Used Apple Mac OS X Mavericks for Mac? Share your experience and help other users.
Key Details of Apple Mac OS X Mavericks
- An old Mac OS version
- Last updated on
- There have been 9 updates
- Virus scan status:
Clean (it’s extremely likely that this software program is clean)
Editors’ Review
OS X 10.9 Mavericks -- the latest update to Apple's desktop OS -- noticeably improves the overall experience on for both new and older Macs.
Multi-Display Support is a key feature. The menu bar and the Dock show up on all connected displays, which simplifies multitasking. You can also use AirPlay to make an Apple TV serve as an additional display. Mission Control has improved and now lets you manage separate workspaces on different screens more effectively.
System Efficiency Innovations include App Nap, Compressed Memory, and Timer Coalescing. App Nap saves energy by putting unused apps into sleep mode. Compressed Memory helps your Mac run smoothly by compressing data from inactive apps when the system memory is full. Timer Coalescing reduces CPU use, which saves battery life and keeps desktops cooler.
Graphics and Networking Enhancements feature updates to OpenGL and OpenCL, which improve graphics performance. The system also switches to SMB2 from AFP for sharing files, which boosts speed and works better with different platforms.
The update includes changes to the User Interface and Integration. It removes old design elements for a simpler, modern look similar to iOS 7. iCloud Keychain securely stores and auto-fills passwords and Wi-Fi details. The system now includes LinkedIn, making it easier to connect for professional networking. The improved Notification Center lets you reply directly to messages and shows missed notifications when you wake up your Mac.
Mavericks also improved many built-in apps. Finder now features tabs and tags, full-screen mode, and a more consistent way to navigate. New apps like iBooks and Maps bring over features from iOS. You can buy books in iBooks and use Maps for directions and street views. Calendar and Safari link with Facebook for events and provide travel times for appointments. Safari is faster, especially at processing JavaScript, and it offers better site management.
Pros:
- Free: Mac OS updates are typically a paid upgrade, but Apple has finally embraced the free distribution model, including a bunch of new app updates to boot.
- Tabs and Tags: As users are now naturally used to browsing and managing the Web with tabbed interfaces, one is left to wonder why first-party developers never incorporated this into the native OS sooner. You can now browse your directories with similar Safari-like prowess. Mavericks also brings the ability to add tags to each file. Users can now label each file with a tag and color for quick indexed search.
- Notifications: You can now create responses directly from notifications. Supported services include Facebook, Twitter, FaceTime, e-mail, instant message, calendar events, and reminders.
- Power: Mavericks revamps the way your Macbook allocates its system resources to save power and keep your apps running smoothly by drastically reducing processor consumption for inactive windows.
Cons:
- Left Behind: Some apps like Messages, Reminders, and Game Center still look the same: dated or just plain ugly.
- Closed: With all the notification updates, it also leaves you wanting more from other third-party apps.
Bottom Line
In a semi-surprising but understandable move, Apple has released a major update that noticeably improves the overall experience of the OS X line for both new and older machines -- for free. Laptop users will especially appreciate the re-engineered power management system that makes more efficient use of the core processor -- increasing battery time. There are many seemingly small additions and changes that make bottom-line improvements to your overall computing, including a quick way to respond directly from notifications. The best management practices of the Web have now trickled down and integrated themselves into Mavericks, like tabbed browsers and tags. Included with a pack of updated apps, Mavericks 10.9 is a milestone for Mac users, both in value and new features.
What’s new in version 10.9.5
- Improves the reliability of VPN connections that use USB smart cards for authentication
- Improves the reliability of accessing files located on an SMB server
- Includes Safari 7.0.6
Used Apple Mac OS X Mavericks for Mac? Share your experience and help other users.
