Mac OS X Leopard Upgrade Options

[mklos]

Hi all.
Forgive my ignorance, but if i do a clean install of leopard, how does it know what machine I am using. From what i see, the install disks that come with my laptops/imacs/mac pro all have a different 'disk 1' and the same 'disk 2' I assume on disk 1 is all the hardware specific things.. and disk 2 is generic.

Am i thinking too 'windows' and that the install is intelligent to know what the machine is, and then install the relevant applications/shortcuts/keyboards etc?

Is it better to do a clean install rather than an upgrade? Or am i thinking too 'windows' again?

Cheers!

It doesn't know nor does it care. If you need to reinstall the applications that came with your Mac, then you can use the restore DVD for that Mac to restore JUST the apps.

Sometimes it is best to do a clean install. It really depends on how long you've been using the Mac IMO. I always do a clean install. Then you know nothing is going to go wrong as a result of something like a conflict with a file or folder. You will find that one it does ship the majority of people who will have issues here will say they did an Upgrade. You can most likely get away with doing what called an Archieve and Install. This will make a new system folder, but keep you applications, documents, pictures, music, bookmarks, emails, etc intact. As always backup BEFORE you try any of these methods.

You're probably going to get 10 different answers to this question. All are based off their experience which may or may not apply to you. Everyone's Mac is different. So their situation may not apply to yours and visa versa.

 

[!¡ V ¡!]

I guess no more $69 for Edu. Oh well, Apple needed to fix that. Too many people took advantage of it (reselling on ebay, etc.).

In the past Apple used to ask for a Student Number, not anymore. Too bad for those who actually are student such as myself.

I ordered an iMac on september 25th, but it wasn´t delivered until october 14th .... do I qualify for an upgrade?

I believe your order has to be made on Oct 1, and not the delivery date.

When will the computer with pre-installed Leopard be available? Now?? October 26th?? December 30th??

Usually 2 weeks after it has been announced, so expect to pick up with OS 10.5 pre-installed on 26 Oct. Once an OS is announced that means Apple usually includes the extra disk into the present boxes and installs it on any Mac leaving its factories after the announced date. Supplies in stores vary depending on stock and supply.

$129?

Then why am I being charged $147 + tax?

Oh yeah, I live in the UK. Almost forgot.

SL

I know the feeling the U.K. and Europe feels, as the US dollar is tumbling us Canadians are getting ripped off by paying more for software and hardware. Though not by much.

 

[iVoid]

My $9.95 upgrade "ships by October 26th" according to my order placed today...

My order says "DELIVERS ON OCTOBER 26TH"

So it seems they will be shipping it out before hand to arrive on the 26th. I guess I know what I'm doing that weekend.

 

[iVoid]

i have a question a have a macbook get it on october 11, but not on apple store, can i get the update of leopard?

Yes, you should be able to get the $10 upgrade.

 

[aussie_geek]

Pre ordered.

Should I risk installing it on my dual 867. I know it is within spec but will it run like a slug??

aussie_geek

 

[!¡ V ¡!]

Dammit and dammit.

My MacBook Pro shipped Sept 22nd, nine days too early for the upgrade. And I'm a university student, so $69 didn't seem too bad if I missed the $9.95 window.

Sigh. I guess it's Tiger for me for a while still. Strange how Microsoft is always knocked for Windows pricing being so bad, yet Mac OS educational only has an 11% discount now and Windows has a 200% discount (I got two copies of Vista Business Edition for free, completely legally from my department at school.)

Unless you failed to recognize that Microsoft is acquiring a larger profit from Vista then Apple is with OS 10.5. By your definition Microsoft is ripping their customers off by having a larger profit margin.

What the hell is up with the huge price increase? THANKS, APPLE.

</3 poor college student

I am a student and I also work, and I am still paying more for OS 10.5 as I reside in Canada. Still thinks its worth every penny.

True, I just wanted to get it pre-loaded just for simplicity sake, but if it is going to be mid-November or December I'll just buy the iMac today and get it for $9.99 and install it myself.

An option that I took and do not regret it.

I have the same question. I ordered a mac book pro refurbished model last night. Should I cancel and just buy a new one?

Jeff

Refurbished products also qualify for the Up-to-date (UTD) offer, I called to confirm. You would be better off installing it on your own.

