I have my gripes with Apple, but I think you need to evaluate what they are and react proportionately rather than throwing the baby out with the bath water. If you don’t like Mail/iPhoto/whatever, then don’t use them!

I’ve also clearly missed the point of the power user angle. What power user requirements do you have exactly that OS X (the OS, *not* the bundled apps) doesn’t fulfil, I didn’t notice any mentioned? Most power users I know value the Unix base and scriptable environment more than what’s on offer in the Windows world.

Fundamentally, imho you’re conflating two different issues: (1) whether you like the bundled simple apps or third party apps; and (2) whether you like OS X or Windows. I completely understand your gripe with the first, but it is independent of the second if the apps that address the issue run on OS X.

Remember, if you were going to evaluate Windows on the basis you appear to be doing so with OS X (griping about free included apps being limited for your purposes), you’d be having to use Outlook Express and Windows Media Player. No Windows user I know uses them much!

So, I think the OS issue is separate and if you have your reasons (not listed here that I could see) then fair-play to you: I wish you well on your voyage to tech lands new. If that’s so, I’d welcome an expanded article focusing on your reasons surrounding issue (2).

Anyhow, I hope I’ve elucidated myself well enough. Good job for having the guts to express an opinion because you will doubtless be bashed by some fanboys, but I do personally think the point-of-view you’re trying to put over is incompletely argued and risks looking entirely reactionary.

Peace.