Vista vs. Lepoard
If you’ve been watching television you’ve probably seen the new Apple ads that claim their new operating system Leopard is faster and better than Microsoft’s Vista. Is it true and if so what makes it better than the PC standard from Microsoft?
First some disclosure, I do all my writing on Mac’s. I have worked on PC’s for years too and own a Dell machine that currently uses XP.
Vista was launched a year ago (Feb. 2007) is the current standard on most new PCs. Sales to consumers who own a PC using XP have been disappointing. The uptake compared to when Microsoft launched XP is down anywhere from 41% to 56% when compared apples to apples (pun intended). Demand from Dell customers has forced the company to offer customers the option of purchasing a new machine with XP loaded rather than the newer Vista version. This can’t be good.
Vista was released after 5 years of development and the expectations had been quietly building. Security was a priority as XP, Explorer and Outlook had become prime targets for hackers, viruses and worms that exploited back doors into these programs and Microsoft was feeling the heat.
The result was a highly invasive security shield that swamped users with requests for their attention and required users to take their attention away from their work to deal with the security authorizations and prompts.
Many PC users found that Vista chewed through hard-drive space, required more RAM to run well and sometimes played poorly with their graphics, sound cards or peripherals like printers.
Apple’s newest operating system release is named Leopard and was released back in the fall of 2007. Much of the press it received was very favorable with Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal claiming that Leopard was faster and easier than Vista. Apple immediately grabbed this headline and has been gleefully running hilarious ads mocking Vista. (http://www.apple.com/getamac/)
Why has this happened? Vista has the world’s largest software manufacturer driving its development and was in the incubator for 5 years. How did Apple pass them by?
First, Mac has been releasing a new operating system every 18 months or so offering users a steady stream of advancements. None are earth shattering, but the evolution has been there. Microsoft bet the farm on Vista and did little to upgrade XP since it’s second service pack release back in 2003-04. After 5 years of development what seemed revolutionary at the time is now only ordinary.
Secondly, because of Apple’s massive success with its iPod digital music players customers who have never used a Mac have been exposed to Apple and have enjoyed the experience. This makes them more open to trying a Mac computer.
Apple’s adoption of Intel chips in all its machines has allowed Mac’s to run Vista or XP. Leopard includes a free copy of Apple’s Bootcamp Program that offers users the option to run both Leopard and Vista on the same Mac. To top it off reviewers from Wired Magazine have tested Vista on a Mac and claim it runs faster than it does on a PC.
When Vista launched, Microsoft offered 4 different versions of the software each with a different use and many missing elements of the others causing consumer confusion and frustration. Apple’s Leopard is a single version with all its bells and whistles available to all users.
Unlike when Microsoft launched XP and flooded the airwaves with commercials touting the merits of the operating system, Vista has not had the same support. Apple on the other hand has been running endless variations of the PC vs. Mac commercials showcasing all the advantages Mac has over PC.
Is Leopard really so much better than Vista? The answer is it depends. If you work in a large PC office where Windows is the standard then Vista is in your future, if you don’t have it already. If you want the best home theatre or gaming computer buy a PC.
But, if you want the most advanced OS on the market today that has a reputation for stability, few security problems, works well with all peripherals, loads and launches quickly, and comes loaded on all new Mac’s along with a host of native programs to help you watch DVD’s, make music, surf the web, get your email, organize your photos, build a website, store your contacts, or make home movies you should look at the new Mac’s loaded with Leopard.
Chris Brown
First some disclosure, I do all my writing on Mac’s. I have worked on PC’s for years too and own a Dell machine that currently uses XP.
Vista was launched a year ago (Feb. 2007) is the current standard on most new PCs. Sales to consumers who own a PC using XP have been disappointing. The uptake compared to when Microsoft launched XP is down anywhere from 41% to 56% when compared apples to apples (pun intended). Demand from Dell customers has forced the company to offer customers the option of purchasing a new machine with XP loaded rather than the newer Vista version. This can’t be good.
Vista was released after 5 years of development and the expectations had been quietly building. Security was a priority as XP, Explorer and Outlook had become prime targets for hackers, viruses and worms that exploited back doors into these programs and Microsoft was feeling the heat.
The result was a highly invasive security shield that swamped users with requests for their attention and required users to take their attention away from their work to deal with the security authorizations and prompts.
Many PC users found that Vista chewed through hard-drive space, required more RAM to run well and sometimes played poorly with their graphics, sound cards or peripherals like printers.
Apple’s newest operating system release is named Leopard and was released back in the fall of 2007. Much of the press it received was very favorable with Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal claiming that Leopard was faster and easier than Vista. Apple immediately grabbed this headline and has been gleefully running hilarious ads mocking Vista. (http://www.apple.com/getamac/)
Why has this happened? Vista has the world’s largest software manufacturer driving its development and was in the incubator for 5 years. How did Apple pass them by?
First, Mac has been releasing a new operating system every 18 months or so offering users a steady stream of advancements. None are earth shattering, but the evolution has been there. Microsoft bet the farm on Vista and did little to upgrade XP since it’s second service pack release back in 2003-04. After 5 years of development what seemed revolutionary at the time is now only ordinary.
Secondly, because of Apple’s massive success with its iPod digital music players customers who have never used a Mac have been exposed to Apple and have enjoyed the experience. This makes them more open to trying a Mac computer.
Apple’s adoption of Intel chips in all its machines has allowed Mac’s to run Vista or XP. Leopard includes a free copy of Apple’s Bootcamp Program that offers users the option to run both Leopard and Vista on the same Mac. To top it off reviewers from Wired Magazine have tested Vista on a Mac and claim it runs faster than it does on a PC.
When Vista launched, Microsoft offered 4 different versions of the software each with a different use and many missing elements of the others causing consumer confusion and frustration. Apple’s Leopard is a single version with all its bells and whistles available to all users.
Unlike when Microsoft launched XP and flooded the airwaves with commercials touting the merits of the operating system, Vista has not had the same support. Apple on the other hand has been running endless variations of the PC vs. Mac commercials showcasing all the advantages Mac has over PC.
Is Leopard really so much better than Vista? The answer is it depends. If you work in a large PC office where Windows is the standard then Vista is in your future, if you don’t have it already. If you want the best home theatre or gaming computer buy a PC.
But, if you want the most advanced OS on the market today that has a reputation for stability, few security problems, works well with all peripherals, loads and launches quickly, and comes loaded on all new Mac’s along with a host of native programs to help you watch DVD’s, make music, surf the web, get your email, organize your photos, build a website, store your contacts, or make home movies you should look at the new Mac’s loaded with Leopard.
Chris Brown
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