Since the very beginning, Microsoft's been accused of copying the look, feel, and functionality of Apple's operating systems.

Microsoft's addition of a trash can to Windows 95, for example, was particularly galling for fanboyz as the handy interface element arrived 10 years after Apple introduced its own trash can.

Microsoft's partner group manager Simon Aldous told PCR:

One of the things that people say an awful lot about the Apple Mac is that the OS is fantastic, that it's very graphical and easy to use. What we've tried to do with Windows 7 - whether it's traditional format or in a touch format - is create a Mac look and feel in terms of graphics. We've significantly improved the graphical user interface, but it's built on that very stable core Vista technology, which is far more stable than the current Mac platform, for instance.

Aldous also described Windows 7 as "the next version" of Windows Vista, which took flack for copying Mac OS X with its use of Gadgets, mimicking Apple's Widgets, and photo storage and editing software similar to Apple's iPhoto. ®

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