Windows Vista vs. Mac OS X

[SionicIon]

Mac OS X:

Spotlight: Experience the breakthrough new desktop search technology that finds anything on your computer as quickly as you type. Search your entire system from one place: Files, images, emails, contacts, calendars and applications appear instantly.

Dashboard: Zooming to the top of your Desktop with the click of a function key, Dashboard, like Expos?, disappears just as easily. Use Dashboard to access nifty new mini-applications called widgets.

Safari RSS: The world?s fastest web browser for the Mac, Safari now boasts built-in RSS support. Scan the latest news, information and articles from thousands of websites in one easy-to-read, searchable article list using Safari RSS.

iChat AV: Tiger iChat AV brings multi-way video and audio conferencing directly to your Desktop with new technology that delivers stunning, true-to-life picture and crystal-clear conversation.

Automator: An innovative personal automation assistant that helps you streamline challenging repetitive manual tasks without programming, Automator works like a robot inside your computer.

Finder: Your home on the Mac, Finder gives you lots of options for locating, displaying and organizing all your files and folders. From the power of Spotlight search technology to the flexibility of customizable item views, Mac OS X Finder truly shows your Mac at a glance.

Quicktime 7: Make the future of video crystal clear with new QuickTime 7 features including user-friendly controls and pristine H.264 video. Upgrade to QuickTime 7 Pro and capture your own movies, then share them via email or .Mac.

iCal: Your days brim with appointments and activities: your daughter?s soccer practice, your son?s violin lesson, your neighbor?s dinner party. You need an easy-to-use tool that not only helps you stay on top of your events but lets others in your life do so as well. Enter iCal 2.

.Mac Sync: With .Mac sync now fully built in to Mac OS X Tiger preferences, staying up to date is simple. Sync information from your favorite applications to multiple Macintosh computers and your .Mac account seamlessly.

VoiceOver: The spoken English interface to Mac OS X, Voiceover enhances the Universal Access capabilities of Mac OS X to provide a new way for the visually impaired to access the Macintosh through speech, audible cues and keyboard navigation.

Parental Controls: Mac OS X Tiger is the most family-friendly operating system ever developed, thanks to Parental Controls. Protect kids over a wide range of system preferences and applications, including Mail, Safari, iChat and more.

Mail: Take control of your correspondence with Mac OS X Tiger Mail, now featuring Spotlight search technology. Find email instantly and accurately, organize messages using Smart Folders and share, save or view emailed images easily.

iLife '06: iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, GarageBand, and iWeb. (Sold Seperately)

iPhoto: The easiest way to import, organize, edit and share your digital photos.

iMovie HD: Turn your home video into home cinema and share it with others.

iDVD: Author and burn movies, photos and music to standard and widescreen DVDs.

GarageBand: The best way to record music on a Mac is now the best way to record podcasts, too.

iWeb: Easily create beautiful websites and blogs and get them online ? fast.

iCal: Your days brim with appointments and activities: your daughter?s soccer practice, your son?s violin lesson, your neighbor?s dinner party. You need an easy-to-use tool that not only helps you stay on top of your events but lets others in your life do so as well. Enter iCal 2.

Address Book: Stay connected to all your friends and family, easily. Mac OS X Tiger Address Book 4 works seamlessly across the entire system, offering your contacts in a Dashboard widget, Spotlight-driven Smart Groups, iChat and iCal integration as well as automatic .Mac and Bluetooth-enabled device syncing.

Front Row: Treat yourself or your classmates to a show ? hear music, view photos, or watch videos on your iMac from across the room.

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Windows Vista:

Desktop Search: Windows Vista gives you more flexibility when you search and organize your files. New controls, like the Instant Search box and Enhanced Column Headers, make it simple for you to manage large amounts of on-screen data in any way that you want.

Windows Sidebar: Windows Sidebar boosts your personal productivity by providing instant access to gadgets?a wide variety of engaging, easy-to-use, and customizable mini-applications that offer information at a glance and provide easy access to frequently used tools.

IE7 RSS: Tired of looking for the latest news and information on the web? Internet Explorer 7 can deliver the latest updates from your favorite sites to you. Subscribe to RSS feeds through Internet Explorer 7, and get instant access to personalized sports, news, and shopping feeds that keep you up to date on the latest information online.

