Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther) Shipping

[MacRumors]

Readers have started receiving shipping notices for Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther).

Mac OS X 10.3 retail boxes are shipping from Apple's Online Store and should start arriving to end-users earlier than then the official October 24th Release Event.

Distribution channels also started shipping Panther to Apple Stores and Resellers starting on Monday to provide stock for the Friday release. Apple's Night of the Panther release party takes place at 8 p.m. at local Apple Stores and certain resellers.

Reports hint that Apple is going "all out" for the Panther Apple Store events.

 

[arvidvdb]

hip hip huray!

 

[valypan]

Sounds great! Anybody in Europe who has received a shipping notice?? Still waiting here

 

[Phazer80s]

Here it comes, folks!

This is what (a lot of us) have been waiting for for quite a while. Apple's quoted shipping date "before the end of the year" has come. I'm sure glad it wasn't December 24 or something like that.

The font management and the reputed faster UI are worth the upgrade alone.

Enough grief over what didn't happen; Panther's almost here. Hats 'n' horns all around!!!!

 

[alset]

Today just keeps getting better. If I'm not careful, I might O.D. on positivity.

Dan

 

[Oirectine]

Let the 10.4 rumors begin! I'll start. A very trustworthy source has told me 10.4 is code-named "Garfield."

 

[samatheson]

:-\

No shipping notice for me yet, and I ordered ~30 minutes after it was announced.

I did check my online status though, and it seems my shipping was changed to 2-day... though I paid for overnight.

I also got the educational discount, perhaps that has something to do with it?

eirp.

I attached a some screenshots I took of the email and online order page, put together in photoshop, so bored cause it's so late.

 

[MasterMac]

It hasen't been shipped for me either hopefully that will change when I wake up in about 6 hours

 

[greenstork]

Okay, I have to ask, and forgive my ignorance, but is Panther going to have to be a clean install as was recommended for Jaguar? For some reason, it was important to wipe the drive clean before installing Jaguar but I can't remember exactly why.

Even if it isn't necessary, could someone give some insight into possible advantages/disadvantages of performing a clean install as opposed to an upgrade.

I'd rather keep my application settings if this is possible. I don't mind rebuilding the Dock, Desktop, etc. but it would be a pain to re-enter information for Mail, Dreamweaver, Safari bookmarks etc. Any info appreciated, thanks.

 

[woodsey]

Here is my account details

whats with road shipping?

I didnt get a choice of shipping type...

maybe cos im in Australia

 

[Ajohn]

Powerbook updates?

Do any of the Powerbook owners whose registrations slipped in and got the free UtD received shipping notices?

 

[sethypoo]

Yes!

I'll be at an Apple Store on Friday by 9. Here's hoping they aren't sold out and are still giving student discounts!

So now what? What's the next hot rumor to abound on this wonderful site? I say we go over PowerBook G5's.....12 inch G5 anyone?

Oh, does anyone know if I will be able to play DVD+R's after I install Panther? It talks about DVD+R's on the Apple website (Panther preview), but I'm still unclear on whether or not my actual drive will support reading DVD+R. Help would be appreciated!

 

[mvora]

No .edu Panther at the Apple Store

Sethypoo,

A few words of warning. I called the Apple Store the day Jaguar was released, and they told me I could buy the .edu Jaguar. I waited in line, picked up a copy, and said I wanted the educational discount.

That is where my purchase came to a screeching halt. I talked to the manager of the store, and apparently, you can buy discounted educational hardware, but not software.

With hardware, the product is all the same, regardless of discounts. However, with software the .edu version of OS X is a separate product, in a separate sales channel.

So unless things have changed in the last year, buy it online and save yourself a trip...

 

[trianglejuice]

Originally posted by greenstork
Okay, I have to ask, and forgive my ignorance, but is Panther going to have to be a clean install as was recommended for Jaguar? For some reason, it was important to wipe the drive clean before installing Jaguar but I can't remember exactly why.

No clean install is necessary.

Even if it isn't necessary, could someone give some insight into possible advantages/disadvantages of performing a clean install as opposed to an upgrade.

You can get rid of all the small problems (and useless files, like preferences from apps you got rid of), caused by Jaguar of earlier OS's.

I'd rather keep my application settings if this is possible. I don't mind rebuilding the Dock, Desktop, etc. but it would be a pain to re-enter information for Mail, Dreamweaver, Safari bookmarks etc. Any info appreciated, thanks.

