Feature Fight: Vista vs. Tiger

Feature Fight: Vista vs. Tiger

Microsoft Windows Vista

• Codename: Longhorn
• Released: January 30,2007
• GUI: Aero-Glass

Apple Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger

• Codename: Not known
• Released: April 29, 2005
• GUI: Aqua

Now we are going to discuss the GUI relativity of Vista over Apple Mac OS X Tiger. Even we are going to discuss the relativity on features of Mac OS X Leopard over Vista.

This became even more controversial when the Microsoft Windows Vista released developer Beta for testing on completion of development in November 10, 2006. Most of the developers criticized it for its relativity in GUI with Tiger. Even now we are going to do the same thing through feature by feature and point by point.

Aero-Glass Theme:
The A.E.R.O. stands for Authentic, Energetic, Reflective and Open. The theme which comprises of entirely new look and feel out of its predecessors like windows 95/98/2000/XP. Here are the similarities compared with Tiger:

• Transparency/Translucency/Opacity:
  Aero-Glass has the transparency appeal to it and applied to its window pane, Start Menu, Menu and Desktop Icons. Similar to translucent theme on Tiger.
• Live Shadow:
  All the window and menu elements does have a Flat Shadow around them, but more sleek and intuitive than Tiger.
• Icons:
  All the icons created are either 3D or 2D multicolored with shadow. One can easily notice the Recycle Bin of Vista has 90% relation with Trash of Tiger.

Features:
Other than GUI there are highly noticeable features that has been used in Vista compared to Tiger.

• Fast Search:
  This seems to be the replica of Spotlight in Tiger, where the file search has been improved drastically. Give the search keyword/phrase within a blink of an eye search completed with results. One can easily spot the Search(magnifier) button icon in Vista where it is placed towards the right of text input box, whereas in Tiger the same icon already placed on the left of text input box.
• Desktop Widget:
  This one I found not only similar to Dashboard of Tiger, but even with Yahoo Widgets by Yahoo Inc. Where one can see a analog clock, Weather, Stock Details, Maps, and lot more to be mounted on the desktop.

Hope this is evident enough to prove that Microsoft have done some copycatting in its new product “Vista” , now we can even call this as rival copycatting.

Now, its time to drag the Apple to courtroom. Where Apple releasing Mac OS 10.5 Leopard, few features found similar with Windows Vista.

Features:
These are noticeable features that are found in Leopard compared to Vista.

• Time Machine:
  These features found specifically in Windows XP as System Restore and even same have been improved in Vista. The Time Machine seemed to be more advanced compared to System Restore. System Restore can only restore the system files such a DLLs, INIs and few EXEs, whereas in Time Machine it can even restore user created files such as photos, movies, and other documents including system settings.
• Spaces:
  This is similar and again advanced to multiple Users feature of Windows XP & Vista.

Hope we’ve covered enough criticism against both the parties. Looking for your feedback on the quality of article. If you think any modifications needed into the article, we whole heartedly welcome your suggestions.

For Reader’s reference:
Apple Mac OS X Tiger: www.apple.com/macosx/tiger
Apple Mac OS X Leopard: www.apple.com/macosx/leopard
Microsoft Windows Vista: www.microsoft.com/vista