The wait is over. Apple's next generation of its operating system, Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, has hit the ground running. Are you ready for it? We'll help you get prepared. You can read all the details in our full review of Mac OS X Leopard. The quick rundown is that the grace of Leopard's interface enhancements makes productivity more pleasurable with a Mac, and more than 300 functional and fun features top off this update. The outstanding Finder looks exactly as it does in Tiger. And you can once again change the grid spacing, restoring a long-lost piece of functionality last seen in Mac OS 9. Also giving old-time Mac users reasons to be happy are the addition of spring-loaded folders on the Dock, easier widget construction, intuitive switching between desktops and apps, and a cosmetic makeover for the Finder Help menu.
Mac OS X Leopard CNET editors' review
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
The good: Elegant backup via Time Machine; Finder offers powerful navigation tweaks; novel workspace customization through Spaces' virtual desktops; integration with Web data and applications; Cover Flow visualizes file browsing; iChat Theater offers green-screen backgrounds and lets users access each others' desktops; Bootcamp included.
The bad: Leopard was afflicted in some cases by installation woes and application failures; some new features, such as geotagging, aren't obvious to find; users with older Macs can't run Leopard.
The bottom line: The grace of Leopard's interface enhancements makes productivity more pleasurable with a Mac, as more than 300 functional and fun features top off this update.
Mac OS X Leopard blogs
The Macalope: An Apple blog
Latest OS X Leopard news
Year in review: Apple's iPhone takes off
In 2008, Apple arrived as a full-fledged smartphone company, and the Mac gained share. Both put the company in great financial shape. Read more
December 15, 2008Week in review: Yahoo's bitter pill for Icahn
Yahoo's poison pill may keep Yang with the company. Icahn sets a price and sets out his terms. Meanwhile, we await what's up Steve Jobs' sleeve. Also: Green tech. Read more
June 06, 2008Week in review: Psystar and the Mac minions
A saga surrounding Mac clone maker Psystar grabs the attention of Macdom. And news from three tech bellwethers offers reassurance.
(By CNET News.com's Leslie Katz) Read more
Vista, Leopard, Linux to compete in hack contest
An ethical hacking contest will pit the three operating systems against each other next month at CanSecWest conference. Read more
February 07, 2008Mac OS X Leopard help from MacFixIt
CNET Mac OS X forum
CNET's forum on Mac OS is a great source for finding help or getting troubleshooting advice from a community of experts. Discussions cover Mac OS X, Mac OS X Leopard, Mac OS X Tiger, Mac networking, Mac troubleshooting, Safari, and other Mac OS-related questions. Read more
Shopping for Mac OS X Leopard and Apple hardware
Mac OS X 10.5 hasn't hit stores yet, so if you're not willing to wait for Leopard, you can get the latest Tiger OS for $129. Apple's brand-new iMacs are sleeker and more powerful than ever, loaded with updated versions of iLife and iWork for 2008. The base 20-inch version costs $1,199, and a more powerful 20-inch model goes for $1,499. The 24-inch model costs $1,799, or $200 less than the previous 24-inch version. The most recent MacBook will run you about $1,299, while the bigger MacBook Pro goes for $2,499. On the desktop front, you can opt for a compact Mac Mini ($799), an iMac ($1,999 for the model with the 24-inch display), or a Mac Pro ($2,499).
Price: $109.00 to $129.99
Check prices |
Read review
Mac software
Mac laptops
Apple MacBook (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M)
Price: $1,455.00 to $1,599.99
Apple MacBook Pro (Core 2 Duo 2.53GHz, Nvidia GeForce 9400M w/ 512MB)
Price: $2,125.00 to $2,499.98
Mac desktops
Apple iMac (24-inch, 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Winter 2009)
Price: $1,439.00 to $1,499.99
Apple Mac Mini (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 120GB, Winter 2009)
Price: $579.00 to $599.99
Mac peripherals
Learn about the Apple Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system
A bit late but no less anticipated, Apple's new operating system, Mac OS X 10.5, aka Leopard, hit stores on October 26 and packs in a dozen high-profile features and more than 300 fun and functional changes.
One of the most intriguing and well-publicized new features is Time Machine, an automatic backup and version-control application. Time Machine backs up entire systems on a regular basis, and users can scroll back in time to review past versions then drag back into the present any file deleted in the past.
Also included are virtual desktops, known as Spaces; BootCamp, for running Windows; and the new iChat Theater which allows users to display iPhoto slide shows, Keynote presentations, and QuickTime movies to their chat buddies.
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard photos
Inside Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
Leopard has a slicker, more reflective look than previous versions of Mac OS X.
Fourteen views of Mac OS 10.5 Leopard
Out of the 300 new Leopard features, here are photos of 14. While there are no "killer apps" to speak of in the mix, what we saw only heightened our anticipation for that final release.
Preview Mac OS X Leopard
Perhaps the most intriguing new feature for developers and end users alike is Time Machine, an automatic backup and version-control application. See it and more exciting Leopard features in this photo gallery.
See all photos
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard video
First Look: Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
The new Mac OS has a wealth of new features that will keep Mac lovers happy.
Four new features in Leopard
Josh Lowensohn takes a look at four new features in Leopard that you may enjoy.
At WWDC, Jobs showed off new Leopard features
Steve Jobs took the stage at the 2007 Worldwide Developers Conference for his keynote address, and the focus was on Leopard. See it here, along with Jobs' demo of Leopard's new desktop and Finder.
WWDC hot topics: Leopard, Safari, and iPhone apps
Gartner's Van Baker and Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies pick the big news from Steve Jobs' WWDC keynote address.
Jobs takes a jab at Vista
Apple CEO Steve Jobs takes a swipe at Microsoft's Vista pricing scheme by announcing OS X Leopard is optimized for casual users and enterprises--and everyone will pay the same $129 price.
Big game titles ready for OS X 10.5
Games for the Mac? You bet. See the big-name games Electronic Arts and Id Software are prepping to (finally) port to the Mac.
- Popular topics
- Apple iPhone
- Apple iPod
- CES
- Cell phones
- Dell
- GPS
- CNET sites
- CNET Site map
- CNET TV
- Downloads
- News
- Reviews
- Shopper.com
- More information
- Newsletters
- Corrections
- Customer Help Center
- RSS
- CNET Widgets
- About CNET
-
TOP PRODUCTS FROM TOP BRANDS
