XvsXP
Encyclopedia
Mac vs Windows is an online operating system
comparison wiki run by James Scariati and Michael Moriarty.
and Mac OS X v10.5
through over 100 different topics. The site explicitly includes only the "out-of-the-box" experience of each OS, as well as any freely released updates from the manufacturer. A unique feature of the site over many other OS comparison sites is that it features a forum to encourage readers to voice any concerns or comments about the site, as well as any suggestions for additions.
The site was almost closed down in January 2005, including a brief period when XvsXP was converted to a pay site. Pouliot at that time decided he needed to move on, so a change of ownership was negotiated.
In November 2005, the site officially changed hands to the current owners, James Scariati and Michael Moriarty, and a rewrite of the site began, with a renewed objective of an unbiased comparison. The point of view was changed away from first person. Content considered to be editorial in nature was removed. (One example that was removed can be seen in the Internet Archive Wayback Machine: http://web.archive.org/web/20040415221224/www.xvsxp.com/dialogs/ where Pouliot discussed one particular XP dialog box at length.)
The site officially relaunched in March 2006, sporting a refreshed look and updated sections, as well as a format that was reportedly designed for ease of updating due to the upcoming releases of both operating systems, Windows Vista
and Mac OS X v10.5
.
On June 20, 2007, XvsXP.com owners announced they were moving to a new website, Mac vs. Windows. One of the main new features introduced with their new website was the transition to a wiki model.
Further criticism of XvsXP can be lodged for the continued delays in providing coverage of the Windows side of the comparison. As of June 10, 2007, the site still fails to show data on Windows Vista, over seven months after Vista’s Release to Manufacturing (RTM) http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/nov06/11-08VistaRTM.mspx . This even though one of the XvsXP admins acknowledged (over four months ago http://www.xvsxp.com/ ) that Vista was released (their initial acknowledgement [February 8, 2007] of Vista came three months after it went RTM).
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
comparison wiki run by James Scariati and Michael Moriarty.
Overview
The site compares competing operating systems Windows VistaWindows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
and Mac OS X v10.5
Mac OS X v10.5
Mac OS X Leopard is the sixth major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers. Leopard was released on 26 October 2007 as the successor of Tiger , and is available in two variants: a desktop version suitable for personal computers, and a...
through over 100 different topics. The site explicitly includes only the "out-of-the-box" experience of each OS, as well as any freely released updates from the manufacturer. A unique feature of the site over many other OS comparison sites is that it features a forum to encourage readers to voice any concerns or comments about the site, as well as any suggestions for additions.
History
The site was originally launched in March 2003 by Dan Pouliot, with the scope of the site explicit also to the concerns of the "creative professional". The site was originally intended to advocate OS X by virtue of a fair comparison to Windows XP. Pouliot acknowledged that such a fair comparison was difficult, and he relied on debates within the site's own online forum to refine and expand the site. A PDF version of the site was available, and Pouliot reports it was downloaded 250,000 times between the launch of the site and the time the PDF was removed in January 2005.The site was almost closed down in January 2005, including a brief period when XvsXP was converted to a pay site. Pouliot at that time decided he needed to move on, so a change of ownership was negotiated.
In November 2005, the site officially changed hands to the current owners, James Scariati and Michael Moriarty, and a rewrite of the site began, with a renewed objective of an unbiased comparison. The point of view was changed away from first person. Content considered to be editorial in nature was removed. (One example that was removed can be seen in the Internet Archive Wayback Machine: http://web.archive.org/web/20040415221224/www.xvsxp.com/dialogs/ where Pouliot discussed one particular XP dialog box at length.)
The site officially relaunched in March 2006, sporting a refreshed look and updated sections, as well as a format that was reportedly designed for ease of updating due to the upcoming releases of both operating systems, Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
and Mac OS X v10.5
Mac OS X v10.5
Mac OS X Leopard is the sixth major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers. Leopard was released on 26 October 2007 as the successor of Tiger , and is available in two variants: a desktop version suitable for personal computers, and a...
.
On June 20, 2007, XvsXP.com owners announced they were moving to a new website, Mac vs. Windows. One of the main new features introduced with their new website was the transition to a wiki model.
Criticism
The website does not take into account factors such as software availability, total cost of ownership, hardware interoperability and so forth. The owners contend that such topics fall outside of the site's scope as an operating system comparison and fall into a broader platform comparison. Both owners have stated that even the current comparison is a large amount of work, so a truly objective comparison of all aspects of each platform would require a team of full-time employees. In addition, the current "1 to 10" scoring system has been viewed as being too definitive for a subjective review. This is also compounded in the "Final Score" page where there is no option to weigh the scores based on the user's concerns. (e.g. security is given as much weight as icons).Further criticism of XvsXP can be lodged for the continued delays in providing coverage of the Windows side of the comparison. As of June 10, 2007, the site still fails to show data on Windows Vista, over seven months after Vista’s Release to Manufacturing (RTM) http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/nov06/11-08VistaRTM.mspx . This even though one of the XvsXP admins acknowledged (over four months ago http://www.xvsxp.com/ ) that Vista was released (their initial acknowledgement [February 8, 2007] of Vista came three months after it went RTM).
External links
- MacvsWindows Main Page
- http://www.apple.com/applescript/news/ and http://www.apple.com/applescript/resources/ - XvsXP featured on Apple.com
- http://www.g4tv.com/screensavers/episodes/3495/Chewbacca_Speaks_the_EFF_Google_Darktips.html - XvsXP featured on TechTVTechTVTechTV was a 24-hour cable and satellite channel based in San Francisco featuring news and shows about computers, technology, and the Internet. In 2004, it merged with the G4 gaming channel which ultimately dissolved TechTV programming...
show The Screen SaversThe Screen SaversThe Screen Savers was a live American TV show on TechTV. The show launched concurrently with the channel ZDTV on May 11, 1998. The Screen Savers originally centered around computers, new technologies, and their adaptations in the world...
. - http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20060817/bs_nf/45454 - XvsXP featured on Yahoo News. (Link dead as of 00:45, 15 January 2007 (UTC))