the mouse. I’m always reminded of old PC users who hated using the mouse and, therefore, would not. Thus, if they ever actually had to use the mouse, it was a painstaking chore to dig the mouse out from under the papers and such that had accumulated over it and get it positioned so that they could use it. “I’ve got to use the mouse? What a pain in the ass!” they’d mutter. Of course, if they actually used the mouse regularly, they might find it easier to use.

I’ve heard complaints about how “good” Apple keyboards are. I’ll admit–despite all the coding I do–my favorite keyboard is still the one I got with my old Blue & White G3. Since I use the mouse, I don’t really worry about the small arrow keys (and for games, I can usually map them to the keypad). But I know people who love Macs but hate Apple’s keyboards. They usually go out and buy those “ergonomic” keyboards.

As for the font size thing, unfortunately, the problem is with the displays. I’m sure you have the same problem on your Viao. One of the big deals of Vista and the next version of Mac OS X is “resolution independence”, which will allow for higher resolution displays that don’t end up shrinking everything down to miniscule sizes. Of course, you’ll have to go buy a new display…

Anyway–and, believe it or not, this is from a long-time Mac user–use what works for you. Computers are supposed to improve your productivity. If you find the Mac difficult to work with, don’t use it. Personally, I find Windows completely annoying, so I don’t use it.