I've been a Windows user, not fanboy, since we got our first family PC, an IBM Aptiva that cost around $2500 at the time. I held out on the Vista years, opting for XP Professional (32-bit) on an amped, custom built system. The 32-bit OS was a nightmare considering the potential of the machine, but due to budget and disdain for my limited options I held out. Windows 7 hit and I knew it was time for an upgrade. Thanks to a college friend, I purchased W7Pro, 64-bit at a completely palatable $30 from the Windows741 site.  A new hard-drive purchase added some excitement to the upgrade and I spent a Friday winter night warming my hands beside a PC / space heater during the install.

Six years is a long time on the same OS. Things got stale, and it seemed as though Microsoft was sliding down the hill. Windows 7 changed that outlook, but I knew Microsoft had taken a long look at what was coming out of Cupertino.  Another Vista would have been a catastrophe, and Apple was turning up the heat in their ad campaigns.

I believe Microsoft succeeded with Windows 7.  It's a smooth, cohesive OS that responds well to high performance machines.  The ability to create RSS fed photo-backgrounds blew me away. It's a simple concept, but I realized I haven't been expecting enough of my OS. Little improvements, such as right-clicks opening a new world of options, were welcome.

I made a sickening discovery one day while fixing a relative's Vista laptop. I must preface this by saying I NEVER used Vista.  Hated the thought of it. I was horrified to find Windows 7 is remarkably similar to Vista. I guess that's a bit strong, but disappointed is accurate.  I thought this was revolutionary stuff for MS; turns out I was wrong. Guess they're saving that for the new mobile OS.

Today I unboxed a new Macbook Pro. What better time to take a crack at another OS than a month after a big Windows upgrade.  Maybe it's the challenge of a new OS that makes the MBP itself so appealing to me.  We could have a convert.