For our performance tests on the Macbook Pro we decided to skip our standard method of testing and divide our tests into two separate sections. Though the Macbook Pro can now run Windows we decided to see how well an average Windows user would take to OSX and the variety of features it offers. We used the Macbook pro as our main terminal for a week to arrive at our conclusions.

As a user experience OSX has no comparison once you begin to get used to its various aspects. It is very intuitive and offers excellent customization options for even beginners. Expose, which has been introduced in Windows as 3d flip, offers a very unique way of switching between programs. The dashboard application allows us to use widgets (mini applications used for achieving different tasks) to make life easier. The best part of the dashboard application is that unlike Windows Vista where the sidebar is always present, the widgets can easily be hidden and restored to the screen with the touch of a single button. Unlike windows there is no start bar present here. That functionality is completed by the dock. Here a list of commonly used applications can be accessed. When a program is minimized it is stored on the dock for future use.

Web Surfing on a Mac is a pleasure. For one, the fonts are properly anti-aliased. This gives the whole text a uniform appearance instead of making it looking blocky and garish to read. Websites look simply stunning on a Mac. We visited some of our favorite websites and were plain astonished to see the quality of difference as compared to surfing in Windows XP or Windows Vista.

Multimedia is another area where the Mac excels. For our Mp3 playback we simply used the inbuilt iTunes software which is as well known as the iPod. The iTunes software like other Mac software allows you an amazing degree of customization. We were able to filter and create all kind of playlists based on our own choices.

The integrated search app called Spotlight works as advertised. Files can be searched on a variety of parameters such as date to the more sophisticated meta-tag method. The search results were delivered almost instantaneously. Connecting to a network was a breeze. We used it with our Wi-Fi network and were easily able to surf websites. The configuration options were a breeze. We were also able to easily access different file systems from across the LAN. Interfacing with Windows machines was quite easy and didn’t require any kind of special setup. Just configure the Ethernet options or Wi-Fi option and you are all set to go.

At the end of the day we could go on and on about the ease of use that is Mac OSX. The OS is not only intuitive; it is very secure and offers a very low learning curve. In a couple of days, we easily performed all the activities that we do on Windows. OSX offers an enormous no of applications that can not only match up to comparable Windows applications but can outstrip them easily allowing for increased productivity.