MacOS

Cupertino's computer platform

MacOS is Apple's operating system for its desktop and laptop computers—the Macintosh line.

Styled with a lowercase "mac" and uppercase "OS" (for operating system), it competes primarily with Microsoft Windows.

MacOS is known for its integration with other Apple products and its Unix-based architecture: I switched to macOS for the design software.

Previously called Mac OS X and OS X.

ecosystem

Apple

Cupertino tech giant

AirDrop · Sidecar · ecosystem · sync · integration · Apple ID · AirPlay · Apple Watch · seamless · devices

software

Safari

Apple's web browser

Numbers · Keynote · Music · FaceTime · TextEdit · App Store · Siri

versions

Sonoma

California wine county

Catalina · Mojave · High Sierra · Sierra · El Capitan · Yosemite · Mavericks · Lion · Leopard · Tiger

interface

menubar

Application command ribbon

icons · cursors · notifications · widgets · folders · sidebar · toolbar · screenshots · gestures · trackpad

technical

UNIX

Bell Labs OS

  • kernelSeed or essential core
  • DarwinBritish naturalist, species theorist
  • CocoaApple's application development interface

Swift · Objective-C · frameworks · sandboxing · Gatekeeper · Rosetta · permissions · drivers · extensions · daemons

hardware

MacBook

Aluminum portable computer brand

  • RetinaApple's sharp display standard
  • M2Broad money supply measure
  • IntelSemiconductor corporation from California

MagSafe · Thunderbolt · USB-C · trackpad · keyboard · display · speakers · webcam · ports · SSD

Opposites
competing operating systems

MacOSWindows

Microsoft operating system

Linux · Microsoft Windows · Chrome OS · Ubuntu · DOS

open vs. closed source

MacOSLinux

Open-source operating system kernel

open-source software · Ubuntu · Debian · free software

apple ecosystem vs. alternatives

MacOSWindows

Microsoft operating system

PC · IBM PC

Phrases
Family

Mac

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Known to kids · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G