 

[dr_lha]

My order says "DELIVERS ON OCTOBER 26TH"

So it seems they will be shipping it out before hand to arrive on the 26th. I guess I know what I'm doing that weekend.

What kind of shipping did you go for? I just ordered the Up-to-date disk and Apple are saying "Ships by: OCTOBER 26TH". I went for the free shipping because its for a work machine and my IT guy probably won't let me install it for at least 6 months anyway!

 

[!¡ V ¡!]

It doesn't know nor does it care. If you need to reinstall the applications that came with your Mac, then you can use the restore DVD for that Mac to restore JUST the apps.

Actually I didi this to experiment to see what would happen, I took an iMac OS 10.4 install disk and placed it into the PowerBook G4, it did a hardware scan and did not install.

The included OS install disks do not have all the hardware files, it only has the one for the product you bought it for.

There is a hack and you have google to assist you in your experiments.

 

[weezer160]

Even if you were to purchase three education licenses, it would be more expensive than to buy three regular copies at 129. A family pack would make each copy, ironically, around 66 dollars. I wouldn't be complaining about that. If you both pitch in, 33 dollars per person per machine.

this education pricing kinda stinks. but since my partner and i need to put it on both of our macbook pros and our imac, i need at least 3 licenses (yes, we are both college students). Why is there never any education discount on Family packs? My university is super tiny, and the store barely carries books, let alone software. Luckily the man who owns Smalldog is on the university's board so i think we get extra discounts from there.

 

[!¡ V ¡!]

rejoice! now all I need to do is get an apple computer... I'm still holding out for the new MBPs...

I thought about holding out for a January '08 MBP release, however I decided not to as with the Intel switch the technology is coming fast and hard. By the time you feel that there is something you want, Intel releases information about another chip with X,Y,Z new features and improvements and before you know it you are holding off for that chip. And the cycle continues. I decide on the GPU factor and the present GPU fits me well.

Nonsense.
If the value of the euro dropped 20% against the us dollar instead of gaining 20% Apple would update their prices in a heartbeat.

Inquired about the currency rate, and the answer was that the pricing is not based solely on currency rates. However an average of the exchange rate over a period of time. Usually 6 months or more.

Wow! This is the first price decrease I've seen since the Canadian dollar hit parity with the US dollar. I can't believe we're actually getting something for the same price!
Odd that all of the Macs are still $100 to $200 more here, but it's a step in the right direction.

The price parity is usually for software only, hardware will not see any change unless the average of the CAD is calculated more than the USD over a span of 6-12 months. I feel the pain.

I live in Central America but will be in the US next week. I just purchased 2 Mac minis on Oct 10 thru Amazon.com which I will be picking up on my trip. I was wondering if I take the invoice and the serial numbers to a retail store on the 26th, can I get the Leopard update for $9.99 plus tax?

You cannot pick the Up-To-Date (UTD) DVD from the store. I inquired and the answer was that if you go to the store you will have to pay the asking price for retail (unless you are a student). Hope that helps.

 

[mklos]

Actually I didi this to experiment to see what would happen, I took an iMac OS 10.4 install disk and placed it into the PowerBook G4, it did a hardware scan and did not install.

The included OS install disks do not have all the hardware files, it only has the one for the product you bought it for.

There is a hack and you have google to assist you in your experiments.

I was talking about the Leopard Installer DVD, not the restore DVD(s) that came with your Mac. Yes, I know that is true, but its not always true.

 

[looking4anotebo]

What really agitates me is not only the higher education pricing, but it would have been nice for Apple to include a larger window for recent purchasers to upgrade for a small cost.

Microsoft gave out Vista upgrades for free, or a few bucks, for any new windows computer bought, and I think it lasted about 4 months.

 

[Wayne s]

I have been trying to find some info on the uk apple site all day and can not find the upgrad option. Where the hell is it........

Found it on Apple uk, http://www.apple.com/uk/macosx/uptodate/.

Not working as yet but spoke to Apple on the phone, only announced the release of Leopard today so give them time to update the site.

 

[!¡ V ¡!]

I was talking about the Leopard Installer DVD, not the restore DVD(s) that came with your Mac. Yes, I know that is true, but its not always true.

When I bought my products, I get 2-3 DVDs, Mac OS install disc 1 and Restore on disc 2 and the third is Dev Tools.

Using only disc 1 it still would not install as the label clearly says iMac OS X install disc.

