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Leopard vs. Vista: Random Thoughts
Thursday, August 10th, 2006
How different are Microsoft and Apple’s approaches to rolling out a new operating system? Let’s 
compare and contrast how we’ve learned about Windows Vista and Leopard, the next generation of Mac OS X:
Microsoft: Begins talking up the new OS years in advance. Drums up enthusiasm for features that it turns out it can’t actually implement. Deploys beta versions early and widely. (I’ve been running Windows Vista as my only OS on my primary work machine for over a year.)
Apple: Says almost nothing about its new OS until well under a year before its planned release. CEO begins keynote speech at which OS is unveiled by saying he’s keeping some of the good stuff secret. Gives betas only to developers, and only if they agree not to talk about them.
All of this makes a truly meaningful comparsion of Windows Vista vs. Leopard impossible just now. In fact, it’s impossible to give Leopard a thumbs up or thumbs down; while Microsoft says that Vista is "feature complete," Steve Jobs has basically put us on notice that Leopard is still feature incomplete. (Much of the blogosphere’s reaction to yesterday’s WWDC was less than glowing; most of it seemed to be based on the quality of the demos as much as on the quality of the OS, but it still feels early to be deciding that Leopard is either ho-hum or a big deal.)
With those disclaimers in mind, a few thoughts on the two operating systems: PC World PC World’s Techlog
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