BSODs (oops, sorry "kernel panics"), application compatibility problems, new security dialogs, pundits warning users to postpone upgrades, users canning the OS entirely... is it time for Vista SP1? Nope, seems like Vista isn't the only operating system that had a lot of issues right out of the gate. OS X "Leopard" has finally launched, and all those Mac fanboys who laughed haughtily at Vista users have been choking on crow feathers for a few days now.
Even Microsoft-watchers-turned-Mac-fanboys are having second thoughts. Joe Wilcox, who is arguably no great fan of the company he writes about, says [via Neowin]:
Apple's newest operating system is at best an evolution from predecessor Tiger. Some of the criticisms leveled at Windows Vista apply to Leopard. Seriously.
...
By comparison, Vista's shakedown is largely over. I have little to complain about and lots more to like about Vista than I did in February.
Before I get flamed for posting about it, Joe also posted a list of reasons it is better than Vista, but as he said himself, they had little to do with Leopard itself and more with the ecosystem. (His post about the Microsoft/Apple Double-Standard is also a good read).
Switchers aren't the only ones pissed. Even Apple co-founder Steve Wozinak doesn't have very good things to say about the company right now.
Of course Apple will post fixes for all this stuff, and life will go on. But between this, the iPhone unlocking debacle, using credit cards to track who purchased what iPhone (and limiting the number you can buy) to fight unlockers, screwing their early iPhone adopters, Apple may very well be architecting the worst PR turnaround in history.
In the meantime, Brad Wardell, one of the most well-versed people on the technical details of the Windows platform (and therefore one of it's more vocal critics) just posted a list of the "Ten Cool Things about Vista you may not have heard of", otherwise known as "10 of the 30,000 new features in Vista you're guaranteed to take for granted."
Now Microsoft should come out with commercials making fun of Leopard, like Apple did with Vista. But I don't think Microsoft would do that... they have more class than that.
Apple users: Enjoy your new OS, and us Windows fanboys will try to refrain from laughing at you... too hard.
UPDATE: Apparently Leopard has other quality control issues as well. Apple, your arrogance has just gone too far. The day is coming where it will come back to bite you, just like it did Microsoft.