Ways in which WINDOWS USABILITY BEATS MAC

[vague]

Wow, what alot of smug Mac users there are here. So pleased with themselves that they are years ahead of whatever Windows users are currently having to put up with. Well I gave in. I was using Windows and it eventually pissed me off so much that I bought myself a brand new iMac two weeks ago. But wait a second! All those windows users who think their system is crap, here are five ways in which Windows beats Mac. Now I could go into how everyone thinks macs are totally secure when in fact there have just been some damaging facts released about Mac security. However I wan't to dwell on the things about mac that hit me straight away, the usability features! People who think Macs are so much better at usability read this:

1. That annoying chime you get when you turn the computer on can be turned off in Windows, not on a Mac. Thats nothing you say, but when your Mac is in your bedroom and you sleep in the same room as someone else and you decide to check your e-mails at 11pm before you go to bed (your partner having gone to bed an hour earlier), that annoying chime is loud enough to wake them up! And there's nothing you can do about it! Plugging in speakers into the headphones port doesn't turn it off, there is no option to turn it off! Mac says its so much better than Windows but you cant even turn off the freiking start up chime! :mad:

2. Windows can be maximized to fill the entire screen in Windows, on Mac you have to click and drag the corner of the window. Thats right all you Windows users, no more maximixing your applications with a single click if you get a mac. You have to waste time draging to corner of the window to fill the screen! Now unless your a supergeek who will take ages dragging the edge of the window so that it will meet up perfectly with the edge of your screen, all the documents and programs your using will look out of place because they are all in odd places on the screen. They say Macs look better than Windows, maybe in some respects but not this one! :mad: :mad: :mad:

3. Applications can be closed with a single click (on the X) in Windows, on Mac you have to click menu then go to quit and click (or fiddle around with your keyboard meaning you have to take your hand away from the mouse and potentially have to draw out the keyboard from under you desk). This is super annoying. Why can't you quit a program with a single click? Surely this is just basic usability functionality! :mad: :mad: :mad:

4. In Windows Explorer there is a separate section for folder structure and folder contents viewing, on Mac they are all in the same section meaning you can't see thumbnails or file/folder statistics while viewing by folder structure. Thats right, you can't view thumnails of your pictures and the folder structure at the same time! Its just so annoying! :mad:

5. In Windows Explorer you can see four thumnails of random pictures within a folder so you know what collection you have in it without having to go into it. In Mac Finder you can't meaning you have to go into it to see if you have the right one, then if you don't, go back and try another one until you find the folder you were looking for! It wastes so much time! :mad: :mad:

And there we have it, five ways in which Windows beats mac in terms of usability. And I didn't even mention the fact that alot of the time when you click the right mouse button on that blasted mighty mouse, it often regesters the left one instead even when you are making sure your definately only putting pressure on the right side. I didn't mention it because it doesn't affect me - I plugged in my Microsoft Intelimouse and I use that!

Of course I still think Mac is better than Windows. I'm just pointing out some much needed usability criticisms.

[calculus]

Wow, that's big stuff for sure:rolleyes:

[mrthieme]

I'm sorry but if any of those things is enough to sway someone back to a Windows box, then they deserve what they get.

[psychofreak]

Hold the mute button when starting up for No.1

Apart from huge programs, or those using Rosetta, OS X is good at keeping multiple programs open, instead of quitting completely. This has advantages, such as your most used programs on almost instant startup if they have been closed with the red button.

Windows are as big as they need to be, you save screen real estate with the option of having multiple programs on a small screen.

[SMM]

Well, I doubt Macs have users posting this type of drivel on Window websites. :p

[bobscliff]

i have to agree with #5. there are a lot of strange caprices in finder. i'm partial to explorer, save the fact that it's slow to open and when you need to restart it the whole gui flips out.

[vague]

Wow, that's big stuff for sure:rolleyes:

You can be as sarcy as you like with all your mac smugness but the fact is that the thing people do with their computers more than anything else is USE THEM! So its annoying when you find the basic usability isn't even as good as the alternative operating system (windows) that gets trashed for its usability!

I mean, not being able to quit a program with a single click - its basic stuff!

[Eraserhead]

@1 just mute on shutdown.

@2 :yawn:

@3 :yawn:

@4 ????

@5 what? A very minor point. Don't you use iPhoto/Picasa to manage photos anyway?

