A Month with a Mac: A Die-Hard PC User's Perspective
by Anand Lal Shimpi on October 8, 2004 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Mac
Multi-tasking
It is somewhat ironic that I would praise Apple for the multi-tasking capabilities built into OS X, given that the Mac OS trailed Windows in its support for preemptive multi-tasking. Needless to say, the mistakes of yesterday are not true of OS X today, and its multi-tasking prowess was my biggest draw to it.Multi-tasking under OS X works just like it would under Windows; you have multiple applications open, some of them doing things concurrently, while others are waiting for your input. I will address the two types of applications in a multi-tasking scenario separately.
In the case of applications running at the same time while performing tasks concurrently, OS X does one thing very well that Windows does not - the foreground application is never intruded upon by any other application that's running. Say you're encoding a video and typing a document in Word, should a dialog box popup in the encoding application, it will do it without shifting the window focus to that application. Instead, the dialog box will pop up in the background and you're free to dismiss it when you're ready and willing. It is all too often that Windows left me annoyed by a dialog box taking focus while I was typing a message to someone online or writing a document.
OS X has been designed to be as unintrusive to the user as possible. For that reason, one of the basics of the Windows interface is not echoed in OS X. While double-clicking a file or folder will open the item, hitting "enter" when one is highlighted will not cause the same effect. Instead, if you hit "enter" on a highlighted item, you'll be able to rename the item. In order to launch the file or open the folder via keyboard, you have to hit Command-Down Arrow (Command-Up Arrow will traverse up a folder tree). This takes a bit of getting used to and if approached with an open mind, you can get used to it in a couple of days, but it can be frustrating at first - especially if you are a keyboard addict used to Windows.
Another way in which OS X allows for less intrusive multi-tasking is in its ability to let you close a background window of an application other than the one you're currently working in without shifting focus to that application. Say that I have a browser window open behind a Word document that I'm typing. I can hover over the red close button on the browser window and click it without actually shifting focus away from the Word document - I can continue typing away right after clicking the browser's close button without any additional mouse use.
Next, there is the more frequently used type of multi-tasking, where multiple applications are open and the user switches between them. I've already mentioned that OS X has the equivalent of the Windows ALT-TAB functionality; the task switcher is activated by holding down the Command key and hitting "tab" to sequence through all of the open applications. Releasing Command activates the selected application and everything continues as it would under Windows.
Command-Tab in action. The more applications that you have open, the smaller each icon becomes as the Command-Tab list grows in size.
There is also the equivalent of the taskbar, which in OS X is best likened to the "dock". The dock is a fully customizable bar at the bottom of the OS X desktop (you can position the dock along any side of the screen that you'd like) and it contains application launch icons for applications to which you want quick and easy access, as well as icons of any running applications. If a running application already has its icon in the dock, a little arrow appears under the icon to denote that it's running; if not, the application's launch icon will appear to the right of the dock. The dock does have a divider to which you can also drag folders and links; to the right of this divider is where minimized windows go (with a very nice accompanying animation). Clicking on any application's icon in the dock will either launch the application if it's not already running or it will switch to that application; but, of course, that requires using that pesky mouse.
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WJS - Saturday, October 9, 2004 - link
Excellent article - I don't think you could expect anything fairer or more balanced from a Windows guy.Try using Exposé in combination with drag-n-drop and spring-loaded folders, a feature you didn't mention. You can drag an image off a Web page and put it away multiple folder levels deep, for instance. Just start dragging the image and, without letting go of the mouse button, hit the F11 key to get rid of all windows, then hover the icon over a drive icon or a folder icon. It will snap open after an adjustable pause. Keep going until you get to where you want to store the image, then let go.
I often use Exposé to work back and forth between several applications. For example, if I want to make selections from a big InDesign document and collect them in a Word document, I drag the selected text or image, then hit F9 to se the Word document window, then drop the item right where I want it.
Here's a hot flash - Exposé is just at the beginning - I've seen some features in a Tiger (10.4) beta that blow me away.
Cheers :-> Bill
victorpanlilio - Saturday, October 9, 2004 - link
A good overview of caching, etc. in MacOS X:http://www.kernelthread.com/mac/apme/optimizations...
In the interest of keeping this forum useful for those who might be curious to learn more about OS X, let's refrain from feeding trolls. If the point of the discussion is to dispel ignorance, clear up misunderstanding, and grow the individual and collective knowledge of forum participants, then so much the better.
Dennis Travis - Saturday, October 9, 2004 - link
#78. 95/98 are not premptive multisking at all. Only NT, 2k, SP have premptive multitasking.http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=...
gankaku - Saturday, October 9, 2004 - link
#53... skiboysteve... you need to revisit your opinions on the G5 being a slow chip. It's competitive with AMDs offerings, and faster than just about anything Intel can produce.Of course, I'm talking about serious computing, not just games (where any PC will pound a Mac), and not just bakeoffs between Word for Mac vs Word for Windows.
