Mac OS is the computer operating system for Apple Computer's Macintosh line of personal computers and workstations. A popular feature of its latest version, Mac OS X , is a desktop interface with some 3-D appearance characteristics. OS X has a modular design intended to make it easier to add new features to the operating system in the future. It runs UNIX applications as well as older Mac applications.

Mac OS comes with Apple Computer's iMac and Power Macintosh line of computers.

The current Macintosh models are targeted towards home, education, and professional users. Macs are known for their elegant design, ease of use, and user experience. Macs combine elegance, power and style.

All new Macs come pre-installed with the Mac OS X operating system which is designed, built, and supported by Apple Inc. This integrated end-to-end approach allows all Macs to have full support from the operating system. The end-to-end approach also allows Apple to build Macs with innovative features and technologies that ends up delivering an exceptional user experience. Macs and the Mac OS X operating system go hand-in-hand.

Apple current Mac product line consists of the following models:

• Mac mini

• iMac

• Mac Pro

• MacBook

• MacBook Pro

• MacBook Air

• Xserve

The current Macintosh models are powered by processors (CPUs) from Intel. In the past, Apple relied on other firms to provide the chips for Macs as Apple historically used competing processors such as the PowerPC. In June 2005, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced that Apple would transition the Macintosh line from PowerPC processors to Intel processors. The transition was completed on August 7, 2006.

Thanks to the Intel transition, Apple can ship Macs that feature Intel's latest processors. As a result, Macs are no longer labeled as underpowered or overpriced. Mac desktops start at under $600 and Mac laptops start at under $1,000. All new Macintosh models ship with a minimum of 1GB RAM and the latest version of the Mac OS X operating system. Also included with new Macs is the iLife suite of applications. Most Macs come with features such as

: • Dedicated graphics thanks to graphics cards from either NVIDIA or ATI or an integrated graphics processor from NVIDIA or Intel

• Either a SuperDrive - a DVD/CD burner multifunction drive or a Combo Drive - a DVD player and CD burner drive

• Serial ATA hard drives • FireWire to support higher-performance devices such as external hard drives and video cameras (excluding the unibody Mac Book) •

USB 2.0 to connect external devices and peripherals such as printers

• 802.11g wireless networking

• Bluetooth 2.1 or Bluetooth 2.0

Several Macs ship with features such as an integrated iSight video camera for video conferencing, an infrared remote control, and digital/analog audio in/out ports. Professional Macs provide features such as Firewire 800 as well as more capabilities to run the most demanding applications.

PC users are stuck with a PC.  Mac users however can run the world's most advanced operating system Mac OS X and if they want, Windows and Windows-based software.

Apple's Boot Camp software allows you to boot into either Mac OS X or Microsoft Windows.   This flexibility allows your Mac to function as a Mac or a PC.   Virtualization programs such as VMware Fusion and Parallels Desktop for Mac, provide Mac users the ability to run Windows and Windows software without leaving OS X.  You can even run other operating systems such as Linux and Solaris on your Mac.

Purchasing a PC limits your options because a PC cannot legally run OS X.  A Mac however is more versatile.  The choice is obvious, today's Macs are the most capable computers on the market that not only allow you to run Mac OS X and operating systems but Macs also allow you the flexibility to run a wider range of applications (programs).

To start off, let's make sure that we refer to it correctly. As you can see, it's made of up the letter "O", the letter "S", and the Roman Numeral "X". It is pronounced as "Mac O-S-Ten."

It’s an operating system

Mac OS X is an operating system (OS) that manages just about everything on or connected to a Macintosh (Mac) computer such as files, applications (programs), and devices such as monitors and printers. In essence, the OS defines how the computer will function and how it is presented to the user. 

Mac OS X is the operating system for Apple's Macinosh computers and it is based on the Unix-based OPENSTEP operating system developed by NeXT Software which Apple acquired in the 1990's.  All new Macintosh computers run Mac OS X.  Mac OS X offers a powerful secure UNIX based core that is able to run a vast collection of software and presents to the user an easy to use graphical user interface (GUI) called Aqua.  Furthermore, Mac OS X allows users to take advantage of an open-source UNIX based operating system along with the ease of use inherent to the Macintosh.

There are two key distinction of Mac OS X

Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server.

Mac OS X is designed for use on personal computers and is the version that comes pre-installed on all non-server based Macs.  For example, when you visit an Apple retail store all the Macs are running this version of Mac OS X as this is the version that most Mac users will use.  Note however that some Macs such as the Mac Pro give you the option to upgrade to Mac OS X Server at the time of purchase.

Mac OS X Server on the other hand is Apple's server operating system and builds on the technology found in the consumer version.  It adds features such as a File and Print, Mail Services, Web Hosting, QuickTime Streaming, NetBoot & Network Install, as well as many other features.  This is the variant that enterprises and businesses are likely to use.