Heh, why does everyone always quote visual similarities when people compare MAC OS and Windows? Why not the more staggering similarities between Active Directory in XP/Server2003 and the NDS strutures from Novell? Or just does no one care because Novell is usually limited to enterprise solutions and the average user doesn't see it... Meh, anyway, maybe more research can be done so we don't hear the same arguments all the time, yes?
Almost certainly because the "visual" similarities are what MOST people actually see. Looks and surface behavior are what define an OS to the mainstream market. Performance and operability run a close second.
And, although I do not discount Linux as a viable option to Windows, the mainstream consumer knows readily of only two computing choices when boiled down to the OS, Windows and Mac (how most refer to OS X outside of techies and Apple-users). The same holds true for Novell, but to a much greater degree.
Not to mention that, while the arguments may be repeated/rehashed/old, they are still valid. And, they become even moreso when you have Gates and Ballmer going on news shows saying that their new UI is completely unique and innovative and pointing to features that have existed in one of your competitors OSes for the last 3+ years.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Aerv @ May 19th 2007 11:39AM
Heh, why does everyone always quote visual similarities when people compare MAC OS and Windows? Why not the more staggering similarities between Active Directory in XP/Server2003 and the NDS strutures from Novell? Or just does no one care because Novell is usually limited to enterprise solutions and the average user doesn't see it... Meh, anyway, maybe more research can be done so we don't hear the same arguments all the time, yes?
plaidpjs @ May 19th 2007 2:17PM
Almost certainly because the "visual" similarities are what MOST people actually see. Looks and surface behavior are what define an OS to the mainstream market. Performance and operability run a close second.
And, although I do not discount Linux as a viable option to Windows, the mainstream consumer knows readily of only two computing choices when boiled down to the OS, Windows and Mac (how most refer to OS X outside of techies and Apple-users). The same holds true for Novell, but to a much greater degree.
Not to mention that, while the arguments may be repeated/rehashed/old, they are still valid. And, they become even moreso when you have Gates and Ballmer going on news shows saying that their new UI is completely unique and innovative and pointing to features that have existed in one of your competitors OSes for the last 3+ years.
RT @ May 20th 2007 2:14AM
NDS and active directory were both implementations of of open standards that existed prior to their conception