You might be surprised at how fast a G5 actually is. Have a look at this benchmark, between an HP workstation (dual Xeons at 3.06 GHz, Linux) and a dual PowerMac at 2 Ghz. Running serious scientific programs like BLAST and HMMer... I'll give you a hint. The HP was creamed.
It wasn't run by a Mac mag, or a PC mag. Nope. Just Popular Mechanics, and they were surprised, too. The PowerMac is an amazing computer that is more than $1000 cheaper than the HP workstations it bested.
No wonder the world's fastest clusters, offering the best bang for the bucks, are made with Apple XServes. Of course, the best thing is that a 64-bit OS for the masses is just around the corner, with some early reports suggesting another 30 - 40 per cent increase in speed just from upgrading to Tiger. Ohhh.... gives you goosebumps, doesn't it!
So... for your edification:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/compute...
gankaku - Saturday, October 9, 2004 - link
This is a fair and balanced article, and I have little to complain about as a Mac diehard. Anand is wrong about a few things, and points out a few problems that, in fact, have easy solutions (ex: he says you can't navigate a "save sheet" with keyboard shortcuts; though you can, of course). But all in all, it seems thorough and thoughtful.Another small point. This review has just been published, but it's based on Anand's experiences back in March, or 8 months ago. He does mention this fact at the beginning, but I don't think he should be moaning about this being a $3,000 machine. It's not any more, it's a $2500 machine. That's a small but important point.
He does mention that OS X can be slow in a few mundane areas, and points to scrolling as one concrete example. But if memory serves - and I know you will all correct me if I'm wrong - isn't this by design? Doesn't the Mac OS slow scrolling so you can actually see the pages (in Word, for example) that you're scrolling through.
As well, he states correctly that this machine is fast, fast, fast when it comes to multitasking, a point that more Mac reviewers should be at pains to assert.
But honestly, for me, the real surprise is that he likes the PowerMac and OS X as much as he does! Didn't anyone here have the same thought?
I mean Anand talks about using Microsoft Word and Excel, and Macromedia Dreamweaver extensively, and in my opinion, these are the three slowest Mac applications I have ever seen... By a wide, wide margin! And they're the apps that crash most often (for me). (In fairness, Anand also uses Photoshop a lot, which runs nicely on a Mac).
That Anand spent his time surrounded by mediocre apps - and still enjoyed himself - blows me away. Imagine how glowing this review would be if he used the iLife apps, the various incarnations of Final Cut, DVD Studio Pro, Shake, the Logic family, or Motion. All world class, best of breed. Apple apps on Apple hardware is computing nirvana!
Poor Anand: He missed out on ALL the best parts!
iisabrane - Saturday, October 9, 2004 - link
I thought this article was well written and informative. I have a XP desktop and a 12" Powerbook G4 I take around with me to classes(I'm a college student). People here seem to be very biased with their individual computers but having both, my opinion differs a little bit.I think XP is a great OS which is many times better than the Windows of old. It offers great ease, is fairly stable, and has the most software and hardware compatibility of all the OS'es out there. Sure it has its shortcomings and problems, but nothing is perfect.
Mac OSX is a very simple and powerful OS that I think is also very easy to get used to. The integration of everything into a convenient package with very good built in software is a big draw for the Mac.
Now, I love games. I'm not a hardcore gamer, but I do enjoy playing games for a few hours here and there. Because of this, I use my desktop to play to my hearts delight. The fact is that the PC is basically the only computer platform for games. With such small numbers of people using anything other than Windows, there isn't a real reason for companies to appeal to MAC, Linux, and other OS users. On top of that, the hardware for PC's is much faster and there is a lot more competition to keep prices low. As far as desktops go, I think PC's are probably a better solutiong. But that's just my opinion.
As for my G4, I love its simplicity and hell, it looks sexy. You can't deny that everything Apple makes is really slick. Anyways, it has great 1st party programs and like the reviewer says, its great for multitasking. Also, I DO think that OSX is a lot more stable than Windows XP. It might just be my luck but i've had my powerbook crash just once in its 1+ years of work and that crash was only after I got it back from Apple. (Apple's Applecare program is pretty awesome by the way). I've had XP crash on me a lot more often than that. Anyways, I think Apple Laptops are very well made and the prices are comparable to PC's out there (not including those crazy Dell Deals from like Fatwallet). A new ibook these days will run you about a grand, which is a good price I think
Anyways a summary of my comment is:
PC's: Cheaper, Faster, Less Stable and Secure, GAMES!
