An Open Note on the Fandom of Apple
This is an open note to news organizations, blogs, tech writers, and, above all, Apple fanboys…
Dear World,
I realize that you like Apple Inc. and their products, and believe them to be the gods of consumer computing products, but I have some news for you: not everything Apple or Steve Jobs does is groundbreaking or newsworthy.
The iPad is nothing but a farce, but I can understand your interest in it, since the growth of tablet computing could be intriguing – as long as it’s an actual tablet, and not an oversized iPod Touch. I personally have an iPod, despite my general anti-Apple stance, because it’s one of the two legitimately revolutionary products they produce, with the iPhone being their other market innovator. Everything else (laptops, desktops, and other gadgets) is just effective marketing – including 99% of their software – with odd behavior and sexy looks for no discernible reason.
We, the general public, do not need to be notified via every news outlet and fanboy worldwide simply because Apple is rumored to have a new firmware upgrade or minor revision of their EULA – this is not news, and no-one really cares. Even in relation to the iPhone, where it took various revisions and a substantial time investment to just reach expected developmental functionality, every bit of info is not something we care about. The recent dustup over “the next iPhone” was a perfect example of something relatively mundane and boring being blown entirely out of proportion.
More importantly, however, you cannot consider Apple a tech revolutionary for a single and simple reason: tyranny. Steve Jobs does not allow applications, behavior, or device usage that Steve Jobs does not like, and this is the true crux of the Apple argument. While this includes material with questionable use on a smartphone or tablet, like porn, it also includes products or services that compete directly with Apple and its partners – an obvious ethical, not to mention legal, issue.
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Even if Apple developed a teleportation device that allowed travel to foreign and distant planets, I, and many others, wouldn’t care until it was more open and legitimately user-friendly. After this hypothetical device debuts, however, I don’t want to know about whether or not the latest upgrade is going to add an additional 3 lines of code to its operating system that allows me to turn left – ever.
The bottom line, people of media and fandom, is that you’re allowed to be excited over unexciting things – just keep them to yourself.
Kyle can be found on his blog, on Facebook, via email, or on Twitter.
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Dear Kyle: hating Apple and their products won’t make you cool, no matter how hard you do it. All your arguments were demolished in ways you apparently couldn’t understand. (To then accuse me of not reading your posts is, of course, the height of absurdity.)
The Apple advantage isn’t marketing; it’s that the entire experience, top to bottom, hardware and software, is designed by a single entity with a coherent vision – not, as on other platforms, by a series of independent, competing manufacturers who don’t talk to each other and have limited knowledge as to the capabilities offered by each other’s products.
People notice that. Not everybody thinks it’s worth paying the Apple premium for, but the Apple reputation for quality and consistent design is well-earned. You seem to think design is a complete non-issue, but I can’t imagine anything more blinkered. It’s a substantial challenge to your credibility as a tech writer that you don’t seem to know what people want in their devices.
Even in relation to the iPhone, where it took various revisions and a substantial time investment to just reach expected developmental functionality, every bit of info is not something we care about.
Hrm, Gizmodo’s expose of the fourth-generation iPhone handset drew so much traffic that it literally crashed their servers. If I didn’t know better, I would think that was an indicator of a lot of people caring about Apple and their products, but it’s a good thing that Kyle Brady is here to tell us that up is down, black is white, and people actually don’t care about new iPhones at all.
Justin,
1) I don’t “hate Apple” to be cool – I hate them because as a programmer I understand how truly absurd the premise of their company is.
2) Apple *is* marketing – whether that’s product visual design or PR is irrelevant.
3) Invalidating me as a valid opinion/writer because I don’t share your Apple fandom discredits everything you have said, or ever will.
4) The recent iPhone bit with Gizmodo, as I alluded to, is a perfect example of how inane this Apple fandom has become.
5) Refer back to how insulting me is invalidating your rational and/or unbiased opinions.
6) If you continue to make degrading, insulting, and largely nonconversational points, I will start removing them. Unless you’d like to have a legitimate discussion, which you appear to not care about whatsoever, then don’t bother commenting.
–Kyle
In response to another comment. See in context »I don’t “hate Apple” to be cool – I hate them because as a programmer I understand how truly absurd the premise of their company is.
The premise of their company is that a computer, or a phone, or a music player should be something you want to use and have fun with, something that should work and be reliable – not something where function and experience takes a backseat to cheapness, or to insular “principles” of “openness” that sound good, but that in practice don’t make for reliable or consistent technologies.
