Running with the Big Cats

Apple released Leopard, the much anticipated upgrade to their current operating system - Mac OS X - on October 26. Initial reviews are favorable and indicate that this new version of the Mac OS will be superior to the new Windows Vista OS. Leopard replaces the previous version, known as Tiger, and will come already loaded on all new Macs. Users will also be able to upgrade their current systems for $129. It should be possible to upgrade machines that are as much as six years old - something that is much less likely to happen for older computers running Windows. Unlike Vista, which is available in four different versions with a varying range of features and pricing (from $100 up to $260), Leopard has only one version. So the only decision the consumer needs to make is whether or not to buy it!

Apple indicates that there are 300 new features in this version of the operating system! Some features have received particularly good reviews, including Time Machine, a backup utility that works in the background to automatically archive and protect your important files. Boot Camp, which allows users to also run the Microsoft Windows operating system (Vista or XP, either of which must be purchased separately) on a Mac, is now included - formerly, it needed to be downloaded and installed separately. The Mac OS also plays well with Linux, making it a very versatile choice.

Reviewers, such as Walt Mossburg from the Wall Street Journal, have indicated that the installation of Leopard was relatively quick and painless and, unlike Vista, they have encountered very few compatability issues with software or hardware. Edward C. Baig of USA Today writes favorably about the aesthetics of the new OS. iChat has added many new special effects, Mail has a new assortment of stationery templates, and some of the new desktop features, including a new version of the Dock and the Spaces virtual desktop feature, allow users to view information in new and creative ways. The general consensus is that Mac users will be pleased with this new cat!

Discussion Questions for Students:
1. Have you ever used a Mac computer?
2. If you have, how do you think it compares to a computer running Windows?
3. Do you think the new features of the Mac will tempt more people to switch from Microsoft Windows?
4. The new Leopard launch seems to be proceeding much more smoothly, and with greater acceptance, than the launch for Windows Vista. What are your thoughts on this?