The Anti-Microsoft Thread

[A Black Falcon]

It sounds like you really like your TabWorks program, but that is not part of Windows, it's just an app. You have to compare apples to apples.

ABF, the issue is control. With Windows, everything is done for you. Which is nice if you don't want to mess with it. But I want to know where stuff is. I want to have complete control over everything, and that is not something you get with Windows. It is, however, what you get with Linux, and since it's based on Unix, I would guess OS X would be the same.

I have heard nothing but fantastic things about OS X. I have fallen in love with Linux over the last year or so, so that is what I really want to learn and become proficcient with. But if that wasn't the case, I would much rather have a Mac than run Windows. XP is pretty darn good (stability-wise), but it still limits you sooo much in control.

You say Linux's X-Window system is blah, but I have seen desktops with a calendar, weather forecast, and mp3 player built in. I don't mean they are programs that sit on top of the desktop, they are embedded into your wallpaper. Think you can do that in Windows? And that's just a cute, little change. Everything in an OS like that is completely customizable. You just have to learn how.

I know that I can't compare Tabworks to Mac... that's why I said that I dislike (or at least don't prefer) the Start Menu. :)

And as for customizability... where programs go of course is completely up to you, I've already said I have a system that definitely isn't the standard one. Same with the Start Menu... the way I have it organized is very different from the way it is by default. Yes, Windows doesn't have nearly as much customizability with the desktop and the contents of the taskbar and stuff, that is true... I've used Linux and yes, you can do all kinds of stuff to the desktop and taskbar. And eventually you well might get used to them and need them.

I did finally get used to the four quickstart buttons (between the system tray and the programs running section of the bar), though. I know I could get rid of it, but by the time I thought of that I was used to using them... (NS, Show Desktop, RealOne, and Winamp...). :)

Though, I don't think I completely understand what you mean by control... what do you mean 'I want to know where stuff is'? I assume you don't mean programs themselves, because obviously if you want to in Windows you can. Do you mean like the registry keys and files some programs put in various folders in the windows directory that programs often fail to delete when you uninstall them? Yes, that is a pain, and not one you can do much about...

'everything is done for you' in windows? Well yes, if you let it... but you can disable most of the things you don't like...