Chapter 1. Introduction and Installation of Mac OS X
IN THIS CHAPTER
What is Mac OS X?
Understanding the core technologies of Mac OS X
Reviewing the installation process
Installing Mac OS X
Running the Setup Assistant
Running Software Update
From the moment you see Mac OS X, you know that it's different from any other computer operating system on the planet, including earlier iterations of Mac OS. Nothing else looks quite like it. Yet, use it a bit and you'll see that there is familiarity about its operation. Apple has made great efforts to ensure that Macintosh users as well as Windows users can leverage their previous OS skill sets. But what sets Mac OS X apart from its predecessors and its competition is the sum total of its parts.
This chapter provides an overview of the core technologies that comprise Mac OS X. Knowing the core technologies can help you master the overall operation of this world-class operating system. The chapter concludes by examining the system requirements of Mac OS X and its installation.
What Is Mac OS X?
Mac OS X is Apple's answer to the quest for a modern operating system. It combines the power and stability of Unix with the simplicity of Macintosh. In 1996, after continual failed attempts to develop its own next-generation operating system, Apple management looked outside the company and acquired NeXT Software, Inc. NeXT's OS at the time was called OpenStep. It had all the features that Apple desired in a modern OS: protected memory, preemptive multitasking, ...
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