Comments on: Your Leopard Love Affair

By: Warren

Warren — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 08:26:05 +0000

Wait to see what bugs come up? This isn’t a microsoft product. They actually take time to fix bugs before releasing it. And it helps that there are not two dozen different versions of the operating system to cause problems.

By: Billy Halsey

Billy Halsey — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 04:34:25 +0000

@Lordmike — Be sure to take a look at Jason Terhorst’s How to: Upgrade to Leopard for more information on these questions. I personally recommend SuperDuper! and iBackup. SuperDuper! is great if you need bootable backups; iBackup doesn’t support them, but does have a more modular way of backing up your file and preferences. Which to use depends largely on your need to boot from your backup.

By: Lordmike

Lordmike — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 08:15:11 +0000

@Billy Halsey
Well since I have first generation of macbook pro 15″ and a lacie firewire hdd which I haven’t had any problems with (except noisy fans and heat problems) I guess most things will work smoothly.

Thanks for the information!

Backup: what do you recommend that I use as backup programs? Most things I want to backup is photos and movies of my family which is already on my lacie drive (I think). Oh well will see once I get my hands on 10.5

By: Billy Halsey

Billy Halsey — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:52:42 +0000

@ Lordmike — I’d hesitate to say that everything will work perfectly, but I wouldn’t expect it to be anything like a Windows upgrade, either. Some things, like drivers, might have a few issues (most drivers are already part of OS X anyway), but most of the software you’re using should already be Leopard friendly (or will be very shortly) since developers have had access to the Leopard betas for some time now.

For the specific apps you mentioned: Quicksilver has a prerelease version that Leopard users should download. According to Mozilla, Firefox 2.0.0.8 is supported but there are a few known issues. For office programs, iWork ‘08 is definitely supported. Office 2004 should be supported, but I can’t find anything definitive. NeoOffice 2.2.2 also works in 10.5.

The only area where I’m anticipating problems is the driver for my HP All-In-One device. (HP lists the driver as 10.3 and 10.4, with no mention of Leopard. Considering it took me a day and a half and three system reinstalls to get it installed the first time, I’m not expecting this to be easy.)

I’d recommend doing a full, bootable backup to an external drive and then a fresh install. It’s the method I will be using on Friday afternoon. I personally won’t even do the migration option, but instead copy over my data manually. That may be overkill, though, unless you’re a control freak like me.

By: Lordmike

Lordmike — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 13:12:39 +0000

This is my first upgrade, so what should I expect? Is it such a big difference from like windows xp to vista and most programs and drivers wont work. Or can I expect that quicksilver, firefox, variations of office programs will work out of the box? Should I do a clean install or just install over 10.4?

By: Mark Eagleton

Mark Eagleton — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 14:25:03 +0000

Time Machine is pretty huge for me, for no other backup solution I’ve used is remotely as easy to restore from as Time Machine appears to be.

The system-wid PIM improvements (to-dos and calendar) is probably #2 for me.

TextMate 2 is a Leopard-only deal. I will be upgrading in the parkinglot at the Apple store Fridayeve.

By: Leopard, hey!

Leopard, hey! — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 01:46:54 +0000

I’m excited about Leopard, but I believe that is because I’m not the ordinary mac user, but a programmer. Most of the really cool new features cater to my group.

Not that there aren’t any significant end user features. For one, it seems that they finally fixed the f***** finder. But the end user side of things is not that significant compared to the goodies that Leopard brings to programmers/unix geeks.

I have compiled a list in order of importance down
at my blog.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 21:29:37 +0000

Well, I will be getting my first Macbook in a couple of weeks, so that is when I will “upgrade”. Currently, I mooch off my brother’s G4 which is still running 10.3.9 like a champ!!
I’m looking forward to the new Finder, and Spaces.

By: jh

jh — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:15:41 +0000

1) yes.

