Download pdf - Apple Computer Mac OS X Jaguar Operating System operating system extensively builds on Mac OS X, which was released in March 2001 with a complete update of Apple’s legendary Macintosh

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DPRO-89735Mary I. Hubley, CynthiaR. Lubrano

Product Report21 October 2002

Historical

Apple Computer Mac OS X Jaguar Operating System

Summary

Mac OS X Jaguar is Apple’s Macintosh desktop operating system. Unix-like and memory protected, itincludes the Aqua interface, 150 new improvements and applications, and Windows network compatibility.

Table of Contents

Overview

Analysis

Pricing

Competitors

Strengths

Limitations

Insight

List Of Tables

Table 1: Features and Functions: Mac OS X Jaguar (Version 10.2)


© 2002 Gartner, Inc. and/or its Affiliates. All Rights Reserved.DPRO-8973521 October 2002 2

Corporate Headquarters

Apple Computer, Inc.

1 Infinite Loop

Cupertino, CA 95014, U.S.A.

Tel: +1 408 996 1010

Fax: +1 408 974 2113

Internet: www.apple.com

Overview

Mac OS X Jaguar is Apple’s newest client operating system for its line of Power Mac, PowerMac Cube,PowerBook, iMac, iBook and eMac computers. Released in August 2002, Mac OS X Jaguar offers morethan 150 new features and applications. The operating system extensively builds on Mac OS X, whichwas released in March 2001 with a complete update of Apple’s legendary Macintosh graphical userinterface (GUI) operating system and a Unix-based engine.

Mac OS X 10.2—or Jaguar, as it is now known—offers memory protection, symmetric multiprocessing(SMP) and virtual memory support. Apple’s core markets are traditionally desktop publishing, educationalinstitutions and graphics-oriented businesses, and with the release of Mac OS X Jaguar, Apple makes iteasier to interact with corporate networks.

The operating system is based on FreeBSD 4.4 (an open source version of Unix) and provides anupdated GNU compiler collection (gcc 3.1), IP Version 6 and the IPsec security protocol. Mac OS XJaguar offers improved compatibility with Windows networks with support for Server Message Block(SMB) browsing and sharing (although it does not support browsing Windows printers), as well as built-inPoint-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) virtual private network (VPN) security. Such features make iteasier for Macintoshes to link to Windows networks and share Windows documents.

Some of the more notable Mac OS X Jaguar features include iChat, Apple’s AOL Instant Messaging(AIM)-compatible instant messaging application and junk mail filter. Users can chat with Mac.com- andAOL-based “buddies” through a distinctly Macintosh, friendly interface with dialogue bubbles, photos,emoticons, etc. The operating system also offers a junk-mail filter that dynamically identifies andhighlights unsolicited e-mail. It offers extensive filtering rules and criteria.

There are significant user interface improvements to such facilities as the Address Book and Sherlock.The Address Book is now quite flexible, allowing quick access to contact information through allapplications. Sherlock 3 is much more than a file finder and has been expanded to a Web servicesapplication with immediate access to Internet searches, air flights, news, package tracking, stocks andother areas.

As with all Macintosh OS updates, Mac OS X Jaguar provides its share of multimedia enhancements. Itsupports Apple QuickTime 6, a digital media standard with MPEG-4, for playing and viewing high-qualityaudio and video via the Internet. QuickTime 6 offers additional codecs and application programminginterfaces (APIs), and an updated user interface. Quartz Extreme is Apple’s updated graphics engine thatis designed to accelerate graphics performance by bringing two-dimensional, three-dimensional andQuickTime content to the desktop.



Rendezvous is a new Apple technology that uses the industry IP protocol for automatically networkingcomputers, printers and other devices for small groups. The technology, for example, automaticallysenses Rendezvous-enabled printers from Epson, Hewlett-Packard and Lexmark, thereby negating usersetup. It is Apple’s version of the ZeroConf (“zero configuration”) standard specified by the InternetEngineering Task Force (IETF). Rendezvous supports such linking standards as AirPort (802.11b) andEthernet.