@Mighty Mouse, it's crap, you can use another mouse you know.

Btw, I was using Vista (Home Premium fwiw) and XP (Pro) over the weekend. We were trying to transfer some files from XP to Vista, guess what? It didn't work. We tried everything but there was a "permissions error", the computers couldn't see each other. (both computers could access the internet fine so the network was working OK). So what we did was we used my Mac to access the XP machine via Samba and then SSH'd the files off the Mac onto Vista. Oh the irony, you need a Unix box (a Mac in this case) to get Vista and XP to talk :rolleyes:. Windows sounds like a very well designed OS to me.

PS To compare An iMac G5 with 10.4 can talk just fine to a 1998 iMac with OS 9 ;).

[cbrain]

And I didn't even mention the fact that alot of the time when you click the right mouse button on that blasted mighty mouse, it often regesters the left one instead even when you are making sure your definately only putting pressure on the right side. I didn't mention it because it doesn't affect me - I plugged in my Microsoft Intelimouse and I use that!


System Preferences --> Keyboard and Mouse --> Mouse --> Change the right of the mouse to Secondary Button :o

[decksnap]

1. There's a key you can hold down to mute it. I don't remember which one.

2. Macs don't maximize, they zoom. Look into it.

3. Document based versus application based. There are many ways to quit an app, two of which are a single click, one of which is a single key command. Spend more time opening and closing files and less time opening and closing apps.

[vague]

I'm sorry but if any of those things is enough to sway someone back to a Windows box, then they deserve what they get.

I just said it should be looked at. It certainly seems that mac users are a pretty arrogant bunch of people. As smug as they say you are! Why can't you take a single criticism!

[CaptainZap]

5. In Windows Explorer you can see four thumnails of random pictures within a folder so you know what collection you have in it without having to go into it. In Mac Finder you can't meaning you have to go into it to see if you have the right one, then if you don't, go back and try another one until you find the folder you were looking for! It wastes so much time! :mad: :mad:


If you keep your folders and pictures organized you don't have to worry about that. It's more of a User problem than an OS one.

[BigPrince]

I think you think your cool.

Your not.

[adrianblaine]

Everything you've mentioned here, I've read in one thread or another. They've all been debated and everyone has their own opinion. To say that your opinions are better than everyone else and that you've discovered "facts" about usability is somewhat condescending because you yourself are being "smug".

Wow, what alot of smug Mac users there are here.

1. I've made it a habit to mute the sound in OS X before I reboot if I know the chime will have bad timing. Doesn't really bother me too much though since I rarely reboot. Maybe you could put it to sleep more often instead of turning it off all the time?

2. Who needs huge full screen windows when not all of it is getting used. OS X maximizes to used space in the window.

3. command+q closes programs. I use this 99% of the time to close a program completely. Taking your hand off the mouse is kind of a weird excuse in my opinion. If this were a "true" usability error, than we'd have to rid all keyboard shortcuts.

4. Yes, Finder sucks at viewing pictures and you have some valid points, but I don't suffer from it because I just use iPhoto to view pictures. Guess I've gotten used to it.

5. I've never once missed this feature for some reason. Sometimes I forget that windows even does that. Not a big deal in my book.

Call me smug if you want, I'm just plain happier with my Mac than I ever was with Windows.

[vague]

If you keep your folders and pictures organized you don't have to worry about that. It's more of a User problem than an OS one.

Maybe it is a user problem, I'm not saying its not. So I don't keep my pictures organised that well - Windows compensates for it, Mac doesn't! So in this respect which is better? Windows!

[Eraserhead]

I just said it should be looked at. It certainly seems that mac users are a pretty arrogant bunch of people. As smug as they say you are! Why can't you take a single criticism!

Mainly because most of the points are really minor, some are you not understanding OS X yet.

Maybe it is a user problem, I'm not saying its not. So I don't keep my pictures organised that well - Windows compensates for it, Mac doesn't! So in this respect which is better? Windows!

iPhoto?

[QuarterSwede]

Windows users need to realize that OS X works differently. It isn't based on Windows way of thinking. It took me a while to get used to but now that I have I prefer it.

Macs are mean to be used with hotkeys (Cmd+W). Right hand on the keyboard and left on the mouse. Windows is almost a completely mouse driven OS even though it too has hotkeys (Alt+F4 for instance).

