The thing that most people don't understand is that Leopard is really a developers release. There are many features that the end user will not directly see, like full 64bit support, better support for multi-core processors, core animation, xcode 3.0 and more. All of these technologies lay the frameworks for future apps and developments, to be utilized by both Apple and 3d partys. But, at the same time, Apple can't release an OS, and say "Well, it looks completely the same as the last version we put out, but trust us Mrs. Smith, it's much better. Theres multi-layer real time animation! You will love it!"

That's not how it works, and thats also why many people think that Leopard is a minor upgrade, from the end user features like the new unified appearance, spaces, the new finder, quicklook, time machine, ext, which are also not little things. Time machine is truly a revolutionary backup system, and the new finder is really a big improvement.

Once you see all of the apps that go leopard only, and the features and performance increase that you see because of that will the user really understand the value of leopard.

@Sam

Yeah, it will still work. Your windows install is stored on a separate partition. If you do an upgrade, archive and install, or a clean install without wiping the disk, your boot camp install should be fine.

Yar.

I say the iMac, and then iWork. iWork is next on my list to buy after leopard. Running office 2004 on my macbook is way to slow, and I hate the UI. iWork is about 60$ cheaper after an edu discount, and does exactly the same thing as office does but in a much better, faster, and efficient way. So, instead of plunking down the money for Office '08, I'll just buy iWork instead.

@ Dinraj:

Leopard is to tiger like vista is to xp. Vista has a few new features, new development tools and many under the hood improvements. Leopard also has new features, as well as a new version of Xcode and new applications for building and testing apps, and many new things under the hood such as full 64bit support to the application level, and core animation.

Apple does release service packs in the form of 10.x.x updates. Tiger on my macbook works perfectly fine. Very fast and stable.

I'm sorry that you don't like Apple, but Leopard is worth the 130$. Before screaming out BS, why don't you learn the facts. With your logic, Vista could be considered to be a service pack to xp, which we all know it isn't.

Yes, Huy, of course Apple makes you pay 120$ every 6 months for a reliability service pack. In reality, Apple sends out 10.x.x updates every so often (usually once every two months) that do for OS X what this reliability pack does for Vista.

Apple puts out an OS X release about every 2-3 years. All of these provided brand new features, performance enhancements, and new frameworks. Take 10.5, Leopard for example. Not only are you getting the cool end user features such as spaces, the new dashboad widgets, new dock, new menubar, stacks, ext. Apple also includes many under the hood improvements such as core animation which allows for flashier animations and user interfaces, (as well as makes them much easier to write), full 64bit support through the application level, and better, more efficient use of multicore processors to name a few.

Apple puts out alot of releases of OS X, and sure, they do cost money, but most of them are really worth it. Just because each version isn't named OS 11, OS 12, ext. doesn't mean it isn't a major update.

#3: What is your problem with Erica? She tries all of the stuff that most of us are to afraid to do. I find alot of her recent articles really interesting, and it helps me at least get a better understanding of the iPhone's software.

If you don't like her work, stop complaining, and don't read it. :\

Thanks for backing up your statement with pure, 100% fact.
/sarcasm.

I use quicktime alot on my mac. Playing a video in iTunes works perfectly, and file converting is very good. True, the implimentation is a hell of alot better on a mac then a PC, but its far from a piece of crap.

I'm most excited about the new iPod inside of it.

Thanks Engadget!

Well what would you like them to support instead, the Zune Software or WMP, both of which are crap? If you don't like iTunes, simple, don't buy the damn thing.