Overview Apple’s preemptive multitasking, protected-memory client operating system

combines the Macintosh Aqua GUI with performance and reliability features from

Unix.

The multiuser operating system is based on the Mach kernel and Berkeley Software

Distribution (BSD) 4.4 operating system.

System

Requirements

Power Mac G3, Power Mac G4, Power Mac G4 Cube; PowerBook G3, PowerBook

G4; iMac; iBook; or eMac computers. Requires a minimum of 128MB of physical

RAM and 3GB of hard disk space.

Mac OS X Jaguar comes installed with all new dual-processor Power Mac G4

systems.

Performance/Stabilit

y

Unix-based core operating system, protected memory and advanced memory

management, preemptive multitasking, symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) on the

dual-processor Power Mac G4, and high-performance I/O architecture with plug-

and-play support for Universal Serial Bus (USB) and FireWire peripherals.

Three Modes of

Operation

• Classic API runs established Macintosh applications for the Mac OS 9.1. (Requires

the installation of Mac OS 9.1 or the recommended 9.2.2.)

• Carbon API runs “tuned up” Macintosh applications with the full range of Mac OS

X features.

• Cocoa API runs advanced, object-oriented applications that are designed for the

Mac OS X operating system.

User Interface The Aqua interface features a fluid, more interactive design than the classic

Macintosh interface. The Dock organizes applications, documents and document

windows. It consists of a strip of animated icons along the bottom of the screen,

allowing users to quickly access frequently used applications and documents.

Universal access features are designed to exceed the U.S. federal government’s

Section 508 Accessibility statute, which aims to assist those with difficulties to

effectively use computers. It provides the ability to magnify the screen for those with

sight impairments, as well as options for those unable to use the keyboard or

mouse, or to hear computer-generated sounds.

Inkwell is Apple’s handwriting recognition technology. It can be integrated into the

text system so that applications can use the technology with an input tablet.

New Address Book interface enables users to enter information once and access it

through any application. Allows users to search for contact information, documents

and device configurations.

Graphics QuickTime 6 for Internet-based streaming audio and MPEG-4 video; Quartz

Extreme 2D graphics for on-screen graphics, PDF imaging and font support; and

OpenGL for three-dimensional graphics.

Audio Provides high-resolution audio handling (24/192), low throughput latency, MIDI,

multichannel audio and virtual instrument plug-ins.

Unix Utilities Apache, gcc3.1, Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby.




System Management The Finder facility is the gateway to the Macintosh system. Enables users to

navigate hard drive, external USB and FireWire drives, CD-ROMs and local-area

networks.

Internet Apache Web sharing; BSD command-line utilities, including FTP, Perl and Telnet;

Java 2 Standard Edition, Macromedia Flash plug-in; Microsoft Internet Explorer for

Mac 5.1 Preview; QuickTime 6 Player; WebDAV, PPP, PPPoE and Ethernet. New

Sherlock 3 Internet services tool displays a personalized view of user’s most

frequently accessed Web sites. It acts as both a Web browser and Web services

engine.

Users can receive the latest software updates directly from Apple through the

Internet.

E-Mail Two new e-mail features in Mac OS X Jaguar:

• AOL-compatible instant messaging application called iChat. Buddy photos can be

sent through instant messages.

• Junk mail filter that distinguishes unwanted mail through keywords and by studying

the content of previous messages. It uses adaptive latent semantic analysis to

identify junk mail.

Connectivity Supports most major enterprise standards, including IMAP/POP3, Java, LDAP and

NFS.

Provides Windows network compatibility with SMB browsing and file sharing, and

PPTP virtual private network (VPN) security.

Rendezvous is Apple’s home/small business networking technology that enables

users to link computers and devices with automatic configuration through AirPort

and Ethernet connectors.

