articles
September 14, 2000
Mac OS X Hits the Streets
by Barbara Fletcher
Mac OS X has arrived.
The long-awaited public beta operating system was released yesterday at the
Apple Expo 2000 in Paris, France.
The Apple Expo, which runs from September 13-17, opened with a
keynote address
by Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Neither
the ongoing French truckers' gas protest, nor the rumoured Mac protesters affected the
opening of the Expo.
OS X boasts significant enhancements to the Mac operating system. The Core OS,
Darwin, offers computer
processor task scheduling and memory management improvements. Other new features include
the Aqua
interface that supports a new single-window concept and icon docking station, improved
graphics capabilities,
and the new Finder
file-viewing utility.
Because the keynote speech was scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Paris time, Apple
cancelled plans for a Webcast of the event. However,
Web Studio
will feature streaming QuickTime broadcasts throughout the Apple Expo.
OS X beta is available on CD only and can be purchased for $29.99 U.S. from the
Apple Store, and
will stop functioning on May 15, 2001.
Related links:
OS X Feature -- see Steve Jobs demoing Mac OS X (MacCentral)
MacOS X Public Beta Now Available... at Cost...? -- ihateapple.com
X Arrives -- The Mac Observer
Mac OS X Theater -- from Apple.com
Mac OS X: The Full Story -- Macworld
Embracing OS X: Why I Won’t Miss the Macintosh Desktop Metaphor
O'Reilly Network: Mac OS X Terms and Conditions