Apple's Leopard Ready To Steal Windows Vista's Thunder
By Paul McDougall
October 17, 2007 - 12:39 PM
Apple hopes new productivity enhancements and security tools will push Mac OS X deeper into the business computing world, where it's largely been shut out by Microsoft. In its most aggressive challenge to date to Microsoft's dominance of the desktop computing market, Apple confirmed Tuesday that it plans to launch its highly anticipated OS X Leopard operating system on Oct. 26.
Apple is confident that the slick new interface that Leopard brings to its PCs and laptops will steal thunder from Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system, which launched earlier this year amid considerable hype.Like Windows Vista, Leopard relies heavily on graphical enhancements to redefine the way users interact with their computers. A feature called Stacks arranges all the files in a folder into an appealing fan shape when the folder is clicked on.
The feature counters Vista's Flip 3D interface, which sorts files and windows into a cascading, three-dimensional view. Leopard also borrows heavily from Apple's successful iPod interface. An enhanced Finder tool lets users leaf through icons representing their files the same way they can flip through music tracks on the digital music player. Another new feature allows users to make desktop backgrounds out of their favorite digital images. But Apple insists Leopard is more than just a pretty face.
The computer maker is hopeful that new productivity enhancements and security tools built into the 64-bit OS will push it deeper into the business computing world, where Apple's largely been shut out by Microsoft. A feature called Time Machine works with an external hard drive to automatically create backups of users' complete system image -- including files and the data within.
Information Week
