Apple Cats - A brief guide to OS X 10.0 to 10.6
10.0 (Cheetah)
On the 24th March 2001 (cripes! that feels a long time ago) Apple released the first version of its next generation OS (operating system) called OS X (ten). Prior to the release of 10.0 Apple had been struggling with the ancient technology that was OS 9, itself based on code that dated back to OS 7 from 1991. Apple badly needed a modern OS, and OS X was designed to be it.
OS X was based upon NeXT Step, an OS created by Steve Jobs during his time away from Apple at NeXT and was built upon a UNIX kernal designed to make it super stable. It also introduced a whole new look and feel to the Mac OS that sharply divided users. Many of these visual elements have gone on to infuence the look and feel of other OSs as well as many graphic elements of the internet and mobile phone OSs.
OS X 10.0 was a break from the past. To run it required a PowerPC G3 machine and 128Mb of RAM, pretty steep for the time. In return the OS was felt to be sluggish and rather slow, especially when compared to OS 9 on the same equipment, which ran far faster.
10.0 introduced many features of the Mac OS that are still with us such as the Dock, the Aqua interface, Apple Mail, the Address Book but also lacked several key components including a web browser and support for DVD playback. All in all, while OS X was clearly the future, it was also really a beta (or test) release. Apple quickly followed 10.0 with 10.1
10.1 (Puma)
Apple released 10.1 in September 2001, barely six months after the launch of 10.0 as a free update, confirming the latters status as a beta release. 10.1 saw large speed increases over 10.0 as well as introducing DVD burining and support for many printers that was lacking in the previous release. Scanners were still poorly supported though, causing much grief in design agencies.
While 10.1 was a great step forward many users continued to be relieved that access to the older style OS 9 was available via the classic environment. While 10.1 can installed as the default OS on all new Macs, most machines in production environments still spent most of their time running OS 9 as many key applications (Photoshop, Quark etc) were not yet available in OS X versions. The graphinc look and feel of 10.1 remained practically identical to that of 10.0 and still displayed many rough edges compared to later developments.
10.2 (Jaguar)
With the launch of 10.2 in August 2002, Apple was beginning to show signs of getting to grips with its new OS. The launch was hotly anticipated in much the same manner as the current frenzy of hype that surrounds Apple product launches.
As well as boosting speed, 10.2 felt much more like a complete OS. Networking was easier to configure, with support for Windows networks being greatly enhanced. The Address Book and Mail received updates as did the Finder and the whole look and feel of the OS was given a wash and brush up. In return RAM requirement jumped to 256MB with 512 recommended. With more applications now running native OS X mode, the classic environment began to look more like a hide out for die hard fans rather than an essential part of the OS. Indeed 10.2 was such a success as an OS that it is still found running on many older G3 iMacs although the limitations it imposes on web browsing plus security issues make this something to avoided if at all possible.
10.3 (Panther)
In October 2004 Apple revealed 10.3 to the world along with features that mark it out as more of a close cousin to the current version of the OS than to the previous releases. 10.3 introduced several new key technologies such as Exposé, the brushed metal look of the Finder, fast user switching, File Vault, and of course Safari, Apples own brand web browser. Apple also introduced support for zip file compression and reintroduced label colours to the delight of fans from OS 9 days.
Taken together these made 10.3 a compelling upgrade. Again speed was increased although now the OS really did want the full 512Mb of RAM to work efficiently. Apples support of older machines was evident in this release since it still ran quite happily on even the slowest (233MHz) G3 iMacs, however support for some machines was dropped, notably any Mac without USB.
With 10.3 Apple suddenly had a mature, stable and speedy OS on its hands. As with 10.2, many users have never felt the need to move beyond 10.3, however Apple was having other ideas as the next OS launch was to prove.
10.4 (Tiger)
Launched in April 2005, Tiger was a major update to the OS and represented a spring clean of the system. It should be regarded as the oldest version of OS X still suitable for everyday use. Tiger introduced users to Spotlight searching (bye bye Sherlock, which no one ever used anyway), the dashboard ad well as more options for Exposé. 10.4 also had to be the first version of the OS that could run on both PPC and Intel Macs since Apple was now busy switching away from the Motorola chip to the PC standard Intel processor.
Tiger was a huge hit. Apple sold 2 million copies in six weeks. Users got an updated Mail, Safari with RSS and Automator as well as many under the hood improvements. Tiger secured its position as the must have OS for older Macs by becoming the minimum system requirement (10.4.7) for all iPods and iPhones. If you have a new iPod then you must be running Tiger to use it. This has resulted in a huge market for used copies of the OS on eBay. On launch Tiger cost £125. Currently copies go on eBay for nearly twice this.
Tiger dropped support for the very slowest G3 Macs, needing a 33 or better processor, 512MB of RAM (1GB helped) and FireWire built in.
10.5 (Leopard)
In October 2007 Apple unveiled Leopard. Leopard was intended to take Apple firmly into the INtel era, although it would run on faster G4 machines, al be it at much reduced speed due to the heavy load it imposed on the processor.
Visually 10.5 was a big step forward. Apple really began pushing the eye candy with advanced 3D and transparency effects. On a fast Mac this worked well but many machines struggled to cope without RAM upgrades. 10.5 introduced whole new ways of looking at and for your files, Spotlight finally became fast enough to use, while the new Coverflow mode and QuickLook debuted across the system. Almost every part of the OS received an overhaul, including Mail, Safari, iCal and Preview. Apple also introduced Spaces, a virtual desktop system for users with smaller screens. They also introduced Time Machine, the easy to use backup system. Finally, no user had an excuse for loosing data. Time Machine represents the single biggest reason to upgrade to 10.5 from previous systems.
While Apple were launching Leopard, MicroSoft were busy inflicting Windows 7 on the world. Windows 7 came in dozens of versions, some costing an eye watering £275, while Leopard came as one size fits all for £85. It was a huge hit, bigger even than Tiger. With Apples iMac computers on a sales roll as well Leopard was easily the most successful version of the OS so far.
PPC users suffered however. Leopard dropped support for the classic environment. Users who absolutely needed an obscure OS 9 only app were left behind.
10.6 (Snow Leopard)
Evolution, not revolution was the watchword with 10.6. While 10.5 launched with hundreds of new features, users complained that many aspects appeared rushed and early versions were certainly slow, buggy and crash prone. Apples battle cry with 10.6 was a proud No new features. Brave and not quite true, but designed to reassure people. Famously, with 10.6 Apple made the move to the Intel processor. 10.6 required any Intel chip plus 1GB of RAM. The payoff, was speed. 10.6 was optimised, cut back and pruned to within an inch of its life. Users were happy to report these efforts appeared successful, delivering real performance enhancements.
In recognition of its staus as an upgrade to 10.5 rather than a whole new OS Apple priced 10.6 at £25, stating that users were required to own a copy of 10.5 in order to upgrade, however Intel machines running 10.4 can be upgraded (in violation of Apples EULA).
