Switching from Windows to Mac OS X can be a frightening concept for the average computer user who has never known anything other than what Microsoft releases into the wild. This is especially true for the adult generation which was not raised with computers. Learning the PC the first time was bad enough, why on Earth would they want to go through the whole ordeal again? However what people like this somehow fail to understand is that all computers do the same things: email, word processing, photo management, etc., and the main differentiating factor between Mac OS X and Windows is simply the way in which you tell your Mac or PC how to accomplish such tasks.

Since getting my Macbook a few months ago I’ve had to make a few adjustments and learn how OS X performs many common, everyday tasks differently than Windows. But what I’ve found is that, although troublesome initially, once you embrace the following adjustments that you have to make when switching to Mac OS X from Windows, you will see that the way Mac OS X does things much easier and more efficient than Windows.

Single-button mouse
This can be incredibly annoying at first, as coming from Windows we’re used to being able to right-click on whatever we want to access additional menu options. In Mac OS X, you have to hold down CTRL and click the mouse on an item if you wish to replicate the action of a right-click.

The Apple key
On Windows we use CTRL+key to perform many standard keyboard shortcuts such as cut, copy, paste, etc. In Mac OS X the Apple key is used to accomplish such keyboard shortcuts.

Window Behavior
Windows allows you to click on any side of any window and drag it however you want to re-size it. In Mac OS X you have to click and hold on the bottom right-hand side of a window in order to re-size it. Also, in Windows the buttons to minimize, maximize or close a window are located in the top right-hand corner. In Mac OS X these buttons can be found in the upper left-hand corner of a window.

Installing Applications
To install an application in Windows we need to download the appropriate installation file — usually an .exe file — and double-click to run it and progress through a series of menus. However, in Mac OS X an application can be installed by downloading the installation file and dragging it into the Applications folder.

Completely different user interface
The user interface of Mac OS X is completely different than that of Windows. There’s no quick way of learning it, you just have to use it to learn it. But once you use it enough it will become just as second nature as working on a Windows machine.

These are some of the adjustments I’ve had to make as a Windows user that switched to a Mac. As you can clearly see there really aren’t any life or death issues. Using a Mac is remarkably easy as Apple has made these machines to be as user-friendly as possible. A little practice will make perfect in no time.

Redmond has begun work on Microsoft Kitchen, the first of many to come in a suite of customized Windows platforms designed for specific areas around the house. The Windows “Kitchen Client” will complement your Windows Operating System while integrating with current and future Windows Live services.

Some of the features planned for Microsoft Kitchen include a family calendar, recipe center, a shared bulletin board and entertainment features. According to sources, “the Kitchen Client is expected to encompass both customized user interface and middleware that will allow developers to further customize the environment with their own products and services.”

My worry is what happens when you get the BSOD (blue screen of death) while you’re halfway through banging out a casserole? You can’t CTRL-ALT-DEL a quiche.

Unfortunately there’s no word on when this will hit shelves or how much it will set you back, but feel free to unleash any cooking-related Microsoft puns. Cue Stevio Ballmerali — my apologies, I had to at least try.

I’ve been using a PC for around 15 years, with my first experiences dating all the way back to the time of Windows 3.1. I’ve gone through all the stages of being a PC user, from beginner to power user, and have used a PC in many capacities — educational, home, and professional. Thus, in all my experiences, I have learned the PC inside and out.

A little over two months ago I purchased my first Mac, the Macbook that I am typing on this very moment. While Apple loves to run dozens of commercials outlining the many potential reasons to switch from PC to Mac, the biggest one I had at the time was curiosity — I had always wanted a Mac.

I wanted to ignore the hype and just get one because I wanted to, for the same reason we all started on computers back in the day — to explore something new. I believe I was successful in going into the world of Mac with an open mind, not expecting to answer any pre-conceived hypothesis. But what I have found along the way, however, is that Macs truly are better than PCs. Not for any single cheap shot taken against Windows in an Apple commercial, although some of those stereotypes are true, but mainly for one central reason: Macs provide a better overall computing experience.

From the moment I first powered up my Macbook I knew there was something special about it. The installation was remarkably simple in comparison to Windows or even Linux. Once it was installed, I already had all the programs I needed, there was no need to browse through download.com looking for small applications and utilities needed to work with certain files on a daily basis.

