Yesterday, Apple announced that it had made the next version of Mac OS X available to users for free, the first time the company has offered users an upgrade of its desktop operating system without attaching a price tag. You may be wondering what the differences are between this latest version of OS X, called Mavericks, and its predecessor, called Mountain Lion.

To parse the differences, we've laid out some of the new features in Mavericks that have added new functionality to the operating system and made it even more useful:

• Improved, Faster Safari: Users who prefer to work with Safari as their web browser should notice considerable bumps in speed, as well as a new sidebar that makes it easier to access your bookmarks.

• Tabbed Finder Windows: Similar to the tabs you'll see on the top of your browser bar if you're using Firefox or Chrome, Finder windows in Mac OS X will now have tab functionality that allows you to view two or more directories within the same window. This will help to de-clutter your screen and make it easier to navigate.

• Tagged Files: You can now add a colored tag to files and then search for any files that are attached to that particular tag. For example, if you want to link all of the items on your computer related to a particular project.

If you've never had a chance to use Apple's intuitive, sleek OS X, now is the best time to try it out. Make sure to stop by the PortableOne online store to see the latest MacBook Pro and Air laptop lines.