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Ever since Apple released its UNIX-based Mac OS X operating system in 2001, it has gained popularity as a viable alternative to Windows. Though many have yet to “make the switch” and begin using the operating system, Apple’s recent addition of support for the Intel microprocessor architecture is yet another step that pushes people in that direction. Much of the stability and performance for which it is well known can be attributed to the careful selection of key aspects of the operating system’s structure. Specifically, a low-level analysis of these core OS X components suggests that the selection of Mach for core kernel behavior plays a fundamental role in the efficiency of the entire operating system.