Hit Whore Alert: 10 Features Apple Stole From Windows

Mac users often point out that it is Microsoft that steals features. That makes Apple Microsoft’s defacto Research and Development Division. Not so, says John Rizzo in InfoWorld:

Windows 7 and Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard each contain features that originated in the other OS. Some features were stolen so long ago that they’ve become part of the computing landscape, and it’s difficult to remember who invented what.

But it’s important to find such features to increase web site page views, and advertising revenue, right? I’ll spill the beans:

1. Finder Sidebar vs. Windows Navigation pane
2. Mac Path Bar vs. Windows Address bar
3. Back and Forward buttons in folder windows
4. Minimize document windows to an icon
5. Screen sharing
6. Time Machine’s backup and restore
7. System preferences control panel
8. ActiveSync & Exchange support
9. Command-tab vs. Alt-tab
10. Terminal

This is looney hit whoring at its finest. Where did Microsoft’s innovations come from if they didn’t come from Apple? Terminal? Mac OS didn’t require terminal access until OS X (it’s built in to Linux and Unix flavors, and OS X, so it’s not exactly copying, is it?). ActiveSync? Apple didn’t copy it as much as license it. The rest are almost as silly.