gdgt

Yeah I know same here. I own a mac, and I'm a total Apple fanboy, but don't get me wrong I love my Xbox 360, and just got it back after it three red lighted on me, and acted as if it was a totally normal situation with all video game consoles. I also am interested in the Zune HD, but too much of my music is coated in DRM, so I can't really switch.

Everything you just said, I agree with 100%

Exactly! I have been an apple fan for life, but since I bought my first 360 a couple months ago I changed my attitude towards microsoft and even gave a try to windows.. I think the xbox is microsoft's killer app for swithcer like i could be, and I wonder why they came up so late with it compared to sony and nintendo.. looking forward to zune hd and windows 7..

Zune pass. DRM issues are meaningless.

Apple does get scrutinized, by a lot of people. And its not necesary that they like Microsoft either. My sister doesnt like Macs because they're different and she can pull some bizarre reasons as to why Apple is so bad. I personally like Apple and Microsoft. Own a MacBook Pro and a HP, a Zune 30 and an iPod touch.

why does Zune pass not DRM their music?

If by not an issue you mean even worse. Not only are you then stuck on the Zune platform, but once you stop paying you have 0 music. To each their own, if you listen to crap-tons of different music it could be good, but it's a bit misleading saying there would be no issues.

You can keep 10 DRM-free tracks per month on the Zune pass. If you unsubscribe from the Zune pass you keep all the tracks you chose each month.

You can also buy DRM-free tracks from Zune on top of your Zune pass.

Exactly. Don't hate on the zune pass unless you know what you're talking about, you keep 10 drm free songs every month.

I have liked every none software thing that MS has put out (Zune, Xbox, etc.) and most of the software. Although I must admit I do have an ipod touch, but I'm going to trade that in for a zune HD when it comes out.

I disagree completely.

Microsoft's alternative was releasing a Release Candidate, which open to the public for free, gave them the publicity, positiveness and attractiveness that a price cut would also have provided.
Your comparing a company which dominates the market, one which owns 90% of the market, with one which is not even a mouse in comparision. Apple wants to attract buyers, and followed the route of a price cut.
Microsoft priced correctly - $99 for Windows 7 Home Premium - how much more could you ask for when they had the RC available for 1 1/2 years?

Except you're paying anywhere from $99 - $300 for a glorified service pack.

I guess that's open to interpretation. I think that the new features in the UI as well as under the hood and sweeping performance changes (speed, responsiveness, battery life, networking, troubleshooting) make it a bit more than a service pack.

Yes it should be cheaper. No doubt about that. But I feel like these changes justify a price (though not $300, come on people) more than Snow Leopard does with a $29 price tag. Even the Apple fanatics that I know were bummed about that because they had a lot of trouble installing it and once it was up and running, they didn't notice the promised performance changes.

Unfortunately I am going to get it for the additional Boot Camp functionality and compatibility with Windows 7.

There are upgrade prices starting at 29.99 for students and educational purposes. Really though, I don't get the "glorified service pack" statement that people have been throwing around. There are enough changes to the core usability of Windows 7 for it to not be qualified as a service pack. The UI change alone is something that is not linked to the term "service pack". I think Windows 7 is an natural evolution of the Windows line, and the line of code they borrowed from Vista and then added upon, thus creating a more stable OS, I think are something not to be undermined by calling it a "glorified service pack"

Have you used windows 7 at all? Not to be a douche, but it is way more than just a service pack. its a completely different filing system. Im not a mac, fan because I do code programs, and this is nearly impossible on a mac, for a windows based computer. I think windows is a used on a more professional business level, where as mac is much better for the graphic design portion of the market

Programming is *very* easy on macs and linux machines. Maybe not for programming windows environment programs, but in any other case it is in many ways a better programming platform. My programming professor (with a PHD) had and programmed on a Macbook.

I wouldn't say I hate them with a passion, I mean their stuff is useable (before it crashes on you... RROD/BSOD anyone?) but as a rookie programmer some stuff just pisses me off. Take active X controls. I dare everyone reading this to look at the code needed to embed a movie into a site using microsofts proprietary code that works only with IE and tell me that it isn't a pain. There is a reason why the w3c created the friggin standard. Why is it that of all the browsers out there the only non-standard browser is Microsofts IE? Which by the way if you so much as dared to think of replacing with another browser CANNOT BE UNINSTALLED?!?!?!? and people wonder why the EU keeps on fineing them millions for monopolistic practices.

Though I have some gripes with apple (app store woes anyone???) I honestly think that they make great products, and I would switch from windows in a heartbeat if macs were a little cheaper.

Sorry microsoft but you have done too many stupid things in my book.

I agree 100%. As a developer, it seems so easy to develop products for MS. But once there is a problem, you are done. Like DLL hells for example. I am glad that I am not developing on MS platform any more and at least at home I am not using Windows.