Same with the PowerBook, however if you have a retail OS X disc included in the box then that is a different story.

I the reason it scans the hardware is to check if the hardware complies i.e. FW to install OS 10.4

I received a drop in OS 10.4 install disc and it worked on both the iMac and PowerBook. I had licenses for both 10.4 and 10.3, and it only an experiment and what I had mentioned previously still hold true.

 

[!¡ V ¡!]

What really agitates me is not only the higher education pricing, but it would have been nice for Apple to include a larger window for recent purchasers to upgrade for a small cost.

Microsoft gave out Vista upgrades for free, or a few bucks, for any new windows computer bought, and I think it lasted about 4 months.

Vista was released Nov 2006 OEM and retail Jan 2007.

The situation with Apple is nothing new, people have gone through this when 10.4 and 10.3 was released. Apple already said it would release 10.5 in October and including that it was from 1 Oct, I was surprised as Apple usually says since the day it announces an official release date and onwards.

 

[stoneage]

Generous up-to-date program . . . 3.5 weeks before actual release.

Huh? I hope your kidding. I think a 60-90 policy would be more appropriate. I got my new MacBook on the 17th of Sept, so I'm screwed.

it would have been nice for Apple to include a larger window for recent purchasers to upgrade for a small cost.

I agree with you. What a ripoff.

I called Apple (408.974.2042) and asked for Customer Relations and lodged a formal complaint about the narrow window for the OS upgrade. The lady took my info, serial # and phone number and said they take complaints seriously. Wait and see. Call them and see what happens.

 

[paola105]

Dang it. No more edu. discounts.
I'll have to wait till December to buy it.

 

[!¡ V ¡!]

I agree with you. What a ripoff.

Rip-off is not having the option of an anti-glare screen on the macbook and only available on the macbook pro.

I love both the mb and mbp, however the glossy screen on the consumer products are making me sick. Will not be touching any glossy screens, the reflection is horrible and distracting.

People thinking otherwise are trying or have convinced themselves to buying junk. Strange how LCD TV do not have glossy screens though some have glossy boarders.

 

[tripwire]

Inquired about the currency rate, and the answer was that the pricing is not based solely on currency rates. However an average of the exchange rate over a period of time. Usually 6 months or more.

That's just b*llsh*t.
The US dollar has dropped more than 15% the past 1.5 years against the euro, but for Apple it's still 1 USD=1 euro.

 

[MacLovin611]

I really wish people would stop freaking about the educational discounts. Everyone that I've talked to at different universities have checked their respective school bookstores and everyone has the pricing at $69. It's only through Apple's Educational Stores is it at 116. If you were planning on getting it at $69, you were probably going to buy it through your school anyhow. If you were planning on buying the OS through Apple's online stores, then I don't know why you were expecting much of a discount.

 

[bronksy]

ok so.. i think i have it..

so it's still best to do a clean install i guess..
If i get the uptodate disk, is it a full disk, I mean do i have to load my OEM OS disks into the system, then use the disk i get sent from Apple with the uptodate thing?

 

[vassillios]

so you still didnt answer my question, does that mean delivered or delivers on the 26th, which one?

your question WAS answered, read a little more carefully.

 

[vassillios]

This has been answered about 30 times in the past two days. Delivery "on" the 26th means exactly what it says.

People who pre-ordered tiger received their copies even before the retail stores were selling it.

how could this have been answered in the past 2 days when it was only announced TODAY??

 

[RobMccormack]

When will the computer with pre-installed Leopard be available? Now?? October 26th?? December 30th??

Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard and its 300-plus new features and innovations are coming Oct. 26, 2007.

If you buy a qualifying Mac between October 1, 2007 and December 29, 2007, and it does not include Mac OS X Leopard, you're eligible to get Leopard after it's released for just £5.95.

So I Guess When I Order My iMac On Novemeber 1st It Wont Have Leopard Pre-Installed

 

[D3nZ]

"Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard and its 300-plus new features and innovations are coming Oct. 26, 2007.

If you buy a qualifying Mac between October 1, 2007 and December 29, 2007, and it does not include Mac OS X Leopard, you're eligible to get Leopard after it's released for just £5.95."

I called them myself and the girl told me it all depended on what they had in stock right now at the headquarters. They cannot be 100% sure if they will send it with the newly bought computers as of today. But like some have said earlyer, they will be shipping computers with Leopard starting the 26th for sure.