Chapter 19: Working with Included Programs

Overview

This Chapter gives a quick introduction to each of the programs that Apple provides in Mac OS X’s Applications and Utilities folders. These programs incorporate a large chunk of the operating system’s functionality, and it is important to be familiar with them; even if you never have to use some of them, it’s good to be aware of what each of them can do, in case the need arises.

Although at first glance the contents of these folders may seem unchanged from Mac OS X 10.2, a closer look reveals that 10.3 provides a few new items, and newly revised versions of programs you may be familiar with. You will also notice items that are no longer included. Here’s a good example: where is Disk Copy? You will look in vain for this vital utility, which previously was used to create, work with, and burn disk images. In Panther, Disk Copy has been incorporated into Disk Utility. But there is no way to know this just by looking through the Utilities folder! The information in this Chapter may prevent such moments of unpleasant confusion.

As we take a look at each included Application or Utility, we will often zero in on details we feel would be most helpful to review. Many items are covered in detail in other Chapters, but you will find them listed here for your convenience, with a reference pointing you to the Chapter that includes them.