I. Aqua
It's the most elegant graphical user interface
in history, to say the least. The name fits perfectly, for the system
flows not like electrons on silicon wafers, but like water in an easy
going stream. It doesn't try to be "quasi-futuristic," as many current
Mac OS desktop themes do. It simply acts natural. This natural
interface could set a new standard with software, just as it does with
hardware, that could have a drastic influence on far-future systems.
Only time will tell.
II. Finder
Although the most Windows-like element of the
entire OS, the new Finder is also one of the major improvements - but
it doesn't have to be. It offers the option to do things "the old way."
You can, with a simple click of the mouse, be navigating as if you were
in OS 9 (I guess it would be the same as System 7, as not much has
changed since then). But why would you want to do it that way? Just
because the new Finder is Windows-like isn't a good reason to not flow
with it. Some things have changed since the early developer previews.
Disks now can appear on the desktop, the dock, and/or in the base level
of the Finder - the choice is yours. The icons, which may be too large
for smaller screens (such as iBooks), can be adjusted. The bottom line
is, if you don't like something, you can probably change it. This also
includes the views. The new "column" view will function very well for
many tasks. Go the Mac
OS X Theater to see the power of the new Finder first hand.
III. Open Source
As I said before, if there is something
you don't like about Mac OS X, you can probably change it. This is
taken to a extreme when you consider that Darwin, the operating system
core for OS X, is open source. This "allows developers to customize and
enhance key Apple software." Although the common Mac users would be
unable to contribute, people nevertheless have the power to customize
OS X. In fact, the open source Darwin project may bring Darwin to Intel
machines. While the effects of such a move are unknown, it is
intriguing to ponder.
IV. The Dock
The much scrutinized and much loved dock
has changed in the latest developer preview, which shows Apple responds
to customer complaints and ideas, something I think is cause for much
applause. The old dock could store just about everything -
applications, documents, finder windows, the trash can, and disks, all
jumbled down there at the bottom of the screen. Which, I must say,
isn't much different than the Apple Menu of today. Click on that
multicolored apple now, and I'm sure you will find everything ranging
from control panels to old documents to applications to maybe even your
iDisk. Some older systems even have a shutdown switch in the Apple
Menu.
The Dock has changed from earlier versions. Minimized or stored
applications will appear on the left side of the dock, and minimized or
stored documents, windows, and the trash can will appear on the right,
separated by a dividing line. For those who compare the Dock to the
Windows taskbar, there is probably more to contrast. First of all, the
Dock simply looks better. Plus, the taskbar only shows you what is open
or minimized - everything that is open or minimized - and nothing that
isn't. The Dock can hold frequently used documents and folders,
functioning much like OS 8 and 9's popup windows, without them being
open. Unlike the Windows taskbar, it doesn't create a button for every
single window that is open, which severely clutters the taskbar if you
have many windows or applications open.
The Dock's magnification feature looks all too cool. You can see it
in the Mac OS X Theater. But most importantly, it's very useful. Items
in the dock are shown in "preview," which means you actually see a
picture of the document or window in the dock, not just an icon. The
magnification lets you easily tell the difference between items, even
though you can have the title pop up if you wish. The Dock will
successfully take place of the cluttered Apple Menu, the program menu,
and popup windows (if you use them), and do a much more efficient
job.
V. Multitasking
This is one of those technical things
that many people don't understand, including me. The Mac OS has been
able to run more than one program using cooperative multitasking
since OS 6, but not the same way Mac OS X will. Mac OS X will feature
preemptive multitasking, which more efficiently handles multiple
tasks. Preemptive multitasking will let the OS control processor usage,
instead of having programs fight over it like a bunch of
four-year-olds.
VI. Protected Memory
Are you tired of crashes? Although
it doesn't happen to me that often, my iBook has crashed on several
occasions, and I have heard that some people don't have that much luck.
I asked a computer-smart friend of mine just what causes a computer
crash. He gave me an analogy. "Imagine you are a program and I am
another program." He then held up a pencil and said to imagine it is
memory. "The computer tell me that I am suppose use this pencil, but
for some reason, it tells you that you are suppose to use it too. The
programs can't run because they are fighting over the memory." He also
added that there are other ways that programs crash by themselves and
take other programs down with them. Although I'm not sure how accurate
his description is, it makes sense to me. Protected memory under OS X
will assign a program memory and protect that memory from other
programs. This will prevent crashes caused by programs fighting over
memory and will prevent a single crashing program from taking down
others. For those running OS 8 or 9 now, I have a tip for you. If a
program crashes or stalls, press command-option-esc to "force quit" the
program. This trick works most of the time, and it lets you save your
other work before you restart, which is advised if you force-quit a
program. Of course, only Carbon and Cocoa applications will feature
protected memory.
VII. Classic Environment
With a total change in the core
OS, current "un-carbonized" applications will not run in OS X. How will
all of our older programs operate? The answer is a Classic environment,
which can run full screen or within a window. To do this, it must
startup, just like OS 9. Of course, programs you run inside the Classic
environment won't be blessed with protected memory and Aqua. However,
the Classic environment itself will be, which means if a Classic
program crashes, it crashes the Classic environment, not the rest of
the computer. Although Mac OS X won't honor all the extensions and
control panels that might fill your System Folder now, you can see them
popup across the bottom of the screen when the Classic environment
starts up. For those who are afraid of the big changes, the Classic
environment will be a link to the past.
VIII. Internet Integration
Although Microsoft is in
trouble for a similar action, Apple has built internet applications
into OS X. One such program is an email application. Although not much
has been said about it, Steve Jobs has mentioned it several times.
Apple could integrate this program with current and future iTools, such
as iCards. It would be much easier to send an iCard from an email
application than going through Apple's site, which makes it difficult
to add many recipients simply because you have to look up all the email
addresses one by one. Other iTools are sure to be integrated. Apple
will probably make iDisk easier to use and hopefully faster. Perhaps
the much rumored iPhone will make a debut. In any case, Apple is trying
hard to make sure everyone that owns a Mac is online and using
iTools.
IX. Traditional Elements
I'm a Texas Aggie, and at Texas A&M there are not many things more
important than tradition. The same is true with any select group, such
as Mac users. Many long time users showed a bit of hostility toward
Apple for making OS X so different. I guess they believe that Think
Different means to think different than others, not think different
from the past. Well, Apple has been doing a lot of different thinking
the past few years, and it has yielded nothing but success. However, I
agree that with progress there must be a tie to the past. Apple
announced at the WWDC that it added more "traditional elements" to
Developer Preview 4 and that there may be more in the beta and final
versions. I'm sure that Apple will never forget its past, but I don't
think there were many looking back when they replaced the Apple II line
with the Macintosh. The same should be true in this case.
X. Public Beta
This is a risky step, but so was naming a
computer company after a fruit. Apple announced a public beta would
replace the final version of Mac OS X previously scheduled for release
this summer. The full version will be available in stores and
preinstalled on all new Macs in January (hopefully).
A public beta, or test version, will be available for anyone to
"test." While beta versions usually are incomplete and buggy, Mac OS X
beta will probably not be much different than the completed version.
Many have considered it a name change rather than a schedule change.
Word is that many developers were in favor of calling the summer
release a beta, but, as far as I know, it's only a rumor. I will be
installing OS X beta on my iBook the first day I can get my hands on
it. If Apple weren't confident that the beta would provide excellent
performance, I'm sure they wouldn't release it to the public. This move
could help with the transition, a crucial step for Apple. With the
beta, more users are likely to announce allegiance to the new system,
giving confidence to developers and other users.
Mac OS X is going to be grand, and it's only months away.