Subscription-Based

.Mac Services

The former free Internet iTools line now comes with an annual US$100 charge.

Under the .Mac banner, the suite consists of an e-mail system with an exclusive e-

mail address that is stored on Apple’s site; iDisk, a storage management system

that handles documents, movies, pictures and Web-site files; and HomePage, a

Web-site design and publishing system.

Application

Development

New gcc 3.1 support improves C++ build times and standards compliance.

Enhanced Interface Builder enables developers to group, lock and drag Aqua

controls between windows for rapid user interface building. Includes AppleScript

Studio and Java 2 Standard Edition.

Internationalization Full Unicode support. Localized into 15 languages: Brazilian Portuguese, Danish,

Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian,

Spanish, Swedish and traditional/simplified Chinese.

Also supports many text and display languages, including Arabic, Bulgarian,

Croatian, Greek, Hawaiian, Icelandic, Polish, Turkish and many others.

Analysis

When Apple released the long-awaited Mac OS X in March 2001, it marked a progressive change for theMacintosh platform. It represented the first alteration in the Macintosh interface in 17 years, and itmodernized the platform in terms of performance and reliability. In its initial form, most agreed that MacOS X was a high-performance desktop operating system with advanced virtual memory, preemptivemultitasking, performance and stability. Aside from these performance improvements, the consensus wasthat Mac OS X’s Aqua interface nicely hid system intricacies behind a striking and engaging countenance.



Now Apple takes an even larger step forward with Mac OS X 10.2, which is referred to by its code name,Jaguar. Much more than an incremental release, Mac OS X Jaguar includes 150 enhancements—manyminor, but many very significant. Apple knows that it is essentially a “Windows world,” with Microsoftowning the majority of the desktop business. But there are some issues surrounding Microsoft that mightmake the company a little vulnerable, including user resentment to new licensing practices and aperception that the software giant is too monopolistic.

This time around, Apple is making it obvious that it wants to convert Windows users to the Mac. Thecompany is incorporating features in the operating system that will appeal to corporate users. It launchedan advertising campaign in mid-2002 that involves real-life testimonials from people who have switchedfrom PCs to the Macintosh. The company’s “Real People” campaign runs on TV, cable, and majormagazines and features people (nonactors) from a range of backgrounds that have made the successfulconversion from the PC to Macintosh platforms. Apple is hoping that the ads will inspire others—in boththe business and home segments—to do the same. Incidentally, although the advertisements center onconverting Windows users, Apple is also focusing on the Unix and Linux markets. The company reportsthat many Unix and Linux users have expressed interest in the Apple platform.

Apple’s direct jab at Microsoft’s business is risky, although understandable. Apple needs to detract fromMicrosoft’s business to be more successful, yet it is Microsoft that bailed out Apple from its demiseseveral years back. And it is Microsoft that produces the top-selling business software for the Macintosh.Microsoft offers Macintosh versions of Office for Mac OS X, which smoothly exchanges files with the PCversion of Office 2000 and XP for Windows. For the corporate environments that Apple wishes to reach,such interoperability is crucial. Yet there is talk that the relationship between the companies is strained—anotion that neither company will openly admit.

Apple’s Coexistence in Business Networks

For business users, Mac OS X Jaguar eases Macintoshes into mixed networks. Mac OS X Jaguar usesPPTP-based virtual private network technology to facilitate simple connections to Windows networks.Additionally, this version supports Microsoft Windows Active Directory through its own LDAP-baseddirectory service, called Open Directory. The fact that Mac OS X Jaguar supports enterprise industrystandards like IMAP/POP3, Java and NFS make it easier to plug the system into mixed computingenvironments.

Rendezvous is a new proximity-based peer system that causes Macs to sense one another on wired orwireless LANs and facilitates peer sharing between them. Apple plans to release the source code toRendezvous in the near future, in attempts to gain widespread adoption for the technology.

