Mac OS X Public Beta
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The Mac OS X Public Beta was an early, beta version of Apple Computer's Mac OS X operating system released to the public on September 13 2000 for the price of $29.95 US dollars. It allowed software developers and early adopters to get a taste of the upcoming operating system, and develop software for the forthcoming operating system before its final release.
The Public Beta was the first time people could use the Aqua interface. Virtually everything was new in the operating system: fonts, the Dock, even the menu bar (with an Apple logo at the center, which was later repositioned). System icons were much larger and more detailed, and new interface eye candy was everywhere. As well as adding new User Interface elements, the Mac OS X Public Beta added a whole new level of technical details including an open source Darwin core, protected memory, and a host of other brand new technical features.
As it was a public beta, this version was not without bugs and inconveniences. Apple used user feedback to improve upon the OS for a vastly improved retail version. Mac OS X v10.0 was ready for release by March 2001.
Despite its bugs, its cost, and its expiration date (it ceased to function in spring 2001), the Mac OS X Public Beta was welcomed by the Mac community, and many people were eager to test drive the new operating system.
The Public Beta was superseded by Mac OS X v10.0, the first completed release of Mac OS X. Owners of the Public Beta version were entitled to a $29.95 discount on the price of the first full version of Mac OS X 10.0.
| History of the Apple Macintosh Operating Systems |
|---|
| Mac OS>Classic Mac OS (History): System 6 · System 7 · Mac OS 8 · Mac OS 9 |
| Mac OS X (History of Mac OS X>History): Public Beta · v10.0 · v10.1 · v10.2 · v10.3 · v10.4 · v10.5 |
| Mac OS X Server: Rhapsody (OS)>Rhapsody · Mac OS X Server 1.0 · Mac OS X Server |
| Other OS projects: A/UX · Taligent · Copland · Darwin (operating system)>Darwin |
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