The failings of endtoend model
There are two models in this industry: The iTunes-iPod end-to-end model where a single vendor provides the hardware, software and services, and the Windows component model where each component is made by a different vendor who specializes in that area.
Ilife is a "Suite" that works together seamlessly while in Windows you have separate apps. It goes to ease of...
I would agree here %100, I have been in the IT business since the 80's, I have learned to hate windows, I LOVED Novell, but in all fairness XP...
Which is better? For simple gadgets like iPod, it has become clear that the iTunes-iPod model is better. Apple owns the entire user experience, consumers love it, and the model has proved to be a huge success.
But for more complex devices like a personal notebook computer? The jury is still out on that. I love Mac OS X. But the hardware from Apple, sadly, is less than delightful; and I can't choose a product from a different vendor. Case in point: The new macbooks. Apple screwed up the trackpad. The trackpad provides almost no tactile feedback when you click. You have to press hard, and you have no way of knowing whether you pressed hard enough. Using it for more than an hour gives me a headache. Clearly Apple didn't test this product enough before releasing it.
Sony makes much better hardware. But can I run Mac OS X on a Sony notebook? No. The model that works so well for iPod is a failure in the case of the notebook computer.