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Ground Rules for the Windows vs. Mac War

Posted by Zonk on from the users-need-to-think-before-they-pick-names dept.

FreshlyShornBalls writes "The New York Times is running a story that I think needs to be seen by everyone on both sides of the on-going Macintosh vs. Windows debate (i.e. just about everyone who posts on Slashdot): Some ground rules for the Windows vs. Mac War." From the article: "Last week, I wrote about some of the changes Microsoft has in store for the next version of Windows, which is slated for the end of 2006. Interestingly, very few of you responded to that column, probably because so much may change in the next 19 months. But a few of you fired off diatribes about how I'm either a Microsoft 'shill' or an Apple 'apologist' (or maybe it was the other way around). It's not just me, either; it's a running sardonic joke among tech columnists that you can't even USE the word 'Apple' or 'Microsoft' without getting hate mail from somebody or other."

3 of 524 comments (clear)

  1. Apple Keyboards r0X0r!!! by B747SP · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    Apple keyboards r0x0r! I just bought a pair of Apple M9034LL/A keyboards, and I love 'em.

    Went into an apple reseller yesterday and picked up a keyboard. Asked a salesdroid "What are my chances of getting this to work on a PC?" (I already knew the answer to that, was just trolling!). Salesdroid said "Zero - there's no drivers for it". (Clearly doesn't know about USB HIDs!). I said "Mind if I try it?".

    Whipped out Dell laptop and fired it up. Windows XP detected an "Apple Extended Keyboard" and a "Generic USB Hub", realised that the keyboard was a regular Human Interface Device (HID) and just worked. Apple key == Windows Key. Everything else works. F13-F16 has no function (need to remap some of them to Print Screen and Pause/Break at some point), and even the volume up/down/mute keys work out of the box.

    Fired up Gentoo Linux with a 2.6 kernel, it detected it as a "Mitsumi Electric Apple Extended USB Keyboard" and again, just worked.

    So yeah... I really really like the slimline minimalist style of this keyboard. Sure, it isn't an IBM/PCKeyboard.com style buckling spring keyboard, but its a very nice alternative. I think I'll be trying more Apple hardware as the mood strikes.

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  2. Re:Rule #1 by DavidNWelton · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    It's a Samsung YP-MT6V:

    http://product.samsung.com/cgi-bin/nabc/product/b2 c_product_detail.jsp?eUser=&prod_id=YP-MT6V%2FXAA

    I got it because it does ogg in addition to mp3.

    --
    http://www.welton.it/davidw/
  3. Re:Bollocks by carou · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Irony: you're currently modded insightful.

    (Now, anyone who mods me offtopic, don't - it's redundant ;))