1.1 Gnawing to the Core of OS X

     The operating system (that is, the OS in OS X) is what makes a Mac a Mac. Without it, your Mac is a pile of silicon and circuits — no smarter than a toaster.
     “So what does an operating system do?” you ask. Good question. The short answer is that an operating system controls the basic and most important functions of your computer. In the case of OS X and your Mac, the operating system

     Other forms of software, such as word processors and web browsers, rely on the operating system to create and maintain the environment in which they work their magic. When you create a memo, for example, the word processor provides the tools for you to type and format the information. In the background, the operating system is the muscle for the word processor, performing crucial functions such as the following:

     So, armed with a little background in operating systems, take a gander at the next section before you do anything else with your Mac.

     One last thing: As I mention in this book’s Introduction (I’m repeating it here only in case you normally don’t read introductions), OS X Mavericks comes with more than 50 applications. Although I’d love to tell you all about each and every one, I have only so many pages at my disposal. If you need more info on the programs I don’t cover, may I (again) recommend OS X Mavericks All-in-One For Dummies, written by Mark L. Chambers, or iLife For Dummies, written by my old friends Tony Bove and Cheryl Rhodes (both published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.).