Apple to Pre-Install Mac OS X Ahead of Schedule
WWDC 2001, SAN JOSE, California-May 21, 2001-Apple today announced that it
will begin pre-installing Mac OS X alongside Mac OS 9 on all new Macs
shipping from its factories beginning today, two months ahead of schedule.
"The reception of Mac OS X has been so positive that we've decided to
pre-install it alongside Mac OS 9 on all Macs beginning today-two months
ahead of schedule," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "This will give all our
customers access to the world's most advanced operating system and ensure a
ready and lucrative market for Mac OS X applications."
Beginning today, all new Macs coming from Apple's factories will include
both Mac OS X and Mac OS 9.1 pre-installed. The systems are set to default
boot into Mac OS 9.1, but using Apple's Dual Boot technology users can
easily change the default boot to Mac OS X, and just as easily revert back
to Mac OS 9.1 if they choose. During the transition, customers buying new
Macs that do not yet have Mac OS X pre-installed will receive a free copy
of Mac OS X.
Mac OS X began shipping on March 24, 2001, and has been improved on a
regular basis using Apple's Internet-based Software Update technology. With
these updates, Mac OS X v10.0.3 features numerous improvements including
the ability to burn custom audio CD's with iTunes, Apple's amazing
"jukebox" application.
Apple has also introduced Mac OS X in eight additional languages: Swedish,
Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Brazilian-Portuguese, Korean, Traditional
Chinese and Simplified Chinese. This release of Mac OS X also supports
English, Japanese, German and French.
Mac OS X is built upon the stable, open source, UNIX-based foundation
called Darwin, which features true memory protection, preemptive
multi-tasking and symmetric multiprocessing when running on a dual
processor Power Mac G4. Mac OS X includes Apple's new Quartz 2D graphics
engine based on the Internet-standard Portable Document Format (PDF) for
stunning graphics and broad font support; OpenGL for spectacular 3D
graphics and gaming; and QuickTime 5 for streaming audio and video. Mac OS
X also features an entirely new user interface called Aqua. Aqua combines
superior ease-of-use with amazing new functionality such as the Dock, a
breakthrough for organizing documents and document windows.
To help customers migrate to Mac OS X, Apple iServices offers several new
services, including a comprehensive set of Mac OS X training and
certification offerings for Mac OS X system administrators.
Availability & Requirements
Mac OS X will be available on all iMac, iBook, Power Mac G4, Power Mac G4
Cube and PowerBook G4 configurations purchased on May 21, 2001 or later
from the online Apple Store (www.apple.com), at Apple's retail stores and
through Apple Authorized Resellers. In many channels the Mac OS X
Up-to-Date program will provide the software instantly at the time of
purchase.
Mac OS X is also available as a software upgrade product for a suggested
retail price of $129 (US) for Macs purchased before May 21, 2001.