Hey, maybe you disagree. If that’s the case it strikes me that there are two dozen software and hardware manufacturers that do it your way. Seems like you can have all the (buggy, limited) Android phones you want. Seems like you can disable the Apple coverage on your favorite tech blogs.
It seems like there’s space for just one technology company to do it different, isn’t there? And if, under those principles of reliability, simplicity, and full design, they produce technologies that a lot of people love and celebrate, what’s the problem? Why be so fucking touchy about it?
Apple *is* marketing – whether that’s product visual design or PR is irrelevant.
Design is not “marketing.” Even a programmer should get that. (Of course, that’s the greatest weakness of the open-source ecosystem – the utter arrogant disdain for design. Blinkered and ignorant.)
Invalidating me as a valid opinion/writer because I don’t share your Apple fandom
I’m not an Apple “fanboy.” Like you, I have an iPod; if you’ll take a peek at my packets you’ll see I’m writing this in Chrome on a Win7 laptop. My wife has a MacBook Pro for application-specific reasons; she’s a molecular phylogeneticist and her phylogenetics software runs best on Macs. I think the “platform wars” are pretty stupid, in general; there’s space for open platforms for the people who want to be at the frontier, and space for reliable, controlled ecosystems for those who put a premium on function.
These sweeping and inaccurate characterizations are a further challenge to your credibility and objectivity. I’m not in disagreement with you because of a (non-existent) pro-Apple ideology – I’m in disagreement with you because the things you’re saying are objective falsehoods.
Unless you’d like to have a legitimate discussion
I keep trying to engage you in one. Are you capable of reciprocating, or is dismissing me as an “Apple fanboy” the limit of your abilities as a tech writer? To dismiss an entire successful company as “absurd” simply because they take a different stance on technology ecosystems than you do – is that the sort of thing that, in your mind, characterizes a “legitimate discussion”? I don’t see how it can be.
In response to another comment. See in context »Kyle,
Your narcissistic writing style and responses are difficult to stomach. I clicked on your post in hopes of reading something interesting on Apple, but I get nothing but a bunch of dribble from a youngster that drops hints about himself all through the reading. Your constant reference to yourself as a programmer is annoying and smacks of immaturity, as I have told you before. Nobody (including me) needs to invalidate you. You do a great job of that on your own. I will quote from our last interaction when you said “I’m rarely wrong”. That is invalidation enough. I will now glady remove you from my “I’m following” list and continue to follow much more interesting writers that aren’t immature and narcissistic – such as Justin and David Knowles. Now – please go ahead and post your counter insult, as you will have this urgent need to defend self and position, in your already established immature ways…
In response to another comment. See in context »dennyhil,
Comments are made for discussion, are they not? So what’s wrong with me replying to those that either agree or disagree with me? It’s simply part of the process.
As for the rest of your tirade, I’ll make no comment – the random and weird offenses you take at my writing, from a first-person letter no less, cannot be helped.
–Kyle
In response to another comment. See in context »Yes they are made for discussion. And I actually enjoy the comment section as much as the posts. Thank you
In response to another comment. See in context »Well you document your reasons well, now, feel better Kyle? Way to go!
I do feel better!
–Kyle
In response to another comment. See in context »Brand loyalty to any corporate entity is irrational.
That is all.
i’m loyal to a product line because in twenty years of using apple products, be they laptops. desktops, iphones, ipods, and now an ipad, i have never been disappointed in the design, performance, and reliability of my hard-earned purchase. i don’t anything irrational about that.
In response to another comment. See in context »I’m not sure I’d define it so black-and-white, since I think brand loyalty may sometimes be justified (such as in sports equipment – certain brands of shoes fit different ways), but I agree that in most cases it is irrational.
–Kyle
In response to another comment. See in context »Their shoes do not fit better because you are loyal to them.
You would buy different shoes if theirs ceased to fit the best (or perform best, or endure longest, etc.) and hurt your feet. That is not brand loyalty. That is a rational preference for the superior product.
Brand loyalty to (let’s say) Nike would mean that since their shoes fit great, you assume that their shirts fit great, too. So you buy all of your sporting goods and accessories from Nike without analysis of other competing products.
In response to another comment. See in context »I agree wholeheartedly – you should only be loyal to things that deserve your loyalty. Although you could argue, as you have, that that’s a rational preference for a product that works better for you and not actual loyalty.
–Kyle
In response to another comment. See in context »Your flawed argument ASSUMES, that others have NOT TRIED other brands BEFORE they decided to be loyal, to a particular brand.
