Chapter 1: Mac OS 9 vs. Mac OS X - What s Different?

How to…

• Discover Mac OS X

• Learn about new features

• Meet the Mac OS X Finder

• See what’s different between Mac OS X and Mac OS 9

If you’ve just gotten around to upgrading to Mac OS X, either by upgrading an existing Mac using OS 9 or earlier or by purchasing a new Mac, you’ve made a good choice. Mac OS X 10.3, or Panther, is a solid upgrade to an innovative operating system, and offers users many new features. During Apple’s experience with Mac OS X, many users have given feedback about improvements to make and features to add. Apple has listened to these users and, with Panther, provides a mature operating system that will help you work better, faster, and more enjoyably.

But, if you’re upgrading from Mac OS 9, you’re in for a surprise—many things are different in Mac OS X, and some of them take a while to get used to. (If you’re upgrading from an earlier version of Mac OS X, see Chapter 3 for an overview of what’s new in Panther.) In this chapter, you learn about the main features in Mac OS X that are a departure from previous versions of the Mac OS. You’ll find that many of them are at odds with habits you might have developed over the years of working with a Mac. After all, there hasn’t been such a major change in the Mac interface and features since Apple’s System 7, released in 1991.

So, read through this chapter to prepare yourself for Mac OS X and to see how some of its features compare with Mac OS 9. You’ll get an overview of what’s changed and learn some of the philosophy of Mac OS X. Get ready for a whole new computing experience. Welcome to the world of Mac OS X!