Mac OS X Snow Leopard

[Wallalai]

Mac OS X Leopard in available since yesterday the 28th in the Apple Stores. I should get it next monday by post and then install it on my new MacBook Pro.

This thread is intended to report our experience about this new OS and also the inevitable bugs/problems we will find.

First, a list of software compatibility with SL:

Snow Leopard Compatibility: Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard Compatibility List

[slackula]

I tried to pick up a 5 license 'family pack' at the iStudio in Jungceylon, Phuket about 2 hours ago. They said they will get it a week next Monday.

Nothing on the compatibility list is a real deal breaker for me, except possibly ClamXAV, but I suppose I can go bareback until it is updated.

I am using a rather old version of GIMP for my pixel pushing needs (photoshop competitions, nothing serious) so I am expecting I will have to get around to upgrading that too. Otherwise no big deals and I am looking forward to seeing if it will speed up my 2GHz, 2GB iMac.

[Wallalai]

Just had a pop-up window to upgrade Super Duper - 2.6 (v85) - , a fully compatible version with Snow Leopard a while ago when launching my daily backup.

Great, coz Super Duper rocks.

[melvbot]

No go for me, Im using my trusty G4.

[DaffyDuck]

^ Maybe time to upgrade your hardware?

You could replace the G4 with a Mac mini and get multiple times the performance at a reasonable rate.... Just sayin'

[melvbot]

^ Maybe time to upgrade your hardware?

You could replace the G4 with a Mac mini and get multiple times the performance at a reasonable rate.... Just sayin'

Maybe it is, maybe Ive got other priorities, maybe my G4 suits my needs.

[DaffyDuck]

^ Maybe time to upgrade your hardware?

You could replace the G4 with a Mac mini and get multiple times the performance at a reasonable rate.... Just sayin'

Maybe it is, maybe Ive got other priorities, maybe my G4 suits my needs.

Good for you, then...

[Wallalai]

except possibly ClamXAV, but I suppose I can go bareback until it is updated.

I only use ClamXav to scan files I share with Windows users. But I wonder why I should care. It's such a wonderful OS.

[slackula]

I only use ClamXav to scan files I share with Windows users. But I wonder why I should care. It's such a wonderful OS.

True, and the only things that my ClamXav has ever picked up on are Windows vulnerabilities, but it feels weird to run without any AV, even on my Slackware boxes I like to have something (tripwire, rkhunter etc) to make sure things remain hunky dory, especially since one is a gateway for people bringing in documents to our office for translation with thumbdrives and emails etc.

Also, stopping malware is kind of important imho, if somebody brings in an infected drive I will tell them that their system is compromised and recommend that they do some house cleaning before they start typing in their banking info to a machine with key-loggers and trojans running.

[Wallalai]

Super Duper upgrade to 2.6.1 (v86) just before my daily backup.

[Ramatender]

Is it availale as a download?
My mearest Mac shop is a days drive

[DaffyDuck]

Also, stopping malware is kind of important imho, if somebody brings in an infected drive I will tell them that their system is compromised and recommend that they do some house cleaning before they start typing in their banking info to a machine with key-loggers and trojans running.

...and you can rest assured that they will do nothing about it.

I have certain clients (Windows users), who I am able to tell the same thing, including a strong recommendation to update their viral definitions, and run various clean-up utilities.

Weeks later, their system collapses -- I get the call, of course. Turns out they never, ever, did any updates, or bothered following through on any of my suggestions. Ever.

Now, their computer was unusable, and their OS was hosed. Upon inquiring why they never did anything:

"Oh, I didn't have the time"

The client's bills were all paid up - so I dropped them, and explained to them that I have no intention of keeping on working with clients that lack the most basic of common sense.

Weeks later, after wasting time with countless 'Windows Specialists' (the term is laughable), he bought a Mac. Hasn't had a problem since then. Weird.

[Wallalai]

Is it availale as a download?
My mearest Mac shop is a days drive

As far as I know it's not available as a download. You can order the DVD on the Apple website though ... if you have a credit card.

Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple Store (Thailand)

[Bazzy]

Well I'm about to try the upgrade from Leopard. I bought the one user "Box Set" so I will upgrade ILife and IWork at the same time (cost about $220 AUD). Will let you know how it goes...

[slackula]

Well I'm about to try the upgrade from Leopard. I bought the one user "Box Set" so I will upgrade ILife and IWork at the same time (cost about $220 AUD). Will let you know how it goes...

[Bazzy]

:-) thanks. I know I can always go back with Time Machine.

Here's an interesting Snow Leopard FAQ, with a link to some handy application compatibility info.

Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard FAQ

[DaffyDuck]

Well I'm about to try the upgrade from Leopard. I bought the one user "Box Set" so I will upgrade ILife and IWork at the same time (cost about $220 AUD). Will let you know how it goes...

As long as you run a standard system (i.e. haven't moved any files to non-standard locations), you will find it to be a very straight-forward and most of all, fast, upgrade.

Let us know how much extra space you regained, as Snow Leopard will take up less space than Leopard.

[Bazzy]

So far so good.

Ran a final time machine backup then….

Put in the upgrade DVD

Clicked the icon to install.

It estimated about one hour to do it. It took about 2 beers which I guess is about one hour.

aMSN won't start but that's a dodgy app anyway. Always have Microsoft messenger anyway (but no iSight). Never mind, the ladies will have to do without my handsome looks.

Everything else seems OK so far.

I like the new way F9 works in expose.

Didn't check the disk usage before I started (I have heaps free), but the first time machine backup afterwards was a bit over 8GB if that is any indication.

Anyway all my photos and music survived which is what matters the most to me.

I have since upgraded iWork and iLife but I will save that for another thread.

My perception is that things are going faster, which is what was promised by Apple. I would say its well worth the upgrade just for that (about $40 in Australia).

Time will tell - everything else is operating fine. I would say without a reliable backup I would have been hesitant, time machine has already saved me from a serious disk crash so I was confident.

[slackula]

My perception is that things are going faster, which is what was promised by Apple.

Cool! What are the specs of your Mac if I may ask?

[DaffyDuck]

aMSN won't start but that's a dodgy app anyway.

Because it's Java based -- there have been some significant changes to Java under the hood that impact Java apps.

[Bazzy]

My perception is that things are going faster, which is what was promised by Apple.

Cool! What are the specs of your Mac if I may ask?

I have a 2 year old Macbook white, 2GB RAM, 2.1Ghz processor.

[The Fresh Prince]

Just picked up my new Macbook Pro with snow leopard. Will let you know how it goes as I've literally just turned it on and come straight to TD.

I will say that the new trackpad is pretty cool but will take a little getting used to. Its got no separate 'mouse pad key' like on the last MBP, you can just click the whole thing. And you don't even need to click it, just a light touch does it. There's probably a sensitivity setting for it.

[The Fresh Prince]

I've not noticed anything new with Snow Leopard yet.

Only thing that I've noticed is that when I installed Vuse, my little green/yellow/red NAT indicator is gone from the bottom of the screen.

Is that anything to do with the new OS or have I missed a setting in Vuse somewhere?

[Marmite the Dog]

^ Maybe it uses Java which Snow Leopard seems to have fucked up?

[DaffyDuck]

^ Maybe it uses Java which Snow Leopard seems to have fucked up?

No, it hasn't fucked it up.

Snow Leopard has updated Java to Java 6, which will run in 64-bit mode on the majority of systems. This means that older 32-bit only Java applications will not run properly, or at all, under Snow Leopard.

A simple fix is to change the default JVM to 32-bit using the Java Preferences application (under /Applications/Utilities)

Now, I'm sure there will debates over Apple forcing this change -- I feel that it is valid and mandated, simply because it forces Java application vendors and authors to release 64-bit versions of their applications. If Apple had shipped the 32-bit version by default, there would be no insentive, and most Java vendors would continue being the slackers that they are.

Yes, a short temporary inconvenience, but with 15 seconds of Googling, a simple work-around for the end-user, with a bigger picture of forcing increased compatibility for a 64-bit environment from vendors (which will benefit everyone).

So, far from having 'fucked it up', for those who can understand the complexities of the environment, Apple has done us a favor.