2) time machine and quicklook. i would do it for time machine alone.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 13:12:39 +0000

Definately upgrading as soon as I get it. I heard that you can get Leopard for free if you have bought a new iMac within a month before the release date of Leopard. Which I did, so I might get it for free. If not I’ll just buy it anyways. Looking really forward to do!

By: Jon

Jon — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 10:13:01 +0000

Well, since I just ordered a new mac, I’ll be getting the Leopard up to date for $10! If I was not getting a new mac just now, I’d probably wait untill 10.5.2, just to be sure that Leopard had been field tested well

By: Aashish

Aashish — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 07:13:00 +0000

I don’t think I will be upgrading to Leopard immediately, but the two features I’m most looking forward to are quicklook and time machine. Quicklook is a lifesaver

Why can’t some smart dev come up with Quicklook for Tiger? Anyone

By: Akshay

Akshay — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 05:46:55 +0000

I`m upgrading asap.
THe 2 big things for me are -
1> DTrace
2> Ruby is now a first class citizen for doing cocoa development.

By: Billy Halsey

Billy Halsey — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:59:19 +0000

@ Larry Wigren — You echo a sentiment that I heard quite often when I was a field engineer with a hardware/software vendor. My customers were very hesitant to install upgrades (or even patches) until they had steeped — fermented, even — for a good, long time. Some would even stay two revs back on patches just to keep from being bitten. I can understand not wanting to be on the bleeding edge, but that’s like installing 10.4.9 the day that Leopard drops. In a production environment, it’s best to be judicious (no betas!), but there’s a point where that turns to absurdity. Don’t you agree?

@ Kyle Hayes — Preordering through apple.com will deliver on the 26th, not ship on the 26th, according to the Apple online store. Other online preorders may or may not deliver on the 26th.

By: Yong Hwee

Yong Hwee — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:21:13 +0000

I’ll wait a couple of weeks before upgrading as work is taking up most of my time.

I like the minor enhancements in general.

By: Don Parr

Don Parr — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:33:17 +0000

Family pack on order. I’m looking forward to all the enhancements, but the 2 that stand out for me are Finder and Mail :).

By: mika

mika — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:29:37 +0000

1. Built in Ruby on Rails support with Mongrel and Capistrano. Finally, it is here.

2. Spaces Finally, I won’t be envious of my linux buddies.

By: AJ

AJ — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 22:56:21 +0000

I’m planning on getting it as soon as my University store has it in stock. (I have one on hold right now)

My #1 feature far and away is Time Machine. My #2 is probably a tie between the enhancements in iCal and the new Mail.app features.

I skipped the upgrade to Tiger because I didn’t see anything too worthwhile (though I did get Tiger when I got a new Macbook =]), I don’t see that same situation with Leopard.

By: jonvdveen

jonvdveen — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 19:44:11 +0000

I am certainly looking forward to Leopard’s release. I hope to get it shortly after it is released. I’m considering the family pack (since we have 6 macs in our family).

Most anticipated features:
1. Core Animation I think that Leopard is really going to be impressive with its new array of groovy animations.
2. Finder/Quicklook. Finder has been mediocre/terrible for far too long. I’m really looking forward to the new look and the subtle enhancements. I can’t wait to play!

By: Colin

Colin — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 18:52:50 +0000

Hmmm…I know we have a friend who has an agreement with Apple (or I think) but we aren’t.

Thanks rwahrens.

By: Francisco

Francisco — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 17:30:13 +0000

“If you buy it from your campus bookstore instead of the Apple education site, you’d only pay $50 or so.

I do plan on switching over on release day, the delay in launch seems to have given extra time for most of the third-party software I use to get Leopard updates already.”

Is this true?
Which college?

By: Luca

Luca — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:49:20 +0000

I’ve already ordered by British copy on education discount for £75. Im mainly looking forward to the new Finder and definitely Quicklook for images. Better networking with PC’s will also be good since im the only one with a Mac in the house.

Don’t worry tho, im working on them to make the change. Slowly but surely. lol.

