Just a few days ago, Microsoft executive Simon Aldous was explaining why Windows 7 emulates OS X.
“One of the things that people say an awful lot about the Apple Mac is that the OS is fantastic, that it’s very graphical and easy to use,” Aldous said. “What we’ve tried to do with Windows 7 — whether it’s traditional format or in a touch format — is create a Mac look and feel in terms of graphics…”
(as reported at Apple Insider)
What a difference a day makes. Today Microsoft denied Aldous’s comments. What is missing from the retraction is an explanation of some remarkable new similarities like the task bar and dock.
I’m not sure why Microsoft is making such a big deal about this. The OS manufacturers have been boosting ideas from each other since the very first operating systems. People used to joke that Cupertino was Redmond’s research and development office. Nevertheless, it is entertaining.

Good reading.

This is the kind of thing that could give a fellow nightmares. I think I just threw up a bit in my mouth.

Okay … I’ve had it. It is driving me nuts that it is so easy for everyone to make presentations in Keynote. It just isn’t right that I can run a home movie production house, photography lab, and music studio off one laptop. I’ve thought long and hard about it and decided the only answer is regression. I’m switching to Dell.
Oh .. and by the way … Happy April Fool’s Day.

Recently I turned 40. I wasn’t planning on posting about this but I decided whenever you add a zero to your age, it is probably noteworthy.
The funny thing is I remember when I thought 40 was ancient. Now I feel like I’m just getting started. I’m very fortunate however to be passionate about many things: my family, my clients, music, and (of course) my mac. With so many interests, I’m simply too busy to feel old. It doesn’t prevent me, however, from being reflective about technology.
I am fortunate to be the first generation to grow up with computers. The first computer I worked on was a Radio Shack Color Computer.

It had 4k of Ram. Not 4 Megs. Not 4 Gigs. 4k. We used to program little basic programs in it and the save medium was a cassette player. When they came out with the 8k model we couldn’t figure out for the life of us what you would ever need 8k for.
After that came some fun with the Atari series (first an Atari 400 and then an Atari ST)…

Hours upon hours in my college computer lab on Macs that I couldn’t afford….

and then 20 years of forgettable PC’s leading up to my late switch to OS X. Over the course of my life computers have changed our society in just about every way imaginable from curing disease to playing games (not to mention a little thing called the Interweb). So in addition to celebrating the fact that I have yet again cheated death for another year, I look forward as I get older (remember, only the good die young!) to see just how much better things get.