I would agree with LivinFree that OS X is definately something to get excited about - and more than that, it is actually a practical and stable operating system with some great features.

However speaking from the UK (I can't really comment on the situation in the US) I think Apple are making the same mistake that they consistently seem to make - they are not making the product available enough. I am basically referring to their pricing strategy, in a market where there are very cheap, relatively powerful, PC's - Apple just do not seem to be pursuing an aggressive enough pricing regime.

We all know that the G3 or G4 computers are leagues ahead in terms of technical and functional superiority - but Apple falling into the same 'Beta-Max vs VHS' mistake they always seem to slide into. A technically superior product with a poor promotion/pricing campaign will rarely out-do a technically inferior product with a better promotion/pricing campaign. It's all about the basic three P's (Pricing, Promotion, Packaging) and Apple seem to be neglecting the Pricing and Promotion aspect of this Business model once again.

I've known scores of people vociferously interesting in purchasing hardware that can run the new OS X 10.2 - to be put off at the last hurdle when the economic reality hits them. Fair enough the point can be made that anyone sufficiently interested in OS X will find the extra cash to purchase the goods - however this isn't going to do anything for pushing the product to widest possible customer base.

OS X is an excellent OS. But the average Joe in the street will not appreciate that until it becomes economically viable for the hardware to be purchased by the average customer which is the bread and butter of the domestic PC market.

Once again I remind eveyone that this is a uniquely British take on the issue. So come on Apple - get the promotion and pricing into step so people realise just what a fantastic product OS X is. Long live Jaguar!