That's incorrect - the X stands for 10 (following OS9), although the echo of Unix is most likely intentional.

I think it is unlikely there will be an OS11 (and debatable wither there will be a X.8) and that eventually they will merge into the iOS branding (once gestures are the principal metaphor on both Mac and 'i' platforms).

In reply to a post by AEP:

I believe that you are wrong. Else why isn't it pronounced "OS ex" rather than "OS ten"?

So I'm running OS ten ten point six point six... yeah, right.

I still think the next one will be OS X 11. Time will tell.

In reply to a post by ian_c:

I think it is unlikely there will be an OS11

You may well be right there.

Personally I think the dropping of PPC support was a sufficient change to warrant an increment in the major version number, but maybe Apple couldn't decide what to do with the "X" either

No, you are running OSX.6.x

Sometimes presented as 10.6.6

In reply to a post by ian_c:

No, you are running OSX.6.x

System Profiler says:

System Version: Mac OS X 10.6.6

Apple => About says

Mac OS X
Version 10.6.6

Edited by billford (Sun 27-Feb-11 12:52:45)

Apparently Apple is unperturbed by any confusion, but is clear about the X:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TA22541

Yes, I've seen that- AEP linked to it.

The first three sentences in the second major paragraph are not internally consistent.

Edited by billford (Sun 27-Feb-11 13:03:09)

It's perfectly consistent - it's just that you don't think it's sensible. It would be inconsistent if it read "Major releases of Mac OS X include versions 10.0, 10.3, and 4.".

There is nothing wrong in calling it OS X 10.6.4 and the X still deriving from "10". It was changed to X, rather than 10, to emphasize the fact that it was completely different from the previous OS.

If you're not prepared to accept Apple's own explanation of the X ....

In reply to a post by AEP:

It was changed to X, rather than 10, to emphasize the fact that it was completely different from the previous OS.

Agreed- because it was based on Unix, which has long been indicated by including an "X" in the name.

If you're not prepared to accept Apple's own explanation of the X ....

I gave up believing the marketing pronouncements of manufacturers long ago.

Personally I think the dropping of PPC support was a sufficient change

On a different tack, Rosetta support is apparently not in the Lion dev previews. So that is the real e-o-l of PPC.