The ability to automatically trash junk mail, provide extensive Internet searching and instantly messageothers through iChat are all features that appeal to business and home users alike. Macintosh systemsare renowned for their multimedia capabilities, and Mac OS X Jaguar upholds and enhances thisreputation with a new Quartz Extreme graphics engine with improved two- and three-dimensionalcapabilities, and QuickTime 6, an update of Apple’s multimedia standard with MPEG-4 video.

Along with the release of the desktop Jaguar product, Apple also issued Mac OS X Server—JaguarServer—with approximately 50 new features. These include support for networking and securitystandards, such as IPv6, IPSec, SSL and SSH2, as well as a server-optimized implementation of Java 2.Jaguar Server includes Apple’s Open Directory for centralized management of network resources usingLDAPv3 directory services. The product includes new NetBoot and Netinstall network management tools.It offers Apache Web server for hosting of Web sites and QuickTime Streaming Server and QuickTime



Broadcaster for displaying live events across the Web. The server software also offers improved supportfor Web services, like server-optimized Java, SOAP and XML-RPC.

The graphics workstation includes two 1.25GHz PowerPC processors that can perform 18 billion floating-point operations per second (18 gigaflops). The 1.25GHz processor is the fastest chip that Apple has everimplemented in a desktop system. Apple claims that applications like Adobe Photoshop are up to 90percent faster on its systems than 2.53GHz Pentium 4 PCs.

Apple is making its foray in the Web services area by charging for its formerly free iTools series. This line,now called .Mac Services, includes iDisk (online storage), mac.com (personal Web pages) andcollaboration tools. The company plans to add more tools. Apple will raise the price to US$49 the firstyear and $99 annually thereafter. Thus far, 2.2 million customers use Apple’s iTools, and so Apple ishoping to parlay this user base into a considerable source of revenue.

Like most of the information technology industry, Apple is contending with hard financial times. In its mostrecent posting to shareholders, Apple reported that for fiscal 2002 (third quarter) it registered a net profitof $US32 million; this, compared to a net profit of $61 million in the same period a year ago. The companyreported revenue for the quarter of $1.43 billion, a 3 percent decline over the same period last year. Applealso reported that it shipped 808,000 Macintosh systems during the third quarter, representing a 2 percentdecline from a year ago.

Pricing

Mac OS X Jaguar costs US$129 for a single user copy and $199 for a five-pack license.

GSA Pricing

Yes.

Competitors

As a desktop operating system, Mac OS X Jaguar competes directly with Microsoft Windows XP. It alsocompetes with Unix and Linux desktops. Microsoft desktop operating systems command the majority ofthe market, while the Macintosh OS holds under 5 percent of the share. Apple reports that there are 25million Macintosh users worldwide, and 2.5 million customers that use Mac OS X as their chief operatingsystem.

Strengths

Unix-Based Functionality

Mac OS X Jaguar is Unix-based in most ways, but it cannot be considered a pure Unix system. This isbecause it does not fully comply with the all of the POSIX and X/Open specifications needed for use ofthe Unix trademark. But given its Unix origins and utility support, most would deem Mac OS X the realthing.

Mac OS X is based on the Mach kernel, which was originally developed at Carnegie-Mellon University.This kernel has been part of the open-source community for years and is continually evaluated andenhanced by scientists and developers. It includes components from FreeBSD 4.4 and gcc 3.1-baseddeveloper tools. Mac OS X Jaguar also supports numerous Unix conventions and command-line utilities,including FTP, Perl and Telnet.

The operating system offers stability features that one would expect from a Unix system, includingadvanced memory management, preemptive multitasking and protected memory. With advanced virtual



memory, the operating system distributes memory to the applications that need it the most. Preemptivemultitasking allows users to perform multiple tasks in multiple applications with minimal affect onperformance. Protected memory keeps the system running if one application crashes. In all, theseimprovements make Mac OS X Jaguar a very stable and reliable desktop operating system.

