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Nov 18 - Nov 25, 2001 |
Apple Mac Os X
Taking a bite out of the Macintosh
By Alessandro Cancian
Originally Published: 2001-07-22
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A screenshot from Mac OS X
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Four months have passed since Apple officially unveiled the default operating system in its next generation of machines. But this time OS X (pronounced "Ten") is not just an upgrade but a totally different beast. Three months of everyday use allowed me to understand the pros and cons of what is in my opinion the most interesting OS of these years.
OS X is officially supported on Apple’s more recent computers using G3 or G4 processors with minimum 128MB of RAM and 1.5GB of free hard disk space. So on the list you can include iMacs, iBooks, PowerBooks, G4s, and even the old G3 beige boxes. To upgrade to OS X, you must already have Mac OS 9.1 installed, but Apple includes an OS 9.1 installer in the package. This will allow you to run today’s software on the so-called "Classic Mode"; some of this software would otherwise be incompatible with the new system.
The whole installation process, which lasted less than 15 minutes, is definitely something to appreciate. Few simple choices and a restart are all that separates an end user from the new pleasant interface called Aqua. One wonders why only Apple can simplify operations. Maybe integration does not necessarily mean simplification.
After rebooting, the system will prompt a fill-out form for Internet set-up. You can insert your information or if you have a free iTools account you just need to enter your username and password and the system will take care of configuring the rest.
One of the least pleasant aspects is the fact that, in order to use the system, one must unavoidably send a registration to Apple. Talk about lack of privacy.
As mentioned, this is more than a new version or an upgrade: Mac OS X is a completely new operating system that Apple has been developing for several years. Based on a UNIX core, Mac OS X matches stability with power, without sacrificing the traditional ease of use of Macintosh machines. Around a new system with protected memory, multitasking, and multithreading, Apple built Aqua, very intuitive even for new users.
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