Updated: 11/19/05; 12:32:09 PM

 Sunday, July 3, 2005
Windows Software Ugly, Boring & Uninspired
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CPU magazine has written a very straight-to-the-point editorial on the lack of quality and innovation in software for the mainstream OS. They compare it to the Mac, which is found in a much different light.

Where has all the innovation gone?" From the article: "here's too much coal and not enough diamonds within the sphere of downloads. The greatest pieces of software are plagued by unintelligent design, and very few rise to the level of ubiquity. Windows users don't have a strong sense of belonging; there's no user community rallying around the platform. We use the computer, certainly, or is the computer using us?"

As usual, for more mindless banter, with the occasional worthwhile quote, be sure to check out the follow-up discussion as well.

A picture named images.jpg Amen to this. As I've said many times before, when I made the switch full time back to the Mac platform back in 2001, the Mac did many things for me, but one of the most important things, is that it made computing, developing and work fun again. When technology is your passion and you live exclusively in the windows world, it's a pretty depressing situation. I guess it's one thing when it's the only world you know but it doesn't take too long to see that there is another world out there where great design, elegant solutions and intelligent products are the standard and 'good enough' just isn't part of the vocabulary. I can honestly say that as a programmer, developer and designer, being around the Mac platform has really caused me to raise my own standards as far as what I expect from my own work in a way that few things ever have.

Regardless of the developer, you hear the same sentiment used over again and again when asked how the Mac environment affects their own creative output. In fact, one of my absolute favorite podcasts is Mac Help Maui where the host Scott has a succinct outlook on life that sums this up quite nicely.

  • Live well
  • Do good work
  • ..and use great tools

Scott is one of those lucky few who actually gets to spend his days working on Macs AND living in Paradise, otherwise known as Maui, Hawaii or in his own words: "Spreading the aloha of Macintosh, Hawaiian music and island culture from the sunset side of Haleakala volcano on the wonderful island of Maui."

5:09:16 PM