Windows Live Messenger (Link to free download in Welcome Center) : Connect and share instantly on the world?s most popular IM network

Explorers: The new Explorers are powerful yet easy-to-use tools for working with files consistently across Windows Vista. Explorers give you more information and control while simplifying how you work with your files. The experience is easy and consistent, whether you're browsing photos or documents or even using the new Control Panel.

Windows Media Player 11: Windows Media Player 11 for Windows Vista gives you an easier way to enjoy and manage your digital music, video, and pictures on your PC. See things the way you want to see them, by CD cover art or in lists?the choice is yours. Connect to networked media devices around your home or seamlessly sync up with your portable digital media player to enjoy all your entertainment wherever you are. Sporting an improved look and feel, Windows Media Player delivers a high-quality audio and visual experience both on the computer and around your home.

Sync Center: The new Windows Vista Sync Center gives you one place where you can manage data synchronization in several scenarios: between multiple PCs, between network servers and PCs, and with the devices you connect to your PC.

Ease of Access Center: Microsoft Windows Vista includes built-in accessibility settings and programs that make it easier for computer users to see, hear, and use their computers. Microsoft invested in more than three years of research to better understand the needs of people who experience a wide range of physical challenges that can impact their computer use. The accessibility settings and programs in Windows Vista are particularly helpful to people with visual difficulties, hearing loss, pain in their hands or arms, or reasoning and cognitive issues.

Family Safety Settings: Nothing is more important to parents than their children's safety. Windows Vista introduces a rich and powerful set of parental control features to help parents monitor, manage, and administer their children's computer use?and help keep them safe.

Windows Mail: For many people, sending e-mail is the most important thing they do on a computer. As e-mail's popularity and importance have grown over the years, some annoyances and risks have also emerged. Windows Mail is designed to help you meet these challenges so your e-mail experience is as productive and fun as possible. Windows Mail includes features that help you reduce the risks, while enjoying the many benefits, of e-mail.

Windows Photo Gallery: Windows Photo Gallery in Windows Vista gives you the tools you need to easily organize, find, and view your photos and videos. You can edit, print, and share your photos from within Windows Photo Gallery, as well as transfer photos from your camera to your computer with a simple import process.

Windows Movie Maker: With the new Windows Vista edition of Windows Movie Maker, you can quickly and easily import, edit, and organize all of your digital home videos. New tools, such as new effects and transitions, and improved graphics performance help you manage and edit your home videos. You can include photos along with video when you create a movie, and even add narration and soundtracks. Once your movies are just the way you want them, you can easily burn them to DVD or share them with others through the Internet.

Windows DVD Maker: Creating a custom DVD is easier than ever using the Windows DVD Maker or the "Publish" option in Windows Movie Maker. Windows DVD Maker gives you a variety of styles in which to publish your movie and can even automatically generate chapters in your DVD, so you can create a menu that lets you quickly jump to, and then play, specific scenes. Create custom DVDs from your home movies using Windows Movie Maker so your friends and family can enjoy them on their own DVD players.

IIS 7.0: IIS 7.0 is the Web server role in Windows Vista. Using IIS 7.0 administration tools, you can configure settings for Web servers, Web sites, and Web applications.

Windows Ultimate Extras: Get programs, services, and content unique to owners of Windows Vista Ultimate.

User Account Control: User Account Control in Windows Vista improves the safety and security of your computer by giving you the ability to decide if certain potentially dangerous software is allowed to make changes to your computer. It works with Windows Defender and Internet Explorer to help reduce the impact of viruses, spyware, and other threats. With User Account Control and the new Parental Controls in Windows Vista, you can easily create a separate account for each member of the family and control which websites, programs, and games each person can use and install. This helps protect your family and keeps your computer running smoothly.

Windows Defender: Windows Defender is a free program that helps protect your computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software. It features Real-Time Protection, a monitoring system that recommends actions against spyware when it's detected and minimizes interruptions and helps you stay productive. Now with 2 free support incidents for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

Windows Fax and Scan: Faxing and scanning functions come together in Windows Vista through Windows Fax and Scan. Sending and receiving faxes through your PC is now as simple as performing the same tasks on a fax machine, especially for digital documents.