Burn your Preferences folder (located in: ~/users/yourusername/Library/) on a cd. Then perform a clean install. When Panther is installed, replace the newly made Preferences folder with the one you burned on cd.

 

[woodsey]

Re: No .edu Panther at the Apple Store

Originally posted by mvora
Sethypoo,

A few words of warning. I called the Apple Store the day Jaguar was released, and they told me I could buy the .edu Jaguar. I waited in line, picked up a copy, and said I wanted the educational discount.

That is where my purchase came to a screeching halt. I talked to the manager of the store, and apparently, you can buy discounted educational hardware, but not software.

With hardware, the product is all the same, regardless of discounts. However, with software the .edu version of OS X is a separate product, in a separate sales channel.

So unless things have changed in the last year, buy it online and save yourself a trip...

thats strange. i think there would be a lot of students (like myself) who dont have a credit card and therefore would not be able to purchase it online.

I used my mums credit card, but I have friends whos parents dont let them use their credit card. How would these people purchase software at the edu price?

 

[mvora]

I think its lame they have this policy, but I understand (to some extent) why they do it. I guess a parallel would be Microsoft Office. The product (at least for the Mac) is identical for .edu versions vs. standard edition, however you have to buy the .edu version, you can't get a discount on the regular one.

As for ways to buy without a credit card, I know my school's computer store is going to be selling Panther on Monday. Also, the online Apple Store takes money orders, cashiers checks, and wire transfers. Besides, most students don't have an Apple Store within close proximity.

Of course, this didn't stop me from being pissed off when I found out I drove from Santa Cruz to San Jose and waited in line... for nothing.

 

[Bengt77]

Post from sleeping Mac or from it's user?!...

Originally posted by MasterMac
It hasen't been shipped for me either hopefully that will change when I wake up in about 6 hours

So, are you or is your Mac still asleep? Or both, which would be most intriguing...

 

[cheesy]

I'm guessing the people who's orders are already shipping live in the middle of nowhere. You shouldn't worry if yours hasn't shipped because it will probably simply take less time to get there. They have to stagger the shipment dates so that they all arrive on the 24th.

 

[reedm007]

Re: Re: No .edu Panther at the Apple Store

Originally posted by woodsey
I used my mums credit card, but I have friends whos parents dont let them use their credit card. How would these people purchase software at the edu price?

Here in the US, students/faculty can but it either:

1. At their on-campus Apple Reseller (most colleges have one)

2. Apple Store online using check, money order, wire, or credit card.

I can't say for sure that those options are the same in Australia, but it's certainly doable without a credit card here. The Apple Stores don't sell edu software since it has a different SKU and needs to go through edu retail channels (ie, resellers) for edu reps to properly get credited, from what i understand.

 

[mum]

Originally posted by valypan
Sounds great! Anybody in Europe who has received a shipping notice?? Still waiting here

Mine shipped today! WOOOOO

 

[AmigoMac]

where is that WOOOOO from?

Great for you ... mum?

mum tell us where in Europe you are...

Germany is waiting the black kitty as well

 

[Joep]

Also shipping to France

My copy was shipped today with TNT Express from Ireland... Guess that's where all european copies are coming from..

Ship via: TNT EXPRESS (IRELAND) LIMITED

 

[stoid]

Originally posted by cheesy
I'm guessing the people who's orders are already shipping live in the middle of nowhere. You shouldn't worry if yours hasn't shipped because it will probably simply take less time to get there. They have to stagger the shipment dates so that they all arrive on the 24th.

Unlikely, I live about as close to the middle of nowhere on a college campus as possible. There is a lot of nowhere up here in Northwest Missouri, and mine has yet to ship. Ordered on the 10th if that makes a difference...

 

[inkswamp]

Originally posted by trianglejuice
Burn your Preferences folder (located in: ~/users/yourusername/Library/) on a cd. Then perform a clean install. When Panther is installed, replace the newly made Preferences folder with the one you burned on cd.

I would highly recommend only replacing preference files as needed on a very selective basis. One of the rationales behind a major version number change in any software is that the basic file formats for the software may change (and typically they do.) I don't think you want to dump Jaguar preferences into Panther as the format for the OS-related preference files may be different. Presumably, Panther will be smart enough to know how to deal with old pref files upon startup, but IMO, you'd be better off trying to live without the old preferences and just taking the few minutes to reset everything in your control panels and the Finder preferences and whatnot.

 

[Swift]

Apple going all out indeed

I'm hired to do a demo/sales event at the local Fry's Electronics at the launch. Really good thing? Yes. Best? We get a free copy of Panther on Wednesday!