I do find that the Finder is way too limiting. I just hope Leopard brings a much needed overhaul.

[vague]

I think you think your cool.

Your not.

Come on! Do you really think anyone who uses an internet forum is cool!

[mrthieme]

I just said it should be looked at. It certainly seems that mac users are a pretty arrogant bunch of people. As smug as they say you are! Why can't you take a single criticism!

Macs do have problems, I hope noone here would claim otherwise. We have all done the math, and have chosen to use macs, so I'm not sure what the point of the thread was. If you wanted to prove Windows is superior to OSX please show some better examples.

[QuarterSwede]

Maybe it is a user problem, I'm not saying its not. So I don't keep my pictures organised that well - Windows compensates for it, Mac doesn't! So in this respect which is better? Windows!
The problem is you aren't letting OS X (iPhoto) organize your photos. Finder is really meant to be used minimally.

[BigPrince]

Come on! Do you really think anyone who uses an internet forum is cool!

And you say we are smug?

ha.

[iBookG4user]

1. That annoying chime you get when you turn the computer on can be turned off in Windows, not on a Mac. Thats nothing you say, but when your Mac is in your bedroom and you sleep in the same room as someone else and you decide to check your e-mails at 11pm before you go to bed (your partner having gone to bed an hour earlier), that annoying chime is loud enough to wake them up! And there's nothing you can do about it! Plugging in speakers into the headphones port doesn't turn it off, there is no option to turn it off! Mac says its so much better than Windows but you cant even turn off the freaking start up chime! :mad:

I usually have the sound muted on my MacBook Pro and when I restart it I get no chime. Although I do like the chime, it tells me exactly when to hold down the C key if I want to start from a CD.


2. Windows can be maximized to fill the entire screen in Windows, on Mac you have to click and drag the corner of the window. Thats right all you Windows users, no more maximizing your applications with a single click if you get a mac. You have to waste time dragging to corner of the window to fill the screen! Now unless your a supergeek who will take ages dragging the edge of the window so that it will meet up perfectly with the edge of your screen, all the documents and programs your using will look out of place because they are all in odd places on the screen. They say Macs look better than Windows, maybe in some respects but not this one! :mad: :mad: :mad:

I quite like this way instead of having everything maximized, it saves a ton of screen space. Besides, what use is a Safari window if half of it is blank because everything is on the left of the window? The green button sizes the window to fit all the content on it, much smarter than maximizing everything and sacrificing screen space.


3. Applications can be closed with a single click (on the X) in Windows, on Mac you have to click menu then go to quit and click (or fiddle around with your keyboard meaning you have to take your hand away from the mouse and potentially have to draw out the keyboard from under you desk). This is super annoying. Why can't you quit a program with a single click? Surely this is just basic usability functionality! :mad: :mad: :mad:

Mac OS X is MUCH better at managing multiple programs open at once than windows is, you don't have to quit and restart programs every time you want to close it. This saves time and doesn't sacrifice performance for it, why do you need to quit the program every time you close a window?


4. In Windows Explorer there is a separate section for folder structure and folder contents viewing, on Mac they are all in the same section meaning you can't see thumbnails or file/folder statistics while viewing by folder structure. Thats right, you can't view thumbnails of your pictures and the folder structure at the same time! Its just so annoying! :mad:

Open Finder and on the top part of the window you should see this (http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/1648/picture1xh7.png), click on the button furthest to the right, that should be what you're looking for.


5. In Windows Explorer you can see four thumbnails of random pictures within a folder so you know what collection you have in it without having to go into it. In Mac Finder you can't meaning you have to go into it to see if you have the right one, then if you don't, go back and try another one until you find the folder you were looking for! It wastes so much time! :mad: :mad:

Use the view of Finder stated in response to number 4 and it should give you something closer to what you want.


And I didn't even mention the fact that a lot of the time when you click the right mouse button on that blasted mighty mouse, it often registers the left one instead even when you are making sure your definitely only putting pressure on the right side. I didn't mention it because it doesn't affect me - I plugged in my Microsoft Intelimouse and I use that!

So they don't give you a mouse you like with the computer, do you like all the mouses that come with PCs? I personally don't use the trackpad on my MacBook Pro anymore, I use a Logitech VX Revolution.

[adrianblaine]

Come on! Do you really think anyone who uses an internet forum is cool!