In response to another comment. See in context »Your definition of brand ‘loyalty’ is too far reaching. You appear tho think that JUST becuase one has loyalty to a PARTICULAR item in that company.. lets take Apple, you may have a loyalty to Mac computers and WILL NEVER buy another brand, AFTER having tried several OTHER brands of computers. But may not be particularly stuck on EVERYTHING APPLE does..That person has BRAND LOYALTY in a certain fashion.
ANOTHER person like myself, who has a brand loyalty to Apple and wouldn’t consider leaving them, AS LONG as their products stay to my liking is ANOTHER type of brand loyalty. There are DEGREES!!!
This is the only company that I have a loyalty to.. AND.. I am NOT ny any standards an uninformed consumer. My loyalty is NOT irrational on any level.
I am an illustrator, that feels that Apple understands the mind set of artist and how they like to work, whereas other computers companies don’t.. IF APPLE market was directed to these type of creatives, then WHY IS their LOYALTY .. IRRATIONAL?????
Apple has long since expanded their market to a broader base. It is NO longer just directed to people like myself..so when I hear people still say that, I just roll my eyes and realize their ignorance.
If someone doesn’t like Apple, so be it, it may NOT be for them.. I could care less, what others like or don’t like. BUT your assertions about people that do have loyalties, to a particular company are biased and short-sighted IMHO!
Kyle,
For years I’ve had jobs where I’ve been obliged to use both Apple and PC computers. From my experience there is no comparison between the two. Apple routs PCs in terms of simplicity, graphic sophistication, and lack of bugs. Hence, I have developed a loyalty to Apple, and would never think about purchasing a Windows machine unless I absolutely had to (currently an HP laptop sits next to my iMac, and guess which one I’m typing this message on?).
You are right that Jobs has mastered the art of hype. But wrong, I think, to dismiss the fact that Apples products simply do deliver. The iPod was a huge leap ahead of other mp3 players of the time, just as the iPhone’s new approach created a whole new way to think about the cellphone. If advertising alone was the predictor of success, Microsoft would be doing a whole lot better than it has over the past few years. How much money did the Stones get paid, anyway?
Hey David,
Until Windows 7 was released, I would agree with you on your premise of simplicity, graphic sophistication and lack of bugs, but I, as a programmer and individual with a stressful Microsoft relationship, have faith again in the company and its products. It may have taken a decade, but it seems that Microsoft cares once again about performance and usability.
If it wasn’t clear in my piece, I give Apple credit for pushing the boundaries of mp3 players and smartphones, but it’s not as if the innovations wouldn’t have occurred by another company – it was the next logical step in the evolution of both devices. I do, however, think that the iPhone is a tad overhyped, given the multitude of restrictions it has, and the iPad even more so.
I wouldn’t claim that advertising is the core of success, since Apple does very little of that. Instead, I would say that the “hype machine” Jobs has built over the years is very effective at exciting the fanbase and placing favorable reviews in highly visible arenas (TV, magazines, etc.) – something Microsoft has failed at over the last decade, although they were once the master of this as well.
It may take a few years, but I believe that Microsoft will rise from its former disastrous ashes, as we’re already seeing with Windows 7, and Apple will have a harder time of conversion since they’ll no longer be the only hype machine with decent products on the block. In terms of devices, Google’s Android mobile OS is giving a massive jumpstart to other manufacturers that will see the loss of Apple’s marketshare in smartphones, and likely the mp3 player and tablet arenas as well – assuming, of course, that these non-Apple companies can get noticed.
I hope that helps clear the air a bit.
–Kyle
In response to another comment. See in context »I think that you certainly have a right to your opinion and thoughts. (Everyone does). I also think that you see the obvious “fandom” as it relates to Apple owners and their products. But, not everyone is as you allude.
First of all, I used Microsoft Windows products in home and work environment for about 15 years. And, I’ve also used Apple products since pre-1985. I’ve owned and used numerous Windows PCs (countless) and I’ve owned and used several Apple computers (5). Personally, and this is MY opinion, I’ve come to LOVE using my Macs far more than Windows. I’ve always had problems with Windows, especially after several months of normal use. It seems like problems grow with time. And, my friends and coworkers are always talking about defragging, installing some type of 3rd party “cleaner” program, restoring or reinstalling Windows. Although I’ve had small quirks with my Macs, they’ve honestly been about 1/10 of the problem that I had with even my best PC. That’s just my honest experience. Was it worth spending more on my Macs? YES. Will I ever go back to a Windows PC for home use? NO. I’m happy with my Macs and wish that I had switched to full-time Mac use (for home) sooner. This is something most Mac users say: “I wish that I had switched over sooner!”
