It’s not only Apple’s beautifully designed hardware that can deliver sales records, as downloads for the new Mac OS X Mountain Lion computer operating system (OS) have made it the most successful OS X release in the company’s history. Mac computer users have downloaded the OS three million times in just four days. 

Mountain Lion is the ninth major release of the iPhone and iPad maker’s desktop OS and is available via the Mac App Store as an upgrade to Mac OS X Lion or Snow Leopard users for $19.99 (less than R165).

The latest installment of the Mac OS X brings over 200 new features to the company’s computer OS, including the new messages app, notification center, as well as dictation, which allows users to dictate text messages within any app wherein typing is required.

Users who own an Apple TV will appreciate the fact that AirPlay Mirroring is also onboard. This enables them to wirelessly send a full HD (1080p) stream of what’s displayed on their Mac to an HDTV via Apple TV.

Game Center integration means that Apple’s popular social gaming network from iOS now becomes available to the Mac, allowing users to play multiplayer games against their friends that utilise a Mac, iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

In addition, iCloud integration will make it easier for users to set up their mail, contacts, calendar, messages, reminders and notes, and keep it synced across their mobile devices.

“Just a year after the incredibly successful introduction of Lion, customers have downloaded Mountain Lion over three million times in just four days, making it our most successful release ever,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing.

In related news, Apple recently reported its fiscal Q3 2012 results, with the company selling a record 17 million iPads.