Almost everything you've said are opinions you are throwing around as fact.

[Sesshi]

Window handling is something I prefer in OS X. I realised after working for a while in OS X how unmultitasking-friendly my Windows work habits were. The way most people use (including previously me) window controls in Windows XP exacerbate that IMO. I ended up adapting my window handling habits to that of OS X and taking that back to Windows. Result: I'm as productive while multitasking in Windows as I am on OS X - if not more so, as I just don't see beachballs or frozen Finders in Windows, except when running a real POTC software like Sony's Sonicstage (although sadly, iTunes seems to be heading in the direction of it in terms of pointless bulk / lack of speed).

As for the other points, they're not 'usability beaters'. It seems the things you don't like are just things you're not familiar with yet. You have to get to know something, get used to it before you say 'well that sucks/ doesn't work as well'. Post up the same thing after six months maybe if you can be bothered.

I do fully agree however about the overtly smug yet oddly defensive Mac fanboys ;)

[petvas]

2. Windows can be maximized to fill the entire screen in Windows, on Mac you have to click and drag the corner of the window. Thats right all you Windows users, no more maximixing your applications with a single click if you get a mac. You have to waste time draging to corner of the window to fill the screen! Now unless your a supergeek who will take ages dragging the edge of the window so that it will meet up perfectly with the edge of your screen, all the documents and programs your using will look out of place because they are all in odd places on the screen. They say Macs look better than Windows, maybe in some respects but not this one! :mad: :mad: :mad:


I agree on that. At first I found it strange but after a couple of days I got used to that. Its not as dramatic as you present it but yes it would be better if MAC OS could maximize a window with one click.

[vague]

Mainly because most of the points are really minor, some are you not understanding OS X yet.



iPhoto?

My point is, why should I even have to use iPhoto? Windows is clearly better in this regard. I can't see why people can't admit it.

[adrianblaine]

My point is, why should I even have to use iPhoto? Windows is clearly better in this regard. I can't see why people can't admit it.

Umm, maybe it is because this is your opinion? Your own smugness of what is better is not helping your cause. Have you stopped to think that the reason no one is admitting it is because they don't agree with you? that is why I'm not agreeing with you.

[vague]

I agree on that. At first I found it strange but after a couple of days I got used to that. Its not as dramatic as you present it but yes it would be better if MAC OS could maximize a window with one click.

Thank you, one smart person. I know there must be more who are willing to admit that while yes Mac might be said to be mostly better than windows, occasionally windows is better than mac!

[Blue Velvet]

Why do you need to fill a whole screen with an application's window? Do you know how Expose works?

[BoyBach]

Come on! Do you really think anyone who uses an internet forum is cool!


I'm cool! I've got certificate to prove it and everything.

:cool:

[vague]

Umm, maybe it is because this is your opinion? Your own smugness of what is better is not helping your cause. Have you stopped to think that the reason no one is admitting it is because they don't agree with you? that is why I'm not agreeing with you.

How can it possibly be a better feature of mac that you CAN'T see the little pics in folders? How? Give me a good reason and I'll admit I'm wrong.

[apfhex]

Thank you, one smart person. I know there must be more who are willing to admit that while yes Mac might be said to be mostly better than windows, occasionally windows is better than mac!
In your opinion.

It has nothing to do with an unwillingness to "admit" anything. True... there are some smug Mac users... there are also smug Windows users. :rolleyes: We don't all use Macs to feel smug about ourselves, we use them because we think they're the better tool.

Personally, I agree with very little of what you talked about in your OP. Some of the things you mention are actually things I dislike about Windows (like the inability to keep apps open with no windows—some Mac apps do this and it bugs me). The startup chime doesn't bother me at all. If you don't like it, mute your computer before you restart/shutdown (better yet, don't shutdown at all ;) ).

#4. I have a much easier time navigating my files with the Finder's column view than I do Window's Explorer split view (although it's not so bad itself). If you really have that hard a time finding things, maybe you should give Spotlight or Smart Folders a try. Or organize your files better.

Your point #5 is one nifty feature. I don't miss it at all when using OS X, but it wouldn't hurt to have either. Isn't there something like this coming to Leopard...?

