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The true desktop metaphor is macOS

Since its initial classic version, macOS (originally called Macintosh System Software) has adopted a graphical approach that prioritizes consistency and user integration with the digital environment. The concept of operating with a single visible application, characterized by a fixed menu at the top of the screen, distinguishes macOS from many other operating systems that were inspired by it. This menu remains stable regardless of the number of open windows, establishing an intuitive relationship between the user and the system. This design harkens back to systems with interfaces exclusively based on text, where only one application was executed at a time, maintaining control at a fixed point and reducing confusion, thereby promoting an organized workflow.

With the introduction of multitasking, Apple decided to preserve the paradigm of one application at a time on the screen, later allowing the viewing of background application windows while working in the focused application. To this day, it is possible to completely hide background application windows in macOS; to do so, simply press the Command key along with the H key (Command + H), making only the active application's windows visible.

To differentiate its system from macOS, Microsoft chose to display each application in a window instead of occupying the entire screen like macOS, which gave rise to the system's name: Windows. However, this choice created a challenge: if applications are in windows, where could users manipulate documents? To address this issue, Microsoft adopted the concept of Multiple Document Interface (MDI). This approach significantly deviated from the cohesive logic of macOS and broke the paradigm of the workspace.

MDI example

In an MDI environment, multiple document windows could be contained within a single "parent window." Although this structure provided a solution for document management, it also introduced unnecessary complexity, making it difficult to manage each document individually. For users, the presence of multiple "child" windows under a main window created a confusing and fragmented semantic experience, distancing them from the direct and intuitive organization of the interface and compromising the use of the workspace as a support for activities.

The gradual abandonment of MDI by Microsoft helped resolve some of this confusion but brought forth a new problem: high memory consumption. In Windows, each open document began to require its own instance of the application, significantly increasing resource usage. In contrast, macOS maintained a single-instance approach: one application could manage multiple documents without creating new instances for each one. This optimizes memory usage and contributes to more efficient performance. In macOS, there are no copies of the same application running; there is only one instance, resulting in greater efficiency for the system and clearer user experience.

Mac OS Classic

Another essential aspect that differentiates macOS's philosophy is the "desktop" paradigm. Since its early versions, the desktop in macOS has functioned as a natural extension of physical workspace. Users could drag and drop texts, images, files, and other objects directly onto the desktop for temporary storage and later use. This model directly reflects a physical desk where items being worked on can be left while another task is performed, allowing for easy retrieval later.

For this reason, it has never been truly possible in macOS to make a window occupy the entire screen; doing so would compromise the idea that the desktop is more than just a background. It allows users to interact both within the application window and with objects arranged on their workspace. Thus, the Zoom behavior—clicking on the Zoom Box in classic macOS or double-clicking at the top of a window—does not maximize the window on-screen; instead, it seeks to adjust it to optimize content presentation while allowing manipulation of objects on the desk.

This philosophy continues today in macOS Sequoia; even with the adoption of “Snap,” which automatically organizes windows on-screen, they do not touch each other or the screen edges—reinforcing thus the paradigm of windows on a workspace while preserving original language intact and coherent. The red button on windows aims to emulate iPadOS and iOS functionality, facilitating adoption by users already familiar with these systems.

To accommodate iPadOS and iOS paradigms—which lack a workspace—macOS employs the concept of Spaces introduced alongside Mission Control. This concept allows for multiple applications and distinct workspaces within their own spaces. The first workspace always contains a desktop area, thus prioritizing classic window and workspace paradigms.

In Windows, users tend to maximize application windows, rendering workspace use ineffective. When an application is maximized in Windows, it emulates total focus on that application—similar to what occurs in macOS—but renders workspace use impossible. Over time, Windows completely abandoned this area; it became primarily a location for program shortcuts.

The ability to drag and drop objects in macOS reinforced a strong focus on "drag-and-drop" interaction, creating a more immersive experience for users. This behavior was inspired by earlier systems like Xerox Alto and Xerox Star that explored graphical interface concepts with direct object manipulation. macOS enhanced this idea by offering an interface where digital components could be dragged and intuitively manipulated like physical objects.

NeXTSTEP

This paradigm transformed user experience into something more cohesive; the desktop was not just a place for application shortcuts but an extension of ongoing work. The influence of NeXTSTEP—the operating system developed by Steve Jobs after leaving Apple—reinforced this design philosophy. With concepts like object-oriented development introduced by NeXTSTEP, significant advances were made in macOS's structure and usability.

The Dock, for example—one of macOS's most iconic elements—originated from NeXTSTEP and provides quick access to applications and documents in a single accessible visual line. Additionally, NeXTSTEP introduced advanced frameworks that enabled more modular and interactive applications. These technical details reflect coherence and elegance in macOS's interface.

The system is designed not only to execute specific functions but also to provide intuitive integration between user and machine, promoting a work semantics more aligned with what is natural in graphical environments. While Windows and other operating systems have attempted to emulate parts of this unique macOS experience, many concepts remain unmatched within this system.

Over decades, this approach to graphical interface has solidified as a reference for coherence and functionality; drawing inspiration from past systems (like Xerox Star and NeXTSTEP) while remaining true to its clear user experience vision. This established continuity and simplicity in interactions that contribute even today to perceiving macOS as more than just an operating system: it is seen as a natural extension designed to work harmoniously with its user beyond superficial appearances.

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まだ帰宅途中

#PENTAX #PENTAXIAN #pentax17 #pentax_17 #film #film_jp #filmphoto #filmcamera #kodak #gold200 #filmに魅せられて #フィルムで写す淡い夢 #フィルムで残す日常

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BL2 Lounge Chair is a minimalist lounge chair created by Ukraine-based designers buro150. The final form of this piece is the outcome of thorough research into comfort and ergonomics. After numerous prototypes, the design was refined to achieve an optimal shape that integrates seamlessly with a minimalist aesthetic.

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Our Land is a minimalist space located in Guangzhou, China, designed by KINJO DESIGN. The vision was to conceive a living space that transcended conventional design paradigms, encompassing diverse and multifunctional zones while fostering an intimate engagement with the natural environment—a home that evoked the feeling of perpetual retreat.

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1980

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Ghost in the Shell (2017)

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Hackers (1995)

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APPLE 2 FLOPPY DISK

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by sail

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Elizabeth Line, Grimshaw Architects

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1982

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