It should also be noted that Mac OS X Jaguar is the only Unix-based operating system that is presentlycapable of running Microsoft Office, the most widely used business productivity suite within companies ofall sizes.

Visually Appealing Interface on a Unix-Like Box

Mac OS X’s underlying complexities are concealed by Aqua, a visually stunning user interface. With MacOS X Jaguar, Apple has tweaked Aqua to provide the sleekest and most elegant GUI design in thecomputer industry. Dialogue boxes now include more information, and on-screen elements are presentedin a more three-dimensional manner.

Although Mac OS X provides a command-line interface for Unix types that demand it, Aqua provides atruly three-dimensional and beautiful interface with motion techniques. For example, when opening orclosing a document, Mac OS X presents these activities in a “genie in the bottle” type manner, with thedocument swishing in and out an on-screen icon. The improved Finder and Sherlock facilities makefinding information—both on and off the Web—much easier.

The Apple Quartz Extreme graphics engine is responsible for Mac OS X’s colorful and crisp look. It is ahardware-accelerated composited graphics system that uses the PowerPC G4 Velocity Engine to speedthe execution of graphics. Quartz Extreme is based on Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF)technology and displays, for example, icons with drop shadows and translucent menus. Quartz alsosupports TrueType, Type1 and OpenType fonts and comes with a broad collection of classic, fun andmodern fonts. OpenGL also integrates ColorSync for accurate colors. Mac OS X also provides QuickTime6 for audio and video streaming.

High Customer Satisfaction

It is widely known that Macintosh users tend to be some of the most loyal and enthusiastic computerusers in the industry. Although most of Apple’s success has occurred in the creative (graphics, film,multimedia) and educational fields, these users are vocal in their support for the platform.

Windows Networking

Apple may try to encroach on Microsoft’s desktop market share, but the company knows that it can onlysucceed through Windows compatibility. Macintoshes can now be easily added to Windows networks,and vice versa. Mac OS X Jaguar’s built-in compatibility features replace numerous third-party products.To link to a Windows server, you simply click “Connect to Server,” and a Windows server will appear inthe dialogue box. It is not necessary to type in a URL or server IP address—Mac OS X Jaguarautomatically senses and connects to Windows servers (not printers). Windows users can also accessMac OS X and Mac files through built-in VPN technology. And although Apple offers its own directoryservice architecture, Mac OS X Jaguar also supports Microsoft’s Active Directory system.

Aside from support with Windows networks, Rendezvous, Apple’s self-configuration technology, allowstwo or more Rendezvous-enabled devices to automatically detect each other on a network. It also worksover wireless 802.11b-based networks.

Limitations

No Upgrade Offer



Apple released the initial version of Mac OS X desktop in March 2001; just one-and-a-half years later, thecompany issued Mac OS X Jaguar. Although the operating system has matured considerably in that 17-month period, many relatively new Mac OS X users have expressed a desire for some type of upgradepricing. At $129, Mac OS X costs more than Microsoft’s typical Windows upgrades for consumers,although it is lower than Windows Professional upgrades.

Low Market Share

Apple owns less than 5 percent of the PC market. Although Mac OS X has been substantially improvedwith Jaguar, it will not be easy for Apple to make a noticeable dent in Windows’ overwhelming share ofthe market. To its credit, however, the company is making strong efforts to draw attention to itself.

Insight

Although earlier versions of the Macintosh operating system have been marketed to Macintosh users,Mac OS X Jaguar is the first Apple operating system designed to entice Windows users. With a slight 5percent of the desktop market, Apple is seriously attempting to chip away at Microsoft’s dominancethrough its “Real People” switchers advertising campaign, as well as through the merits of Mac OS XJaguar. With approximately 150 new features, Jaguar is a compelling upgrade. For a $129 price tag for apoint release, it is easy to see why many Mac home users have balked at buying the update; however, forprofessionals within multiplatform computing environments, Mac OS Jaguar offers enough substantialWindows networking tools to make the purchase viable.