This section relates to all devices running OS X or MacOS, the Apple operating system that powers all of their computers. OS X is the older version of their operating system and was updated on an annual basis. In addition to a numerical moniker (e.g. OS X 10.0), it was also given a code name that was easier to remember. For the first nine years, the operating system referenced big cats such as Leopard. More recently, for the past four years the code names have been referencing California landmarks such as Yosemite. Although the operating system name has changed over the years from Mac OS X to OS X (2012) and most recently to MacOS (2016), the driving principles have stayed the same - as hardware specifications improve, Apple has tried to create new tools that can capitalize on the additional computing power to create a more pleasant experience for the end user. As is the case with most computing devices, the operating version that is installed on any given device should take into consideration the technical specifications of that machine. Loading the newest operating system on a decade old machine may result in lagging and some features may not function properly. The current version of MacOS is 10.13.3 (code named High Sierra).
This section of the web site will provide tips on how to maximize the tools that have been built into the Mac operating system. However, given that there are so many different versions that have been released, this guide will reference the current operating system. If your Mac computer is using an older operating system, you may find that some of the features described in the tutorials may not appear or work the same. Furthermore, some features are hardware specific. For example, some of the newer MacBooks feature what Apple calls TouchBar. Only the higher end machines have this built-in.