Snow Leopard: Our Observations

Snow Leopard is now purring along here at TDL. Just on one computer right now, until we make sure there's nothing that would bring anything to a crashing halt. Here's the experience so far:

Apple packaging: Kudos to Apple for slimming down the dvd box to what is probably the absolute minimum. 

Shipping logistics:  Apple must've done tremendous work behind the scenes to get all these copies out nearly simultaneously today. That might be the under-reported story: The coordination with FedEx is so slick now, I imagine with future/bigger product releases we'll see Apple finding creative ways to release products at specific times.

Disk Space: Before the installation, the MacBook Pro test machine was perilously close to being out of space at 4.5GB. After installation, the system reports 17.89 GB of free space. I don't think I've ever installed any software before and gained space. A quick note though: bear in mind the way Apple reports disk space has changed in Snow Leopard, so really, i"m probably at about 14GB by the old math. Whether it's from elimination of PowerPC code, (but remember, they had to add 64 bit code) or truly a slick optimization of the OS, that extra space is really nice when you're on the verge of running out.

Mail: Just a heads up that as with Leopard, your mail messages will need to be converted into a new format when you first launch it. It's amazing how many different times lists of mainly text messages can be re-formatted. The process is faster than it was with the Leopard upgrade.

Safari: Safari does seem a little faster. If that's just a fresh cache dump or what will be apparent over time. Also, please Apple, put the refresh button over with all the other navigation buttons. I know we've talked about it before, but it's an easy thing to change, or make into a preference.

Quicktime X: Maybe I'm the only who feels this way, or maybe no one's speaking up, but I prefer to have some player around my media. I'd rather have plain grey around a movie I'm watching in QuickTime, rather than the video being up against the background image.

Performance: Startup and shutdown do seem noticeably faster, beyond that, it'll take a little more playing with it.

Don't forget you can ask us your Snow Leopard questions Monday night during TDL Live, Monday night at 9PM ET / 6 PM PT. 

Happy Snow Leopard Eve, Everyone!

It's a new operating system launch unlike any other in recent memory. It's not so much a matter of getting a new house, as cleaning up the one you already own. Not just dusting mind you, Snow Leopard is the equivalent of finally fixing the wobbly table, straightening the pictures on the wall, finishing the basement, and adding the pond to the back yard.

Sure, there'll be some bumps along the way, (what do you mean the new faucet doesn't fit the old pipes!?) but hey, it's a fraction of the cost of buying a new place, right?

Happy Snow Leopard Eve, everyone!