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dec.

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Original poster
Apr 15, 2012
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Toronto
In a discussion someone mentioned that using "Mac OS" as general term to describe the operating system on current Macs is wrong, as it's called OSX. What is the general take on this? IMHO Mac OS still describes the operating system without specifically referring to the releases named "OSX".
 
It depends on the context. If they are trying to say the proper name, "OSX" is the correct way to do it. Though unless someone is familiar with Macs, they may use the term "Mac OS," referring to the Mac's operating system, not knowing that the proper name is OSX. I use "Mac OS" when discussing it with my non-mac-familiar friends and family as "OSX" would probably cause a focus break
 
I guess Mac OS works as a general term. Specific would be OS X (space between the s + x).
 
I always use OS X or Mac OS. I never say OS 10 though I hear various apple folk at the apple store and/or during the keynote scall it that.
 
I always use OS X or Mac OS. I never say OS 10 though I hear various apple folk at the apple store and/or during the keynote scall it that.

You call it "OS EX" ?

I never heard anyone call it that. Always OS TEN.

-t
 
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How would you call OS XI?
I say 'OS ex' to refer to the, um, 'family'. To refer to a specific release I say 'OS ten point blah point blah' – I omit the X, thereby avoiding 'ex vs 10' arguments!

How do you say 'OS X 10.9'? 'OS ten ten point nine'? So the next increment will be 'OS ten ten point ten'? And the first OS XI (a name I doubt will be used) will be 'OS eleven eleven point zero'? And the first update to that would be 'OS eleven eleven point zero point one'? It all gets very wordy...

Re 'Mac OS', the name came into being with 7.5.1 and was prompted by the licensing of the OS to other hardware manufacturers. Up until that point it was simply 'System 7.5' and the splash screen was 'Welcome to Macintosh'.

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There's no reason to go to something like "OS XI"
I don't think anyone is suggesting that OS X 10.10 rolls over to become OS XI 11.0, but at some point in the future 'OS X' will be replaced by another name.

'OS Y'? 'OSRSLY'?
 
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