For years, Mac fans have petitioned Apple for a modern operating system: not just more spaghetti code piled on top of the ancient Mac OS foundation, but something state-of-the-art and rock solid. We’ve wanted the stabil-ity of Unix and the good looks of a Macintosh.
Be careful what you wish for. Apple’s new operating system, Mac OS X, is all that. But OS X is unlike any other operating system in Macintosh history, and in its current condition, it requires a great deal of tolerance from the Mac faithful. Although Apple won’t release it in final form until spring of 2001, it’s now available as a beta (the final stage of development before a product’s release) for you to try.
Running a prerelease OS is like rafting down an uncharted river or hiking through the back country–there’s no telling what danger lurks around the next bend. Running the OS X beta has its upsides, however–including a sneak peek at an operating system that will soon radically reshape your Mac experience.
If you’re just catching on to this phenomenon, see “Mac OS X Unveiled!” (March 2000) and “X Arrives” (Buzz, November 2000) for overviews of the OS. If you’re itching to get your hands on the real thing, you can order the $29.95 Mac OS X-beta CD-ROM from http://store.apple.com. But read this two-part article before the package arrives. We’ll show you how to prepare for and install the beta, minimize risks, and navigate the unfamiliar territory.
Install with Care Explore with Care The Mac OS X Beta: Classic ConfusionNote: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Read our affiliate link policy for more details.