[Mernak]

1. Psst!Daemon (still less annoying than on Windows, I do give you that)

2. Why do you want it to take up the entire screen, unless you use it all. some programs do maximize if needed, otherwise they use only the amount of screen space that has nothing hidden (i.e. only usable area)

3. If I (x) out of the iTunes screen I want the space free, but I want my song to still play. Some programs will quit when you press x, depending on if it is more useful. Also programs "reopens" much quicker if it is already open.

4. iBookG4user is right on the mark.

5. Why use the finder to organize photos, there is this little app called iPhoto

[BoyBach]

Thank you, one smart person. I know there must be more who are willing to admit that while yes Mac might be said to be mostly better than windows, occasionally windows is better than mac!


Personally I think that the 'Maximise Windows' in Windows is vastly flawed compared to OSX making a window only as big as it needs to be.

[decksnap]

Thank you, one smart person. I know there must be more who are willing to admit that while yes Mac might be said to be mostly better than windows, occasionally windows is better than mac!

No- maximizing is such a windows way of doing things. One at a time. I don't have a single app on any of my machines that I would want to take over my entire screen. It really gets in the way. Make the window the size it needs to be, not the size of the screen.

[expergo]

After switching 3 years ago, I can't stand full screen. It's just a big waste of space. Give me windows all over the place so I know where it all is. Like my desk. Call it an organized mess, but I like it a lot more than looking at one thing fill up my whole screen at a time.

[vague]

Why do you need to fill a whole screen with an application's window? Do you know how Expose works?

You might want to type a word document and set it zoomed in far enough so that the words are really big and you can read it more easily. There are many examples.

[adrianblaine]

Thank you, one smart person. I know there must be more who are willing to admit that while yes Mac might be said to be mostly better than windows, occasionally windows is better than mac!

This is like you telling everyone to admit that one grocery store is better than another grocery store because the first grocery store carries your favorite brand of salad dressing. What if a lot of other people like the other stores salad dressing?

The point is, these things you seem to consider a really big deal are about as important as the salad dressing you pick out in the grand scheme of things. How about finding some real comparisons, like if one of the afore mentioned grocery stores stops selling milk?

You might want to type a word document and set it zoomed in far enough so that the words are really big and you can read it more easily. There are many examples.

If you zoom in as far as you want, you only need one click for the window to zoom to the extent of the window.

[BigPrince]

1. That annoying chime you get when you turn the computer on can be turned off in Windows, not on a Mac.
Thats why there is a Mute button....Also I love the noise and love hearing it every time.


2. Windows can be maximized to fill the entire screen in Windows, on Mac you have to click and drag the corner of the window.
I never have anything fill the entire screen. Why be so stupid and have a 20 inch web browser? Alot of websites can't even handle being 20 inches big and then you have this ugly white border. I rather have it OPTIMIZED, theres a concept for you.


3. Applications can be closed with a single click (on the X) in Windows, on Mac you have to click menu then go to quit and click (or fiddle around with your keyboard meaning you have to take your hand away from the mouse and potentially have to draw out the keyboard from under you desk).
You don't know about Apple-Q? Has the Windows World not yet caught up to SIMPLE keyboard short cuts?


4. In Windows Explorer there is a separate section for folder structure and folder contents viewing, on Mac they are all in the same section meaning you can't see thumbnails or file/folder statistics while viewing by folder structure. Thats right, you can't view thumnails of your pictures and the folder structure at the same time! Its just so annoying! :mad:

I hate the fact that it shows thumbnails. This makes my mom's computer slower and makes the folders ugly.

5. In Windows Explorer you can see four thumnails of random pictures within a folder so you know what collection you have in it without having to go into it. In Mac Finder you can't meaning you have to go into it to see if you have the right one, then if you don't, go back and try another one until you find the folder you were looking for! It wastes so much time! :mad: :mad:

I know how to organize my system without needing this silly ugly feature.

You might want to type a word document and set it zoomed in far enough so that the words are really big and you can read it more easily. There are many examples.
Just change the ZOOM from 100% to 125%. I need to do this on a PC as well...

