I am convinced it is just a matter of time before Apple will over take Windows as the dominant operating system on personal computers. Let’s look at the facts:
- I am doing my taxes on my Mac this year for the first time. I have years and years of Windows Turbo Tax data files from at least 3 generations of computers. Having the history helps me get through the experience each year. Installing Turbo Tax this year, however, has rendered my Windows system useless. I can only boot safe mode to access my files. Big thanks to Intuit for giving me the Mac version to complete my taxes.
- We have a family laptop that is stuck with Windows Vista. The machine is slow and cumbersome. We constantly lose the wireless connection and are forced to re-boot often to get Blackberry active sync working. My iPhone works with my iTunes as if they were developed by the same company.
- We use Google docs and other online tools at work for 80% of our document creation. Graphics work is most of the remaining 20%. We do this work offline but guess what, Photoshop, Fireworks, and the lot, run equally on Mac and Windows.
- My Windows machine was turned off for a week. A whole week! This is a big one. I use a computer more than anyone I know for many things such as contributing to community sites, writing this blog, and developing software. A week for me is like a year for everyone else. Monday morning the other week I turned on my Mac and started working. By Friday, we were both looking forward to the weekend while my Windows desktop was cold to the touch. I still can’t believe I never had cause to turn it on.
- My office TV is Windows Media server using the second monitor as the display, but I rarely use it anymore. All my favorite shows play episodes on the Web after the initial TV run. NetFlix offers movies online. I don’t even have to DV-R Heroes. YouTube and FunnyOrDie are great distractions if I want something new.
- I am totally addicted to Spaces on my Mac. I have multiple work spaces running all the time that I flip through so quickly people watching me get motion sickness. There is no chance of getting motion sickness with Windows.
Let me summarize.
The Mac OS is easier to use and more reliable than the Windows. It’s fast and fun. The applications I depend on are no longer OS specific. Rich content is readily available online. The files I created on Windows over the last 10 years are in my Mac documents folder. I really don’t need the Window machine much for anything anymore.
All the strangleholds and monopolistic software plays that made Windows what is it today are gone. For example, MS Office was once required at work. Now, if it doesn’t come with the machine, people don’t need to buy this expensive software. I am struggling to find just one example of something I must have Windows for. The fact is I am several hours into my Monday as of now and I still have not started Windows (to be honest, that’s because the first thing I know I have to do is fix the problem I am ignoring).
Windows continues to go head-to-head with Mac and people are taking a good hard look at the merits of each. Most of the people I know are going Mac. The transition happened over the last 5 years to the point where I don’t know anyone raving about the Windows laptop they just bought. Did I mention I am doing my taxes on my Mac for the first time this year?
Posted by bbenedict 