Windows and Mac: Differences in Everyday Operating System Use

Chances are good that you have used Windows or Windows 7 before. However, not as many people have actually used a Mac computer, which makes deciding whether or not to switch to Mac a confusing task. Both operating systems rely on basic principles to allow you to do the things you do on your computer. Everything from running programs to browsing the internet is in some way intertwined with the UI (User Interface) of each operating system. Check out some of these Windows 7 vs. Mac OS X basic principles.

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The Windows 7 taskbar is something that you will use very frequently, probably every time you use your computer. Items can be added to the taskbar via right-click, and selecting the 'Pin to Taskbar' option from the context menu. Alternatively, programs can be rearranged and reordered in the Windows 7 taskbar by dragging and dropping.

Another notable feature of the Windows 7 taskbar is the tray icon area, which is often used by applications to display alerts and other important information. For example, Windows 7 uses a tray icon to alert you whenever there are automatic updates available.

The very right side of the Windows 7 taskbar displays the clock. Just to the right of the clock is a thin, rectangular blank spot that can be used to clear the desktop.

The Windows 7 taskbar can be relocated to the left, right, or top of the desktop.

The Windows 7 taskbar is one of the most commonly used everyday operating system features within Windows 7.

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The Mac OS X dock is one of the most widely used features within Mac OS, and it is a rather convenient tool for launching applications, opening folders, and more. Mac OS X dock includes a magnificaiton feature that many Mac users enjoy. When turned on, dock magnification allows the dock to expand in the area that the mouse is placed. For example, if your hover your mouse over a certain application in the dock, the dock will 'bubble up' so that you can get a clearer view of that particular application. When you hover over a certain application in the dock, the name of that application is also displayed.

Although the Mac OS dock does not have an equivalent to the Windows 7 taskbar preview, it does have some other cool features of it's own. Notably, the Mac OS dock can hold folders. Each folder that you drop into the Mac OS dock has the ability to be displayed as a Folder or Stack. Although different in appearance, both Folder view and Stack view have the same concept. They allow you to open up a quick view of a folder, and jump directly to a document or program inside of the folder without opening up a new window. Mac OS X Snow Leopard has an applications folder in the dock, allowing you to jump to any application on your Mac quickly and easily without having to navigate through different locations.

That's it for part 1. So far, we've only covered the slight differences in Windows 7 vs. Mac OS X basic interface. Be sure to continue on to page 2, where we will list even more everyday features that differ between the two operating systems. If you are trying to decide on whether to get a Mac vs. PC, there are several other things to note.