Transparent menu bar; that's just so Vista, dude.


Downloads folder; Vista has that. (So does every bloody operating system if you create a new folder and can master your motor functions sufficiently to bash the letters D, O, W, N, L, O, A, D and S on a keyboard.)


Proper thumbnail previews; Vista got there first, though adding Quick Look makes the experience much richer.


Spaces; in damn near every Linux distro under the sun.


Parental controls; Vista, Vista, Vista, Vista.


OS-level backup; XP, for goodness' sake.

The point I'm making, here, folks, is that good ideas are good ideas; please don't get all arsey about who had them first. Integrate backup into an OS, and the users win. Give us proper thumbnail icons, and the users win. Put any good idea at all into an operating system, and the users win.

Apple's “Redmond, start your photocopiers” line is a very dangerous and frankly a little silly game to play. Grow up, please, boys and girls.