Walt Mossberg answers readers’ technology questions for The Wall Street Journal. A new one published today caught the eyes of MacDailyNews readers:
Question: I had been waiting to buy my first Macintosh until this spring, when Apple’s new Leopard operating system was supposed to be released. Now that Leopard has been delayed until October, I am wondering if a Mac I buy now will be compatible with the new system?
Mossberg: Leopard isn’t an entirely new operating system, but a major new version, or edition, of Apple’s Mac OS X operating system, which made its debut in 2001. It will replace the current version, which is called Tiger. As you noted, it was supposed to become available this spring, but now has been delayed until October. Apple will say only that “We’re designing Leopard to deliver full functionality and performance on the widest number of Macs possible, and upgrading a system to run on Leopard should be simple and smooth.” I believe that it is highly likely that Leopard will run with all its functions and with decent speed on any Mac purchased today, and in fact on any Mac purchased in the past 18 months or so, at the least. Compatibility could go back much further than that, though some old Mac models will certainly be incompatible, or will slow down unacceptably. Upgrading to new Apple operating system versions has generally been a very good experience in recent years, much better than similar Windows upgrades. If you intend to upgrade to Leopard, then the biggest downside to buying a Mac now may be financial, not technical. If Apple’s past practice prevails, Leopard is likely to cost $129 for any Mac purchased today. If you wait until you can buy a Mac with Leopard preloaded, you will save that extra cost.
Full article which also contains a Q&A about removing old versions of iPod software here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Island Girl” and “ForkBall” for the heads up.]
We’ve upgraded several Macs from Mac OS X Public Beta all the way on up to the current Mac OS X 10.4.9 with excellent results. If anything, old Macs tend to get faster with each successive Mac OS X release which is certainly something we can’t say about Microsoft Windows releases. We do recommend getting as much RAM as you can for your Mac as Mac OS X does love RAM with a passion.
Nah. I’ll wait until 10.6.
In a word NO!
To answer the headline, no.
Spend $2000 + on a MBP and worry about $129. for Leopard? Buy the Mac now because you’ll more than make up the$129. in productivity gains!
Well we didn’t. Our two 8-core MacPros arrived yesterday.
P.S. Walt Mossberg is “Worth a Click”. Please give him one.
If you currently have no computer, or a Windows machine, and wanted a Mac, buy now. If you are a current Mac owner, wait for Leopard to upgrade.
Spark
Exactly what I was gonna say.
Mr. Peabody, any comments on your new 8-core Macs? I would think alot of people would like to hear about the performance.
If it’s your first Mac, get to the nearest Apple Store ASAP and buy one!
I’ve got an 18 month PowerBook G4 that is going to last me till Leopard is released, then it’s going on eBay and the proceeds of the sale are going towards a Core3Duo MacBook Extreme with Solid State Hard Drive.
…until OSX Housecat
I would answer no to that question. Having said that however, I am actually waiting to upgrade. Why? Because my current G4 17″ is running great and I cannot find a legitimate excuse for upgrading. Dammit Apple, stop making such high quality laptops. I want one that breaks after two years so I have an excuse.
Sad day in hell when I pray for power surges.
Leopard 9a410 is running great. I think it’s going to be uber smooth to upgrade.
Just bought a new white MB for my wife two days ago because her Toshiba (a great old machine) decided to die. I recovered it from death, but decied to buy a Mac anyways. I’m not going to despair and wait. And you know what. I don’t regret my decision even a bit. It runs super fast and is so great to work with. Setting it up made me giggle.
If you really have to wait, wait till May for Santa Rosa.
” . . . love RAM with a passion.”
Ewe would!
I hear you, Buster – I keep trying to justify getting rid of my Ti-book, but it just keeps on humming. And it heats my house in winter.
Well I finally bought my iMac last night…so far I love it…I have never owned a Mac before so I’m clueless as to what it can actually do but so far it can do everything I could on my windows computer and that’s I all a really care about. I’m going to write a paper for class tonight using NeoOffice so well see how smooth that will go. It’s funny how nervous I was about buying a Mac and really it’s just learning where everything is…I bought ProCare.
Again thanks for all the rants and raves
Welcome, anon and congratulations!
” . . . love RAM with a passion.”
Ewe would!”
oh, those horny head-bangers…
If you take MDN’s advice and get as much RAM as possible, make sure you buy it through a third party, as Apple loves to soak us on the RAM, with a passion.
Give me the $29.00 upgrade path and I will buy a New Mac Today!!!
@anon –
Congrats on your purchase – the transition is frighteningly smooth. You’ll get lots of help from mac folks. Welcome…
Anon-
I would suggest you invest in some midnight oil-
Whan I first got my iMac, I had a hard time getting off.
ok, something sounds a little funny there…
The answer is YES.
Already bought 3 macs since December, expecting to buy family pack of leopard anyway.