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Windows? No thanks.
I am sure that the letter titled 'No thanks, Mac' in your September issue, should have read 'No thanks PC' with all references to Apple Mac OSX and XP reversed, as the sentiments expressed by the correspondent are exactly those I have towards Microsoft.
I have used PCs for my consultancy work for as long as Microsoft has produced commercial operating systems, but chose not to move from Microsoft 2000 professional to XP for a variety of reasons - the chief ones being the time it has takes Microsoft to produce an acceptably stable, bug-free OS following its release, the security gaps they have to keep filling, the way it is a target for viruses etc , and last but not least usability and functionality.
I came to Apple Macs late after their move to OSX. I started with an iMac flat screen 2 years ago and once convinced, progressed to a Mac G5 with Tiger (v10.4.2) and Microsoft Office products. I use Apple's own mail program and browser (Safari), and really have few complaints. I still have PCs (fully networked to the Mac for printing and back-up) and use a Dell portable to run some Windows software not available for the Mac. I chose not to load Virtual PC for Mac just to keep life simple.
While any move to different software always involves a learning curve (and I respect your correspondent's views) I personally cannot agree with some of the comments made. I find navigation far easier on the Mac, fewer clicks needed, more intuitive, and there is always 'Spotlight' - Mac's search tool to find virtually anything on the system. If something does go wrong (and software crashes I find are rarer than on the PC), there is online help (here broadband is needed), and in the great majority of cases there is a prompt to report faults back to Apple. As to downloads and updates one is notified as soon as they are available and downloading and updating has been speedy and easy (I've not had a problem for the 3 years I've had Macs).
I'm not a 'techy' but I have more confidence in Apple's OS strategy with its basis on UNIX than on Microsoft's development route which seems to involve huge step changes from one release to another and increasing gaps between releases. No wonder many organisations have still to move to XP.
Bob Wiggins
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