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X vs. XP.com Site Launched
Dan Pouliot writes "I've been compiling a shootout of X vs. XP for some time, but I've finally given it it's own domain xvsxp.com. Sure, I prefer Macs, but I've tried to have this site be as objective (and thorough) a shootout as possible."
List view is unworkable with any complex directory trees because:
a) expanding folders means massive amounts of scrolling to get anywhere, and
b) cut & paste with files in Finder doesn't work, so to move something from one folder to another you each have to do lots of painful scrolling or both folders need to be visible at once.
(1) Column View is the best feature for file browsing not available on any other OS.
Column view is horrid to work with for much the same reason List view is - too much scrolling and no way of easily moving between different directories. I believe the old NeXT file manager used to have a "shelf" where files could be temporarily placed while directories were being navigated - that and/or decent cut & paste would make the Finder about a thousand times more usable.
2) Spring-loaded folder makes it possible to drag and drop files to any depth without opening lots of windows.
From what I can see this feature is primarily a kludge to get around the other deficiencies.
(3) Finder toolbar is much more configurable than Windows Explorer.
Unfortunately that extra configurability (such as it is) doesn't result in much more _functionality_. There's never been anything I've wanted to that wasn't catered for by either the default Explorer or Finder toolbar.
(4) Music, graphics and movies can be played or viewed right in the Finder preview pane without starting applications.
Wow ! Just like Explorer has been doing for the last five years ! It even reproduces the same problems Explorer can have with corrupted files (ie: crashes).
(5) One-click search by content, size, type, date, extension, or visibility.
The one click search bar in the Finder only searches on filenames. You also ignore the massive flaw in Finder that objects can only be ordered by name in the Icon and Column views (thus making them even more useless than they already are).
(6) Automation with AppleScript.
Vs automation with WSH. Applescript is probably easier, though.
Oh, if that's not powerful enough, there is always the Unix terminal to play with: csh, tcsh, bash, Perl, Python, Ruby and lots other tools all preloaded. Windows is not even remotely close.
Yes it is, particularly if you install Cygwin.
I've used Windows and MacOS [X] extensively, and Windows wins hands down for GUI file management with any remotely complex directory structures. The default commandline tools in OS X are better, but that advantage disappears as soon as you install Cygwin on Windows.
Do you know anything about networking at all?
Yes, quite a lot in fact.
Windows only understand Windows or SMB [...]
"Windows" and SMB are the same thing. Windows can also use Appleshare over IP and IPX (usually Netware) - plus others you have to pay for (NFS, for example).
[...]while OS X can handle Windows as well as NFS, UFS, HFS+ and SMB.
You forgot AFS (Appleshare+friends), WebDAV and FTP. However, NFS using Finder is unreliable and clumsy and SMB can only browse the same subnet (not to mention trouble manually connecting to machines on different subnets & domains). SMB support on OS X barely qualifies as "present", let alone "adequate" or even "good". Windows wins by a mile unless you happen to be trying to integrate it into an NFS-only network (hardly a common thing), in which case it's just more expensive.
And just FYI UFS and HFS[+] have nothing to do with networking whatsoever.
What do you mean by "without having to map or mount the share"?
Precisely that. I can access and manipulate files on a share via Explorer without having to map it to a drive letter (equivalent of mounting it on the Desktop - ie under /Volumes - in OS X). This is _vastly_ superior and more convenient than the OS X way.
Surely you still have to login to a remote machine before accessing it.
Yes.
And OS X comes with Rendezvous ZeroConf so that devices (not just computers) can discover each other.
Not that much else does, yet. About as useful as writing a Flash web page in 1993 would have been. A bit like the way Apple were (are) trumpeting their gig ethernet when 99% people probably haven't even been on 100M for long.
Why don't you fuck off and go running to your mommy about how these uncouth Slashdot Philistines are employing locutions your imported English tutor never taught you -- butchering the Queen's English, are we, you would-be pedant half-wit?
Some of us are out having lives, through the course of which we meet living English. I'm sorry you haven't the luxury. No need to be sour about it. I'm sure your 19th century grammar is treating you just fine.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going dancing.