Windows users request OS X features

MacJUser UK ^ | 2:23PM, Tuesday 13th November 2007 | Simon Aughton

[Swordmaker]

OS X features that Mac users can take for granted are liberally distributed through a list of most requested features for the next version of Windows.

The list unearthered by Neowin contains the top 61 request submitted by participants in Microsoft's Early Feedback programme.

In their own words they include the following, with the respective OS X features in parentheses.

• request for an integrated Font Manager (Font Book)
• Network Tray - "Currently Connected To" with context menus (Leopard's Shared menu)
• Network/Internet bandwidth monitor (Activity Monitor)
• Auto clean of Temp folders (automatic maintenance scripts)
• IE should have a close button on each tab (Safari)
• Make all Windows Updated descriptive (Software Update, though to be fair Apple be a little economical, so half marks on this one)
• WMP - Support Songs without Albums (iTunes)
• Rotate JPF files according to EXIF information (iPhoto)
• Drag Tabs from one instance of IE to another (Safari 3)
• Image (ISO, BIN) supprt in Windows (disk images)
• Family license [sic] (Mac OS X Family Pack)
• Allow reordering Taskbar (Application) Buttons (Customize Toolbar)
• Add Folder Size to data displayed in Windows Explorer (Finder)
• Windows Backup should have more file choice options and should allow user to back-up specific files he [sic] selects (Time Machine)
• Built-in spell [sic] checker for Internet Explorer (Safari and system-wide)
• IE direct file download - do not download to temp folder (Safari)
• Internet Explorer MUST have inline find (Safari)
• Add a feature to parental control letting you choose how much time children can connect, not only when (Parental Controls)
• create a new user type for Child with a protected desktop controlled by parent (Parental Controls)
• replace error ID number with plain language explanation (System-wide)
• Re-sizable dialog windows (again, system-wide)

Microsoft has yet to set a date for the release of Windows 7, its internal name for the the successor to Vista.

[Swordmaker]

Thanks to Freeper Itsahoot for the heads up...

[Swordmaker]

Windows users requesting OSX features on the next version of Windows... PING!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[SlowBoat407]

Meanwhile, Leopard users are clamoring for the following Windows features:

[jalisco555]

If Microsoft starts working on this today it should be ready by 2012.

[Yo-Yo]

IE should have a close button on each tab (Safari)

IE does have a close button on each tab. If you right a tab, it also has a pull down menu for "close tab" and "close other tabs."

[shbox]

Meanwhile, Vista users request something that works....anything.

[Dinsdale]

Whoever is making these requests should learn about what they've already got.

At least half these features are already there. (Bandwidth monitor? Been there sense NT3.51, maybe earlier.)

Perhaps soon the dimmest of the Mac people will realize that there OS now has preemptive multitasking and protected memory. They will suggest the Windows should get some of that new Apple invention...

[Spktyr]

Oh, yes... Hitting Control-Alt-Delete or going to Start: Run: then typing in “taskmgr” is sooo much easier than just launching Activity Monitor from Applications.

[Swordmaker]

Oh, yes... Hitting Control-Alt-Delete or going to Start: Run: then typing in “taskmgr” is sooo much easier than just launching Activity Monitor from Applications.

It may not be convenient... but it is there.

[Spktyr]

Yes, now where in the Windows tutorials does it tell you about that.

Dinsdale, FYI, Mac OS X informs the user that it has protected memory and protected multitasking - when you crash a program, as rare as that is.

[Dinsdale]

Don't bother, he's not even critiquing the correct application.

Typical Mac user. When it's pointed out that he's full of it he resorts to 'Ours is easier launch and yours is ugly and smells bad!'

[Terpfen]

Not the same thing.

[Yo-Yo]

Then please elaborate the difference.

[Terpfen]

The difference is whether or not all tabs have an always-displayed close button, rather than just the currently-selected tab having a close button. Currently, IE7 forces the user to select the tab he wants to close, then hit the X button. But if you want to close the tab, that means you don’t want to select it: you want it gone. It’s awkward UI design.

[Yo-Yo]

Ah, one click instead of two. I prefer the IE way because it leaves more room for the title of the page in the tab.

[Terpfen]

A few extra characters of text shouldn’t be necessary if the tab displays site favorite icons. Safari doesn’t do this, but Safari also has pretty big tabs. Firefox has large tabs and shows favorite icons in the tabs, and also has close tab buttons on every tab.

[Vincent 567]

Oh, yes... Hitting Control-Alt-Delete or going to Start: Run: then typing in “taskmgr” is sooo much easier than just launching Activity Monitor from Applications.

If you right clik on the task bar it’s right there. :)

[Yo-Yo]

The tabs get smaller as you open more of them. And my version of Firefox must be out of date, because it doesn’t have any close tab buttons on the tabs at all. Only the right click pull down menu.

I stopped using Firefox after IE 7 came out.

[Sloth]

Oh, yes... Hitting Control-Alt-Delete or going to Start: Run: then typing in “taskmgr” is sooo much easier than just launching Activity Monitor from Applications.

Hitting Ctrl-Alt-Del or right-clicking on the task bar is too much work for you? Mac users really do want computers with training wheels...

[Turbopilot]

Switching to Firefox would provide every one of the requested features for IE (at least depending on how your preferences are set and what extensions you use).

Internet Explorer aside, though, XP is really pretty solid. I just ordered a new laptop and went out of my way to get one that will have XP Pro preinstalled instead of Vista. I have an XP license I could have used, but apparently the issue now is that some of the newer hardware won’t have XP drivers. I’m kind of hoping that this computer I ordered will last until Vista is replaced.