Windows 7 vs Leopard

[The General]

I installed Windows 7 RC1 to play with. I booted it and installed all the drivers ... then I realized that I don't even have anything to do in Windows. I guess I could mess around with a web browser, but other than that I don't really see it being useful for anything.

I do everything in Leopard. The only thing I use Windows for is games, and I'm not really that into games right now. I have phases, I'm in an off phase for games.

 

[vocalcity]

I purchased my first Mac 5 months ago, after using Windows for years. I now use both operating systems on a daily basis, as well as Vista at work.

Firstly, it's worth noting that Windows 7 actually isn't a whole lot different to Vista. It feels more polished even in beta form, but there's no doubt about its heritage. Using 7 at home and Vista at work, I never notice a jarring transition between the two - they are really very similar. In other words, Windows 7 is really only a massive change when compared to XP.

The OP asked about advantages to using Mac OS over Windows on a Mac Book.

Apple's boot camp drivers under Windows are sub-par in my experience. You'll likely notice power management is worse - your battery life is shorter under Windows and your machine will get hotter. This is related to Apple's boot camp drivers -- it's a downside none-the-less. There are also known latency issues with the keyboard manager software, which may affect you depending on what software you use (e.g. real time audio).

Other than that, Windows actually runs well on Apple hardware, as you’ve found. There’s nothing wrong with using Windows 7 as your only OS on Apple hardware. I personally feel OS X is the superior operating system, but in the end it comes down to personal preference and choice.

 

[JamesGorman]

There isnt really a comparison. Windows 7 is a "next gen" OS. We should wait until Snow leopard comes out and than compare windows 7 to that.

 

[clyde2801]

I really hope MS can make win7 a secure, stable, efficient OS. We'll see how many features they take out and kludge they put in before it's official release.

Probably a lot of people on these boards would like to celebrate like the ewoks at the end of Return of the Jedi if Microsoft fell on its a$$, but I'm hoping MS can pull it off. Competition is always a good thing, and a strong version of windows will force Apple to keep innovating to stay competitive. Who knows, maybe they may come down on prices a little or add some features to the same price points if the stream of new customers walking into the Apple Store ebbs a little bit.

And IMO, it's mostly the ever increasing stream of windows malware that's responsible for Apple's increase in market share. That's why I switched in 03. And my dad last summer. Cool designs and new features help, but people get tired of reinstalling XP every six to eighteen months, disinfecting malware, and are scared off by all the bad press about Vista, justified or not. Good luck, Redmond.

 

[RestlessDeviant]

Have you tried everything with Log and Transfer? A quick google yielded the information that you can't set In or Out points... You have to transfer the whole clip.

And Vegas 7 does AVCHD nativly?

I have googled it too but got nowhere with Sony AVCHD files & final cut... seems like that is a specific problem with .mt2 files. Log & Transfer doesn't work 4 me, even on FCP 6.0.5

Yes Vegas does AVCHD natively, u can just drop an AVCHD file straight in2 the timeline! Also Sony Vegas Pro 9 out soon looks very sexy!

Thanks for looking though....

Anyway I was really wondering if I was missing out on something by not using the Mac OSX, some killer aps, or amazing OS functions not in Windows, but it seems like Windows 7 is quite popular, and although it’s not perfect...... It more functional the OSX atm...

Roll on Snow Leopard you have stiff competition!!!

 

[Signal-11]

I really hope MS can make win7 a secure, stable, efficient OS. We'll see how many features they take out and kludge they put in before it's official release.

You were being reasonably fair for posting on a Mac forum but still, that very first sentence is still pretty biased against MS. Why didn't you phrase that as "how many features they put in and kludge they take out"?

It's almost beside the point anyway b/c the RC's been more or less finalized. You can download ... I wanna say build 7077? right now, if you know where to find it.

Personally, I like Windows 7. Between Win7, Ubuntu9 and my terrible experience with Apple on last generation's MBP and glossy only on the uMBP, my next laptop purchase will almost definitely be a Windows machine.

They're still producing a slightly superior OS but as someone who's been a Apple guy for a very long time, I've more or less lost faith in Apple. They are definitely not the same company they used to be.

 

[Everlast]

Window's 7 just seems completely superior. The way the new taskbar allows you to quickly preview running apps, so you can check other apps without actually switching is BRILLIANT. It has already saved me quite a bit of time. Not to mention if you have several windows of an app open you can select a single one to open, instead of just picking the app as one chunk, like in OSX.

Hmm, I guess expose does the job, with the new MBP multi-touch trackpad, it's prefectly worked for me.

 

[jaw04005]

It's almost beside the point anyway b/c the RC's been more or less finalized. You can download ... I wanna say build 7077? right now, if you know where to find it.

They bumped it to 7100, and Windows 7's feature list has been locked down. What's in the RC is what's shipping in the RTM later this summer. That's been Microsoft's build policy for years, otherwise it wouldn't be called a release candidate.

The RC is very stable and fully functional for me. Much of the debug, additional feedback and bug reporting code is gone. They've removed the "send us feedback" link. This is locked down, and on track for a summer release.

The only feature I'm aware of that has been removed from the public beta is "guest mode." They've decided to offer that as a stand-alone download later down the line, similar to the SteadyState download that's available now.

 

[Signal-11]

They bumped it to 7100, and Windows 7's feature list has been locked down. What's in the RC is what's shipping in the RTM later this summer. That's been Microsoft's build policy for years, otherwise it wouldn't be called a release candidate.

