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November 15, 2001
There are reports of people having trouble installing Mac OS X 10.1.1. In most cases, the problem can be traced to not installing needed prior updates. In particular, it appears that both the 10-19 Security Update and the Installer Update need to be installed first. However, some people report problems even with all of these updates correctly installed. In a few cases, they are getting messages saying that the update cannot be installed because the selected volume does not "meet the requirements" for the Update, or something to that effect. The disk icon remains grayed out.

Apple KB article #106582 (Mac OS X Update 10.1.1: Enhancement and Installation Information) serves as release notes for the new update. You can read the article for the full list of fixes and enhancements. However, here is a selected list of items that mostly refer to material previously cited on MacFixIt:

• Resolves an issue on certain computers in which the system clock could potentially lose a few minutes per day unless a Network Time Synchronization server was used.
• Improves sleep mode battery power conservation of certain PowerBook computers.
• Addresses an issue in which the same messages may be received from a POP mail server if no mail rules were defined, regardless of the Delete on Server setting.
• Resolves certain AppleWorks 6.2 application window positioning issues.
• Increases reliability of iDisk volumes that contain a large number of files and folders.
• Works with FireWire drives that use the 911 Oxford chip set.
• Resolves a potential issue that could cause a USB mouse to temporarily stop responding.
• Resolves a potential issue that could cause a USB mouse and keyboard to stop responding after waking from sleep.
• Provides enhanced application stability when a FireWire-based (DV) camera is disconnected in certain situations when Final Cut Pro is open; improves data transfer reliability.
• Adds ability for disk-archiving software to restore multiple-linked files.

Before you purchase and install Mac OS X, here are some things you should check out:

Mac OS X Welcome Manual - Includes installation and setup. [9.4MB PDF]
Mac OS X Read Before You Install Manual [33KB PDF]
If you need these manuals in other languages click [here]

Mac OS X 10.0: System Requirements (from Apple Computer Tech-Info Site)
Mac OS X 10.0 requires one of the following Macintosh computers:
1) Power Mac G4 or Macintosh Server G4 (all models)
2) Power Macintosh G3 or Macintosh Server G3 (all models)
3) iMac (all models)
4) iBook (all models)
5) PowerBook (all models later than the original PowerBook G3)

1. Identifying PowerBook computers: All PowerBook computers that work with Mac OS X have a large, white Apple logo on their display lid.

2. Computers with microprocessor upgrade cards do not work with Mac OS X. Though Mac OS X may install and appear to function normally on some computers with third-party microprocessor upgrade cards, Apple does not provide technical support or assistance for Mac OS X when used with such computers. Contact the manufacturer of your microprocessor upgrade card for support information.

Additionally, the computer should have:
128 MB RAM (memory)
At least 1.5 GB free hard disk space
Mac OS 9.1 (included) for Classic applications

For more information go to: http://www.apple.com/macosx/requirements/

MacCentral OS X Primer
To help set the path, MacCentral is offering a "primer" for Mac OS X. If you've been following coverage of the operating system and know its fundamentals, you can skip this because there's probably nothing you haven't read or seen before. However, if you're unfamiliar with OS X or are a newcomer to the Mac, check it out for an overview of what's in store.

Mac OS X: Read this before you upgrade
This web page provides a truly useful compendium of problems and issues in Mac OS X that long-time Mac OS 8/9 users will want to know before upgrading.

Mac OS X News and information:

Apple's brief PDF document dubbed "AirPort Networks with Mac OS X," notes that OS X works with Apple internal AirPort Cards only and that you "must start up using Mac OS 9 to use the AirPort Admin Utility or AirPort Setup Assistant to set up or reconfigure a base station."  [207 KB]

ArsTechnica has an excellent, comprehensive review of OS X, noting the overall sluggishness felt by many, the new IMAP options available at Mac.com, and how to enable the root user, which can be done from the NetInfo application (under 'Domain--Security' menu).

CE Software says that its automation utility QuicKeys X for OS X is currently in development and that a beta version will be released in May: "QuicKeys X is a completely new product specifically designed for Mac OS X."

Casady & Greene has responded to reports of slowdowns and an incompatibility between the release version of OS X and Sound Jam MP:

[Casady & Greene] "It has come to our attention that Sound Jam MP from Casady & Greene does not work with the released version of Mac OS X. It appears to impede the speed of the new Mac OS X.

"Sound Jam MP development for OS X has stopped. Sound Jam running on OS X causes major problems and crippled the system's resources. OS X development will not continue."

Mac OS X version 10.1

Mac OS X version 10.1 will be available in September. An upgrade CD will be available to current Mac OS X users through the Mac OS Up-to-Date program.

In Mac OS X version 10.1, Apple engineers deliver vastly improved performance. You’ll experience these improvements at every level of the system. Menus are visibly faster to react, drawing quickly and smoothly.

Most applications will launch two to three times faster in Mac OS X version 10.1, meaning they’ll be ready for you before you’re ready for them.

Finder windows feel more responsive when you resize them, regardless of whether you’re manipulating files in icon, list or column view.

