The wait for Apple's OS X is almost over

It's taken about 10 years to complete, seen off two CEOs and cost hundreds of millions of dollars, but this weekend Apple will finally release it's new operating system, OS X. It'll probably be a low-key affair, but make no mistake – this is the most important product release from Apple since the launch of the first Macintosh computer in 1984.

OS X – pronounced OS "Ten" – is an entirely new system, designed to replace the existing Mac OS and form the basis of all future computer products developed by Apple.

"A lot of people will upgrade," says Karen Harvey, editor of MacUser magazine. "But I have concerns about whether they will do so immediately. Even Apple knows it won't happen on Day One."

Apple's big challenge is to get software developers to write applications for OS X. Most existing Mac programs will run on OS X, but won't be able to use multi-tasking and other new features. Software companies will have to write new OS X versions of their programs if they want to get the full benefit of the new operating system.

And without new OS X software, Mac users won't have that much incentive to upgrade.

Fortunately, the major Mac software developers seem to like OS X. "There's a great deal of enthusiasm," according to Keith Martin, MacUser's technical editor.

Microsoft has announced that it is working on an OS X version of Microsoft Office, and other key Mac companies such as Adobe have confirmed that they will be bringing their products to OS X. Even id Software, the company behind the hugely successful Quake games, has said that it intends to release all its future games titles on OS X.

- INDEPENDENT