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So what do you propose as a solution?

I think Vista could provide better details than this or this.

On Linux, if I get such a dialog, it's often quite clear why I need to enter my password (after clicking something, never randomly like what happened in the second link -- First link was the CDROM driver CD, but it wouldn't even show the path of the executable so I couldn't be sure it was D:\setup.exe and not c:\secrettrojanfolderwaitingforcd\setup.exe).

At least Linux is a bit better by giving the exact command it's doing, usually it's even self describing (in this case, embedding a control panel element that requires root access under the application I'm using), rather than spewing some random GUID at me that I cannot even copy/paste and google while that dialog is asking.

So what do you propose as a solution?

I think Vista could provide better details than this or this.

On Linux, if I get such a dialog, it's often quite clear why I need to enter my password (after clicking something, never randomly like what happened in the second link -- First link was the CDROM driver CD, but it wouldn't even show the path of the executable so I couldn't be sure it was D:\setup.exe and not c:\secrettrojanfolderwaitingforcd\setup.exe).

At least Linux is a bit better by giving the exact command it's doing, usually it's even self describing (in this case, embedding a control panel element that requires root access under the application I'm using), rather than spewing some random GUID at me that I cannot even copy/paste and google while that dialog is asking.

So what do you propose as a solution?

I think Vista could provide better details than this or this.

On Linux, if I get such a dialog, it's often quite clear why I need to enter my password (after clicking something, never randomly like what happened in the second link -- First link was the CDROM driver CD, but it wouldn't even show the path of the executable so I couldn't be sure it was D:\setup.exe and not c:\secrettrojanfolderwaitingforcd\setup.exe).

At least Linux is a bit better by giving the exact command it's doing, usually it's even self describing (in this case, embedding a control panel element that requires root access under the application I'm using), rather than spewing some random GUID at me that I cannot even copy/paste and google while that dialog is asking.

What in god's name is the 'BSD desktop.'

This is a modern OpenBSD desktop.

That is the default x11 desktop on OpenBSD -- I am not kidding.

I grow tired of supposed 'geeks' adopting marketing metaphors, and seeking to DRIVE us all along said metaphorical tracks.

I like poking fun at it. ^___^

Actually yeah, it is. Maybe not for us. But I see needing to explain what a repository is, what a codec is, why some codecs are restricted, why others aren't, and how to use the repository to put codecs onto the system to my 12 year old niece, or 55 year old mother.

Having had experience with teenagers, they really don't care for explanations, they just want to know what to click/install to get it working.

Both of which would then as "But why is it when I have Windows it just works without all this?"

I never got codec support for anything but windows media and mp3 and some very basic things that Linux supports too. No, I didn't get the ability to play DVDs either out of the box.

On Linux I get the basics at least, things like Divx, Xvid, flac, ogm, mkv etc. supported out of the box too. With one more tick I can get everything else supported. Thankfully I don't live in a country that has software patents, much like the majority of other nations.

I decided to check your claims that DVDs do not play, even after installing ubuntu-restricted-extras. So I inserted a DVD that I have problems playing under Windows on another computer (I bought it from the States, it's a region 1 encoded DVD, I am in region 2) -- worked perfectly (Cannot take snapshots of overlays, hence the black screen in the picture - just like on windows) for me. libdvdcss or libdvdcss2 isn't even installed as you can see.

Why are you trying to spread false information?

IE is hardened on server and it is certainly more secure.

...How do you stand the constant popup dialogs telling you that the site may not display properly and the majority of websites just simply not working?

Then you try to download another browser to get out of this insanity and you're constantly getting the bloody popup to add the site to a trusted list. Which doesn't work because each time you click the link you get another random mirror!

Terminal.app supports ANSI color just fine. The checkbox to enable/disable this is under "Window Settings", under the "Color" menu item.

That isn't full VT100 ANSI Terminal Color support.

The Finder's Samba support is sub-par. You're dead on there.

Guess you never browsed a Samba fileshare that had files with the SAME filename in multiple cases, like "readme" and "README".

A lot of users have no problem with the one theme idea -- for comparison look at how many Windows users use themes provided with Windows (either Luna or Classic). Those that are computer-savvy enough to know about theming, etc, will probably use one of the many methods to change their theme on Mac OS X.

To be honest, I don't really care much for theming nor effects and all that jazz, I want it all turned off usually. My problem with Windows and MacOSX theming however -- they actually require intercepting calls to UI functions and changing them if you want any theming at all. I prefer KDE/QT's, where there theming support is built in, so there is no need to add such annoying overheads to get a real minimalistic theme.

didn't really get your point about the "desktop applications" and categories. Do you mean the icons in the Dock? The choice of software bundled with the OS? You don't seem to rant about anything specific.

Actually, I was quite annoyed at how few applications were available for the Mac, particularly in some categories like astronomy (Tracking visible satellites using Keplerian Elements), games (I had more accessible to me under Linux). A lot of opensource software that worked fine under Linux/BSDs/Windows had real issues (GIMP being one of them). Then to futher the problem of lack of applications, the Java runtime that comes with MacOSX had real problems handling most Java UIs

I haven't rebooted my Mac in over two weeks. I've installed tons of stuff, including the Developer Tools since then.

I found myself rebooting the Mac a bit too often, when installing things like codecs for QuickTime so I could use those codecs with iMovie (which I discover that I needed to buy the encoding codecs to get it to export to those formats -- but that's another story).

As for the XML files... well... they'e not easy for the average user to edit, but they certainly are documented.

Ease of editing XML files didn't really bother me as much as having to edit them to modify some UI aspect (when I could do the equilivant in kcontrol on KDE or System Settings) and then having to reboot the system to see the changes really infuriated me.

The "open source applications are unstable" claim is kinda silly. I've used tons of applications, open source and not, on Mac OS X, and I don't notice any difference in stability. I have used several open source apps which have significant stability problems, but I've also used stable open source apps. Same goes for commercial software.

My Mac experience hasn't been so rosey, I've been plagued by random crashing of software that was supposed to be 'polished' and 'superior' according to many others.

SWT has its quirks on Mac OS X -- it's true. Apple does ship a JRE that's better integrated with the UI. As a result, some things are different. Then again, they are on Windows. And Linux. And Solaris. And BSD.... etc. etc. etc. Java's not 100% cross-platform, at least not when it comes to SWT. If SWT worked perfectly the same on everything but OS X, I'd be pissed at Apple. It doesn't, and I'm fine with the Aquafied look of SWT apps.

The problem you describe with SWT, is exactly what I am having problems with. Even Microsoft Java, Kaffe etc. Aren't having these problems I'm getting on MacOSX using very basic SWT (sample project).

In my opinion Apple could of done much better and Linux desktops aren't unusable as people keep claiming -- I do think they need work, but I think Windows (My opinion does not include Vista -- since I refuse to judge on beta/RC versions the OS) and MacOSX need a lot more work.