Apple shipping Snow Leopard in September, $29 upgrade
By Paul Miller 
posted June 8th 2009 12:34PM
posted June 8th 2009 12:34PM
- Apple rewrote the Finder, while keeping it mostly the same on the surface, for a bunch of "little benefits." Tweaks include faster Quick Look previews and Spotlight searches.
- There's built-in Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 support in the OS, including Mail, Calendar and Address Book syncing.
- QuickTime X has a new "modern foundation," HTTP streaming and a whole new look. Users can record and trim video, and upload to sharing sites like MobileMe and YouTube.
- Snow Leopard has half the footprint of Leopard, amounting to 6GB in savings and 45% faster installs.
- New trackpads can handle handwriting recognition now, and there's new text selection "AI." There's also support for wireless Braille accessories (pictured).
- Safari 4 is available for Windows, Leopard and Tiger, but Snow Leopard adds "Crash Resistance," which keeps browser and tabs intact even if a plugin crashes -- user just refreshes the page. 64-bit version does JavaScript 50% faster.
- All core apps are 64-bit, and performance improvements abound. Mail boasts 85% faster message loads and 90% faster loads, while Time Machine has a 50% faster initial backup time.
It's only 30 bucks to upgrade from Leopard for existing users. If you buy a new Mac between today and December 2009 you get it for 10 bucks! You would have to be insane to say this is a ripoff! I just bought my new MB Pro today... cant wait!!! Thanks Apple :D
(10 year Windows user, new Mac user :D)
Not a ripoff, but Microsoft's been doing that free with all of its OS releases. Buy a PC after June 26, get 7 free.
Last time I used a Mac, Finder was unable to find xterm. Wonder if thats fixed?
I'd pay the $30 if all it gave me was the full exchange support - the rest is just gravy.
automatic printer driver updates over Software Update? We like
Wonder if apple will open software update to other programs...
A lot of you people are so angry.. take a chill pill... I like macs why all the negativity? I read comments to get more insight into the article not all the childish name calling. You guys (both windows & mac fans) sound like a bunch of pussies. I'll bet money none of you would say anything like that to someones face. And yes i know i have left myself open to an attack and i welcome it.. but don't be a p*ssy do it in person. I'll be on 57th & 10th in Manhattan tomorrow from noon till about 2.
And this is why i am a Linux/Ubuntu user. All upgrades are free and we get a new OS every about oh 6 bmonths are so that is a major jump from the last.
Ok, I give up, in that title picture, what is that purple and silver thing that says "ALVA" on it?
That's all I want to know too, yet I had to read through all the crappy posts on here...and I must say most of them are disgruntled Apple fans bashing Vista who have most likely never used it in their life, only seen Apple commercials, but anyways, what is it?
As a membre previously stated, it's a refreshable braille display. http://www.apple.com/accessibility/voiceover/devicesupport.html
Really great for people with disabilities
An Alva BC 640 to be precise, not just a Braille display, but also a keyboard.
With Windows 7 only a $49 upgrade, I think Apple had no choice but to make theirs cheaper. Plus in many ways Windows Vista to 7 is a much bigger upgrade than Leopard to Snow Leopard.
Snow Leopard is NOT a service pack. This misunderstanding is in-fact Apple's fault for choosing a funky numbering system. (It's not like Window's version history is any less confusing) Apple's current operating "base" is OSX or "Operating system 10". Each brand new code rewrite is denoted by adding a number version, exmpl. 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, etc. The X does not actually stand for the version number, but for the code base, which changed from the original MacOS to the NeXT OS unix base. Similar to how all current Windows versions are based upon the "Windows NT" kernal core. So 10.6 Snow Leopard is NOT a "Service pack" for 10.5 Leopard, no matter how similar their name.
Apple releases service pack more regularly than Microsoft has.. for the past seven years. For example. The current version of 10.5 Leopard is: 10.5.7. There have been 5 major service packs for leopard since its release as 10.5.2. This is not including minor security updates and core program updates. Every single update for 10.5 has been completely FREE.
lol I'm just enjoying my free license for Server 2008 (free for all college students via DreamSpark). So when Apple feels like throwing a free Mac my way I'll run Snow Leopard.
And I'll be able to upgrade to Windows 7 ultimate for $15 thanks to the licensing deal they have with my school. A rather steeper discount than the 10% discount on Mac hardware.
I find it weird that everyone keeps mentioning XP SP2 when SP3 is out...and between SP3 and various free MS releases like Defender and Windows Indexing the only thing XP is really missing is the prettiness of Vista. Which isn't too bad for an 8 year old operating system.
Gotta love how they supposedly "rewrote" the Finder but made it exactly as shitty as it was before.
@ UnixSystemsEngineer
This is most likely due to Windows market penetration, you'd probably find it equally as hard to find a Windows Vista user that had used Windows 95, and much less that had used 2.1 or a Mac OS X user that ran Mac OS 8 (with the fun I can delete my OS issue) and a very small amount that have run System 6.
You'll always find people who are willing to talk at length about a subject they aren't willing to learn about, and it get more and more silly each time.
A lot of people have been having to make hard decisions about money in the last year and change. $129 to upgrade a machine that's working just fine... no freakin' way. And now it's going up to $169?
It's a slap in the face and you can consider me an ex-user of Apple products if they don't do a significant about-face on pricing for Tiger users.
I am tired of hearing people say that Snow Leopard is a service pack. I am also tired of people saying Windows 7 is a service pack of Vista.
Apple's OS X is simply the same title as Windows is for Microsoft.
__________________________________
Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
OS X 10.3
OS X 10.4
OS X 10.5
OS X 10.6
All Major Updates.
__________________________________
Windows XP SP1
Windows XP SP2
Windows XP SP3
Windows Vista SP1
Windows Vista SP2
OS X 10.5.1
OS X 10.5.2
OS X 10.5.3
OS X 10.5.4
OS X 10.5.5
OS X 10.5.6
OS X 10.5.7
All Minor security and performance updates
__________________________________
Most people who only use Windows do not understand the way OS X names its products.
Cheetah, Puma, Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard
Just like Microsoft uses 95, 98, ME, XP, VIsta, 7
Snow Leopard has been re-built from the ground up to run faster and better keeping the most popular of the OS X versions GUI and adding new features to the dock and much much more.
Windows 7 has been re-worked as well. Also adding new features to its task-bar and much much more. while improving on a less-than-popular OS GUI.
Bottom line...
Both Major Updates, not service packs.
I use both Mac OS X 10.5.7 and Windows Vista SP2
i have to ask, what is that purple thing under the macbook?
Just wondering, Does anyone know if you can use the single user (for $29) version on more then one machine like in previous versions of OS X?
Thanks
-Jeremy