Windows Meeting Space: In Windows Vista, sharing information between users is finally made easier. Windows Vista helps you to more easily share files, folders, and computers on the same network the way that you want to.

Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption: BitLocker Drive Encryption is a hardware-enabled data protection feature that addresses the growing concern that corporate and customer data could be accessed from lost or stolen computers. By encrypting the entire Windows system volume, data is better protected, which prevents unauthorized users from compromising Windows file and system protection on any lost or stolen PCs. Using BitLocker also helps your organization comply with data privacy regulations and reduces concerns about repurposing equipment. Available with Windows Vista Enterprise or Windows Vista Ultimate, BitLocker is simple to deploy and use, and makes recovery easy when the need arises.

Windows Mobility Center: As you change locations, networks, and activities, you can quickly configure your mobile PC to fit the situation. Key mobile-related system settings are collected in one easy-to-find place: Windows Mobility Center. Settings include display brightness, power plan, volume, wireless networking on/off, external display settings, display orientation, and synchronization status. PC manufacturers can customize the Windows Mobility Center to include other hardware-specific settings.

Windows Calendar: Manage appointments and tasks by creating personal calendars, publishing them, and subscribing to other users calendars.

Windows Contacts: Store e-mail addresses and other information about people and organizations.

Windows Media Center: Opens your home entertainment option for digital and on-demand media, including TV, movies, music and pictures.

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This just goes to tell ya that Windows Vista is as good as that deformed OSX, take that Mac!

[Master Shake]

Vista still freezes for me.... and there are lots of bugs so right now I would not say that it's as good as OS X.

[acies]

This just goes to tell ya that Windows Vista is as good as that deformed OSX, take that Mac!

What was the point in that?? you just listed all the main features of the OS's... doesn't make them equally as good as each other.

[NightmarE D]

This just goes to tell ya that Windows Vista is as good as that deformed OSX, take that Mac!

Great way to get all the Apple fans here to flame you, good job on that ;)

BTW, why is this in Windows Vista Support and do you still think Windows Energy is a top secret future version of Windows? :laugh:

[RvXtm]

osx is out long time ago ...vista's not even out for consumer....let's wait for time to come and see vista in every-day action :)

[SionicIon]

Those arent main features, your just jealous that there equal and you want something better, the features on osx's website are features of the programs and they dont count, I'm talking features of the OS, and anyway, you don't use over 200 features everyday now do you, if I was talking all features, then a week or two I would have Vista and OSX still equal... go take a chill pill, ur too jealous!

[NeoTrunks]

On the other hand... you could just say.. Finally. It only took them five years to catch up :D. But realistically, Vista is a great OS; the best one to ever come from Microsoft, if you ask me. If Macs happened to suddenly disappear, I would probably use Vista. I was using Vista RC1 on my x64 system until the motherboard on that one just suddenly died. It's a solid OS release, and Microsoft deserves a lot of credit for that (and for actually giving half a damn about security for once). Let's return to this debate (not really a debate, since you just listed features and apps that are bundled with the OS) again once Leopard ships this spring.

[NightmarE D]

Those arent main features, your just jealous that there equal and you want something better, the features on osx's website are features of the programs and they dont count, I'm talking features of the OS, and anyway, you don't use over 200 features everyday now do you, if I was talking all features, then a week or two I would have Vista and OSX still equal... go take a chill pill, ur too jealous!

Don't start any immature kid rants alright. Calling people jealous? Nobody even said anything remotely bad about Vista or OSX in this thread for you to have called them jealous :laugh:

You need to get a clue

[zeta_immersion]

so tired of windows ... same **** since windows 3.1 ... nothing really changed ... at lest osx is a stepup from os9 ... (cannot even compare them) and yet windows is stil building upon the previous windows ... oh well ... this is life

[SionicIon]

osx is out long time ago ...vista's not even out for consumer....let's wait for time to come and see vista in every-day action :)

First of all, that doesn't matter since the features for Vista have been confirmed already, this isn't beta anymore, I'm not saying explain your expierence, I'm saying Vista and OSX have the same features and Vista has a few more and that wont change because the features are confirmed! ;)

[hotdog666al]

Those arent main features, your just jealous that there equal and you want something better, the features on osx's website are features of the programs and they dont count, I'm talking features of the OS, and anyway, you don't use over 200 features everyday now do you, if I was talking all features, then a week or two I would have Vista and OSX still equal... go take a chill pill, ur too jealous!