[Shadow]

1. That annoying chime you get when you turn the computer on can be turned off in Windows, not on a Mac. Thats nothing you say, but when your Mac is in your bedroom and you sleep in the same room as someone else and you decide to check your e-mails at 11pm before you go to bed (your partner having gone to bed an hour earlier), that annoying chime is loud enough to wake them up! And there's nothing you can do about it! Plugging in speakers into the headphones port doesn't turn it off, there is no option to turn it off! Mac says its so much better than Windows but you cant even turn off the freiking start up chime! :mad:

The whole point of the chime is to let you know that your Mac is working. Its similar to POST (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test) on a PC. If anything goes wrong (like RAM becomes unsteated) its the POST that detects you and tells you (usually through a series of tests). I know it can be a pain sometimes, but its better than having a busted Mac and not know why. Besides, it can be turned off by muting before shutting down.

2. Windows can be maximized to fill the entire screen in Windows, on Mac you have to click and drag the corner of the window. Thats right all you Windows users, no more maximizing your applications with a single click if you get a mac. You have to waste time dragging to corner of the window to fill the screen! Now unless your a supergeek who will take ages dragging the edge of the window so that it will meet up perfectly with the edge of your screen, all the documents and programs your using will look out of place because they are all in odd places on the screen. They say Macs look better than Windows, maybe in some respects but not this one!

The whole point of that is so that you can continue working on something else at the same time. Maximizing the window is counter productive. How many times in Windows have you tried to drag something from a maximised window into something that isn't minimized? Its a real pain.

3. Applications can be closed with a single click (on the X) in Windows, on Mac you have to click menu then go to quit and click (or fiddle around with your keyboard meaning you have to take your hand away from the mouse and potentially have to draw out the keyboard from under you desk). This is super annoying. Why can't you quit a program with a single click? Surely this is just basic usability functionality!

It makes everything go faster. If you don't close an app and then you want to use it again, you dont have to spend/waste time waiting for the app to open again. Besides, if the app makes more than 1 window (ie, Safari) the red button wont close the app (just that window) but if the app only has 1 window (ie, iPhoto) it will close the app. See also COMMAND-Q.

4. In Windows Explorer there is a separate section for folder structure and folder contents viewing, on Mac they are all in the same section meaning you can't see thumbnails or file/folder statistics while viewing by folder structure. Thats right, you can't view thumnails of your pictures and the folder structure at the same time! Its just so annoying!

What are you trying to say?

5. In Windows Explorer you can see four thumnails of random pictures within a folder so you know what collection you have in it without having to go into it. In Mac Finder you can't meaning you have to go into it to see if you have the right one, then if you don't, go back and try another one until you find the folder you were looking for! It wastes so much time!

Use iPhoto. The Finder is not designed to be used a lot, its designed so you can arrange stuff and find things (!) quickly. Having said that, use Spotlight more. Its really good and really quick. See also COMMAND-SPACE.

In general, please don't complain about something without trying to fix it. Mac OS X is a lot more powerful that I think you realise, you just havn't harnessed the true power of it yet. We at MacRumors will be willing and glad to help you in this regard.

[vague]

This is like you telling everyone to admit that one grocery store is better than another grocery store because the first grocery store carries your favorite brand of salad dressing. What if a lot of other people like the other stores salad dressing?

The point is, these things you seem to consider a really big deal are about as important as the salad dressing you pick out in the grand scheme of things. How about finding some real comparisons, like if one of the afore mentioned grocery stores stops selling milk?


I don't consider them that big a deal. I've already said they're no reason to go back to Windows. What I'm saying is that while one grocery store has cheaper prices and looks better and has friendlier staff, the other grocery store give you five time the options when it comes to buying product puting the control in your hands!

[BigPrince]

Do you really believe these are 5 valid points or are you just busting us?

[vague]

Do you really believe these are 5 valid points or are you just busting us?

really believe em

[adrianblaine]

I don't consider them that big a deal. I've already said they're no reason to go back to Windows. What I'm saying is that while one grocery store has cheaper prices and looks better and has friendlier staff, the other grocery store give you five time the options when it comes to buying product puting the control in your hands!

Which is better? Neither. People may like one grocery store over another and you were making a big deal that people choose one over the other earlier, based on what you are now calling not "that big a deal." It is your opinion and nothing more.

[Passante]

please don't feed the troll

[Xander562]

After switching 3 years ago, I can't stand full screen. It's just a big waste of space. Give me windows all over the place so I know where it all is. Like my desk. Call it an organized mess, but I like it a lot more than looking at one thing fill up my whole screen at a time.

I know, I just manually maximized my Safari window, Ewwww.... Not good at all.