When I click on something, it opens, promptly and without a problem. So many times when I’m on Windows I click on something and have to wait 10-20 seconds for it to open. On my Mac, the computer does what I tell it, when I tell it to. Building on that further, the computer is not only able to do what I ask but is able to sustain itself and continue to perform commands. On Windows, I find that programs I’m using freeze constantly, and I’m forced to open the task manager to quit them — that in and of itself only works half the time, and the other half I need to hold down the power button and cold boot the PC. My Mac has had a program freeze on me twice. Both times only the program (Safari) froze, and I was still able to use other programs, and no reboot has been required.

The stability of Mac is far superior to PC. One of the first things I do after installing Windows is download Ad Aware. I have to run it about once a week or else my PC runs down to a grinding halt. And Lord help me if one of the spywares gets on my PC, it totally takes it over and it is pop-up city. This has never happened on my Mac.

When I close the lid on my PC laptop and put it into sleep mode, it takes about 30-45 seconds to finish; on my Macbook it is about 2-3 seconds. Also, when I open the lid back up to resume from sleep mode, my PC laptop takes a good 30-45 seconds, my Mac takes 2-3 seconds. Using a Mac is just so easy, quick and efficient. Even the keyboard feels incredible to type on when compared to any PC laptop I have ever used (Sony, IBM, HP, etc.).

You may see some of the reasons I’ve listed here as petty, or something I’m just being uptight about. But the bottom line is that all computers essentially do the same things for us, so it does in fact come down to all the extra little things. I have been as objective as possible in my comparisons of the two, I still use a PC all day every day at work and enjoy it. But the bottom line is that if you want a better, easier computing experience, you should really go with Mac.

This isn’t exactly breaking news as it happened about 2 weeks ago — and I’m surprised I never saw this anywhere — but Gaim, the open-source instant-messaging client, has not only released a new version but has re-branded itself as Pidgin. For those unfamiliar with Gaim Pidgin, it is an IM client for Windows, Linux, BSD, and other Unixes that allows you to talk to friends on AIM, ICQ, Jabber/XMPP, MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, IRC, Novell GroupWise Messenger, QQ, Lotus Sametime, SILC, SIMPLE, and Zephyr all at the same time.

I don’t have all of the details, but from what I gather on their Web site they were having legal issues with AOL over trademark naming issues.

This release owes a special thanks to a bunch of people, but I especially want to acknowledge The Software Freedom Law Center, which has represented Pidgin in its negotiations with AOL and helped us form Instant Messaging Freedom Inc. … Now that our legal worries are behind us and the huge undertaking of 2.0.0 is complete, we’re all looking forward to continuing to actively develop Pidgin, Finch, and libpurple, and returning to our regular release cycle.

I’ve been a big fan of Gaim for many years since I started using Linux, as it was and probably continues to be the best Linux IM client in my opinion. As I just re-formatted the Windows PC I’m on right now, I needed to install an IM client. I figured hey let me throw Gaim on here seeing as AIM is slow as a dog nowadays, and to my surprise Gaim is now Pidgin. So the end result was installing Pidgin which so far is operating very nicely.

Let’s close this one out with some screen shots of Pidgin I captured during installation and first operation:

Last week I gave up on the Sidekick 3 in favor of the Samsung t629, going for a lower end phone to hold me over until the arrival of the iPhone. Yesterday, however, I decided that I had had enough. I exchanged the Samsung t629 for the T-Mobile Dash (as I was still within the 14-day grace period) and only had to pay a small difference fee.

Why did I give up on it so quickly you ask? For starters, the obvious lack of the qwerty keyboard. Having used the Sidekick 3 for so long, I was accustomed to having a full keyboard at my disposal for typing text messages and emails. Secondly, email, the Samsung t629 did not have the ability to access email how I was used to doing on the Sidekick 3. And finally, the lack of any decent organizational structure within the OS of the phone software itself.

So now the question that begs is, well, why the T-Mobile Dash? For one, it alleviates the issue of the qwerty keyboard, as the Dash has a beautiful keyboard with very nice, tactile feedback when pressing the keys. Secondly, email, the Dash has a myriad of email capabilities and will certain allow me to send and receive almost any email I want. And finally, the organizational structure; the Dash came with Windows Mobile 5 and as of today I can now upgrade to Windows Mobile 6, so it essentially puts a computer in the palm of my hand, and as I am a very mobile-connected individual, I really need that type of all-the-time connectivity.