When I got the original iPhone, everyone asked me what I thought of it. I said that it was better than I had imagined. And, everyone I knew loved their iPhones.
Macs and other Apple products have weaknesses. And, some Mac owners get a little bit obsessed and insulting. But, statistically speaking, Mac users love their Macs more than Windows PC users love their Windows. And, the ratings (user reviews) of Mac tend to be much better than other computers. Why? Because they’re better. Maybe some things aren’t. Maybe there are some quirks at times. But, those who use Macs and Apple products tend to be very happy. You cannot deny this reality.
I understand, to some degree, why people dislike Apple products. Some of it is because of things you bring up. But, some of it is truly silly and immature. Just because some users are fanatics I should avoid Apple? That’s stupid. And, just because Apple controls a lot of things I should avoid them? Because some of their products are “hyped” I should deny myself from getting something that is truly better than a Windows PC?
I’m thankful for my Mac and for my other Apple purchases. I’ll never go back. In my opinion, Apple makes products superior to their competitors. And, the competition seems to always be held in comparison to Apple products. This is not just some stupid cultural phenomena. There ARE reasons for this. People love what Apple produces for MANY reasons, far beyond hype, psycho-love or beauty.
core210,
A very valid and well reasoned argument – thank you.
This piece was not intended for those who, like you, seem to have thought through exactly why they like Apple products, while realizing that Apple is, at the end of the day, a hype machine with a very fanatic fanbase – and not without its product faults or defects. I can respect people who have made a conscious and reasoned decision to switch that isn’t based on “they’re just better”, and this is true for most of my fellow anti-Appleites.
I don’t dislike Apple for ideological reasons, but simply because of the tyrannical nature of Steve Jobs and the fact that many of the ways that things occur in their products, such as OSX, are done differently than normal *just to be different*. There is absolutely no excusing the closed nature of many of their products – consider the irony that Microsoft, of all companies, is more open than Apple, not less.
I would argue that not some but all of their products are massively hyped and that a majority of their fans are fanatical, but this shouldn’t have sway on your purchase preferences. However, willingly submitting yourself to the whims of a corporation run by a control freak, to which you have no recourse, should be more than enough reason to avoid Apple’s products.
–Kyle
In response to another comment. See in context »If your article was directed at people who bought Apple products because of what ‘you’ call hype, it would have done you well to state that and not insult all Apple products and their users.
Because your approach was just the opposite, I found no validity in your article at all. Being an Apple user for years now, I happen to know that a lot of what you ascertained is false. So I thought that you just wanted clicks for your article!?!?!??
I was QUITE amused at your disdain for SJ marketing skills. I didn’t know that would be a LIABILITY for ANY company!!
You need to contact Apple IMMEDIATELY to inform them of this weakness…NOW!!!
IF…Apple is ALL about ‘hype’, I wonder why people become ‘FANBOYS’ after they start to use Apple products???.. Makes you want to go..ummm!
IF… Apple software is so bad.. I wonder why MS is always trying to RIP APPLE’S SOFTWARE AND PRODUCTS OFF?!?!?..Makes you want to go..ummm!!
Well, you get my point.
BTW, aside from being an illustrator, I teach people how to use their computers, PC’s included, so I am quite familiar with Windows, also.
@CORE2010… Great points, you saved me time tying, my thoughts exactly!..:):)!!
In response to another comment. See in context »Hi Kyle,
Well, for each “fanboy” out there, there are “haters” too. And, these haters have probably not analyzed Apple as thoroughly as you have. These are people that hate Apple simply because of the “fanboys” and other trivial reasons. Again, you’ve at least thought through these things. For those that detest Apple BECAUSE OF the fanboys and hype, I think that they are missing out.
This article was interesting. It shows that not all Apple users are fanboys that make decisions based on hype and hysteria.
http://trueslant.com/stephenwebster/2010/04/24/the-best-apple-advertisement-yet/?utm_source=allactivity&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=20100424
In response to another comment. See in context »Oh, sorry for my typos and poor grammar. I’m so tired tonight.
“Legitimately user-friendly” is exactly what Apple products are to the layman. I don’t want to learn to use new programs, phones, etc. I just want to pick them up and use them. This is what Apple does better than anyone else in the market.
