OSNews

appleforever: If you would like to identify specific PC apps that match ITunes, iDVD, iPhoto and iMovie, I will look at those.

Rajan: "For iTunes, I would say WMP9. For iDVD, I would say MyDVD. For iPhoto, I can't find any altenatives just as good (I mentioned this again and again), but MGI Photosuite is really good. iMovie - there's a thousand, I dunno where to begin (I'll begin once I use any of them, something I can't without a camera)"

First, you need to identify those iMovie equivalents. Last time I checked, all the reviews for the leading ones at CNET were remarkably negative. There were huge glitches. And no tech support. See http://www.cnet.com/software/0-3227896-1204-20151654.html?tag=prmo6 on the Pinnancle Studio. Just one quote for flavor: "Like so many other people have found, this product simply will not finish rendering a movie for burning onto a DVD. Technical support is non-existant and I have yet to get through to a support consultant (even though its a premium rate number). I've given up paying Pinnacle to play me background music and will return the product for a refund. How can you review a product that is simply so unstable as to be useless, other than say 'save your money'."

Here's one quote on MGI Videowave: ""Virtually Worthless"
This product does about 40% of what it claims. It cannot burn DVD's under any circumstances and cannot produce large clips or clips in uncompressed (DV) format. Website patches don't work and just try to get support. This product is a fraud on consumers."
73 percent of the reviews were negative. http://www.cnet.com/software/0-3227896-1204-6480003.html?tag=pdtl-l...

I pointed all this out to Rajan in a prior thread.

Here's Cnet on MyDVD 4: "Unfortunately, the program's limited tools and expensive tech support hamper its potential" There was only one user review, negative: "'Terrible product'
The video interlacing isn't properly preserved, so the output look jagged and noisey. It frequently crashes, as well. Stay away from this product."

Here's a recent article from JULIO OJEDA-ZAPATA of the Pioneer Press, comparing Sony's new consumer DVD program to iDVD:

"But for all its virtues, Click to DVD can't hold a candle to Apple's iDVD, especially the recently released version 2.1 of the Mac program.

From the start, iDVD has given Mac-using amateur auteurs more control over DVD projects. They've been able to position and alter DVD menu titles and buttons almost at will, and to import their own still images and movies for use in menu backgrounds and buttons, to name just a few features.

Version 2.1 adds new features such the option to create hybrid discs (platters that double as movie DVDs and computer DVD-ROMs containing any kind of digital file) and to automate DVD production using the AppleScript language (scripts are available for AppleScript newbies). . .

The bottom line: iDVD remains the gold standard for consumer-grade DVD authoring."

As for the jukebox stuff, I don't think iTunes is THAT much better and the PC alternative are fine, even better in some respects. iTunes has been credited by many as the most intuitive. (but again the PC ones are not confusing or anything)

The main reason iTunes is better is because of the iPod. I don't care what the negative apple haters say. The iPod with iTunes rocks so hard!!!!! You put a CD in your mac. It opens iTunes, you press one button to import, you plug in the iPod (NO software to install), and the CD comes over. That's IT. The iPod for windows is great too, but Musicmatch is not as well integrated and it's less intuitive. See this Tom's Hardware article, which says this, http://www6.tomshardware.com/mobile/02q4/021003/ipod-10.html.