I have been reading this blog since buying my first Mac a year ago and this is my first comment. I was thrilled to see someone finally dissagree with the idea that the OS is on it's way out due to Web 2.0.
I could not agree more that the OS will become even more important in the future. When I show PC folks how my Mac works they are marveled at the magnification on the dock, the genie effect, expose and dashboard. I am always adamant that these things are all just icing on the cake and the value lies in the daily user experience. What makes OS X so good is how it lets me work unobtrusively and almost anticipates what I want to do next.
I think this is what MS does not understand. Windows takes the approach of many designed things in that it states "this is how I work so get use to it". Apple seems to have done more homework with OS X by first asking how users work and developing an OS that allows just that. As a new Mac user I have not been present for the evolution of OS X but I will be for every release from now on and I am willing to be patient every step of the way.
Wonderful article and thanks for giving me my daily Apple fix for the last twelve months. Keep up the good work.
The Coming Mac Renaissance