To get windows out of your way in a hurry, you can choose a Scale option instead of the cool genie effect. Available in Dock Preferences, Scale cuts down the time it takes to minimize an active window to the Dock.

OpenGL is 20% faster in this release, with full native support for the superfast NVIDIA GeForce 3 card allowing applications to take maximum advantage of advanced 3D applications.

All in all, you’ll be able to get more done, more quickly and efficiently, with Mac OS X version 10.1.With version 10.1, Apple’s next-generation operating system is ready to power your digital lifestyle. In May Apple added CD burning to iTunes in the second Mac OS X software update. With Mac OS X version 10.1 you’ll be able to create your own data CDs using the CD burning capabilities built right into the Finder. If you create these CDs often, you can add a burn button to your Finder toolbar.

DVD Playback and Authoring
The new DVD Player application is the best way to watch movies at 30,000 feet. Choose to watch them in a window or full screen. The sleek new controller lets you navigate your DVD’s with ease, and you can choose to arrange its controls vertically or horizontally.

The new iDVD 2, available only for Mac OS X version 10.1, advances the tools you need to author and record your own DVD-Video discs. The enhanced MPEG encoder in iDVD 2 and the Mac OS X architecture work together to provide background encoding and to accelerate the DVD recording process. That means you can keep working while your DVD is being prepared.

Automatic Pilot
Mac OS X version 10.1 also features enhanced AppleScript support throughout the system. Not only is the Finder far more scriptable but so are many of the system components like Print Center, Internet Connect and Terminal. AppleScript also uses the Internet standard SOAP and XML protocols to enable communication across your network so you can send AppleScript events from one Mac OS X system to another.

Model Network Citizen
Mac OS X version 10.1 comes with the AirPort Admin Utility that lets you configure AirPort Base Stations in your vicinity, and with the AirPort Setup Assistant to get your wireless connection up and running.

Networking is also more compatible: Mac OS X version 10.1 now includes the ability to connect to AFP servers over AppleTalk making it easier to integrate Mac OS X into legacy networks with older AppleShare servers and Windows NT servers. We’ve also added support to natively connect to Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Unix-based SAMBA file servers with the built-in SMB client. These servers appear right in the Finder like any other file server. This makes Mac OS X fluent in all of today’s network languages.

Your iDisk icon is now part of the default toolbar in the Finder, providing instant, one-click access to your documents, pictures, movies and website files.

Using iDisk is easier by default, as well. Under Mac OS X version 10.1, iDisk uses the WebDAV protocol built into the operating system as part of its state-of-the-art Internet capabilities. WebDAV uses the same language as your web browser, which means it only connects to your iDisk when it needs to. No more server disconnect messages from your iDisk for not using it often enough. And because it uses standard web protocols, you’ll be able to access your iDisk at school or the office, even from behind a firewall.

Better Browsing
Mac OS X is the only high volume desktop operating system to include Java 2. And with this release, the new Internet Explorer 5.1 fully supports Java in the browser.

Print Away
Print Center now ships with over 200 PostScript printer description files such as those from Hewlett-Packard, Lexmark and Xerox. There is also improved support for most USB printers, with automatic selection of the driver for that particular printer.

Faster File Finding
Currently with Mac OS X, long file names are shortened in the middle with an ellipsis. Mac OS X version 10.1 adds a couple of improvements to help you read long file names in the Finder. First, you can now resize columns so you can more easily see longer file names. Using the column thumb will resize all columns the same amount. Pressing the option key while moving the column thumb will resize only that column. Not only are columns resizable, but file names in icon view now wrap to a second line.

File extensions help Mac OS X maintain full Internet compatiblity, but they also add a layer of complexity for long-time Mac users who prefer working without them. Now you have a choice — we’ve improved the experience by adding system preferences to turn off the display of these extensions.

For Apple customers who like to customize their folder icons, using column view can also be challenging when trying to determine whether a custom icon represents a file or a folder. Fortunately these users can now tell that an icon is a folder with a handy arrow that points to the next level.

More Preferable Preferences
System Preferences are now arranged logically by use, making it even easier to find the panel you need at a glance. You set your desktop picture from System Preferences in Mac OS X version 10.1, instead of from the Finder’s preferences. Use one of the default pictures from the preinstalled selection, or choose your own picture. You can automatically preview all available pictures in any folder and select the one you want instantly.

The General Preference Panel lets you choose how many Recent Items to show in the Apple menu. And for more readable text at smaller sizes, you can now choose to turn off font smoothing for applications you choose the threshold of font size 9, 10 or 12. The Sound Preference panel has more features too, letting you select different settings for each sound output device.

With Dock extras, you could also access some system-wide preferences from the Dock. Rather than take up valuable Dock space, the Mac OS X version 10.1 menu bar now displays icons for battery life and AirPort signal strength, as well as controls for system audio, display settings and modem connection right next to the system clock. As with the clock, you can choose to show or hide these controls from the associated System Preference. And you can also change the clock to display with analog hands with the Date and Time Preference.

Customize the Dock
The Dock also satisfies another popular request. You can now choose to keep it on the right or left of the screen, as well as at the bottom. So your favorite shortcuts are available wherever you want them to be.

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