The magic of Apple, of course, is that on many occasions they catch up, but they integrate their features so neatly that using their product you do feel like they've done something for the very first time. I've found myself getting thrilled about features Apple adds that I've had on other systems for a while, because they very often get them just right in ways that other operating systems and companies don't.
Dashboard and Spaces, for instance, both excited me a lot when I first got to use them, and in Space's case when they first got announced. I'd been using Ubuntu at the time, and I had both widgets and multiple desktops, but it was different. With the Apple system, it feels right visually and in effect. The way widgets spin around when you use them, the small thing like the clock turning into a calendar when you click it, in Dashboard. With Spaces, the way your windows visually flew around, and the way you could zoom out and see the little cubbies.
I'll get flack for saying it, but it just happened with Safari 4 and tabs. For the first time, they make sense where they are. I run Safari with minimal chrome, and now the tabs ARE the window bar. And that makes sense! These tabs are effectively multiple windows stacked into a single space. It suddenly fits perfectly how they're displayed. Safari 4 has problems with the specifics of how the tabs go, but for the first time it makes sense where they appear visually.
That's why I love Apple's marketing: because it's so excitingly arrogant. No matter what they've got, they talk about it like it's magic and new, and I love that in commercials. No people going "Oh! This is so exciting to me!". They just take it for granted that you'd better like what they're talking about. It's more fun to see commercials like that. (I adore the iPhone app ads, with the "Things have changed forever" slogan, for that particular reason.)
I agree, but howerver spaces is the one exception, it's totally useless compared to a really working virtual desktop like gnome, kde, or even better wmii. I could never get over the fact that spaces magically throws you around between desktops when klicking on program icons, and is totally opinionated on on which spaces to start program windows.
It uses a different philosophy than the other space managers. It's all about trying to emulate physical space. I like that a lot: I don't use enough windows in a day for it to be necessary, but that's the philosophical concept that makes the most sense to me.
Dashboard and Spaces, for instance, both excited me a lot when I first got to use them, and in Space's case when they first got announced. I'd been using Ubuntu at the time, and I had both widgets and multiple desktops, but it was different. With the Apple system, it feels right visually and in effect. The way widgets spin around when you use them, the small thing like the clock turning into a calendar when you click it, in Dashboard. With Spaces, the way your windows visually flew around, and the way you could zoom out and see the little cubbies.
I'll get flack for saying it, but it just happened with Safari 4 and tabs. For the first time, they make sense where they are. I run Safari with minimal chrome, and now the tabs ARE the window bar. And that makes sense! These tabs are effectively multiple windows stacked into a single space. It suddenly fits perfectly how they're displayed. Safari 4 has problems with the specifics of how the tabs go, but for the first time it makes sense where they appear visually.
That's why I love Apple's marketing: because it's so excitingly arrogant. No matter what they've got, they talk about it like it's magic and new, and I love that in commercials. No people going "Oh! This is so exciting to me!". They just take it for granted that you'd better like what they're talking about. It's more fun to see commercials like that. (I adore the iPhone app ads, with the "Things have changed forever" slogan, for that particular reason.)