Apple Already Nearing Golden Master Candidate Versions of Mac OS X Lion?

[cult hero]

Can't believe it's anywhere near GM time. Way too many bugs and inconsistencies in behavior. New networking tools in Server have to be implemented now that SMB is being canned - that's not a minor addition. Calling it a release candidate is a stretch, but calling it GM is just plain crazy.

The GPL3 issue with Samba has been around for a LONG time. The announcement was made in 2007. I have some feeling that Apple's been brewing their Samba replacement for a long time. (Although I don't think this is a GM either.)

About the only thing that I find disappointing about this release is the lack of a new filesystem. However, that might just be because coming from a Linux background I probably payed WAY more attention to filesystems than most people.

 

[sparkleytone]

What is it with all the complaining? Lion is a fresh direction for OS X, of course it will be paid. It will probably cost $129, so go ahead and get yourself all cried out now about it. If you think it’s just a minor revision that should be given away for free or $29:

1) Don’t buy it
2) You’re wrong

Full-screen apps along is just…why haven’t we been doing this all along?

 

[Reach9]

Already done eh? Sounds great, can't wait to see it in WWDC.

 

[brewno]

I tested Lion, and removed it after a month. Not buying it. I'll use Snow Leopard, it's the best OS so far. I'll see the one after Lion, maybe there will be something interesting.

 

[Cougarcat]

Can't believe it's anywhere near GM time. Way too many bugs and inconsistencies in behavior. New networking tools in Server have to be implemented now that SMB is being canned - that's not a minor addition. Calling it a release candidate is a stretch, but calling it GM is just plain crazy.

Keep in mind that the developer build was probably already a month or two old when it was released. Wait and see what the next version is like.

 

[pika2000]

Sandy Bridge iMac + Lion.

 

[LarryC]

im using snow leopard, will all my documents and apps gone if i upgrade to lion ?

The short answer is no. There are always different types of installation. One is called archive and install. You really should have your things backed up to another hard drive or to disc just in case anything goes wrong. Actually everybody "should" have all of their data backed up to a reliable source at all times.

 

[addicted44]

About the only thing that I find disappointing about this release is the lack of a new filesystem.

I am disappointed about this too. But I am not surprised. Apple's next filesystem was going to be ZFS. But Sun being purchased by Oracle has probably killed any chance of that happening.

The newer Linux FS'es are just not stable enough at the point (or don't do things Apple has somehow managed to bake into HFS+, like the snapshots, and things like directory Hard Links, etc). I don't see Apple moving to any version of ReiserFS or ext#, so I think we are stuck with HFS+ and extensions/improvements of it, until the ZFS situation gets clearer.

 

[addicted44]

I don't know that #2 matters that much. A vast majority of the people buying the OS couldn't care less about the server tools. In fact of all the Mac users I know personally, I'd be the only one that would care about their inclusion.

Also, we don't know that the price point will be $129.00 yet. The price point is something I am VERY interested in seeing though. Will it be that high? Or will it be as cheap as Snow Leopard? Or somewhere in the middle? I'm personally guessing it'll be the latter. The AppStore is changing the general population's idea of what software should cost (which is, in my opinion, one of the best things about it). So we'll see.

Right on both counts. Still, I think its amazing that we might be getting a server class OS for what will most likely be less than $129.

 

[addicted44]

Full-screen apps along is just…why haven’t we been doing this all along?

The first time this thought crossed my mind was when I first used WriteRoom, to write a paper. Many seem to think (and Apple has intimated as much) that Full Screen Apps originated from iOS. I think this is wrong. I think Apple first thought about these with WriteRoom, which is why Pages was the first App to get the Full Screen treatment.

Combining it with the new form of spaces is a genius move though.

 

[cult hero]

I am disappointed about this too. But I am not surprised. Apple's next filesystem was going to be ZFS. But Sun being purchased by Oracle has probably killed any chance of that happening.

The newer Linux FS'es are just not stable enough at the point (or don't do things Apple has somehow managed to bake into HFS+, like the snapshots, and things like directory Hard Links, etc). I don't see Apple moving to any version of ReiserFS or ext#, so I think we are stuck with HFS+ and extensions/improvements of it, until the ZFS situation gets clearer.

Oracle's acquisition of Sun was just... bad. I have nothing good to say about that.

I loved ReiserFS (v3 anyway). I was using it in beta on Slackware about as early as I could.

And for my unnecessary griping about HFS+, I've never had a problem with it the whole time I've used Macs (so, about 6 years now). ZFS would be cool though.

 

[syklee26]

I have a feeling Apple won't charge $129 for Lion. It is not going to be easy to tell users that, after charging only $29 for SL, they are back to charging $129.

I feel like Apple may charge around $49 for Lion.

This is unless Jobs is going to be at WWDC with some really awesome secret features in his sleeve, like he did with Leopard.

 

[cult hero]

Right on both counts. Still, I think its amazing that we might be getting a server class OS for what will most likely be less than $129.