How old are you?

Do you even know how to compare things?

All you have done is list a load of features... I don't see a comparison. How about picking the good and bad points on iChat AV vs. Live Messenger (For instance.)

As for my stance on this, Vista and Mac OS are entirely different systems and shouldn't be compared. Comparing the two won't get you anywhere, won't change anything and is a complete waste of time, so why bother?

[.Neo]

Wait for Mac OS X Leopard.

[nvllsvm]

While OSX is very nice and I prefer it over Vista, Vista has the upper hand due to OSX being only available (legally) on a closed platform.

[MulletRobZ]

so tired of windows ... same **** since windows 3.1 ... nothing really changed ... at lest osx is a stepup from os9 ... (cannot even compare them) and yet windows is stil building upon the previous windows ... oh well ... this is life

Uh, Windows 95 was a complete redesign over Windows 3.1. But yes, Vista still has a lot of common components from Windows 95. Microsoft is more reactionary with its Windows and Internet Explorer releases as they still hold a near monopoly. But Office, on the other hand, is indeed innovative. Judging by the screenshots of Office 2007, it's definitely a rewrite over Office 2003.

But seriously, just use whatever suits you, as long as you don't use Internet Explorer, LOL! :p

[Evolution]

I think it's still a little early to compare features unless you take performance out of the equation... too many people will say Vista is slow or unreliable when in fact it really has to do with a lack of driver support.

It's very difficult to compare those two OSs when you're also comparing more than that... Macs have always had a limited amount of hardware... thus there's a greater focus to create better drivers for those specific devices.

And the descriptions of the features aren't that great. It's very difficult to contain the feel of the feature within the description itself. And you're not even comparing the features... you're just comparing what the types of features... i.e. so we know both OSs have RSS in their browsers... what about the details of the browser features?

[zeta_immersion]

Uh, Windows 95 was a complete redesign over Windows 3.1. But yes, Vista still has a lot of common components from Windows 95. Microsoft is more reactionary with its Windows and Internet Explorer releases as they still hold a near monopoly. But Office, on the other hand, is indeed innovative. Judging by the screenshots of Office 2007, it's definitely a rewrite over Office 2003.

But seriously, just use whatever suits you, as long as you don't use Internet Explorer, LOL! :p

as webgraph said ... as long as your happy then is all good :D ... i shall go drink for both os-es just to make sure they don't feel the racial discrimination

[SionicIon]

I think it's still a little early to compare features unless you take performance out of the equation... too many people will say Vista is slow or unreliable when in fact it really has to do with a lack of driver support.

It's very difficult to compare those two OSs when you're also comparing more than that... Macs have always had a limited amount of hardware... thus there's a greater focus to create better drivers for those specific devices.

And the descriptions of the features aren't that great. It's very difficult to contain the feel of the feature within the description itself. And you're not even comparing the features... you're just comparing what the types of features... i.e. so we know both OSs have RSS in their browsers... what about the details of the browser features?

Yea I am taking time and performance out of the equation, computers today aren't powerful enough to run such a complex OS as Windows Vista, when Windows Vista is offically released, performance will have improved vastly, but for now, it wouldn't matter because the feature list is final, yea I left out/forgot a few features but there basically equal and solid, with Windows Vista theres more security while Mac OS X doesn't have that because more people use Windows Based PCs than Macs, so attackers go after Windows Based PCs than Macs, the features of Mac OS X Leopard I am not comparing because Windows Vista is sheduled for release in January and Mac OS X Leopard is sheduled for release in Spring, and they did say there are features they would keep secret until the release of Mac OS X Leopard, Windows Vista Ultimate Extras don't count as secret features because like I said earlier I am counting features of the OS and not features of every program in the OS so Mac OS X Leopard would be late and have secret features we don't know yet and Window Vista early and have no secret features, so yeah it would be screwed up....

