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."

Comments

Organisation, Issues

[MBCook]

Overall, this site is quite nice. It does seem rather objective to me. My biggest peeve about this site is that it needs "next" and "previous" links at the bottom of each page.

As for actual content, there are a few things that I disagree with. This person said that they are a Mac fan, so I'm not too suprised at these things. Here is what I see wrong/disagree with:

• Numlock/number pad - This is listed in the last section as something odd. He complains that you can only use the number keys when numlock is on. His site shows that this was explained to him, but I don't think he quite "gets" it. First of all, you can have the computer start up with numlock on (I do). That said, this is a hardware issue that he's juding on, which he doesn't seem to see it that way. It's tradition (like where the capslock key is, or that there even IS a scroll lock key).
• He talks about that, but doesn't chide the Mac for having a one button mouse. This is also a hardware issue, but it's rediculous. I have a friend who has used Macs for nearly 20 years and JUST GOT A PC RECENTLY. They didn't know what the 2nd button was for, and it took me a little time to get them to get the idea. But once they got it, they LOVED it. It's SO much more convinent than holding option and clicking. That is there to cover up for the lack of a second button. Everyone I know who uses Macs alot (real computer people, not just people who only use AOL or something like that) have bought 2+ button mice for their Macs, because they are simply superior in usuability.
• Windows is chided for having a menubar for every application. I think this is a good thing. I find it convinent. When using OS X if I want to access a menu in a application that isn't in focus, I have to switch to that application by clicking on a window it owns, then using the menu bar. In Windows, I can just click IMMEDIATLY on the mendu that I want. That article a while ago that talked about "cruft" explained why Mac did things that way. The windows way is superior (IMHO), but he doens't agree with me. Fine. The option-click thing above is also cruft.
• Application vs Window. I don't remember if this was mentioned, but this has always annoyed me about Macs. In windows, if I close Word or some other program by clicking on the "close" button on the top right of the window, it closes. On a Mac, the window closes but the application stays open. This wouldn't be a problem for notepad or somesuch, but for large programs like Word, Photoshop, and other things, this can eat ALOT of memeory. This too, is cruft.

Do I have a preference? I've always liked Macs, but I use PCs because they cost less (I can build a PC for much cheaper than the lowest-end-mac costs). From Win95 on, the IBM/PC has had a superior OS over OS 7/8/9. OS X changes things. It's a great OS. Would I rather have OS X or XP? I'm not quite sure. I'd probably chose OS X, all else being equal. It's done so well. I also don't like alot of the stuff XP does. If the choice was between 2k and X, I'm not sure. I would probably go with X again, but only because of the Unix core; wihtout that it'd be 2k. I use 2k and love it. It's a very good interface.

Of course, this is just another one of those KDE vs. Gnome (KDE for me), PC vs. Mac (PC for me), DVD-R vs. DVD+R (whichever one someone wants to give me ;), Linux vs. BSD (Linux for me) type things. It has no answer.

Re:A couple of comments

[Anonymous Coward]

First off, I am *not* an average PC user.

Since 1978, my fingers have been tickling keyboards of various shapes and sizes, QWERTY to Dvorak.

I've used Macs off and on sinec 1985, Apples since a few years before.

I have eight PCs in my home, (2) FreeBSD boxes, (1) Linux box, (1) Toshiba Laptop (Win2k), (1) Sun UltraSparc 10, (1) TiBook, (1) iMac, (1) Dual G4 Power Mac.

As of today, my *NIX boxes are all headless .. sans one ..., no mouse, no keyboard (serial console access) and all access is via either my iMac or PowerMac ... with Apple's included one-button-mouse.

Even navigating X-Windows, the 1 button mouse is NO BIG DEAL. In fact, it's so intuitive that I catch myself alt+clicking and windows+clicking when I'm at work on my Win2k Desktop there.

The one-button mouse is more ergonomic, comfortable, and efficient that all this hullabaloo about multiple button mice is older then last week's dishwaster (and needs to be thrown out with it just as well.)

And for the record, before the workstations were headless, they were connected with a standard AT-101 keyboard + Logitech 5 button trackball.

Now all my servers are quitely running from my garage, and no matter where I'm at, whether it be the Living Room (iMac), Office (PowerMac), or back patio (TiBook) I have ready access to anything.

Maybe when you've been typing and using a mouse for 20 years and have carpal tunnel in both of your wrists you'll appreciate the value of ergonomics some day.