It is cool. (Although technically I get my main server class OS for free with Linux. )

Since the introduction of the Mac Mini server though I think Apple was kinda pointing in the direction they were going with servers which is out of the Enterprise and into SOHO and in general the move makes a lot of sense. Even though I do a lot of Linux admin work, at the main office I service we're running a pair of Mac Mini Servers and they are absolutely brain dead to set up.

The SOHO (especially the HO portion) is simply not going to drop $500 - $1000 on a server OS. I think with Lion, Apple's gonna hit a home run in that niche—a niche that, in my opinion, is growing and is underserved. If their Samba replacement will behave like a proper domain controller in a Windows environment, even if it's not feature complete, you'll see a lot of the SO portion look twice at it.

 

[mikemac11]

This post made me laugh. As a developer who is actively testing and reporting bugs I can tell you that without a doubt this is 100% false. My dozen of bug reports combined with a lot of different discussions happening in the developer forums is a pretty clear indicator they have a while to go.

Side note: Really? Techcrunch?

 

[Mr Fusion]

MacOS X 10.7 Lion a.k.a. $79 iDevice Service Pack 1

Yet another unimpressive "major" update to an O/S that's showing it's age and irrelevance. (Hell it's already to most consumers nothing more than "That thing you gotta hook your iPad up to to make it work.) Compared to the iDevice world, the computer side of Apple has ground to a halt. Is it intentional I wonder...?

Enough!! Combine MacOS and iOS already!!! The transition is so painfully slow, would someone else in tech get off their lazy ass and prod these guys to move a LITTLE quicker?!?

 

[G4DP]

So what we saw in the pre-view was basically it?

I hope not. because they'll have a hard time to justify the £100 upgrade charge if it is.

 

[kiljoy616]

Already?

Dam I just got updating Windows 7 SP1 just two weeks ago and Apple already has a new OS coming out. What is MS doing over there in Washington oh yeah using one hand.

 

[MacAddict1978]

Since the release of Leopard, the subsequent releases haven't had the wow factor of before.

Just what I think anyway.

Agreed, and while I'm excited to see this one won't be delayed and Summer might not = September for Apple... I'm kinda bummed. I was hoping there were some sweet things not yet seen. Revamped interface, secret cool feature that would make me ache to have this one day 1... and guess not so much.

I'll still buy in on day 2 though. hehe

 

[3282868]

No way. The current Lion is a developer preview and not even a beta. For third party applications to test their products on OS X 10.7, just as any 10.X, there are dozens of beta's before it even reaches GM. As a developer since 10.1, I can assure you there has never been an instance of such. Currently Apple is examining the hundreds of bug reports filed by developers as well as many other suggestions before releasing the first official beta.

If the remote chance this is valid and Apple has set a new precendent for OS X development, then I would know well that Apple officially cares less about OS X and much more about iOS (as evident by the dozens of iOS updates for all iOS devices to date).

This post made me laugh. As a developer who is actively testing and reporting bugs I can tell you that without a doubt this is 100% false. My dozen of bug reports combined with a lot of different discussions happening in the developer forums is a pretty clear indicator they have a while to go.

Side note: Really? Techcrunch?

On point.

 

[MacAddict1978]

I tested Lion, and removed it after a month. Not buying it. I'll use Snow Leopard, it's the best OS so far. I'll see the one after Lion, maybe there will be something interesting.

Would you mind elaborating? Like, why you didn't like it? What about it made you compelled to remove and decide not to buy? And please don't say bugs. It was a beta.

 

[wordoflife]

I won't be updating soon if it will cost $129. Lion wouldn't be worth it to me for that price.

 

[SeanM]

I think Apple will probably charge $79 for Lion and distribute it via the Mac App Store (at least as an option).

Same price as the iLife suite and smack dab in the middle of Leopard ($129) and Snow Leopard's pricing ($29). That'd be the sweet spot IMO.

 

[Cougarcat]

I don't see Apple moving to any version of ReiserFS or ext#, so I think we are stuck with HFS+ and extensions/improvements of it, until the ZFS situation gets clearer.

Apple abandoned ZFS due to licensing and they're working on their own new file system.

 

[G4DP]

Some of the comments on this board are inane.

1) Launchpad is the selling point...Really? You think Versions, Resume, Mission Control, OS wide Full Screen App support are not selling points?
2) $129 is too much. This one cracks me up. Apple is bundling a $500 product into the OS (and other OS based servers are far more expensive) and people think $129 is too much?
3) When has Apple released an OS, and not shown new features on the final release keynote?

You thing the additional GUI enabled features in the Server version is worth $500? Others are more expensive because they are actual server class. Not a cheap bolt on.

All the "NEW" features are things that should have been preset since 10.2 at least.

Your clearly Apples ideal customer.

 

[johnj84]

Been on Lion for the past month and I can't see myself going back to Snow Leopard.