A [Unix] variety.

Based on the [FreeBSD] userland and the Mach kernel, with a runtime derived from NeXT's OPENSTEP. Darwin is the kernel name and is modular in approach in comparison to the monolithic nature of Linux.

(http://www.apple.com/macosx/ Apple's website)
(http://www.opendarwin.org/ Open Darwin)

If you are new to Mac OS X, an indispensable guide is (http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/macxmmpanther/ Mac OS X: The missing manual).

The other good book is (http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/macxunwire/ Mac OS X Unwired), which covers wifi, Bluetooth and other wireless technologies (eg. IR).

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Useful Mac OS X wireless tools include:

* (http://www.macstumbler.com/ MacStumbler)
* (http://www.istumbler.net/ iStumbler)
* (http://www.binaervarianz.de/projekte/programmieren/kismac/ KisMac)

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If you have one of the titanium Powerbooks (the model before the new drool-worthy aluminium models), you might find that the inbuilt Airport reception is average. There are two options:

1. Use a PCMCIA wireless card instead (with an external aerial)
2. (http://www.binaervarianz.de/projekte/hardware/mactail/ Hack your Powerbook to take a pigtail)