Does OS X Have Enough of the "Good Stuff" to Sway Basic Us...

[MacBytes]

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Category: Mac OS X
Link: Does OS X Have Enough of the "Good Stuff" to Sway Basic Users? (http://www.macbytes.com/link.php?sid=20051122110025)

Posted on MacBytes.com (http://www.macbytes.com)
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[kainjow]

I'd say yes, if you mean "good" as in no annoying pop ups on the bottom of your screen everytime something is detected or changed :)

[andrewm]

I use 10.4 in my daily life, and going from 10.4 to 10.3 (on, say, a relative's machine), thus depriving me of Spotlight, is like jogging along at a good clip only to find oneself smacked up against an invisible brick wall. It's even worse in Windows at the moment, in my own opinion, regardless of whether one use's Google or some beta of some new Vista technology.

Apple's got great potential with their 'candy' programs, like Dictionary.app in 10.4--allow freelance and amateur developers to provide content for things like this and they don't even have to do much work.

But it's these very basic things, like Spotlight, that really stand out in my mind. Get into the daily lives of users: half of the people that I know who switched don't even know of iChat. They seem to like iChat or Adium (and yes, I acknowledge the existence of others) when I point out that they needn't be using AIM's own client. Apple needs to convince them that their chatting program is better; that their mail program is better; that their calendar program is better.

The problem here? Regardless of how much we like certain widgets or features, Outlook/Entourage are (to my knowledge) far more full-featured than Apple's counterparts, even if they're a bit clunkier. Once Apple shoves these programs into the face of regular home users as a viable alternative in *both* home and office, things may take off exponentially.

[madmaxmedia]

The biggest benefit for general users is security, and then maybe stability. I absolutely LOVE OS X, but am not sure it really offers enough to compel a large percentage of Windows users to switch. Especially as most people are just doing email, web, photos, and music.

That being said, I'm hoping Apple is busy cooking up some new ideas for 10.5 that may do the trick.

[steve_hill4]

I have to agree and disagree with the article. While I see the point about apps being redudant for many standard users, I also find features like not being swamped down in pop-ups and viruses and simplicity of adding/removing programs, as well as starting one up, being a major advantage.

I say time and time again, I find the one thing that holds most people back from switching one they have the advantages explained to them is software. They either have a catalogue of discs that are windows only, or there is no equivalent Mac OS equivalent to run a much needed app. Hopefully the x86 switch will give a greater number of software releases on both platforms and that will be one more thing removed that currntly prevents switchers.

[adk]

I remember at first the apple way of doing things seemed strange but now that I'm used to it I feel that it's waaaay smoother than windows to do everyday things. The security is also great. I'm in college, and all my friends have 5 different virus/spyware alert programs that are constantly finding new little problems.

[Applespider]

Apps are only redundant until someone shows you how to use them.

My mother/sister never really used iPhoto until they saw the Photobook I did. Now they've done them themselves and their Windows friends ask how.

I was talking to someone at work about making a video/DVD just yesterday. She laughed and asked how much it cost me to fork out for software to do something I wouldn't do often since she couldn't justify doing so - and hadn't bought a video camera for that reason. It comes with the Mac was my reply.

MS adverts show things that people might be able to do on their PCs if they buy additional software (the flight simulator ad, the piano playing ad). I don't think people realise the power of the iLife apps even if they're only thinking about using them.

[Chef Medeski]

He said that we wouldn't notice the increased security and simplicity after a month. However, in a world where everything is PC, I notice it everyday when I sit at another computer.

[Seasought]

I think it's difficult to try and sell OS X's security as a big feature to average computer users. Regardless of how much information you tell them or give them they really aren't going to be impressed with the differences between it and Windows until they try and use both.

The 'halo effect' (sorry to those who are infuriated at seeing this term for the thousandth time) is doing more advertising for their computers than the few Apple ads one comes across.

I think branching out into the music player side of things is helping rope people into considering their computers. Some speculate that the iPod buzz will die down soon, but it's impact has already turned so many heads it will be difficult for Apple to be easily forgotten by the casual computer user.

I liked the article, though I wish it had been a bit longer.