In marketing Leopard , Apple does n’t suggest that you should upgrade to the latest version of Mac OS 10 simply because it ’s new than the translation you ’re using now . Nor does Apple prove to win over you that Leopard is deserving the price of upgrading simply because it has a bunch of shiny novel technologies . Both of those thing may be straight . But Apple recognize ( quite rightly ) that Mac users do n’t automatically upgrade to a fresh operating system just because the company get one available .

Two and a one-half years ago , when Tiger was newfangled , Apple touted its 200 - plus raw feature . Leopard boasts an astounding 300 - plus additions . ( See thefull tilt . ) Apple knows that no undivided Leopard drug user will ever take vantage of all 300 . The caller only has to convince you that some subset of them is worth $ 129 .

Most user wo n’t give care about Russian and Polish localizations for Mac OS go — but speakers of Russian and Polish surely will . Almost nobody will purchase Leopard just for AutoFS , a new technology that prevent the Finder from whirl its bicycle when it loses contact with a distant file server — but those people in the know will certainly let in it on their listing of reasonableness to promote .

you’re able to see how Andy Ihnatko does the upgrade math on page 128 . For our critical survey of Leopard ’s major raw features , check out this month ’s cover story on Sir Frederick Handley Page 54 . And you’llfind the resultsof a “ draft ” we conducted just before Leopard ’s release , in which eightMacworldeditors each picked their ten favourite new Leopard feature of speech .

The main event

Selling people on petite feature film is n’t an gentle affair . commercialise a production involve a bare content , which Apple create by tally a few pavilion characteristic to the larger collection of good new stuff underlying most operating system updates .

In the case of Leopard , Time Machine is one of these marquee feature film . I ca n’t really contend with Apple ’s decision there . Time Machine manages to make support up your data point less boring , and I think that ’s a vast leap onward . I really think that a few month from now , a legal age of Mac user will have fully backed up their data — a far cry from today . And Time Machine ’s file cabinet - push back arrangement will really change how we interact with our files . Within three days of using Time Machine , I discovered that I was tossing filing cabinet into the Trash more often , positive that if I really postulate one of them , I could retrieve it from my Time Machine backup .

Quick Look , which countenance you peer into file contents directly from the Finder , is another of Leopard ’s secret plan - change feature article . It ’s a uncomplicated touch that will make most Mac users more productive . ( At least it will as soon as we learn to replace that reflexive double - click with a quick tap of the spacebar . )

In addition to such inwardness features , Apple is marketing the Leopard upgrade with updates to the programs that come with the operating system of rules . Leopard include improved reading of Mail , iCal , iChat , and numerous other built - in programs that many of us have come in to rely on every sidereal day .

To my psyche , one of the most telling betterment in Leopard is one that Apple really is n’t touting — mostly because it ’s kind of embarrassing . Spotlight , the engineering that lets you find anything on your Mac just by typing a few words in a search box , was one of Tiger ’s pavilion features . But that first version of Spotlight was inflexible and sluggish . The sound news is , Apple has massively ameliorate Spotlight in Leopard . It ’s more flexible and alotfaster .

Then there are the tweaks and fixes scattered throughout the nook and crannies . For example , Preview ( which in some ways Quick Look supersedes ) has gain some courteous tools for act upon with PDFs . I ’m also proud of with some welcome improvements in security , networking , and other under - the - bonnet features .

Making the upgrade

Over the years , Apple has done a fantastic task of packing enough new stuff into its Mac OS disco biscuit upgrade to get users to buy in . ( When I narrate people in the Windows cosmos about the velocity at which Macworld readers and Mac drug user in general buy new operating organization , they ’re dismayed . The Windows world is much slow to upgrade . ) Given what ’s in Leopard , I guess most active Mac substance abuser ( and that include all Macworld reader ) will recover enough to justify buying that upgrade . After all this time , it ’s playfulness to have a brand - unexampled cat-o'-nine-tails to meet with .

[ Which Leopard feature are calling to you ? Have you made the ascent yet ? bring together the word in the Macworld Forums , or drop me a billet . ]