Snow Leopard v. Windows 7

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    Snow Leopard v. Windows 7


    Posted: 23 Jun 2009
    With Windows 7 and Snow leopard each nearing their respective release dates, the hype for the two operating systems is reaching its peak. Let’s go over what each OS is bringing to the table in terms of features, market, and performance.
    I’ll start with a short description of what both operating systems mean for each company.
    Windows 7: A product that’s turned a lot of heads, especially those who believed that Microsoft was dead and done after the lackluster reception that Vista received. The product has received quite a positive welcoming by the internet community with the leaked betas, and MS can only hope that attitude towards W7 remains steady through October 22nd.
    OS 10.6: The refinement of an operating system that many believe is already the most advanced OS on the market. Apple is looking towards the 64-bit processing world with this release with x64 optimization being its leading feature. This OS is meant not only to add more speed and utility to the everyday user’s experience, but it also takes a big step towards using Macs in the business world with its Microsoft Exchange support. With the Mac community growing every day, Apple hopes to refine and revise its technology to allow simplicity of use more and more each day.
    Now for the comparison of features.
    Windows 7: A brand new taskbar that is reminiscent of the Dock present in OS X. It allows you to drag and drop programs to the taskbar so that you can launch from anywhere at anytime, without having to dig through explorer. That being said, even Explorer, the name for the Windows file catalog, has been updated for search speeds. The indexed-searches are much faster than those indexed in Windows Vista, allowing for a more convenient and easy to use Explorer. Along with these two features, W7 also receives enhanced performance with multi-core processors, advanced touch/handwriting recognition, a new version of Windows Media Center, support for virtual HDDs and more.
    OS 10.6: Almost all programs have been rewritten to include full 64-bit optimization, providing a more streamlined experience throughout the entire operating system. Grand Central Dispatch is a new technology in 10.6 that follows suit with the “theme” of 64-bit improvement. This is what allocates the tasks across the multiple cores as well as what allows programmers to finally optimize their Mac programs for the 64-bit computer. Another new technology, OpenCL, allows developers to open up the use of the graphics card to much more than just Photoshop and Aperture. It strengthens the current use of the card and also makes way for more many more usages down the road. Along with these features also come Quicktime X (an enhnanced, streamlined Quicktime client), a more speedy Finder, new looks for Exposé and Stacks, faster backup/bootup time and more.
    Both operating systems show a movement towards each others target market. Windows 7 features more user-centric capabilities that allow the operating system to be more customizable (the ability to disable multiple features is a great example of this) than any other Windows release to date. I see W7 as what Vista could and should have been – I believe it’s finally a legitimate successor to Windows XP. OS 10.6 seems to be just what Apple needs to reach out to businesses, which is a great move. Snow Leopard should keep the Mac market growing, as its new technology will allow more gaming capabilities through OpenCL and hopefully garner more third-party developers for the growing Macintosh userbase.
    Apple’s looking towards the future and Microsoft’s fixing its past. Both operating systems appear to be on an even playing field, and I for one am anxious to see how both of these milestone releases are received
    http://windows7news.com/2009/06/22/w...-x-comparison/

    After reading that...
    Windows 7 is still better!
    Posted By: ikilledkenny
    23 Jun 2009



  1. Posts : 3,639
    Windows 7 Ultimate, OS X 10.7, Ubuntu 11.04
       #1

    Just to clear things up, OS X Snow Leopard 'can' work on a 32-bit Intel Processor and 'can' use 32-bit kext's, yes?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 918
    Windows 7 Professional, Windows Longhorn 4074
    Thread Starter
       #2

    I don't know. Apple is just focused on the money.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 554
    Windows 7 Professional x64 SP1
       #3

    Good read. Makes me even more excited for Windows 7 to be completed! OS X has underwhelmed me each time I've used it.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 251
    Windows 7 x64 Pro
       #4

    To each his own :) Use what works. I know enough about Windows therefore I am sticking with it. I may give OS X a shot when they dont have that stupid requirement of running on Mac only hardware ( and yes I know there are ways to circumvent that silly requirement but I could not be bothered )
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 3,639
    Windows 7 Ultimate, OS X 10.7, Ubuntu 11.04
       #5

    digitalrurouni said:
    To each his own :) Use what works. I know enough about Windows therefore I am sticking with it. I may give OS X a shot when they dont have that stupid requirement of running on Mac only hardware ( and yes I know there are ways to circumvent that silly requirement but I could not be bothered )
    If you have the right parts that are compatible (and intel CPU), one product: EFI-X.

    That is all. =P
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 918
    Windows 7 Professional, Windows Longhorn 4074
    Thread Starter
       #6

    What's EFI-X?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 224
    Windows 7
       #7

    You can install OSx86 without that stupidly expensive EFI-X dongle. There are a number of hacked installers on the internet that will work on most computers if you can find your hardware kexts (equivalent to windows drivers).

    I'm looking forward to both Snow Leopard more than 7 to be perfectly honest. I think MS isn't fixing a lot of core problems with their platform and 7 is a warmed-over Vista. I didn't mind Vista, but Apple ever since the intel transition is gaining a leg up. Snow Leopard is fixing the few little niggles I have (Put Back from Trash took them this long! And driving down folders in stacks is a no brainer) and I've found better alternatives to all my software on the OS X platform.

    7 is now relegated to being booted up every few months for a video game or two, though I don't find it nearly as bad as Windows once was.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 918
    Windows 7 Professional, Windows Longhorn 4074
    Thread Starter
       #8

    I had OS X on this craptop, but they never made functional drivers for the WiFi...
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 3,639
    Windows 7 Ultimate, OS X 10.7, Ubuntu 11.04
       #9

    ikilledkenny said:
    What's EFI-X?
    To answer your first question, EFI-X is a USB dongle that connects to your motherboard on a desktop computer only. You set your BIOS to boot from USB Device and it will boot from the EFI-X which will trick your motherboard into thinking it has a EFI BIOS which is required to boot the retail copy of OS X.

    Currently you require a desktop/Intel CPU for this device, they are working on a version for AMD and laptops.

    If you want anymore info on this you can PM me about it as I'd rather not clog the thread with advertisements. =P

    ikilledkenny said:
    I had OS X on this craptop, but they never made functional drivers for the WiFi...
    I used iDeneb OS X 10.5.7 on this laptop, everything works fine aside from the graphics which only work at 1024x768 (native is 1280x800).
      My Computer


 
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