OSNews

"The installation system in OSX is better for isolating programs but doesn't beat Windows when it comes to usability. I've seen new Mac users have far more problems with installing downloaded software."

Haha, usability my ass. Anyone with a little less experience (and tenacity) than me would have given up at step 1. I don't call the average user not being able to install a piece of software "usable". As for OS X, the only reason users ever have trouble installing software on a Mac is because they're used to the Windows way. After the first time someone learns how to drag an app into the Applications folder, they get it. Maybe 80% of applications actually have an arrow next to an alias of the Applications folder with the instructions "drag to install". So I'd hardly call this "less usable" than Windows.

As for my MS-using ways, I try to keep myself abreast of many different development environments and tools. As a developer, I actually have the most experience with Java, so naturally I wanted to see what MS cooked up in their clone of it . I wouldn't call myself a typical Mac developer, and I won't go to lengths to defend it as a development platform. However, I will say that Xcode, and indeed *every other IDE I have ever tried* on the Mac (which is quite a few) is pain-free to install, which is more than I can say about MS's toolset.

Meanwhile from a purely user perspective there is no question in my mind that Apple wins hands-down. Aside from providing a more stable OS, able to go to sleep and wake up for months on end without ever needing a restart, on a Mac you will almost never experience anything resembling DLL hell or registry hell. Worst case scenario, you delete a few .plist files and you're on your way. Thank the turtle-neck-wearing lord .

Edited 2009-11-07 18:06 UTC