1. the iphone is no big deal, OUTSIDE of the infallible us of a, there have been smart phones with similar capabilities for years… WE just don’t see them… (as our cell phone monopolies and broadband oligarchs don’t want us to have our cake and eat it too…)
(as an aside, the apple commercial where some silly soccer mom is extolling how magical her life is now with teh iphone is hysterical: she *really* could not have found some fast food for her precious snowflakes at the airport terminal without the iphone ? really ?)
2. the main point the author is making is one too subtle and removed for most end users: apple is a closed system which exhibits predatory and exclusionary behaviors to prevent competition OR adding non-apple functionality…
you don’t own an apple, you rent it, and can only do what they say…
they are fascist in nature…
(since MOST end users don’t care about that MOST of the time, it has no effect on apples polished image, except among the nerdy classes…)
art guerrilla
aka ann archy
eof
I live in Europe and everyone with money, and some without, have iphones because they function better than the other smart phones in terms of usability.
I switched to the sony ericson Experia x10, almost $1k, and hate it compared to the iphone 3G. Nothing works nearly as well as the iphone.
In response to another comment. See in context »Thanks for your post. The amount of free publicity Apple receives suppresses what would otherwise be a more innovative and competitive tech field.
Here’s an article from Computerworld which illustrates how the media covers other corporations: The lede sentence: “Microsoft’s Windows resumed its usual losing form last month as the operating system’s usage share dropped by about a third of a point ….” Further in the article: “Windows finished the year with a 92.2% share, down 0.3 of a percentage point.” From an outsiders viewpoint: If one looks at the overall market, OS X: @9 years old has 5% market share Windows 7 @5 months old already has 10% market share. Contrast that with Computerworld’s lede which would lead you to believe Windows was a dying platform. Indeed, when Win7 surpassed OS X’s market a few months into release, Computer World reported it by with the modifier “at least temporarily.” Of course it wasn’t “at least temporarily-” obviously the metrics showed only a further increase in market penetration.
I use both Windows and Mac machines. I have no qualms stating my preference for Win 7 over OS X. It’s responsive, stable and offers more customization and more efficient ways of working with files-at least for my purposes. To understand this requires using the OS for a period of time … just like I had to first use OS X for quite some time to understand how it worked. It allows me far greater range of programs and believe me … you have to experience it to understand how much the Mac platform suffers in comparison.
Having said all this, I’d like to add these caveats: Apple, to my way of thinking, makes the finest laptops in the world. Apple makes the finest AIO desktop in the world. Apple’s iPod really led the way for quite awhile, establishing a new high water mark for mp3 players within a vertical market. It’s been matched, with the exception of the iTouch, by other players. I don’t like its proprietary approach any more than I like Zune’s. Finally Apple broke the mold for smart phones, again integrating them into an App and music store.
Dave,
I agree with you all-around, but I’m not a dedicated Windows fan either. If I had my way, I’d use a linux distro like Ubuntu 24/7, but, sadly, I need to do too many things that are still too difficult on it, or not cross-platform compatible, to pursue my inner open source needs.
The free publicity, and unabashed Apple-slant, from most tech writes is something I find highly inappropriate and against journalistic principles.
–Kyle
In response to another comment. See in context »“It may take a few years, but I believe that Microsoft will rise from its former disastrous ashes, as we’re already seeing with Windows 7, and Apple will have a harder time of conversion since they’ll no longer be the only hype machine with decent products on the block.”
Having used both PC’s and Mac’s since beginning college (1985), I can honestly say that there is little Microsoft can do to convince me to use their products again.
And you can say what you want about the applications, iMovie has outperformed MovieMaker and whatever other program anyone has made for whatever unstable platform Microsoft has failed at for over a decade.
As far as WHY Apple has succeeded, well I don’t read about the products, I use them. And WHAT WORKS is WHAT WORKS. Apple has gained a devotee from ME because they make products that do what they’re supposed to.
Plain and simple.
Windows 7 may be a great program, but I’m not really interested. I’ve found something that works for me. Always has.
And I see no reason to change.
Kyle,
I agree with your posting. I would go a little further and say that Apple is probably cresting in terms of its product cycle. It will probably still power on until its market gets saturated but that will be sooner rather than later. The iPad if anything is insipid and not worthy of the hyper-ventilation that followed its launch. I foresee the iPad meeting with serious competition over the next year or so.
The Apple fanboys had deluded themselves into accepting every limitation Jobs puts in his product because he “does not allow applications, behavior, or device usage ” he does not like.
