"Mac OS [number]" was the old system up to version 9. Mac OS X was really a complete revamp, with a load of better and new features. Going back to the old non-X system will make it look like the old system of "Mac OS [number]". People won't expect so much. It's all marketing.

I did hear that 10.7 was the last of the Mac OS X series. Let's see how downhill Apple go with 11, they already started ruining X.

well its a fact that at certain point you run out of ideas to serve
and it will happen with all OS-es (just look at windows)

and as much Apple is ahead of MS, but they will come to point when
they will stall

so either they will do like they did with Snow Leopard
or will do new OS-es with bigger time gap

The original bases for Mac Os X was intended to have a life cycle of 20-30 years. We have hit the 10 year anaversery just a few months ago, so I think the foundation for Mac Os X will carry on for a while longer. However Apple is running out of big cat names for their operating systems so I think we can count on at least 10.8 making it's way out onto shelfs before Apple begins to think about Os 11. Mac Os Sabertooth perhaps in 2012 or 2013, depending on what Apple's focus is on.

I don't think running out of cat names will cause them to dump Mac OS X. And there's no way everyone who owns a Mac would suddenly install iOS on it.
I have a feeling Mac OS X will be around for a while.

They are starting Mac OS 11 at some point you know. I'm quite sure the last releases are either 10.7 or 10.8.

I do think Apple will go against OS X and make everything iOS based.

I hope not.
I have tried iOS and I don't think it is anything special.
Android and Windows Phone 7 are the way to go.

I vote for Mac OS 11.

How about dog breeds, like said above? You can manage OS 11.8546 that way.

I don't think Mac OS Poodle would make for very good marketing

Anyway, I think they went with big cat names to make OS X sound somewhat natural. Maybe they'll dump the system of using codenames in releases.

We will just have to wait 2 years or so to see what Apple says. I think they will probably make 10.8, 10.9 and then move to 11.

i hope that apple does not continue with 10.8 & 10.9, and IMO they never should have done 10.7, they really should jump over the OS X 11

Unlikely...

Sorry to burst your bubble, but... http://www.macrumors.com/2011/10/31/app ... os-x-10-8/

taken for granted that OS X 10.8 is going to come out, they might just as well have version numbers of the sort 11.foo and name that (Mac?) OS X 11.foo
It seems reasonable to just drop the X = 10 concept and have ou es ten become just a brand name