Mac OS X "Leopard" to Hit Stores Oct. 26

Yahoo! Tech ^ | 10/16/2007 | Ben Patterson

[abt87]

Bumped from its slated June launch date thanks to the frantic scramble to finish the iPhone, the latest version of Mac OS X is finally ready for its close-up. Apple announced today that "Leopard" will bound into stores next Friday, complete with a revamped desktop, a new backup feature, and more ways to inspect your file folders.

The Apple Store is already taking preorders for Mac OS X v10.5, which will go on sale at 6 p.m. on October 26. Expect to shell out $130 for a single-user license, or $200 for a five-user family pack. Also keep in mind that the system requirements for Leopard are pretty hefty this time around: those with Intel systems should be OK, but PowerPC users will need at least an 867MHz G4 processor with 512MB of RAM. Sorry, G3 users—looks like Mac OS 10.4 is the end of the line for you.

Many of the changes in Leopard look more like tweaks than full-scale innovations. The Dock, for instance, is now glossy and foreshortened, and it has a new feature: Stacks, which are Dock items that spring up with files and folders when clicked. The Finder, meanwhile, adds a revamped folder sidebar that organizes system items into Devices, Shared, and Places; even better, you'll be able to browse your files using Cover Flow from iTunes. Nice, but not exactly mind-blowing.

[ari-freedom]

[ECM]

Bleh, as long as I have Quicksilver (and Colibri on Win) who needs a new OS!

[abt87]

I’m surprised that they don’t move on to OS 11 (or “OS XI”). The technological difference between Tiger and Leopard is probably about the same as the different between OS 7, 8 and 9.
Then again, it might not make good marketing to abandon the “X” portion.

[SomeReasonableDude]

Preordered today. Leopard is worth it for Time Machine alone.

I wonder what the marketshare for OS X is among conservatives. Apple (and by Apple, I mean Steve Jobs) has leftist leanings, but the company has been pretty apolitical in its modern (post-iMac) era. Well, at least apolitical enough to avoid boycotts and backlash. Plus, they stood up to those Greenpeace wackos when they got unduly smeared.

I have nothing against Windows (I use it at work) or Linux (I use it on my home server), but I prefer OS X as my daily personal operating system.

[null and void]

Sorry, G3 users—looks like Mac OS 10.4 is the end of the line for you.

Damm. Now I have an excuse to get a new Mac...

[SomeReasonableDude]

Bleh, as long as I have Quicksilver (and Colibri on Win) who needs a new OS!"

On a related note, the Spotlight improvements are significant. Boolean, networked searches will come in handy since I offload a lot of stuff to my shared drives.

Then again, it might not make good marketing to abandon the “X” portion.

Excellent point. I prefer the up-front point upgrade system instead of arbitrary numbering or things like 'XP' (no offense, Windows XP). XP still had numerical versioning (I think it was 5.1 or something along those lines) and I believe Vista is the same, though it may not be as easy to find as it was for XP. It gives you a better sense as to how these operating systems upgrades are an evolutionary (sorry, creationists) process and a greater understanding of massive overhauls like Mac OS 9 to Mac OS X.

[basil]

Ping!

[garyhope]

Steve Jobs and Apple lean left? Well knock me over with a feather.

I’ll bet the majority of all Apple users lean left also.

I find it odd and sad that people identify with machines.

I wonder if people identify with their toasters or coffee makers the same as they do with their computers or motorcycles?

I doubt anyone has a jacket with a logo of a Braun coffee maker or Sunbeam waffle iron on the back.

[SoDak]

I find it odd and sad that people identify with machines.

Aaaaagreed!

[31M20RedDevil]

Mine`s not quite that old but I just bought the 20” Imac 2.4 machine today,after registering it was already on my Linksys so I ran software updates.

15 friggin updates required.Looks about 360 MB total.

A person on dial-up would take a week to get em all

[Sir_Ed]

I’ve got three Macs in constant use and one Windows XP box, and I hate using the PC when I have to.

Even programs that are cross-platform compatible, like Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, FileMaker Pro and Dreamweaver, are far easier to use on the Mac, due to OSX’s ease of use and its font utilization.

Ed

[ari-freedom]

I don’t understand why computer choices have to be so political.

[Noumenon]

At the end of the day, it’s only a tool. It’s an OS, not a reigion. Or a cult.

But I could be wrong on that last one.

[Astronaut]

Feh. More eye candy but thats about it. I am very happy with Vista Business 64 bit. Apple is nothing but hype.

Besides, who wants to put more money in the pocket of ultra-liberal weasel Steve Jobs? And his flunky Algore who sits on the Apple board.

[MediaMole]

Microsoft leans just as far left as Apple. Do a search on Opensecrets.org for Microsoft employee contributions for evidence.

There are a lot of fanboys for any tech product. I think it comes from internalizing the justification for spending thousands on a fancy computer.

[SomeReasonableDude]

“I’ll bet the majority of all Apple users lean left also.”

It’s more of an age and income thing than anything else. Young, professional conservatives rock the MacBook from my college and work experience.

[SomeReasonableDude]

Feh. More eye candy but thats about it.

That 'eye candy' often has quite a bit of utility. Expose is a perfect example - it's a feature I can't do without when I'm doing some serious multitasking with a million windows open. Time Machine, Spaces, Finder improvements including Quick Look, the much-improved Preview, the long-overdue feature additions to Spotlight, the developer tools (DTrace + Instruments = !!!), the tweaks to AirPort, upgrades to Mail, Safari, iChat, iCal, Boot Camp, Address Book, the big overhaul of Automator, the new Dashboard features including Web Clip, the spring-loaded Dock, the system-wide grammar and pronunciation tools and most of the interface tweaks (except for the glass menu bar and glowing Dock open program indicator) is a lot for $129. Aside from the new stuff, Leopard is building on a strong foundation. OS X is built around a solid BSD/Unix core with some fantastic interface and programming layers constructed around it. The platform has some great software, especially with the small-business level development community. Vista Business is a fine operating system and all, but it's pretty stupid to dismiss OS X as something trivial or worthless. It's a mature, solid operating system that has given Windows a serious run for its money in terms of quality since 10.3.

[ari-freedom]

you’re happy with vista? hmm I’m on vista right now.
speaking of eyecandy I really don’t like the smudged window titlebars.

I don’t understand why mac doesn’t have text in the “dock” so that you instantly know what is what

[Mamzelle]

People use Apples because they started out with them and PCs feel awkward. Many Apple users have learning-curve issues. But artists generally prefer Apples, even when their art businesses make them use PCs.