To the OP. I agree with pretty much everyone else here. I acknowledge that the features you described in OS X are factual statements. However, this does not mean that I agree with your opinion about how disruptive they are. IMO I thought the thumbnail folders with the pictures built into them were fugly.

[vague]

In general, please don't complain about something without trying to fix it. Mac OS X is a lot more powerful that I think you realise, you just havn't harnessed the true power of it yet. We at MacRumors will be willing and glad to help you in this regard.

Why can't I complain about somthing I don't like. Fix it? How am I soposed to do that - hack the operating system so that it doesn't have the annoying chime at the start and so that you can maximize if you wan't to (those who don't want to and want a mess on screen would still be able to have one if they wanted)? I'm just trying to point out some criticism so that maybe someone at apple can fix these usability flaws.

[adrianblaine]

please don't feed the troll

i have nothing better to do... I'm bored and it is snowing (again). No one is forced to read this thread, right? :)

[Osarkon]

When I first switched from Windows I found all of the listed issues as well, but after having my mac for 6 months, I don't really find them issues at all. Its a pain that some apps don't shut down properly, but it's not a problem.

There's one program that doesn't make good use of the maximize setting (I'm looking at you Safari) because it's not how I wish to view my webpages. Apart from that, no complaints (I use firefox anyway).

Nothing else listed bothers me at all, you get used to them over time and they're no longer a problem.

Mind you, you knew full well when you started this thread that you were going to get responses like the above, and to be honest I'm surprised at how civil the debate is. I half expected a mac zealot (the bad kind) to come and start a flame war, it's nice to see things being kept civil. :)

[BigPrince]

to bad this could not be a poll.

It could be I 100% agree with:

5/5
4/5
3/5
2/5
1/5
0/5


I am 0 out of 5.

[adrianblaine]

I'm just trying to point out some criticism so that maybe someone at apple can fix these usability flaws.

I don't know how many times I've said this, but these "flaws" are only your opinion.

[vague]

please don't feed the troll

I wondered why they said mac users were SMUG until I came here.

[Sorkvild]

My point is, why should I even have to use iPhoto? Windows is clearly better in this regard. I can't see why people can't admit it.

ADMIT IT! all you mac users are constantly tormented inside because you use an application named iPhoto to...manage photos?

OP how can't you see people like different things, geez

[phungy]

So you can only list 5? How many ways can Mac usability beat Windows? Count them up and clearly Macs win.

Neither OS is perfect but Macs are MUCH more stable than Windows.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but you don't see us going to Windows forums and bashing on Windows? We'll take the moral high ground and not stoop down to your level. ;)

[adrianblaine]

I wondered why they said mac users were SMUG until I came here.

People get passionate about things that they care about. I don't see smug so much as getting annoyed that someone comes in here just to tell them that how they view things is wrong. You don't like it when people do that to you do you?

[Xander562]

How am I soposed to do that - hack the operating system so that it doesn't have the annoying chime at the start

Didn't we solve this problem already?

Personally I find that whatever volume I shut down my MBP at, that is the volume the chime plays when I restart it. So just mute your computer before you shut down. Easy. as. that.

[vague]

I don't know how many times I've said this, but these "flaws" are only your opinion.

They are flaws because they don't give one the OPTION of doing what they wan't! Such as maximixing windows. You wouldn't have to maximixe. You'd still be able to drag to whatever size you wanted. But if you wanted to maximize YOU COULD. Its called functionality! Giving the user the option do DO WHAT THE USER WANTS! In the examples I stated, this lack of functionality compared with Windows can only be described as a flaw!

[ksgant]

My point is, why should I even have to use iPhoto? Windows is clearly better in this regard. I can't see why people can't admit it.

Um...why do you have to use iPhoto at all? Someone holding a gun to your head? Use anything you want...including if you want to use Windows then have at it! Why are you here trolling and what could you POSSIBLY get out of it?

Stop feeding the troll guys. Do you really think he's going to change someone's mind? Do you really think you're going to change HIS mind? Why bother?

[Xander562]

I wondered why they said mac users were SMUG until I came here.

I'll take smug rather than being ignorant any day. :eek:

DISCLAIMER: I'm not saying ALL Windows users are ignorant.





Just most.

[phungy]

to bad this could not be a poll.

It could be I 100% agree with:

5/5
4/5
3/5
2/5
1/5
0/5


I am 0 out of 5.

