Hi Tom, I couldn't resist responding to this with a little humor, and a prime example of why Microsoft is so far behind. My responses throughout your message…
On Sep 12, 2013, at 2:49 PM, Thomas Ward <thomasward1...@gmail.com> wrote: > *snip* > The new Search feature is great. I can open the Start Menu and type > the name of a file, folder, program, etc and have it find it in short > order. I can often open the Start Menu and type "Winword" into the > search box and have it fire up Word. So the Search box doubles as a > type of run dialog which is cool. This works in Windows 8 as well as > Windows 7 making it unnecessary to locate any icon if you know the > name of the program. > *snip* Mac OS X has had this feature since 2005. It's called Spotlight, and can be invoked at any time with a single key command. *snip* > Pinning programs to the Taskbar is another one of those features that > doesn't seem to be important to an XP user such as yourself, but I > personally love it. I can pin all of my favorite programs like > Firefox, Thunderbird, Visual C++, to the Taskbar meaning I can launch > them directly from the Taskbar rather than from the Windows 7 Start > Menu or the Start Screen in Windows 8. Even cooler there are hot keys > assigned to those programs meaning I can use them to jump directly to > that program or Window with a single keystroke rather than alt+tabbing > through all the open Windows on the Taskbar. *snip* Mac has had this feature since about 2001 or so, can't remember the exact date. > *snip* > Another feature Windows 7 and Windows 8 has that frequently is useful > to me is being able to burn data DVDs without having to pay for a > third-party software like Nero. All I have to do is select the files > and folders I want to burn, drag and drop them on the DVD drive, and > click on Write Disc. That's both simple and actually saves money not > having to pay $75 USD for Nero etc. > *snip* Mac has had this feature since at least 2005…probably longer. *snip* > A feature that I frequently use, when programming or dictating long > documents and emails, is Microsoft's speech recognition. Its built > into Windows 7 and Windows 8, and gets better every version that comes > out. Its superior to the Speech Recognition that comes with XP, and it > really helps save time when dictating a huge block of programming > code, dictating a long email, or whatever.You should try it some time. > Would you rather type a long email message or simply dictate it to > your computer by voice? > *snip* Mac has had this since 2012, and theirs is powered by Nuance, the same company which powers Dragon Dictate. *snip* > Something else I particularly like about Windows 8 is the introduction > of apps to the Windows OS. Apps are basically miniature programs that > run in the background all the time, and have a specific feature such > as displaying today's headline news, the weather, stock reports, and > various other things of that sort. Sure, I recognize apps aren't for > everyone, but for me personally I'd sooner have them than not have > them because I can just click on the weather app, for example, and get > an idea of the current temp, a weather forecast, and not have to go > online to look that information up. > *snip* Mac has had this since 2005. They are called Widgets. *snip* > Although, I don't have a lot of experience with touchscreens and > Windows 8 I know Windows 8 has touchscreen support, and NVDA 2013.2 > works with touchscreens too. I fully expect the next desktop or laptop > I buy will have a touchscreen and I like the idea of simply pointing > at the screen and double tapping an icon rather than tabbing all over > creation to find it and then pressing enter etc. > *snip* Mac has had multi-touch trackpads, which are more practical for desk/laptop use, since about 2008. Try holding your arms up for significant periods to touch a screen which is vertically positioned in front of you,a nd they are going to get very tired, very fast. Touch screens are not the best way to use a PC. However, VoiceOver on the Mac will turn your trackpad into a virtual touch screen, and, if you wish, you can use your Mac in a very similar way to how you use your iPhone or iPad. VoiceOver has done this since 2009. *snip* > Add to those features that Windows 7 and Windows 8 have better > security features such as User Account Control, Windows Defender, > Microsoft Security Essentials, I felt upgrading was well worth the > money I paid for it. That might not personally be worth it to you, but > it was for me and a lot of others. > *snip* Mac has many similar technologies, including Gatekeeper, and a kill switch that can disable malicious software remotely. I just find it sad how far Microsoft is behind in technology these days. I have some fun at their expense at times, but the industry is better with competition, and Microsoft isn't that. Fortunately, Android is at least, despite its infinite number of problems, a legitimate competitor. You have to admit, it is funny that I can go through your whole email about the features you're excited about in Windows 8, and most of those Mac users have enjoyed for years. *grin* --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