Isn't that what I said?

The RC is very stable and fully functional for me. Much of the debug, additional feedback and bug reporting code is gone. They've removed the "send us feedback" link. This is locked down, and on track for a summer release.

Yeah, I was thinking about grabbing the RC this weekend but I ended up playing with K/Ubuntu 9.04 and arguing about swine flu the entire time.

 

[mikes70mustang]

Honestly, if windows became easier to use and just all around better than osx.....id go back to windows. What good is product loyalty if the product sucks, but since that's not the case right now.....no worries.

 

[maplestar]

Alright...

Even though comparing OSX Leopard to 7 is unfair, (you should compare Snow Leopard), I'll do it for the sake of answering the argument of the two.

Windows 7 DOES have superior Windows management. I concur. Unless you're extremely good with Mac Expose, you have to agree that window 7's jumplists and aero snap is quite useful. In mac, I can get expose to show desktop immediately, and I can get it to show all my windows, but window 7's jumplists implementation is extremely nice.

This said, Windows 7 beta, at least for me, CANNOT run everything well. Explorer 8 has some bugs and some games fail to run on it. Also, windows 7, other than an improved UI, has pretty much nothing except for libraries in explorer that is different from Vista (at least for my usages). Therefore, every argument against Vista almost works against 7. The backup in OSX is much more nifty, the system is much more stable. Mainly, OSX has better software as well, most third party software in OSX is much more streamlined that third party software in Windows.

Basically, I could see you using just Windows if you're a person who surfs the web, writes basic documents, or runs Windows-only applications. Otherwise, OSX does have awesome things such as iLife, Spaces, the backup utility, iWork...

 

[MVApple]

I've never heard anyone mention this, but the included dictionary app in OSX is a killer feature for me. I love quickly looking up new words. I also love the automatic spell checking. I've looked for a similar application in Windows and no one makes it. I guess I'm part of the minority that really appreciates this. I know windows has some open source dictionaries but I really want either the American Oxford or American Heritage versions as they are the definitive American English dictionaries.

I have not used windows 7 yet so I really can't compare OS X to windows 7. I do have Windows Vista installed for games and Windows only software. I will tell you though that one other killer feature for me is being able to browse the internet unafraid. In windows I'm constantly afraid of exploring new webpages because of viruses. I do run virus software and I have never had to remove a virus from my computer, but I browse "defensively". In OS X I just view whatever webpages without worrying about damaging my computer. In OS X as long as you don't install malicious software, you won't catch anything by just doing basic tasks like surfing the net.

One other feature I love is the + button that automatically adjusts the window to the optimal size, love that. On the unibody MBP I love the trackpad gestures as well. Expose and spaces are very useful as well. Again my perspective is from a Vista user.

I think you should give OS X a serious shot for a few weeks. Explore it's features, get used to navigating through it and then decide whether it's for you. Honestly, either OS get the jobs done. Apple makes beautiful hardware, if you want to run Windows 7 on it go for it. My biggest problems with Windows in MBP's is that the unibody trackpad works like crap and it gets much hotter in Windows than in OS X.

 

[Everlast]

I've never heard anyone mention this, but the included dictionary app in OSX is a killer feature for me. I love quickly looking up new words. I also love the automatic spell checking. I've looked for a similar application in Windows and no one makes it. I guess I'm part of the minority that really appreciates this. I know windows has some open source dictionaries but I really want either the American Oxford or American Heritage versions as they are the definitive American English dictionaries.

I have not used windows 7 yet so I really can't compare OS X to windows 7. I do have Windows Vista installed for games and Windows only software. I will tell you though that one other killer feature for me is being able to browse the internet unafraid. In windows I'm constantly afraid of exploring new webpages because of viruses. I do run virus software and I have never had to remove a virus from my computer, but I browse "defensively". In OS X I just view whatever webpages without worrying about damaging my computer. In OS X as long as you don't install malicious software, you won't catch anything by just doing basic tasks like surfing the net.

One other feature I love is the + button that automatically adjusts the window to the optimal size, love that. On the unibody MBP I love the trackpad gestures as well. Expose and spaces are very useful as well. Again my perspective is from a Vista user.

I think you should give OS X a serious shot for a few weeks. Explore it's features, get used to navigating through it and then decide whether it's for you. Honestly, either OS get the jobs done. Apple makes beautiful hardware, if you want to run Windows 7 on it go for it. My biggest problems with Windows in MBP's is that the unibody trackpad works like crap and it gets much hotter in Windows than in OS X.

Yepper~ That's exactly what I meant, the combination with the unibody trackpad and those multi-touch gestures, just feel like playing magic with my hand, I don't need a mouse no more on MBP. All those gestures really useful and never get old.

 

[tubbymac]

I tried for a while to use bootcamp and Windows on my Macbook and then gave up on it. Apple's keyboard, touchpad, and power saving drivers under Windows are complete garbage. OSX obviously runs amazingly on the hardware and you're really missing out on the amazing multitouch gestures in OSX. Once you've used two finger scroll, three finger browser navigation, and four finger expose, all Windows touchpads will feel ancient in comparison.

If nothing else, try out OSX for the gestures.

 

[clyde2801]

You were being reasonably fair for posting on a Mac forum but still, that very first sentence is still pretty biased against MS. Why didn't you phrase that as "how many features they put in and kludge they take out"?

Considering the differences between the promises of Longhorn and the reality of Vista, I'd say I could defend my statement. I hope they don't blow it. Really.