By: rwahrens

rwahrens — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:55:20 +0000

Colin,

You and your Dad can buy the family pack for $200.00. Additionally, have your Dad call the nearest Apple store, if he is an employee of a firm that has an employee agreement with Apple, he can get a discount.

I’m a Fed, and I got the pre-order for $165 before taxes.

Will update right away, backups will already be performed on both machines - a dual 1 gig G4 MDD (2002) and a core duo MacBook.

Looking for Time Machine and all the new nifty features of the finder to make file management better.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:03:11 +0000

I won’t be upgrading right away due to having no money (sometimes being a student really bites) but as soon as I can I will. Looking forward to the new Finder, Spaces, Stacks, Mail and Quick Look the most.

By: notabadname

notabadname — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 14:52:56 +0000

Definitely upgrading. First for Time Machine (I always thought it a little shameful that Apple makes you buy a .Mac account to use the well integrated “Backup”). And second, for the enhanced mail. I always felt the current Mail was very weak, for a system that targets a “creative” market. The new Mail has a lot of neat features, that will finally make my mails look like they were created on a Mac.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 14:49:00 +0000

I want a better Mail, and need Notes to sync with my iPhone. All of that integration with Address too. And I’ll probably start using Time Machine immediately.

By: Kyle Hayes

Kyle Hayes — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:57:59 +0000

1) I will be there the 26th. I don’t like pre-ordering because I want to get it sooner than a pre-order.
2) Time Machine

By: Colin

Colin — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:44:12 +0000

Looking to upgrade right away and I appear to be excited about one particular feature that nobody has mentioned yet: The updates to iChat. I use iChat so much that anything new would be fun to mess around with.
I’m also excited about most of the other features mentioned here too.
I do have a question and I believe that from the many posts here it’s already been answered but I’m going to ask it anyway.
Is the normal ($129) version only single license? If so, my dad’s and my plan to split the difference and install OS 10.5 on both our books doesn’t look like it’s really going to work.

By: jtbandes

jtbandes — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:39:34 +0000

I’m definitely going to upgrade. I plan on ordering two copies, one for each of my computers (actually a Family Pack, since it’s cheaper).

I’m really looking forward to Spaces, since I usually have a lot of different projects going at once, Time Machine, and other things, like Stacks (my dock is always too full) and the new iChat and Terminal.

By: Michael Clark

Michael Clark — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:02:33 +0000

I unfortunately probably won’t upgrade until I get a new Mac, which won’t be until my Powerbook dies. My Powerbook is running fine (3 months out of Applecare, so cross your fingers) and does what I need. Being a full-time stay at home blogger sometimes mean taking the hard choice, and sticking to a budget.

I’m looking forward to Time Machine, automatic font management, better handling of disconnected network shared drives, and the new screen savers.

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:28:32 +0000

Upgrading as soon as possible.
Most looking forward to improved spotlight, stacks, Grammar checker, quicklook.

By: Galley

Galley — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:22:45 +0000

It’s the Family Pack for me.

Cover Flow for documents
Stacks

By: Jesse

Jesse — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:16:00 +0000

I’m really looking forward to the new desktop.. The new finder, quicklook, spaces (which I think is way better executed than any other virtual desktop app) and stacks..

By: Larry Wigren

Larry Wigren — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:50:29 +0000

I am an Apple Certified Systems Administrator and with my 10 years of experience with apple systems I plan on waiting just a bit.

No problem with those of you who are going to install it right away, Apple OS X has always been pretty good straight out of the box, but I am sure an update will be released a few weeks from Oct. 26th.

Also my current situation requires a real stable system for my work so for now OS 10.4.10 will do for me.

I will be putting the OS X on a test server when it comes out, so that is where I will have my fun.

By: anti

anti — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:47:06 +0000

Spaces.
Desktopmanager is nice, but still a little buggy here and there.
I simply need 4-6 Desktops … spanning my two monitors.