Apple Mac OS X v10.4.6 Tiger

February 5, 2007 07:39

4.5/5
I did a doubletake when I saw CNET just now reviewing Tiger, an OS that has been on the market for two years. With Leopard only a couple months away, one has to ask, "why bother?" Stranger yet, there is a "preview" of Leopard elsewhere on CNET, before the program is even released, based on Jobs comments in his keynote address. Does this mean we won't get an actual review when the upgraded OS hits the market? On the other hand, CNET managed to get a review of Vista on-line almost before the newly released shrinkwrap it the floor.

- jfdonnelly

August 10, 2006 05:33

4.5/5
A great operating system. I have a G4 "lamp" iMac, and this operating system runs great despite the fact that this desktop is three years old. It even seems to run faster than the day I bought it!

Installation is a snap, though I suggest erase and install to ensure a clean system.

Improvements in Mail, iChat, and Safari are spectacular, and the Dashboard widgets are highly useful.

Very stable, beautiful and easy to use.

- psugrad98

February 6, 2007 09:15

4.5/5
Mac OS X owns Windows XP And Vista. The first reason is the small price tag. Windows has so many versions and it is pricey. OS X is rather inexpensive and only one verison, so there is no confusion on what OS is best, just the computer hardware that you want.

The best thing I enjoy, being a first-time Mac user, is the ability to multi-task and do things I want to do without the computer crashing, getting really slow, or freezing.
It's just simple.


Cons: I don't think .Mac is worth $100/year for what you get. It should be about $60. I could see $100 with a domain name. I could get the same features for free from other companies.

Some companies (for example AOL) do not make software for it. AOL does, but the IM client from AOL is old and outdated. iChat is so simple creating a fancy profile is hard.

Other than those cons, the OS is excellent!

- ssavoy0329

July 18, 2007 07:25

4.5/5
Apparently I lived under a rock for the past few years. The last time I had heard of a Mac, it ran OS 9 and sported a PowerPC processor. OS 9 was beautiful and easy to use, but it was crashy and had frameworks from 1984 creakingly holding up the modern interfaces (USB and Firewire, anybody?). I preferred to stick with what I knew, and what I knew was Windows.

But when I purchased my first Mac in late 2006 (a MacBook), Tiger came preloaded on the machine, so I was kind of stuck with it. (I didn't know how to configure Linux to run on it, and a copy of Windows was too expensive.) But I wanted to use a Mac, so I dug in.

And I haven't been disappointed.

OS X boasts a superb and robust Unix-style kernel at its base, fundamentally different from the proprietary kernel at the core of OS 9 and below. Elements of NextStep, FreeBSD, and some parts of Ye Olde OS 9 also come together to form the OS we know and love as Mac OS X. It's fast, secure, suited for all kinds of tasks from development to serving a website, and features Apple's legendary ease of use.

If you step back from the marketing spin that Apple puts on OS X for a second and evaluate it purely on its own merits, it's as close as we'll get to computing nirvana. Or at least it is for novices and basic users. Power users will have to get used to the Mac way of doing things (or the OS X way of doing things, at least), and foremost among that way of doing things is the application launcher and monitor known as the Dock. The Dock permits you to keep tabs on all the applications that are running at any given time on your computer, and it also lets you launch applications that you put there. The design is elegant and yet poorly thought out: by using pictures only, if you put more than one folder in your Dock (I had twelve at last count), you have to hover over them to see which is which. That's no way to keep giving yourself even more RSI.

I'm happier to report that window management in OS X is unparalleled. Exposé is a wonderful solution that gives you a bird's-eye view of your open windows or your desktop with just a tap of a key (either F9, F10, or F11). On the small screen of a MacBook, Exposé is the best thing to come along since the advent of two-button mouse support.

Everything is easier on the Mac, from using Bluetooth peripherals (oftentimes, all you have to do is turn the peripheral on and make sure your computer's Bluetooth adapter is on) to syncing with your cell phone (iSync) to browsing the Internet (Safari). Apple has demonstrated once again that the best solutions aren't necessarily the most difficult to use, and their statement that Tiger is the most advanced OS on the planet is well qualified.

My only complaint comes from the world of Linux and being able to customize my OS's appearance at the drop of a hat (the KDE environment comes to mind) without extra utilities. On the Mac you have to pay extra for that privilege.

- LinuxAddict2010

February 11, 2007 05:50

5.0/5
I am a systems developer, work daily with many operating systems, and OS X is by far the best.

