I built my first computer with my dad in 1982. It wasn't until 1987 that I got my first Mac (it still works BTW). Had a Mac as my primary home computer until just a few years ago, when I did the "reverse switch." I was a typical Apple "Fanboy." I could talk about my Mac 24/7. I loved them. I mean really loved them.
But I also always had a PC at work. I knew how they worked.
Then when I went to work for a "virtual" company I was bought a PC. First time I'd had a PC in my house. A few weeks after it arrived our tech guy sent me more RAM and a dual monitor card with a note I needed to install them. I was like WTF. Most Mac users know you never open up your computer. Never.
It took some time at first, but I found it was really easy to install the RAM and video card. I'd install another sound card, more RAM, another hard drive. All kinds of stuff.
I have to admit as a "geek" I found this very appealing, so when my last Mac gave out (video card) I went with a PC. But as a lifelong Mac user, I wanted my interface (and Windows 7 is "nice" IMHO) to be more "Mac like." A huge tribute to Mr. Jobs. Even though I bought a PC I wanted the interface to look like a Mac.
Below the fold some tips on how I, and you, can do this.
If you look at a Mac one of the first things you'll note is the "Dock." It is how you access frequently used applications and folders, instead of using the Windows "Start" menu. Heck if there is one thing I dislike the most about Windows 7 (or just Windows in general) it is that darn "Start Menu." I HATE it (I do like the System Tray).
Well enter RocketDock. It is free. You can customize it in anyway possible. And there are hundreds of "skins" and icons to make it look however you want. Here is what my "dock" looks like.
Another thing you will notice, and the Dock helps, is most Mac desktops are "clean." With Windows the desktop images are ugly. Cluttered. The desktop images that ship with a Mac are "clean."
You can find wallpaper for your desktop in thousands of places. I use a lot from Deviantart. Find some here. If you want to use a pic of your kid or pooties, more power to you. But try a clean, simple image.
Now it took me about eight hours to get my desktop to look like this.
And Apple folks should mock us PC users for that.
The Widgets that ship with PCs suck. But you have other options to do what I did with my desktop above. First download Rainmeter (great tutorial here).
With it you can make your desktop look like this.
And since I used the same software and my desktop looks 24/7 different, clearly anything can be done. I use Rainmeter and the Omnimo theme. Watch what can be done.
Long story short, you can make your PC more "Mac like." And by more "Mac like" I mean more friendly and fun to be on. Kudos Steve. Kudos. I've spent like 100 hours making my PC .... well more like what you'd build. Oh and you can do that as well.
Jobs is known for hating market research. He built what he wanted to use. He felt that you should "enjoy" using this machines. That the interface matters. You should find them pleasing to the eye.
I agree!
I doubt anybody will care about this post, but ask questions. Take control of your computer and its interface!