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March 24, 2008

software

OS X hits the lucky seven

Posted Mar. 24, ’08, 11:54 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Software

OS X BirthdaySeven long years. Hard to believe that it’s been that long since OS X first graced our Macs, but we’ve come a long way. Five major versions of OS X have come and gone in that time, and we’ve seen it develop from a fledgling operating system to one of the most robust and attractive platforms in the world. All that at just the tender age of seven: OS X is totally the Mozart of the operating system world.

I found myself thinking back to March 24th 2001; while you might think I was all queued up to grab a copy of OS X fresh off the assembly line, I was living in Scotland at the time, and there was nary an Apple Store in existence in the US, never mind abroad. I ended up having to wait many a month until I was able to load up my first version of OS X (though I had been partaking of the public beta the year before).

How about you, dear readers? What’s your memory of OS X’s release? Or is that too far back in the mists of time for you to recall?


7 Comments

Donn Author Profile Page said:

March 2001? The dotcom bust had rendered my employment at a startup into unemployment. Though I avidly followed OS X's development, it would be six years before I would both afford and desire a Mac.

March 24, 2008 1:05 PM
Jimboab said:

It was October 2000 for me- also in Scotland- the beta came in the box with a Blueberry G3 imac. I installed it on a duel boot and only very occasionally booted back to OS 9. Apps were a bit thin on the ground at first but that period passed.

It's been home ever since the beta. Only last week I had relatives struggling with Windows and I found myself grateful that the last seven and half years haven't involved any of the pain and misery they take for granted.

March 24, 2008 1:58 PM
kevin said:

I remember being a public beta user and when I first laid eyes on OS X I fell immediately inlove. Moreso, because I was dead tired of the previous OS. especially gui. Although, there were thrid party add-ons that prettied up the OS before OS X nothing satisfied me. Then OS Public Beta. I was hooked. Although, I am probably the only one that really liked the Apple icon in the middle of menu bar instead of its orignal home on the left and as an Apple menu. It was one feature I wished had stayed with it was nice to see something different. I have used OS X since the beta. And when we were able to use it 90% of the time that is when i said my finally goodbyes to OS/9. Happy Birthday Mac OS X. (has anyone seen any hints as to what 10.6 or Mac OS XI will be like?

March 24, 2008 2:09 PM
Rich said:

I had started a new job about six months earlier, and they finally ordered me a new computer, a Bondi Blue iMac. A beautiful thing. I saw the public beta of OSX in there, and for a couple of weeks, I held off on installing it. Then, I was promoted, and my new duties included taking care of all of the company's computer equipment. I figured part of this would mean exploring all that is new and exciting. At the time, nothing was newer or more exciting than OSX.

After the first install I have hardly looked back. I quickly jumped on the 10.1 bandwagon and followed the upgrade path as long as the company's finances would let me.

As much as I love OSX, I think only the past two versions, 10.4 and 10.5 have started to realize the platform's potential. This does not come without missteps, of course -- but all in all the path has been pretty smooth.

All in all, I can't believe it has been seven years. I'm going to go sit in my rocker, now, and talk to the youngins about the good old days.

Hey, sonny, I remember when programs crashed... and when they did, they brought down the whole machine.

Hey, it is true what they say. Maybe the good old days weren't so good after all.

March 24, 2008 3:01 PM
wesg Author Profile Page said:

In 2001 Macs to me were these weird things my dad used to make money. It wasn't until 2004 and Panther that I truly became a fanboy. Waiting in line for Leopard definitely confirms that.

Here's to 7 more years of cougar, lion, lynx, mountain lion and tabby!

March 24, 2008 4:08 PM
Andre Da Costa said:

I remember when it was showcased the same day it was released on the The ScreenSavers (ZDTV). Leo Laporte and a lady presented that segment and talked about the release of Mac OS X, even showed the box with the OS X and OS 9 disks.

I have been a Windows user throughout OS X's life time, but have watched it developed over the years. Its a good platform and Apple has done wonders to it since its first release, albeit at the cost of Mac users. The first releases, 10.0 and 10.1 remained buggy and incompatible, not to mention the lack of DVD playback and CD-Burning in the first release.

10.0 - $129
10.1 - $19
10.2 - $129
10.3 - $129
10.4 - $129
10.5 - $129

Total: $664

You guys have really spent well over the years. Also, OS X never really reached maturity until 10.3, and thats the honest truth. I have the issues of Macworld with user comments and feedback that prove it. 10.0 to 10.2 was pretty much tumultuous for Mac Users.

March 24, 2008 7:43 PM
robinson said:

Gosh, I still remember it all, and all too well.

9.2.2 now there was a great OS. My Macs have felt sluggish ever since OS X (and that includes new hardware, Powerbooks and iBooks).

And they keep freezing and crashing--and sleep doesn't work as well as it used to. It often doesn't even work. And the mouse clicking is odd, too.

9.2.2 was FAR more stable, far more responsive.

----

And, no, this is not a Windows troll... I've been a Mac user since 1984 and owner since 1986. I've never owned or run a Windows machine. I own and have profited from its stock, and believe that Apple should succeed and thrive. But they simply haven't fixed some of the basics in OS X!

March 25, 2008 6:06 AM

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