Mac OS X Migration Poll
"Likes and Dislikes"
The Results

Top 39 Likes of Mac OS X

NOTE: Stability skyrocketed to the top with 79 responses, with UNIX underpinnings a close second at 69 responses. All of the top 5 received at least 50 responses.

1. Stability (fewer crashes)
2. UNIX underpinnings (command line, Terminal, UNIX programs, X Windows apps)
3. Graphics (Quartz, Aqua)
4. Bundled software (Mail, iChat, Safari, Preview, iCal, etc.)
5. iLife applications (iMovie, iTunes, iPhoto, iDVD, Garageband)
6. Automatic memory management (true multi-tasking)
7. Memory protection (force quit, crashing programs don't crash system)
8. Security (less prone to viruses, security features, firewall, filevault, passwords)
9. Multi-user support and fast user switching
10. Interoperability with Windows (file sharing, Samba/SMB)
11. Apple Dock (contextual options, easy access, genie effect)
12. True Plug and play (USB/Firewire, built-in drivers, hot pluggable, 2-button mice, multiple monitors)
13. Networking (easy to configure, automatic setup, improved networking, wireless)
14. Finder windows (eject buttons, cascading windows, column view, sidebar, search)
15. Expose
16. Automatic software update
17. Support for open-source standards
18. Developer tools (XCode, Java, OpenGL, Applescript)
19. Native PDF support
20. Ease of use
21. Fast boot time/wake from sleep
22. Ease of Customizing (System Preferences)
23. Classic support
24. Hot keys (app switching, volume control, screen snapshots)
25. Printer management (rendezvous, printer sharing, IP printers, change printer at dialog)
26. Built-in server functions (ftp server, mail server, web server)
27. Native MS Office X
28. Miscellaneous features (Grab, GetInfo, Multi-language, Color management, labels, screen savers, built-in VPN)
29. Speed
30. Improved file system
31. Power management (energy saver)
32. Interoperability with other UNIX servers
33. Bluetooth support
34. Long file names; larger file icons
35. Font manager (Windows truetype fonts, Font book)
36. System monitor utilities (UNIX)
37. Improved calculator
38. .Mac integration
39. Multiprocessor support

Top 49 Dislikes of Mac OS X

NOTE: Dislike of the Finder ranked number one with 61 responses, with Dock dislikes a very close second at 57. Performance comes in with 41 responses, but response totals drop after that, ranging from 17 and below, showing a diverse set of dislikes.

1. Finder issues (non-intuitive, slow/inconsistent updates, view options default to "all windows", volume desktop icons reserve more space than they take up, positions not remembered, multiple windows for same folder, folder & label colors look bad, missing features, inconsistent behaviors)
2. Dock issues (obtrusive, cannot be turned off, lack of customization)
3. Slow Performance (lackluster, sluggish, application startup, boot)
4. Poor performance in Classic (required for non-ported apps)
5. Permission hassles
6. Cannot customize Apple menu
7. Safari bugs and web site incompatibilities
8. Poor support of older peripherals
9. Migration issues (cost, Windows to Mac confusions)
10. Lots of OS 9 apps not ported to OS X
11. Loss of resource forks (no ResEdit, no file types and creators, use of filename extensions)
12. OS Upgrades (steep price, no break after recent purchase, breaks programs)
13. Not all OS 9 apps and inits work in Classic
14. Memory hog, lack of memory usage monitor
15. No desktop trash
16. No windowshade function
17. Annoying window behaviors (windows go off screen, border dragging, resizing)
18. Don't feel in control of OS (restrictions, system architecture, mysterious background activity, Multi-user file updates)
19. Does not run on older Macs
20. Reliability issues (system still crashes)
21. Network issues (manual configuration non-intuitive, connectivity not robust)
22. Missing customization features (JPEG screenshots, override FKeys, shutdown shortcuts, appearances, sounds)
23. No GUI themes
24. No application menu
25. Safari lacks features (bookmark editing, separate reload/stop button, etc.)
26. Does not run on non-Apple hardware
27. Printing issues (drivers, dialog navigation, reconfiguring printers)
28. Font management is a nightmare
29. Persistent busy problems freeze system (indefinite spinning beach ball)
30. Applications windows no longer grouped
31. UNIX (ugly OS, introduces security risks)
32. Poor scanner support and software
33. Built-in VPN does not work with Nortel server
34. Lack of drivers and driver features
35. Inconsistent interface (metal vs aqua)
36. No native sound file support
37. Loss of Cmd-N for new folder
38. Need better interoperability with Windows
39. Applications lack features (Mail, Preview)
40. Miscellaneous problems (sleep mode, external firewire drives)
41. Administrator mode required for too many things
42. Missing or lacking utilities (control strip, notepad, scrapbook)
43. Passwords (Login requirements too rigid, keychain problems)
44. Help system (lack of immediate help for specific areas of windows and dialogs, no administrative guides)
45. Miscellaneous annoyances (Airport setup should work if hardwired to Airport, TextEdit refuses to preserve Simpletext format, server connection failures tie up resources, cannot edit time server list)
46. Missing menu options (contextual menu, date and time on menubar)
47. Disk utility not robust
48. Installation pains (time consuming, 40,000+ files, corruptions)
49. iSync issues (Nokia bluetooth phones, user selectable data)

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