Hi Etresoft, I fear I was unclear, I am not concerned about the iOS interface nor did I call it dumb, I have been using the iPhone since it appeared and also an iPad, it is the dumbing-down of OS X I am concerned about. iOS is excellent, but the application of iOS to iPhone and iPad class hardware and the capability of those platforms is a far cry from the work I do on my iMac and MacBook Pro. I have been using Apple gear since Lisa and have a Fat Mac right here in my office. My Macs are used within an enterprise, which exists at the office and is extended into my home. The system includes PCs and NAS devices. Although I am pleased to see new features being introduced, I would not want them at the expense of existing capability.
OS X has, at least in the past, been capable of supporting attribute based file systems which are excellent. Such systems are wonderful for folks who use a single computer and have no interest in learning how to structure and use a name-based hierarchical file system; my kids at college, my parents, perfect examples of a target market for attribute file systems. I am an enterprise architect however and use a lot of high-end tools, I need a file system over which I have full control. iOS does not stand a chance!
You say that the iOS architecture is identical to that of Mac OS X. Not so. The underlying core is likely "almost" identical, the kernel may be very close although pre-emptive multi-tasking and other aspects of application control are quite different, and the overlying GUI is not the same at all.
I said: "[iOS] is fine for the limited use of an iPad or iPhone, but completely unacceptable for my MacBook or iMac." You say: "How do you know? Ever tried it?"
Good grief! Of course! I carry an iPad and iPhone with me everywhere. The iPad is my principal tool for meetings and conference, it connects wirelessly to the enterprise. I've used an iPhone since their inception.
I said: "I do not WANT any OS X deciding how to file files for me." And you replied "All operating systems do that."
Maybe you are referring to the technical aspect of how a file is stored on a hard drive and the type of system, journaled or no, attribute-based or whatever. Yes, the O/S does that. But the organization of a file system is up to the user. For a single-system user it is not too important, and an attribute-based system may well be the best. Either way, for a single-system user the difference is marginal. For an enterprise however it is a significant difference. I cannot use anything other than a hierarchical system with SMB and AFP support. Clearly journaled is an important factor, but if OS X were to make significant changes to its file system it would have a serious impact.
Another big issue with iOS is lack of Flash. Depending on your line of work, this may have little impact, but in my line I am constantly hitting sites where Flash is used for any number of reasons. Wallaby and other tools will help reduce the impact of this issue, but they are not being used much yet, nor are they 100% solid. We'll get there I make no doubt, but until we do, iOS does not cut the mustard.
I have one person here now running a pre-release of Lion, I am beginning to get input and answers to some of my questions. I am an early-adopter of Apple products, but - so far - Lion is going to have to wait.
Cheers - Lawrence