Mac OS X
I currently do my personal client computing using Windows XP, but, as some of you may know, I have plans to switch to Mac. Even though I’m only just now "switching" my primary computing platform, I’ve been a Mac OS supporter since OS X came out.
In fact, without even owning an Apple product, I’ve helped convince several people to switch. Of course, most of the time I didn’t do it alone, and I have to credit Andy Smith and all those cool developers like him that switched long ago for inspiring me.
Anyway, my BSD vs Linux post made me remember another compelling, although more technical essay explaining Mac OS X for non/anti Mac users written by Amit Singh. Not only does it explain some of the reasons why it’s so cool, but it also briefly covers the history of it, which a lot of people seem to be confused with.
Is it based on Darwin? Is it based on BSD? FreeBSD? What about NEXTSTEP? Some of those questions might be more obvious to Mac fans, but most people I talk to don’t know. Actually, the author also wrote a more in-depth History of Apple’s Operating Systems essay that included a nice little graphic that visually approximates the influences of Mac OS X.