Apple: More Expensive, More stable, Looks sexier, Much simpler
OH yeah, Apple stuff is crazy overpriced. They want like 30 bucks for replacement feet on my powerbook. 30 DOLLARS for 5 little rubber feet that are half a cm in diameter. Ridiculous. Anyways, thanks for reading
Poser - Saturday, October 9, 2004 - link
If Apple would go either of two routes, I might be interested in the OS:1. Mac clones.
2. Port the OS to run on PC hardware. Sell it as standalone software.
As odd as it may sound, Apple's long been a monopolist, albeit a monopolist of the niche called the "mac platform." Personally, I'm not willing to pay a monopolist's price for a full system -- it's grating enough to pay a monopolist's price for just a standalone OS (i.e. Win XP). If they either break the system monopoly by allowing clones, or by porting the OS to standard hardware I really would be interested. As is, the price/performance ratio is NEVER going to be good enough to be interesting. Moreover, with their system monopoly, they're damning themselves to a niche which they show no interest in escaping from.
Reflex - Friday, October 8, 2004 - link
#31: Just had to correct this bit of misinformation....Windows 1.0 existed in 1985 and allowed 'multitasking', which was actually 'task switching'. The MacOS up until X never had pre-emptive multitasking, which is what Anand was reffering to. It used task switching, which is not the same thing.
Windows95 was the first version of Windows to support pre-emptive multi-tasking, although it was poorly implemented. The NT line has had it from the beginning, as has OS X from Apple.
And finally, Quarterdeck was acquired by Symantec, not Microsoft. They merged their utilities into the Norton suite.
kingtj - Friday, October 8, 2004 - link
Overall, I thought this was a great article too! I've been a long-time Windows/DOS (and even OS/2) user, with the occasional Linux box or partition - and yes, i even owned a Mac Performa tower in the mid 90's for a little while (but disliked it).I rediscovered the Mac when I got to use a G4 tower with OS X 10.2 at a company I worked for. I was immediately impressed with the fact that they had a Unix type OS at the core of it, yet succeeded in making a usable and beautiful GUI to go on top of it seamlessly. (If only Linux could eventually get there!)
Suffice it to say that despite it being a big financial "hit", I bit the bullet and purchased both a G5 dual 2.0Ghz tower and an aluminum Powerbook laptop in the last year or so - and I use them almost daily, along-side my Athlon 64 tower PC running XP Pro.
I guess I have a few misc. thoughts to add, related to the article. For one, yes, gaming is abysmal on the Mac if you're mainly concerned with playing whatever the latest game out is. Being in my early 30's though, my "need" for the latest and greatest games has waned a bit. I just want to find 3 or 4 really good games that I truly enjoy playing over and over, and keep them installed on my machine. With a Mac, you almost never get a new game first, but you benefit from the fact that nobody will waste their time porting over PC games unless they're decidedly "cream of the crop".
I've got UT2004, Halo, Medal of Honor, Spiderman, Spy Hunter, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 and 4, Tiger Woods PGA Golf from EA Sports, Jedi Academy, Warcraft 3 with the Frozen Throne expansion, Call of Duty, and much more. I don't feel like my Mac lacks good games at all. It just lacks new titles released in a timely manner.
Also, I look at my Mac systems much like I would any other tools. When you want to screw in a phillips screw, nothing beats a good phillips screwdriver. You might get the job done with a slotted one, but it won't be the best option. By the same token, your hammer is great for hammering in nails, but probably useless on those screws. One of the big "plusses" I saw to the Mac was its video editing ability. I bought a Sony camcorder before I owned a Mac, and working with DV video on my PC was typically an exercise in frustration. "Movie Maker" included with XP was basically a joke. (How do you make a DVD from that app, natively, anyway?) 3rd. parts apps like Pinnacle Studio had promise, but crashed all the time and required loads of update patches. On my G5, video editing is truly enjoyable by comparison. The included apps are quite usable, and even impressive with $99 or so spent on good add-on packs to add new transitions and effects. If you want to get more serious, you can do simply awesome things for $299 with Apple Motion, or Final Cut Express. No searching for hard-to-find device drivers to make the camcorder work either. Just plug it into a firewire port and it's ready! On the other hand, if I was doing CAD design, I'd probably feel forced to dump my Mac and fire up the PC - since AutoDesk doesn't seem to make a single Mac native application!
gdbje - Friday, October 8, 2004 - link
Overall a great artile and probably one of the best I have ever read coming from a windows user. The only things that I wish the author would have touched on is the lack of spyware and adware on a OS X machine. Also the fact that you don't have to worry about get a virus on the OS X platform. I really enjoy the fact that I can click on every piece of junk mail that I get and never have to worry about what will happen.