Mac OS (Mac Operating System) is an operating system (OS) produced by Apple Inc.. (Apple) for its computers.
Launched in 1984 with the first type computers Macintosh, Mac OS operating system was the first commercially successful and based on a graphical user interface (Graphic User Interface, GUI). Mac OS, or Macintosh Operating System, is a series of operating systems with graphical user interface designed by Apple (previous name: Apple Computer) for its range of Macintosh computers type. It was first introduced to the Macintosh 128K model in 1984. By introducing the Mac OS operating system, Apple computers have become more friendly to users than those with MS-DOS operating systems. The term “Mac OS” is not really there until it began to be officially used in the mid 1990s. Since then, this term was used to distinguish all Mac applications for other operating systems.
The first versions were only compatible with Macintosh’s Motorola 68000 microprocessor-based and newer versions were compatible with PowerPC architecture. Recently, Mac OS X has become compatible with Intel x86 architecture, which underlies all PCs.
The first Macintosh OS software consists of two elements called “System” and “Finder”, each with its version. System 7.5.1 was the first to include Mac OS logo (a variation of the Finder’s icon startup – “Happy Mac” smiley face) and Mac OS 7.6 was the first called “Mac OS”.
Until the advent of microprocessor-based systems PowerPC G3, important parts of the operating system were kept in physical memory on the motherboard ROM, for the avoidance of the limitations of space offered by floppy disk, taking into account that the first Macs were not hard disk.
Mac OS can be divided into two operating systems:
Mac OS Classic – the system that was shipped with the first Macintosh in 1984, including his descendants, culminating with Mac OS 9.
New Mac OS X (“X” is a 10 novel). Mac OS X includes elements of OpenStep and Mac OS 9.
For Mac OS Classic is no command line feature, it is entirely based on OS GUI. Although it was easy to use, was criticized for single tasking (the first version) and cooperative multitasking (in newer versions, to manage limited memory, no memory protection). Initially Mac OS use Macintosh file system, a flat – one level of folders. He was replaced by a hierarchical file system, which had a real tree maps.
Mac OS X is a family of operating systems with graphical interface, designed, promoted and sold by Apple, the latest version is installed on all Macintosh computers shipped today (2007). Unlike previous versions, Mac OS X operating system is a multi-user, multitasking, Unix-like.