You are correct that this debate is futile. But Every company has copied and imitated since the beginning of time. Macs innovate in there own way, so does windows. Heck they both copied off the GUI idea from 1952 (Yes I did my research). Anyway, that’s how things work, Microsoft and apple have two separate operating systems who can barely be compared. Even if Microsoft copied Apple, they still have completely different coding, kernels, ect. Not even the hardware is the same (though fairly close). So don’t say that only macs innovate, After all who came up with Program Manager (please don’t take that last sentence seriously).

Mac innovate, the rest of them follow and copy *pretending* not to, under some front or another. I have never seen SO many ‘adults’ with their holier-than-thou opinions, chatting like bickering children in a sandpit – get a f*cking life, we all KNOW Mac OS X rules, and everyone else copies the innovations, so if you KNOW this is right, why bother trying to prove it to all and sundry hey?!. Use Apple, think different, and disregard sheep. Stuff you all, morons!

The best thing about which OS is better than other is this: Apple makes it, and windows users will get it in the future. Therefore everyone wins. Its just those that complain, are the ones who have to wait.

You know there is so much of this complaining that everyone does. They complain that “Apple sux hahaha” and “MacOS8 had multi launching” Its comments like this that come from people who just do not know. Im not being rude, its just that there are some of us that gets the facts right, research both sides of the story – then publish it. Then there are the others who make a comment, but look silly when they are noted they are wrong and it blows up in their face!

Yes I am a Mac user since ’84. Yes I have been using windows since ’88 for work and school. And yes I know both OS (I have to know windows back to front for work). I know for my life Mac is for me. Easy. Fast. Reliable. And hey when people say there is 200,000,000 titles for Windows and a few million for mac – who runs 200 millions apps on their computer! Geez just go to a windows store and choose one out of 500 Word processors. For me, on a mac, I just go into a apple store. Sure there maybe 3 to choose, but they have the best features of all of the 500 windows apps combined. I have a life to live than spending it in some store deciding if I want to use this feature or that. I dont care. I just want one that works and is easy.

If you use windows, that’s great. I don’t make fun of you – If I did then I would be making fun of myself!!!(why would I?) I don’t convert anyone. If your happy – then that’s fine. Stick to it. Why change if your happy??

But those out there who have a go at apple need to get their facts straight. If I make a comment about Windows which is wrong, then Windows users attack. So why do people who hate apple make comments but don’t do any research. Sure they love iTunes on their PC’s… But just for a few days, why don’t they use a mac. Use iPhoto. iWeb. Use the Mac. Get a feel for it and enjoy it. Then make comments based on real life….

maybe their pride gets in the way?

OK all – I’m ready for the onslaught! Bring it on!!!

But why they are not thinking of a market invasion with perhaps low-end products. Is this really impossible? Now as Apple is turning to PCs, why the can’t do this? Also why are they not thinking of spreading their market in countries like India, China etc.? I believe the people would love to use a Mac. One more reason that go against Macs are the plethora of apps running on PCs (which are available in plenty). Again the switching could take all these into account.

The point is, Apple decided to go mainstream (and dare I say, do things RIGHT finally) with many of these features, and now look who’s trying to follow suit (2 years later….).

Not to mention that awesome ‘new’ brushed metal UI. hah!

Oh, and system-wide indexing for Instant search results. Oh wait. That couldn’t make it into the Vista release on schedule. (Is Vista still ‘on schedule’?)

And yes, STILL 2 years AFTER Tiger came out with all this stuff – except for Brushed metal which is 3+ years aged…

As was made quite clear in Brian’s post, Apple’s first effort (which, ripple and swoosh effects excepted, remarkably resembles Dashboard) dates back to 1984. For clarity, that’s some 14 years before Gizmos, of which, I must confess, I had not heard.

I also feel something of a need to point out that your “MacOS-centric” jibe is resented. I have extensive experience in Microsoft operating systems, ranging from DOS 3.3 to 6.22 (and, I suppose, 7.0) and Windows 3.0 to XP and various distributions of Linux. My view is not MacOS-centric; rather, I am writing from an at least quasi-neutral viewpoint and observing what are matters of fact. There is certainly no doubt that Apple’s Dashboard has popularised the widget concept like no previous widget technology, and Microsoft has obviously seen it as an idea good enough to be worthy of conclusion.

But feel free to go on thinking that Play Inc. were the pioneers.

Minor nit, but since you added the snitty “Look it up!” line…

Try System 7+ (ca. 1991). System 7 made MultiFinder the standard and removed the need for Desk Accessories, changing them to “Apple menu items.” You could still use Desk Accessories–which were essentially funky device drivers–but they would launch within their own application.

“Mac OS X – 2001 – no such feature”

Arguable.

Mac OS X put lots of information in the dock. Part of the idea was to have these mini-applets in the dock and you could conveniently click on one. Meanwhile, you could vaguely see what was going on with them by just looking down in your dock.

Didn’t really work out well, though. It was fine for things like a date/time widget, but it was pretty lame for anything else. Also, the Dock didn’t really allow you to put the information where it might be convenient for you to see it because launched applications, minimized windows, etc. would shift it over.

I’m not sure why you’re pointing to something from 1998 and claim that Apple stole the concept. Considering Apple’s desk accessories dates back to 1984, you’re point is moot.

If you’re trying to make a point about implementation, then again, your point is moot. Take Konfabulator and Dashboard for example. Very similar in concept, but also very different in implementation. No doubt, MS’s gadgets will be different still.

Steve