This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/technology/7062593.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Apple ready to set Leopard free Apple ready to set Leopard free
(5 days later)
Leopard, the latest update of the Apple Mac operating system OS X, goes on sale on Friday.Leopard, the latest update of the Apple Mac operating system OS X, goes on sale on Friday.
The release ends months of waiting for Mac fans, after Apple pushed back the launch to finish development on its much-hyped iPhone.The release ends months of waiting for Mac fans, after Apple pushed back the launch to finish development on its much-hyped iPhone.
Early reviews for Leopard have been positive with veteran technology writer Walt Mossberg calling it "evolutionary, not revolutionary".Early reviews for Leopard have been positive with veteran technology writer Walt Mossberg calling it "evolutionary, not revolutionary".
Apple is hoping to build on recent strong sales of its Mac computers.Apple is hoping to build on recent strong sales of its Mac computers.
In the last three months, Apple sold 2.2 million Macs, up 400,000 on its previous best quarter.In the last three months, Apple sold 2.2 million Macs, up 400,000 on its previous best quarter.
The company is touting Leopard as a Vista-beater, pointing to new features not found in the new operating system (OS) from Microsoft that drives many PCs.The company is touting Leopard as a Vista-beater, pointing to new features not found in the new operating system (OS) from Microsoft that drives many PCs.
LEOPARD'S NEW SPOTS Time Machine - automatic file back-upStacks - related files and folders grouped automaticallySpaces -keep separate desktops for different usesQuick Look - Examines the contents of a file without having to open the related programCoverflow Finder - flick through files and folders like album art in iTunesBoot Camp - run Windows on a Mac Apple says there are 300 new features in Leopard, but some of them are minor tweaks to the previous OS, called Tiger, rather than fully-fledged tools or enhancements.Leopard comes in one flavour for all usersWriting in the Wall Street Journal, Mossberg said: "I believe it builds on Apple's quality advantage over Windows.
Apple says there are 300 new features in Leopard, but some of them are minor tweaks to the previous OS, called Tiger, rather than fully-fledged tools or enhancements.
Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Mossberg said: "I believe it builds on Apple's quality advantage over Windows.
"In my view, Leopard is better and faster than Vista, with a set of new features that make Macs even easier to use.""In my view, Leopard is better and faster than Vista, with a set of new features that make Macs even easier to use."
'Few disappointments''Few disappointments'
In the New York Times, technology columnist David Pogue wrote: "Happy surprises, and very few disappointments, lie around every corner."In the New York Times, technology columnist David Pogue wrote: "Happy surprises, and very few disappointments, lie around every corner."
At the MacLiveExpo, being held in London, there was a mixed response from attendees on whether they would be rushing out to buy Leopard on day one.At the MacLiveExpo, being held in London, there was a mixed response from attendees on whether they would be rushing out to buy Leopard on day one.
Many of the delegates said they would wait for the operating system to "bed down" before they bought it.Many of the delegates said they would wait for the operating system to "bed down" before they bought it.
"I never buy any operating system when it first comes out. I normally wait until it has been out for six months or a year," said David Ramage, a Mac user from Luton."I never buy any operating system when it first comes out. I normally wait until it has been out for six months or a year," said David Ramage, a Mac user from Luton.
Vista has been quite a disappointment for many people and Leopard could be the reason many people make the switch to Macs Nik Rawlinson, editor of MacUser magazine He added: "Tiger does what I need it to do right now. I've not seen anything in Leopard to make me want to buy it immediately." LEOPARD'S NEW SPOTS Time Machine - automatic file back-upStacks - related files and folders grouped automaticallySpaces -keep separate desktops for different usesQuick Look - Examines the contents of a file without having to open the related programCoverflow Finder - flick through files and folders like album art in iTunesBoot Camp - run Windows on a Mac class="" href="/1/hi/technology/7066995.stm">REVIEW: LEOPARD'S NEW SPOTS For developers, a new operating system means having to work to ensure their programs run smoothly on the new platform.
He added: "Tiger does what I need it to do right now. I've not seen anything in Leopard to make me want to buy it immediately."
For developers, a new operating system means having to work to ensure their programs run smoothly on the new platform.
Ben Rudolph, director of communications at SWSoft, makers of Parallels, said Leopard was a big step forward for Apple and "would continue to drive sales of Macs".Ben Rudolph, director of communications at SWSoft, makers of Parallels, said Leopard was a big step forward for Apple and "would continue to drive sales of Macs".
Parallels lets users run Windows and Linux alongside OS X on a single Apple machine.Parallels lets users run Windows and Linux alongside OS X on a single Apple machine.
Mr Rudolph said Parallels would run smoothly under Leopard, barring any last minute changes to the code released by Apple.Mr Rudolph said Parallels would run smoothly under Leopard, barring any last minute changes to the code released by Apple.
"If that happens, we'll release a free, automatic update to account for them very soon after Leopard's launch," he said."If that happens, we'll release a free, automatic update to account for them very soon after Leopard's launch," he said.
Of the new features in Leopard, Mr Rudolph said he was looking forward to being able to take advantage of his Mac's 64-bit architecture. Of the new features in Leopard, Mr Rudolph said he was looking forward to being able to take advantage of his Mac's 64-bit architecture. Vista has been quite a disappointment for many people and Leopard could be the reason many people make the switch to Macs Nik Rawlinson, editor of MacUser magazine The new OS takes full advantage of the latest generation of chips inside Apple machines, while running applications on older processors also.
The new OS takes full advantage of the latest generation of chips inside Apple machines, while running applications on older processors also.
Features like Stacks gathers related material together
"I'm also looking forward to new user-experience features like Stacks, which should help me organise my incredibly messy desktop, and Spaces, which lets me cycle between different desktops.""I'm also looking forward to new user-experience features like Stacks, which should help me organise my incredibly messy desktop, and Spaces, which lets me cycle between different desktops."
Nik Rawlinson, editor of MacUser magazine, said many users would get Leopard in its first few weeks on sale.Nik Rawlinson, editor of MacUser magazine, said many users would get Leopard in its first few weeks on sale.
"When Tiger was launched it earned Apple $120m very quickly and all the expectations are that sales will be double that." "When Tiger was launched it earned Apple $120m very quickly and all the expectations are that sales will be double that."Features like Stacks gathers related material togetherHe added: "Vista has been quite a disappointment for many people and Leopard could be the reason many people make the switch to Macs."
He added: "Vista has been quite a disappointment for many people and Leopard could be the reason many people make the switch to Macs."
He said he felt Leopard had enough new features to distinguish itself from Microsoft's Vista.He said he felt Leopard had enough new features to distinguish itself from Microsoft's Vista.
"A lot of things that were previously only add-ons in the Mac world, such as the Apple TV interface, are now integrated into the OS."A lot of things that were previously only add-ons in the Mac world, such as the Apple TV interface, are now integrated into the OS.
"That is competing directly with Media Center on Windows PCs. Apple has seen that Microsoft has moved forward in some areas and is responding.""That is competing directly with Media Center on Windows PCs. Apple has seen that Microsoft has moved forward in some areas and is responding."
A review and video overview of Leopard will be published on the BBC News website on Monday.A review and video overview of Leopard will be published on the BBC News website on Monday.