 |  Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard: A different kind of upgrade - Part One
by Chip Carter
It seems like there's always a major software upgrade on the way from Apple, Adobe, or Microsoft. Inevitably there are promises that the newer version will be better, although there will also be significant changes to get used to. When it comes to software, “newer” often means “slower”…and it always means “bigger”…as in, “where did all of that hard disk space go?!?”
Until now.
For the first time in history, a major software upgrade promises to be faster and more capable, yet smaller AND less expensive at the same time. Instead of introducing big new bells and whistles, Mac OS 10.6 provides many small useful refinements — which makes it very easy to get used to. It's not too good to be true: Snow Leopard actually delivers on all counts.
Whenever a new version of Mac OS X is introduced, you want to know:
(1) What's new and different…and useful to ME?
(2) Should I buy a new Mac, or just upgrade the OS on my current one?
(3) Do I need to upgrade other software or peripherals for compatibility?
(4) How much will this new OS—and any other needed upgrades—cost?
(5) Is it better to reap the benefits of upgrading NOW, or should I wait?
In this edition of SmartStuff, we'll provide details and links to answer the first question…which covers the “WHAT” and “WHY” aspects of this upgrade. Next time, we’ll consider the other “HOW” and “WHEN” questions which naturally follow. At the RetroTechs, we work with mountains of Macs, oodles of users, and a plethora of programs: So we're happy to help you get your ducks in a row beforehand, perform a smooth and stable upgrade, and ensure that you can make good productive use of the new features.
(1) What's new and different…and useful to ME?
Beginning with Apple's introductory announcements for the new operating system (OS), it was clear that they were taking a different approach this time. The name reflects that it is a variant of the previous “Leopard” OS. A great deal of emphasis has been placed on developing a more efficient, faster foundation with support for important newer technologies. These “under the hood” improvements to the OS will allow Mac users to experience significant hardware, software, and networking capabilities which were impossible to achieve before.
For the first time in a Mac OS X upgrade, there are no big marketing-friendly “main attractions” — no major additions such as Spotlight, Expose, Dashboard Widgets, Time Machine, Boot Camp, Fast User Switching, Quick Look, Cover Flow, or Spaces. Instead of providing more material for Microsoft to copy, Apple has added many subtle but useful refinements to the familiar OS X interface and applications, including several “It's about time they did that!” changes.
So if you are concerned about gradually-disappearing hard drive space or software bloat — the dreaded epidemic of Creeping Featuritis — Snow Leopard represents a refreshing departure: Apple has focused on significantly increasing speed across the board while actually using less disk space.
While there is less of a learning curve than with Tiger (OS X 10.4) or Leopard (OS X 10.5), there are plenty of improvements to check out. Let’s dive in:
Posted by Elizabethon Tuesday, November 17 2009 - 19:00:00 |  | |