- acmueller

February 6, 2007 10:11

3.0/5
First of all, I use both PCs and Macs every day...

What I like about OS X4:
Server/Client connection is pretty solid this time (unlike the horrendous 9 & 10.1/2/3. Imaging is easy (when it works), terminal/posix commands for admins, boot time improved from previous versions, slick (though annoying for some) gui.

Overall much more stable than previous OS X versions. To put it bluntly, this is the only one that isn't complete trash.

Bootcamp.


What still needs fixed:
Imaging - not very solid, never has been. I've had horrible things go wrong when imaging 10-40 new iMacs/MacBooks -- Do the exact same thing again and it works... (I would recommend bombich.com if you're going to be imaging). Use System Image Utility at your own risk.

Managing Open Directory (Mac) is much easier than Active Directory (PC).

Lack of 3rd party software -- getting better, but I still have to (or choose to) use my pc for 90% of IT work just because there is more software available.

Expensive -- you have to buy Apple hardware to use this OS and it's not cheap -- Apple has to pay for all its TV ads somehow.

Overall not bad, I'll be interested to see 10.5 (hopefully we don't have to wait 2 years after its release for CNET to post a review)

- tehw1z4rd

October 9, 2008 08:47
Terrible
0.5/5
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- kgundlach

May 6, 2008 09:20
Excellent
2.0/5
I have a MacBook Pro, and I run both Vista Ultimate and Mac OSX on it. I am not a huge fan of Mac OSX, but I will admit that it does have some good things going for it. It's fairly easy to use and is dumbed down enough and has everything needed for the average computer user to use the internet and upload/edit some photos. What is absolutely ridiculous is that there no way the average user could possibly afford most Mac computers, which are overpriced to the point of ludicrousness (and it obviously has severely limited game and complex application use). Also, the **** about OSX not getting viruses is completely stupid. Sure, it's a different architecture but that doesn't mean it's invincible, it just means that no one bothered to design viruses for an OS a tiny fraction of the population is using. I mean, five years ago, how many people did you know used a Mac?

The prices Apple is charging in order to have one of their computers, are, how should we put it, absolutely insane. Configure a PC laptop with specs equivalent to the MacBook Pro and the price will not come near $2000. Buying this computer was one of the least cost effective decisions in my life. Furthermore, Macs do not have "better hardware" and are not "built or designed better" (other than aesthetically, I will grant that). For example, one of my sticks of RAM failed and I got a replacement under warranty. Had I not been covered, that stick of 1 gig RAM would have cost $150 (Apple Store's retail price). We are talking about some ****** Samsung DDR2 667 MHZ notebook RAM, when you can go buy better Corsair or Kingston RAM from NewEgg for $21.99.

The point is that while the OS is decent, Apple makes overpriced computers with oftentimes inferior specs than PC equivalents, then sells them for hundreds or thousands more. Only a fool would spend that money for aesthetic appeal or simply for an easy to use OS not nearly as versatile as Windows.

- jcorqian

October 14, 2007 03:17

5.0/5
I am so proud to own a copy of Mac OS X Tiger. OS X is so innovative in its technology. All these features are implemented properly, unlike Windows Vista. The interface feels futuristic and very delicious to use. Unlike some people, I love the traffic light buttons and other push buttons. I could not be happier with this OS, from the moment you turn it on with the startup chime to when you shut it down. Also, worth mentioning, Tiger starts up very fast, at around 10-20 seconds. Features like spotlight, dashboard, and expose and very useful features to use.

Overall, I can't think of any drawbacks to Mac OS X Tiger. I would recommend it to anyone, at least for home and school users. For business Windows XP (not Vista) is good for them.

- Icenfs46

October 13, 2007 02:30

4.0/5
I?m impressed at how quick it runs on my PowerBook G4 1.33 GHz/1.25GB RAM.

I was impressed with the speed compared to Jaguar...
on my aging PB G4.

There are enough reviews... but i thought i?d add my 2 cents.

In comparison to Vista, i noticed in working on others? PCs, that tho prettier to look at, it misses the usability i find in MAC OS X. However, I?m one who still finds certain steps simplier in Mac OS 9 than OS X. I don?t want to bore anyone with that debate.

It all comes down to what you?re comfortable in using. I happen to use MAC/WINDOWS @ home and Windows at work...

It?s important to try different interfaces. The day i get an Intel MacBook is the day i upgrade my OS past Tiger.

- belchmelch