What is Mac (Macintosh)

MAC (Macintosh) is different from the PC with Windows system. Here "PC" doesn't mean
"Personal Computer" but the "PC-DOS" system of IBM (the previous Windows). Later
on all the computers with Windows system are called PC and the Apple Computer are
called MAC because of its own Mac OS system.
--Source from http://www.powerdatarecovery.com/data-recovery/mac.html
Introduction
Mac is the dedicated system for Apple Computer. It is the imaging operating system based
on UNIX core. Generally it cannot be installed on the normal PC.
Apple Inc not only produces most of MAC hardwares, the operating system of MAC is
developed by it, too. Let's get to know about the operating system.
The newest version of Apple Computer is OS 10, code name MAC OSX (X is the Roman
number ten. This is the biggest change in 15 years since MAC is born. The new system is
very reliable. Most of its features and service have shown the ideas of Apple Inc.
Besides, almost all the computer virus is aimed at Windows. As the framework of MAC is
different from Windows, it is hardly attacked by virus. MAC OSX has very unique
operating system, which has visual icon and man-machine conversation function. Apple
Inc can produce computer according to its own technical standard and develop
corresponding system, you can see the powerful technology of it. Apple Inc is just like the
combination of IBM and Microsoft with both talents of software and hardware.
Hardware
Apple Inc not only produses its own operating system, it also produces corresponding
hardwares, including:
Power PC Chip
The power PC chip of Mac is RISC chip. Most of PC are using CISC chip.
Operating system
Operating system of Mac is Mac OS X. It is based on UNIX core system which has
improved the stability and performance of system.
Appearance
The appearance of Mac is transparent so it looks very simple but graceful. The design of
iMac G3 is really a creation. It combines the host with display in one, and with the colorful
appearance Mac has become very popular all over the world.
CPU
The exclusive CPU includes Power PC G3, Power PC G4 and Power PC G5. They are
developed by IBM, Motorola, and other firms for Mac. Especially Power PC G4, it can
make 128-bit operation.

Main Board
There are two kinds of main board of Mac. They are the low-end and the high-end. They
both have three 64-bit 33MHz PCI slots, two external IEEE 1394 400 Mbps FireWire ports,
a built-in 10/100 Base-T network card, a 56K Moderm, and 4 DIMM internal storage slots.
RAM, Hard Disc and other units
The RAM and hardware of Mac are similar to PC. The RAM is SDRAM of PC133. The
hardware is IBM ATA66 and ATA100.
Graphics card
The two competitors, ATI and NVIDIA, have raged the battle from Desktop to Notebook,
and now to Mac. But the leading role of ATI has been replaced by NVIDIA in the Notebook
and Mac.
Display
Mac also uses CRT and LCD. IMac series (after iMac G3 all the iMac products use LCD)
use CRT, and the kinescope is the Mitsubishi DiamondTron. LCD is mainly used in Power
Mac G4 and G5 series.
Sound
Mac has the buil-in Odyssey sound system developed by Apple Inc and Harman Kardon.
CD Driver
Mac uses DVD instead of common CD-ROM.
Mouse
The Apple Pro Mouse of Mac is very pretty with its glass shell.
Network
Mac has integrated three kinds of network communication functions: Ethernet, Modern,
and WiFi. The most outstanding one is the AirPort WiFi.
MAC OS
Apple Inc not only produces most of hardwares for Mac, the operating systems are also
developed by it.
The newest version of Apple Computer is OS 10, code name MAC OSX X is the Roman
number ten. This is the biggest change in 15 years since MAC is born. The new system is
very reliable. Most of its features and service have shown the ideas of Apple Inc.
Mac OS can be devided into two series:
One is old Classic Mac OS that is no longer supported (it is carried on the first Mac in
1984 and the following versions. The last version is Mac OS9). It uses Mach core and
is called "System xxx" before OS8.
The new Mac OS X combines with BSD Unix, OpenStep, and Mac OS 9 elements. It is on

the base of Unix, and the code is Darwin. Actually it is partly open source.