I find OS X to be better than Windows 7. There are many areas that make a difference for me. Here are some of them...
1 - freezes - OS X freezes less frequently and for shorter duration
except this is now not true , Windows 7 running on i5 or i7 hardware is just as stable as mac OS X
2 - finder - sort includes folders and files - quick look is a lifesaver
3 - spotlight - really could do away with the dock imho
Both features that Win 7 has delt with in different ways, that are just as slick if your used to them.
4 - mouse - my win 7 machine at the office simply cannot reliably stay connected to a pointing device whether it's bluetooth or usb
Thats not a mac + thats just your choice of mouse, and if its not staying connected via USB, your just pulling the cable out and should be more careful.
5 - security - much less malware - no registry
less malware, yes, registry makes no difference, there are other places for virus and malware writers to hide things, and unlike the registry which is a familiar folder structure, the hidden portions of MAC OSX are even less accessible to those not versed in the underlying unix OS is based on.
6 - app install/uninstall - no registry
Again the registry is not a bad point here, both mac and PC applications, if written correctly, will uninstall and clean up after themselves, badly written applications on both platforms will not and will leave files and registry entries/pref files all over the show.
windows scheduling, been using it for years to run batch files backups and other software. Same job, different name.
Err, your saying what is essentially a Command Prompt is a bonus ? again, not a plus point over an operating system that grew up from a command prompt ancestor.
9 - look and feel - Apple has thought this OS out very well
Now finally you have a point, the apple OS is fantastic when you just want to sit down and get things done, you still really need Mr Gates to provide the office suite, but there are far less distractions to the MAC OS, and it uses its screen space much more effectively.
Windows 7 however has made leaps towards matching, if not beating this now.
10 - windows is more customizeable? try setting different wallpaper on each monitor - try turning off caps lock (without a trip to the registry)
i dont know about you, but i have set different wallpaper across my two screens at work, it does seem to be graphics card driver dependant, but thats what you get for having the choice to install whatever hardware you want.
as for caps lock, you do know there is a perfectly good caps lock key for turning that on and off on your keyboard ? you don't need a trip to the registry.
11 - hardware - Apple industrial design in general especially: track pad, mag safe, keyboard, open any macbook without fumbling with a latch (this is more a dig at hp and dell)
Love mag safe on my notebooks, should be a mandatory health and safety component, and the latchless opening is good , but not unique, toshiba had latchless laptops back in the 386 days (Libretto)
12 - networking - easier - more flexible settings
Same settings, different locations, i actually find the PC more flexible from a GUI standpoint, a lot of the more complex changes need a terminal visit on a MAC. But i will say, Windows 7 Vs MAC, MAC does tend to let you just get on with it, Windows 7 has a habit of choosing the exact setting you DONT want at a given time first time around when connecting to a wireless network.
In all fairness, there are a handful of things Windows does that OS X doesn't do as well. There are more apps. There are a few things in Windows (file) explorer that wouldn't mind seeing show up in finder like cut/paste and merge copied directories. But the overwhelming majority of my likes side with OS X over Windows.
There are a TON of things windows based PCs do that OS X Macs don't do as well, Compatibility with 99% of business products without virtualisation, ease of user replacement of parts if they fail, ease of user upgradeability of parts to increase even simple things like hard disk space (iMac), compatibly with 99% of the software market, Gaming.
What Mac OSX does better than anything else, is it delivers a user experience that works without faff, and doesn't look like the screen most of sit at all day at work everyday.
What the Mac hardware does is deliver a neat, overpriced package, that will work for three years, then apple says its out of date and expect you to stump up for a new one, or continue to use hardware it considers obsolete and is likely to drop support for any second.
I own a Macbook Pro , its the Best laptop i have ever owned, because i use windows 5 days a week for 9hrs a day on average ,i don't want to look at that when i am at home... I Intend to spend £2000 on an iMac as soon as this generation get past its 6months run so i can see what manufacturing problems apple have with it (never buy a gen 1 release of new apple hardware is a lesson i have learnt the hardway, failed MBP, failed Time Capsule, failed Iphone)
Would i recommend a Mac, hell yes, but not because its BETTER than windows or a PC, but because its a step away from all that computing you are exposed to at work all day everyday.
...). however, im very curious as all my friends who like mac only likes mac for their design (quote " its pretty" -_-;
