LebaneseOpinion

Back in the 1980s and the 1990s, Microsoft was the undisputed king of the operating system and computer world. Bill Gates dominated a monopoly in which there was no real competition from anyone. However, the world in which we live in today has seen that dramatically changed. Microsoft does have a hold on valuable items such as the Microsoft XBOX and the new 360 console as well as the new and thriving Microsoft Zune, both of which are compatible with each other. Microsoft is still continuing their dominance in the PC community, though it is not as nearly as dominant as it was in the past. Apple is turning heads as it has taken a huge lead in today’s world in regards to importance. The Mac computer has given the Microsoft PC a hard run and now it is almost as popular as it, though more expensive.  A lot of people are now switching to the Safari browser which is made by Apple. This means that there is a changing of the guard in the way in which people look at technology. Apple has become more valuable than Microsoft for one simple reason: the have things that are in demand and popular, something that Microsoft is beginning to lack over time. The iPod has been a popular accessory all around the worlds and there are so many versions and generations of the Apple iPod from the classic ones to the sleek and new Nano ones. There are also the new iPod touches that are just like the iPhones without the phone capabilities. Sporting a wifi browser, YouTube, and an array of new applications, it has become one of the most popular iPods and tools of all time as it holds a superior advantage of the Zune in many ways. There are also the iPhones which make a lot of noise within consumers. With the release of the new iPhone 4 impending, there are sure to be many new customers on their heels. Apple has made a louder wav e in technology today and as a result has become more valuable than their Microsoft rivals.

Open source Mac software is something of a novelty, but many of the programs which are featured on Windows Machines often have open source cousins on Mac. If you’re keen on using programs which operate under the open source license on a Mac, here are the top five programs to consider. 1. Adium – iChat is a great program, but it doesn’t offer the functionality of connecting to multiple protocols at once as well as Adium does. In fact, Adium is so well received, it has spawned a Windows clone in Miranda. Adium has tons of customization options and is currently the most robust chat client available on the Mac. 2. Bean – Bean beat out Open Office simply because it isn’t a full featured suite for people who only want to do word processing tasks. With a live word count and a simple to use interface, it’s the best solution for people who do lots of typing. 3. Seashore – Seashore is based on the Gimp, but the big plus is it doesn’t require X11 to run, making it a perfect graphics editing software for anyone who wants to use Gimp functionality on the map. 4. Miro – For media playing and bit torrent downloads, Miro wins out on the Mac as well. It offers high definition functionality with the ability to download and play podcasts, scheduling, and RSS bit torrent scheduling as well. All of this is included in an easy to use package which doesn’t take up much space. 5. Firefox – For open source browsing, nothing beats out Firefox on either platform. With around 2,000 addons and the ability to customize your experience the way you like, you’ll not find anything better in a browser on either the Windows or the Mac platform.