Most Mac users break the world of computer operating systems down into two camps: Us (the Mac OS) versus Them (Windows). But that black-and- white view of the computer world ignores an operating system you probably rely on every day without knowing it --and one with the promise to turn your Mac into a far more powerful computer than you ever imagined possible.
We're talking about Unix, the operating system that keeps the Internet up and running, poses one of the greatest threats to Microsoft's monopoly, and is poised to sweep into Mac users' lives with the introduction of Mac OS X, expected later this year.
Unix has a reputation for being a scary, complicated system that's the polar opposite of the friendly, easy-to-use Mac OS. And that reputation is somewhat deserved --but that's not the whole story. New versions of Unix that run on Mac hardware are giving slow PowerMacs new life by turning them into screaming-fast Internet servers. Apple is also hard at work on the upcoming Mac OS X, making the power of Unix more friendly and appealing to the average Mac user. That's why, even if you've made the solemn vow never to type on a command line, knowing about Unix will help bring the future of the Mac (and perhaps the entire computer industry) into focus for you.
http://www.macworld.com/1999/04/features/unix.html
The Linux operating system has drawn legions of fans because of its performance, versatility and stability. Many users of PCs and Macintosh computers now run it as their primary operating system.
But Linux isn't for everyone. With a steep learning curve and often-confusing features, it is mainly a geek's operating system and not an OS for the masses.
"I wouldn't try to get my parents to use it," says Nicholas Coult, a University of Minnesota researcher who runs Linux on a PC and a Power Mac...................
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