Nickname: barkley

Review: This just amazes me, almost to the point of having sympathy for Microsoft -- almost, but not quite. It's as if Microsoft is standing up and shouting: "We confess we can't innovate, so we'll just copy the innovators and hope you bite. Please? We're cool. Really! Look what I can do!" Compare microsoft.com/design to apple.com/iphone, and I think you'll find there's basis for legal action. But I think Apple is simply sitting back and grinning, watching Microsoft try so hard to be like them. Apple has nothing to worry about, and it will play to their advantage: as soon as Microsoft gets close to looking and acting like Apple, Apple will do something new, and Microsoft will instantly look outdated(again). If you aren't cool, you can't be cool no matter how hard you copy cool appearance and behavior. Don't try to be cool. As much as I dislike Apple, Microsoft is practically handing the market over to them.

Date reviewed: Mar 13, 2007 5:19 PM

Nickname: Anthonyx26

Review: I think this is merely an admission by Microsoft that the PC has finally gone well beyond being a tool for geeks. It's now also a fashion accessory and should also look attractive. It's about time! I'm a huge fan of sleek, simple design. Why should Apple have a monopoly on that? There isn't a single PC hardware manufacturer out there today that follows this basic design philosophy and this drives me nuts. They're always tacking on buttons and widgets in all kinds of weird places to hardware, in the name of making it easier to use. Well, add them all up and suddenly users are bewildered by so many buttons that they don't know what they all do and consequently don't use them. Just take a peak at keyboards on the market today. They're disgusting from a design point of view. Strangely, Microsoft's gear is not much better.

Date reviewed: Sep 10, 2006 1:35 AM

Nickname: wabi

Review: Microsoft seems to be doing something new and innovative. However, the world of design actually contains so many elements that couldn't be provided as per Microsoft mentioned. I think so many useful tools are being used by PC makers and they have no reason to pick up the new tool unless it is free of charge not just now but for the future. Definitely, the features provided should be at least the same as the one being used by PC makers.

Date reviewed: Aug 30, 2006 3:01 PM

Nickname: Simon

Review: Apple is the formidable opponent to the rest of the PC world when it comes to hardware designs. However, it didn't stop me from choosing what my computer should look like, and where I would like to purchase it. Macs are excellent computers, but the moment I purchase a Mac, I've become part of a hierachy -- I'm either white, black, or metallic. Perhaps, I'd like to see Apple following PC's example: i.e. make the computer more "personal".

Date reviewed: Aug 29, 2006 9:27 AM

Nickname: wibblewombat

Review: Come on -- this is just about some logos and design suggestions to make the hardware mesh visually with Aero. It's perfectly reasonable and no big deal.

Date reviewed: Aug 29, 2006 9:02 AM

Nickname: joe_chicago

Review: This is not about inventing or owning black and white. Apple's business model has incorporated design (both industrial and interface) from it's inception. This has acted well as a differentiator for hardware, software, and brand recognition. Microsoft is moving in a direction where they recognize this and want to change their outward appearance similarly. By taking a drastic step like this 'design kit' they not only acknowledge the success of a user-centric approach but recognize how it fosters brand loyalty--thus fueling purchase intent. Whether or not this will translate to the consumers is the barometer of its success. If anything this strong arm approach is pure Microsoft. They definitely have the leverage. Conversely, look at the way peripheral makers (like Lacie) voluntarily tailor their design to be Apple friendly. The Apple approach (and ownership of this business model) being copied is the only element of this discussion that is black and white.

Date reviewed: Aug 7, 2006 6:14 PM

Nickname: Winblows

Review: People who spend time with Microsoft products soon have no choice but to hate them. The Apple haters have not spent much time on a Mac to truly understand the benefits. Yes, Microsoft is copying Apple, no doubt. Microsoft does not have an OS strategy. Vista will never approach Mac OS X. Spend time using Mac OS X and see for yourself.

Date reviewed: Aug 6, 2006 6:12 AM

Nickname: guynamed-k

Review: What about people who like to fix their own computers. We will be like Apple, where you wouldn't be able fix your own machine. Come on now, Microsoft maybe owns the rights to the designs. You probably make some Microsoft agreement void if you change something. If it is designer computer you want, get an Apple(you could use it for work and internet, but that would be madness!!! Imagine fellow employees coming back from lunch and touching your Mac.). If you want a normal(I mean normal!) computer that you can upgade(hardware and software) and use it for work,play games and internet. I love Apple design but not on my computer. Leave that to custom computer builder shops. thank you.

Date reviewed: Aug 2, 2006 7:19 PM

Nickname: JonathanChambers

Review: Nobody's got computer design quite right yet -- not even Apple. This is an intelligent move from Microsoft. The less "busy" the entire interface (including the hardware), the easier it is to navigate. Vista isn't designed to maintain market share -- it's designed to expand it. There's still a multitude of potential PC users out there who need to be pushed to consume, and Apple will continue to swallow a few of those along the way without spiralling in the near future.

Date reviewed: Aug 1, 2006 5:16 PM

Nickname: Notsosure

Review: I did not want an iPod because it used a proprietary program and file format. I chose the Creative Zen because it was more flexible and used a wide variety of file formats. Zune sounds like the iPod thing and I think there is a lot of people like me who won't embrace it if it's too exclusive and closed-looped.

Date reviewed: Jul 31, 2006 3:36 PM