While the iPod was groundbreaking in some ways, my recent mp3 player purchase was a more modest player that inspite of being cheaper offered a radio and drm free purchases which were cheaper than those from iTunes.
Slowly, people will tire of being held captive of Jobs’s vision. One can only be cool for so long.
This is not sour grapes or bitterness or an inability to buy Apple products. Windows sometimes drives me nuts. But Win7 is a phenomenal product.
Why would I spend several hundred to over a thousand dollars more to access the same websites or listen to the same music or watch the same video or draft the same documents? Why should I change my ways to suit Mr. Jobs? I just don’t get it.
George,
I have nothing to say but “I agree, thanks for commenting”.
–Kyle
In response to another comment. See in context »@ Charlesgower & Justin..AGREED!!!
Great article. Without going into great detail, there are still several glaring issues that Apple has that everyone seems to look over.
OS X may be good for the general user, anyone with a bit of computer savvy in them should be having some trouble figuring out things that are standard in other Operating Systems. Such as deleting a file. In OS X, the enter key prompts a rename of the file, and doesn’t open it. That’s a huge WTF? on my part. Also, when you click + on Safari, it doesn’t expand to full screen (at least on a 1280×800 display).
A lot of OS X seems bass-ackwards, yet I still hear everyone scream over it. The dock is useful, I’ll admit, but I always find it overly complicated to open things outside of the dock.
Where Apple has simplicity in some areas, it creates unneeded complications in others. I understand that Windows and Linux aren’t without flaws, but as someone who’s grown up with computers (and works with them for a living), I hate having to use OS X, whether for graphic classes or at work. I don’t understand how some people so (seemingly) follow Apple so blindly when there are obvious flaws that do not get addressed…ever.
In lieu I see a bunch of hype over things like GarageBand and that Webcam application.
Please tell me, someone who actually likes to dig into his files and has to use a computer for a living, can “boost productivity” by using OS X?
There is nothing wrong with having an uncomplicated system to use for uncomplicated needs. But when Apple fans tell me that OS X is better for coding I laugh in their face and ask them how I can bring up the new window Safari created for my webmail application (because the windows switcher, to my knowledge and use, will only pick the first instance of a program, and does not pick every instance of a program). Things like that should be much more intuitive than they are in OS X.
Good points all around.
I usually ask why coding is better, and then what they use – the programs are often the same cross-platform ones everyone uses anyway.
–Kyle
In response to another comment. See in context »Such as deleting a file.
Command-Delete. Same as on Windows.
In OS X, the enter key prompts a rename of the file, and doesn’t open it. That’s a huge WTF? on my part.
Why should “enter” open a file? Just because Windows does it that way? That’s not how it has ever worked in Mac OS, which is older than Windows. I suppose Apple could copy the Windows conventions for these things, but as many or more OS X users came from the original Mac OS as came from Windows, so why should they change it out from under them?
Also, when you click + on Safari, it doesn’t expand to full screen (at least on a 1280×800 display).
No, it expands to as large as the document is. Why should it get any larger than that?
I don’t understand how some people so (seemingly) follow Apple so blindly when there are obvious flaws that do not get addressed…ever.
Kyle will agree with anything that trashes Apple, and call it a “good point”, but I don’t understand why you consider something a “flaw” just because Windows does it a little differently. Keyboard shortcuts are arbitrary conventions. If you think Windows has somehow hit on exactly the best combination of arbitrary shortcuts, and that any deviation from this is a “flaw”, well, you should probably make some effort to explain why.
Please tell me, someone who actually likes to dig into his files and has to use a computer for a living, can “boost productivity” by using OS X?
Well, for instance, you can use contextual searching in any Finder window to immediately locate files – even by what’s inside them. Or you can use powerful GUI scripting tools to automate repetitious tasks – from within the Finder.
I laugh in their face and ask them how I can bring up the new window Safari created for my webmail application (because the windows switcher, to my knowledge and use, will only pick the first instance of a program, and does not pick every instance of a program).
In two seconds? Move your cursor to the hot corner, which will temporarily shrink and tile all the open windows, then click the one with your webmail in it. Duh. Done in one click.
Look, I get it – OS X is different than Windows. I just don’t see that how that makes it worse than Windows.
I usually ask why coding is better
In my experience? Because I can open a real Linux terminal. Can’t on Windows.
In response to another comment. See in context »OSX is based on Unix architecture, not Linux.
There’s a considerable difference.
–Kyle
In response to another comment. See in context »