The Comparision may look weird for example, Automator is compared with Explorers because renaming multiple files at the same time can be done in Explorers by pressing and holding the Ctrl key and highlighting the files you want to rename then let go and right click one of those files and press rename, then rename it to something like for example "compare" then press enter and then that changes to "compare" and all the other files change to "compare (2)" and so on, Mac just got obsessed with tasks in Finder that they made an entirely new app for it called Automator to perform such tasks like that to create workflows, and since Explorers has features of Finder, I put Finder under Automator! :)

Edited November 24, 2006 by techdude6371

[PaulCabby]

Vista.

Because it should run Battlefield 2/Counter Strike! Though both operating systems can run Football Manager.

[SionicIon]

PCs will have improved by then! DX10 will be out by then, and people will be opening computer boxes at Christmas time and see 64 bit computers that support a lot of RAM and will have a lot of RAM, maybe 2 gigs! :D

[Kraftman]

That techdude reminds me of those snotty girls that are always saying "...you're just jealous!" lol :p

OMG I was honestly just thinking that :laugh:

[C_Guy]

:rolleyes: This is the most obcious attempt to start a fanboi flamewar I've ever seen (though not much gunfire...yet!)

Sure, Microsoft makes the best operating systems. (Oh, calm down Mac fans, there's nothing "wrong" with OS X either) But there are how many millions of computer users all over the world? One operating system will not satisfy them all. And for 3% of them, they like Mac better. As long as they're happy and you're happy who really cares?

I'm just waiting for Steve to turn OFF his photocopier before he accuses his "friends of getting their photocopies ready". There's not much in OS X worth taking, especially when there's little bits of Windows all over it (and OS X Server...ACL's anyone?). Did you know they even call their little boxes "windows"? Now where on *Earth* did they get that idea?

[Tech_Dude_5000]

PCs will have improved by then! DX10 will be out by then, and people will be opening computer boxes at Christmas time and see 64 bit computers that support a lot of RAM and will have a lot of RAM, maybe 2 gigs! :D

I honesty hate the fact that you took my SN. ...

anyway, I've seen a dell that has 8GB ram. But most desktops can hold up to 4GB. Laptops up to 2GB. So theres more then just 2GB ram in a computer...

as for your first post, I know you "hate" mac OSX because its to "plan" looking and the macs are to "plan"and macbooks need "nano" colors. but think about it? The mac is mostly used by people who want to do a lot of multimedia work, graphic disigners, photographers, and flim people. Also for those who are geting sick and tired of virus and crap..... So most people don't want childish colors on their computers. Me, I personly like sliver and black, may be a few glosy finishes. along with LED lights that have a color that will go well with the computer.

You say you know a lot, but the fact that your 12 and beta testing from connect brings up some problems. I'm 16, been intrested in computers since age 9. most was all self taught, and now I'm like the family tech, and a "simi" student tech at school. ( meaning, I help a few of my teachers, ). I beame part of the CPP back in June, and submited around 50 bugs. ( i had a busy summer, and then school starting in september, but i submited when i could )

So bascly, just think outside the box, don't be all up in everyones face on what they like. If they are an apple fan boy, so be it. If they are waitng for vista to come out like you should be doing, then let them.

Also, for being one of the youngest people on neowin, you should be listening to the ones that have been here longer and ones that are older and wiser and acutly don't lie and cheat their way in beta programs.

Not here to flame you, but just speaking the truth.....

[Joni_78]

I still get jealous everytime I see OS X screenshots on the Mac forum, It's a shame MS can't make a decent looking OS.

[Tech_Dude_5000]

I still get jealous everytime I see OS X screenshots on the Mac forum, It's a shame MS can't make a decent looking OS.

Well they have... To a certin point...

Vista is realy nice, but theres still some stuff, even in RTM ( going by reviews, and even screenshots ) that still fell unfinish. Few diolog boxes remain. (no i'm not talking about add font, I could care less for that )

With mac OSX theres so munch function to the OS. My favorite part of "aqua" is the signal light buttons. To bad vista didnt have something like that.

Vista to a point STILL has Windows 95 ( and even 3x ) in it. Still has the taskbar and start menu, regestery and all that. I do hope when Vienna comes out that will be the "true" vista.

Also actvation gets me, why the hell do we need to actvacte? Doesn't microsoft trust us?

[oldaccount1]

Essentially you listed the specs for both OS's. That's like me comparing a Hyundai and a Mercedes. They're both going to drive. One's going to suck.