Second Microsoft official denies Mac influence on Windows 7
updated 09:45 am EST, Thu November 12, 2009
Original claims deemed 'inaccurate'
The appearance of Windows 7 is not based on Mac OS X, says Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc, writing on the official Windows Blog. A Microsoft partner group manager, Simon Aldous, recently told the the press that the "look and feel" of the new OS was based deliberately on the "graphical and easy to use" nature of the Mac interface, allegedly one of its main draws. Windows 7 does feature elements strongly similar to Mac OS X, such as the Expose-like Aero Peek and a Dock-like taskbar.
LeBlanc calls Aldous' statements "inaccurate and uninformed," noting that the manager was "not involved in any aspect of designing Windows 7." Much of the interface was decided by Windows Experience head Julie Larson-Green, and Sam Moreau, in charge of user-experience design for Windows 7. Each describes the upgraded elements either as an attempt to improve on Vista, or to accomplish particular objectives, such as rendering the look of the taskbar "energetic and alive."
Riiiight
11/12, 09:58am reply
If you say so Sparky. ;-)
slapppy
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Joined: Mar 2008
Ha.
11/12, 09:59am reply
The damage is done and consumers aren't morons. Everyone can see that Windows 7 in more ways than one blatantly rips off Mac OS X. Who does this guy think he's fooling?
appleuzr
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Joined: Aug 2006
it's not a ripoff of OS X!
11/12, 10:07am (1 reply) reply
for one thing, it has a 'Start' button! Does your Mac have that, fanboi?
Also... OS X is pretty much bullet-proof, whereas Windows 7 needs constant patches and updates...
Hey! Look over there! A cheap PC laptop!
climacs
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Joined: Sep 2001
Disagree
11/12, 10:36am reply
Consumers ARE morons for the most part.
eddd
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Joined: Dec 2001
Just how dumb...
11/12, 10:36am reply
Do they think we are?
In a related story, we all hope Simon Aldous likes his new home at the Microsoft Business Unit Irkutsk.
jpellino
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So who pioneered the 'dock' anyway...
11/12, 10:37am (2 replies) reply
....the Aqua interface? The Windows Toolbar ? NextStep ?
bobolicious
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secret code phrase...
11/12, 11:13am reply
"yeah, we totally ripped that off..."
darkelf
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Joined: Nov 2003
M$ R&D HQ: 1 Infinite Loop
11/12, 11:31am reply
".... the manager was "not involved in any aspect of designing Windows 7...."
Sounds like no one at M$ was involved in designing Windows 7.
revco
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Joined: May 2005
Funny
11/12, 11:38am reply
Just like the Microsoft Store didn't copy the Apple Stores
dliup
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Joined: Jan 2006
Re: So who pioneered the 'dock' anyway...
11/12, 02:17pm reply
...the Aqua interface?
Seriously. That's where you want to go? To one of the features in OS X Apple constantly screws up and has never made very useful or intelligent. Well, they did, way back in the 10.0 days, but they keep insisting on 'improving' it which has, so far, just continued to make it worse.
And the Aqua interface was killed off long ago. Aqua was what they called the initial 'lickable' OS X interface. Except even Apple realized people don't want lickable interfaces. It just reminds everyone too much of what you'd see on Windows.
testudo
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