Make that II (two). Zero out of Five!

[vague]

So you can only list 5? How many ways can Mac usability beat Windows? Count them up and clearly Macs win.

Neither OS is perfect but Macs are MUCH more stable than Windows.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but you don't see us going to Windows forums and bashing on Windows? We'll take the moral high ground and not stoop down to your level. ;)

What? I'VE NEVER SAID WINDOWS IS BETTER! I just wanted to point out five things about mac that I didn't like but nobody seems to be able to take any criticism here!

[BigPrince]

My point is, why should I even have to use iPhoto? Windows is clearly better in this regard. I can't see why people can't admit it.

And thats why Vista put iPhoto through a copying machine to brag about in Vista?

[BigPrince]

What? I'VE NEVER SAID WINDOWS IS BETTER! I just wanted to point out five things about mac that I didn't like but nobody seems to be able to take any criticism here!

I think we are taking your "Critism's" rather well. If anything your points are not holding up to our scrutiny and your just coming back at us with fodder.

[adrianblaine]

They are flaws because they don't give one the OPTION of doing what they wan't! Such as maximixing windows. You wouldn't have to maximixe. You'd still be able to drag to whatever size you wanted. But if you wanted to maximize YOU COULD. Its called functionality! Giving the user the option do DO WHAT THE USER WANTS! In the examples I stated, this lack of functionality compared with Windows can only be described as a flaw!

It is a flaw only because it isn't how you want it to work, for others like myself it is not a flaw. That is why it is your opinion.

[phungy]

What? I'VE NEVER SAID WINDOWS IS BETTER! I just wanted to point out five things about mac that I didn't like but nobody seems to be able to take any criticism here!

Ah, see. Five things about Mac that you don't like. So this is clearly your opinion which I can accept but does not mean that those are ways that Windows Usability beats Mac.

[clevin]

most mac ppl's reaction falls into the rule of

"if apple's product doesn't have this feature, then its must not be important", which, sometimes feels very weak since same ppl constantly brag about how "small thing that makes OSX better than windows".

For OP. chime can be turned off.

For others, if windows has it, osx doesn't, then its a thing windows has over osx, stop finding excuses. u can suggest what 3rd party app for osx can do the same job, but no excuses for OSX not having it.

And thats why Vista put iPhoto through a copying machine to brag about in Vista?
now the "photocopy" attack again. lol, seriously, other than SJ kept PR-ing, this "copy" theory is really getting old and dishonest.

[adrianblaine]

Ah, see. Five things about Mac that you don't like. So this is clearly your opinion which I can accept but does not mean that those are ways that Windows Usability beats Mac.

This is what I've said about 10 times now. Opinions, opinions, opinions. The only true criticism we are being given is that we don't agree with someone elses opinions...

[vague]

Um...why do you have to use iPhoto at all? Someone holding a gun to your head? Use anything you want...including if you want to use Windows then have at it! Why are you here trolling and what could you POSSIBLY get out of it?

Stop feeding the troll guys. Do you really think he's going to change someone's mind? Do you really think you're going to change HIS mind? Why bother?

Am I a "troll" because I want better functionality? Or are you up your own smug because you can't take it when someone (who admits mac is better than windows) points out a few (only 5) ways in which he thinks windows is better?

[vague]

Ah, see. Five things about Mac that you don't like. So this is clearly your opinion which I can accept but does not mean that those are ways that Windows Usability beats Mac.

Do I have to say it again? When it comes to usability I like mac better! But on these 5 points windows gives the USER the OPTION of being able to, for example drag your window to the size you want OR maximize it IF you want to do that! The fact that mac doesn't give the OPTION if one wants to means that compared to windows it is flawed in this respect!

[clevin]

This is what I've said about 10 times now. Opinions, opinions, opinions. The only true criticism we are being given is that we don't agree with someone elses opinions...

no, just like OP shouldn't be criticied by having his own opinion, which, as a mac user, is equal to anybody else's.

[Blue Velvet]

Am I a "troll" because I want better functionality?

No, you're a troll because you don't understand how your Mac works and instead of coming here to find out what you're doing wrong, you're coming here to tell everyone they're smug and you know better. There's a difference, you see.

[WildCowboy]

As interesting as it's been, I think we're about through here...we're just going around in circles now.