Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar

I can use MS applications; open source applications; I can program from the command line interface, learn Unix, use GUI applications, play games (albeit not the same amount as on Windows), smoothly set up internet sharing--and all on top of that beautiful interface known as Aqua. This is fantastic...And did I mention Apple's new Web Browser called Safari?

Seriously, this puts XP to shame. I wish I had changed over a long time ago. You wouldn't be in a state of regret after moving to Apple hardware and software I can assure you. Invest now.


Best OS gets better.   January 29, 2003
 4 out of 5 found this review helpful

MacOS X 10.2 is the first truly 'finished' version of your favourite operating system and with it comes unrivalled stability and more new features than you'd think. Screen drawing is now handled by Quartz Extreme which, along with a shadowed mouse pointer, brings graphics handling by your (supported) graphics card, freeing up the processor to deal with whatever else you may have on the go. This yields some speed gains, and each point revision seems to gain in speed (though not necessarily on older hardware which doesn't support the features). Additionally, the latest Apple iLife software requires 10.2 to run so you're going to be left behind if you don't upgrade. I'm currently running Jaguar at awesome speed on a G4/867, but have it full-time and useful on a PowerBook G3/300. Whatever machine you have, if it's supported, you need this upgrade - the asking price is easily worth it for the productivity gains and the gorgeous Aqua inteface.


So good I would have paid for it   January 19, 2003
 0 out of 3 found this review helpful

Well, I got Jaguar for free so perhaps I shouldn't be writing this but I'm a newbie Mac User so this is my take. Jaguar (Mac OS X.2) is the OS I alway wanted when I was using Linux and now I get the best of both worlds. With Apples GUI knowhow and Fink I can have the power of a real GUI OS and the world of OpenSource at my fingertips. I had to buy a Mac to get it but until Apple moves to x86 this is as close as I'll get to Nirvana


It's a bit of a Beast!   December 10, 2002
 14 out of 15 found this review helpful

I was a little hesitent about buying OSX for my iMac, especially as it isn't totally compatible with OS9 applications, but I'm very happy to say I needn't have worried!
Installation is child's-play, just pop in the cd follow the very simple on screen instructions. - You don't even have to install 'X' onto a separate partition of your hard drive.
As for compatibility with OS9 and old applications, there isn't really a problem there either, if there isn't an OSX update on the internet for it - as long as you have OS9.1 or later installed, any time you need an old application just launch classic mode, and it will run very smoothy along-side OSX, you can even switch between the two anytime you require something from the other.

The new 'Aqua' interface looks and feels stunning!! some of the features are similar to 0S9, so you won't feel too out of depth, and some are new, such as the dock at the bottom of the screen for launching programs and organizing windows.
I love the little touches that have been added, such as the way icons bounce up and down in the dock as they are being launched and how the windows minimalise just like a genie!
Other improvements include multiple users, which is a 100% improvement over OS9, the new "Mail" application, with junk mail filtering (a lot better than outlook express) as well as "iPhoto" a much needed application if you have a digital camera, and for those unfortunate enough not to use a Mac, improved sharing with window's computers too.

All in all a very powerful, highly stable new OS (you can even relaunch the finder without affecting other programs.) A very worthwhile upgrade, miles ahead of it's rivals & now the bugs from earlier releases have been ironed out and there is a lot more support for it, a great time to buy!