Perhaps more so than other Apple products, Mac OS X gets overlooked. For quite some time, in fact, it seemed as if even some of the most loyal Apple enthusiasts preferred Windows operating system to Mac OS X. And, while it is possible to run Windows on a Mac computer, more and more people are opting to stick with Mac OS X. As Apple has put more and more into developing a fantastic operating system, Mac OS X has evolved into a one of a kind operating system that is on par with Apple’s other top-of-the line products.
According to Apple, Mac OS X is “refined from installation to shutdown.” Apple goes on to say that, “In ways big and small, Mac OS X Snow Leopard makes your Mac faster, more reliable, and easier to use.” These statements are not based on mere conjecture, and are instead based on the vast improvements that Apple has implemented to its operating system. The following list encompasses just some of the updates that users can expect to find with the new Mac OS X Snow Leopard.
The Finder is now more advanced. The Finder tool is updated with 64-bit support, and what is known as Grand Central Dispatch, so that it is quicker to respond.
Expose and Stacks are altogether updated. The Expose and Stacks features have been updated so that they are now easier to scroll through and view items from. These features have a whole new look that consumers will find is very user-friendly.
Time Machine Backup is now quicker than ever. The updated Time Machine Backup feature is up to 80 percent faster than the Time Machine of old.
Quicker start up and shut down. Nothing tries the patience more than waiting for a computer to start up or shut down, and the Snow Leopard wakes up twice as quickly as before; and it shuts down up to 80 percent faster than before.
Installation is quicker and more reliable. Although Snow Leopard is the most comprehensive and reliable install yet, it has been streamlined so that it installs up to 50 percent quicker than before.
Minimal disk space. Snow Leopard uses less than half of the disk space that the old version did. In other words, Snow Leopard frees up 7GB of disk space.
QuickTime X. QuickTime X is the best version of QuickTime to date. It provides quick playback, easy Web uploads, and powerful editing tools.
Improved iChat. Snow Leopard provides the most reliable and easily accessible iChat yet. With the updated iChat, connecting for video chat has never been easier.
With all of these improvements, Apple is also quick to point out that Mac OS X Snow Leopard is “refined, not reinvented.” In other words, Apple has not abandoned its “simplicity, reliability, and ease of use” when developing this operating system, so users will be happy to find the same intuitive feel that has come to be expected of Apple products.
