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The Mac OS X Public Beta was an early, test version of the Mac OS X operating system released to the public in late 2000 for $30. Hardcore Apple fans could therefore get a taste of the upcoming operating system before its final release.
The Public Beta was the first time people could use the Aqua interface. Virtually everything was new in the Operating System: fonts, the Dock, even the menu bar (with an Apple logo at the center, which was later repositioned). The icons exploded in size, and new OS eye candy was all the rage.
As it was a public beta, this version was not without its bugs and inconveniences. Apple used user feedback to improve upon the OS, so that a vastly improved Golden Master version of Mac OS X was ready for release by March 2001.
The Public Beta version came with a price tag, and a time limit (set for spring 2001). Still, the price tag and the time limit, and despite it being a piece of public beta software, it was still welcomed by the Mac community, with people eager to test drive the new OS.
The Public Beta was superseded by Mac OS X 10.0.0, the first final release of Mac OS X.
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