Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 22 October 2007 15:36
Opinion and Analysis
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It’s not just existing Mac owners that Apple wants to entice with Mac
OS X 10.5 ‘Leopard’, but the vast number of Windows XP and Vista users
who could easily tempted by having a Mac and a PC in the same computer
– with other unannounced Leopard surprises inevitable!
The newest and shiniest ever version of Mac OS X, 10.5, is due for release in just a few days time on October 26, boasting 300 new features, an inbuilt backup feature called ‘Time Machine’, the built-in ability to support the running of Windows XP or Vista natively on the Mac, an improved file explorer in ‘Finder’ with the CoverFlow feature from iTunes and the latest iPods, the iPhone and plenty more.
It’s undeniably the best version of the Mac OS ever, built on a solid foundation and undergoing regular upgrades to gently transition users to new features and capabilities slowly and methodically, instead of in a big bang fashion every few years.
The ability to run Windows XP or Vista natively, or at the same time using virtualization software from VMware or Parallels, gives Windows users the safety net that the Mac can actually run all their Windows software if they want to – all they need to do is to supply a legal copy of Windows XP or Vista and load it through Boot Camp, Apple’s feature to run Windows natively on a Mac – at full speed and with full compatibility.
OS X also benefits greatly from the fact the range of Mac computers it can run on, and all their configurations, are a known quantity to Apple, making it much easier to deal with any compatibility issues. The number of models in question is infinitesimally smaller than the tens of millions of PCs in their near infinite range of configurations that Windows has always had to deal with.
But as Apple has dropped the word ‘Computer’ from its name, now wanting to be referred “to as Apple, Inc.”, OS X is no longer an operating system only for the traditional computer, but one that now runs an incredible new interface that transforms the mobile experience on the iPhone and the iPod Touch, taking it to a new level of incredibly simplicity that just works.
Having shown the iPhone to many people, it’s clear from many of their reactions that the iPhone does things and works in ways that they didn’t even think was possible, creating a new level of expectation for consumers.
Being able to so radically change the interface of a handheld computer and communications device for the better challenges virtually every other company connected in some way with technology to the interaction we all have with their products and services to bring those experiences into the 21st century.
The iPhone is just the first step into a true 21st century interface for mobile devices, and OS X Leopard is at the core. Key developers were taken from the Leopard team to help finish the iPhone on time, delaying Leopard’s release until October 26.
Clearly, OS X can do more than power the iPhone and the iPod Touch. It can easily power another class of mobile device, an iPhone on steroids with a larger screen, 3.5G HSDPA connection, office suite software such as a mobile Pages, Numbers and Keynote, and could easily be made compatible with Bluetooth keyboards, especially one as nice as Apple’s just released new version which is ultra thin and omits the numeric keypad.
Of course such a device would still have Wi-Fi, at least 32GB of flash storage, and hopefully some ports, like a video out, USB and Firewire and audio in/out ports at least.
Would this be an iPhone Pro, or a MacBook Nano? Are they the same thing?
One thing’s for sure – if or rather when it’s released, whatever its name will be – it will be running OS X Leopard or a customised variation thereof – with applications created by Apple, existing partners like Google and Yahoo, and from third party developers, although whether those applications will have to be downloaded from iTunes or can simply be downloaded from the Internet as with any desktop or notebook computer today.
And just so there’s no confusion, naturally Mac OS X Leopard 10.5, the version of OS X designed for all current and recent desktop and portable Mac computers lets you download any compatible software from any source on the Internet and download it as usual.
This isn’t just Apple’s chance to take market share from Microsoft and PC makers with customers that choose to buy Apple computers and use the Mac OS X operating system, whether they choose to also run Windows, Linux or other operating systems at the same time or just Mac OS X alone.
So, what future now faces Apple - and when might new iPhone-based products be unleashed onto the world? Please read on to page 2 to read the conclusion on the world's digitally coolest 800 pound gorilla!