I have yet to upgrade to Windows Mobile 6 but you can rest assured that when I finally do I will be posting about it. Cheers!

Beginning after midnight tonight T-mobile Dash users will have the option to upgrade, free of charge, to Windows Mobile 6. How do you upgrade your Dash you might ask? Tomorrow to go http://www.t-mobile.com/wmupgrade/ and you will see the WM 6 upgrade file. Download it to your computer, plug in your Dash and reflash the firmware with WM 6. It’s that easy!

Before upgrading your Dash, however, there are a few things you must do:

1. USB sync cable must be connected to your computer (and your Dash obviously)
2. Close all running applications
3. Ensure that an ActiveSync connection is made between your computer and your Dash
4. Backup your personal data to ensure you don’t lose anything if something goes haywire accidentally

So now that we know what must be done to upgrade your Dash to WM 6 you might be saying, OK that’s great and all, but why would I want to upgrade to WM 6? Well, to answer your question here are a few items that will be available in WM 6 that were previously unavailable in WM 5:

• Improved e-mail set up which allows you to go to one place on the device to set up e-mail accounts (POP3, MSN, Outlook, etc.) and doesn’t require that you know any server settings for the most popular service providers.
• An improved Windows Live client with tabbed IM sessions, voice notes, etc. (you can record a small clip and send it via IM)
• T-Mobile’s myFaves service now includes e-mail as communication option
• Added Voice Command (voice control software) and Office Mobile (ability to edit Word, Excel)

If that’s not enough to whet your appetite then you either a) don’t have a Dash, or b) shouldn’t have a Dash. The Dash is a great phone it just has some major usability drawbacks, which I’m hoping WM 6 will help to alleviate. Right now only Carin has a Dash but if I like hers after the upgrade who knows!

Most of the focus on Microsoft at MIX ‘07 in Las Vegas was about their Silverlight platform, which will be used to develop Flash-like web applications. However, Microsoft dropped the ball about IE 8 being the browser that will provide the user interface for this upcoming technology, and offered some hints about what else we can expect from the next adaptation in the series of Internet Explorer applications.

High priority items are improvements in RSS, CSS and AJAX support. In addition, it is widely rumored that microformats will be supported in IE 8. Microformats are small tags embedded in HTML code that can be read by software for a variety of purposes, such as calendar appointments and contact information. Also, IE 8 is likely to include a myriad of options for customization, which has been a big criticism against IE 7.

When can we expect to see Internet Explorer 8? There is no official timeline available yet, but reports say that Microsoft is hinting that it needs at least one more year of development, which if realistic would make the IE 8 release come 18 months after the release of IE 7; although knowing Microsoft it will probably be closer to two years.

I welcome the release of a new IE browser, because frankly, IE 7 is plain garbage. I continue to use IE 6 on Windows when forced to use Internet Explorer by certain web sites and will never upgrade it to IE 7. Firefox is my browser of choice, followed by Safari, and Microsoft needs to release a browser that doesn’t think it’s special and actually conforms to web standards before I think of changing my default browser back to IE.

The photo pretty much says it all with this one…

Lately as I’ve been surfing around the blogosphere I’ve seen a lot of blogs where the author writes down a bunch of their stats with respect to geek stuff (computer, OS, etc.) Having always thought this was a pretty cool thing to do, I have added a section to my about page that details my geeks stats. However, seeing as very few of you seem to realize that there is an about page (or don’t care enough to click through to it), I am posting them here for your perusal.

So without further adieu, here are my geek stats:

• Computers: 3 — 2 laptops (MacBook and Sony Vaio), 1 desktop PC
• OS: Mac OS X, Fedora, Windows XP
• Browser: Firefox, Safari
• IM Client: iChat, Trillian, Gaim
• E-mail: Gmail
• Programming Language: PHP
• Text Editor: Emacs
• IDE: PHP Designer Pro 2005
• RSS: Google Reader
• Gaming Console: Xbox 360, Wii

To anyone who reads through that and knows what all of those are, I applaud you, and there should be more people like us.

Please feel free to contribute your own geek stats below.

Novell has developed a series of ads playing off the whole “I’m a mac, I’m a PC” parodies by Apple in which they portray Linux as a young woman who sort of puts the Mac and PC boys in their places.

Take a look: