Showing posts with label osx. Show all posts
Showing posts with label osx. Show all posts

Apple Mac OS X Version 10.5.6 Leopard (OLD VERSION) Review

Apple  Mac OS X Version 10.5.6 Leopard (OLD VERSION)
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Apple Mac OS X Version 10.5.6 Leopard (OLD VERSION) ReviewThe OS comes in a very small package with a little manual. Install took 45 minutes to confirm that the CD was in good condition, 45 more to install. This review is not going to be full of technical jargon... instead a brief first impression from a long time Mac user (circa 1984 Mac 512Ke vintage). For the technicals, go to Apple, read geeky blogs. For the rest of us, I'll try to keep it more straight-forward. They claim 300 changes... here are what I think are some of the more interesting ones... apologies for the length of the review, relative to the number of changes claimed, a moderate length to this review. Updated December 09, 2007 to reflect new experiences.
Pro:
-Time machine! OK, back up programs are available, but how many of them are sold versus the number of macs out there? This program is native, created by Apple for Apple. All I did was plug in a hard drive and Leopard asked if I wanted to make this my back-up drive for Leopard. I clicked yes, and that was it, all set up. It begins back up once the computer is left on and idle. The first takes a very long time, hours, subsequent back ups are hourly, however only files that have changed are saved, preserving storage space and computing power. Time machine looks like any open folder window when it gets down to it... like you went back in time and browsed around (hence the name). Similar to "snapshot" for those Windows XP users out there.
-Install was very easy. Boot machine, insert CD, restart with CD. The computer verified that the CD is in good condition (a lengthy process of about 45 minutes that you can skip but which is recommended). The rest of the install takes about 45 more minutes, but it is basically all automated. It's a Mac, it's so clever that it's easy. Apple does what computers promised to do... automate smartly.
-Price is very reasonable relative to other operating systems (e.g. Vista)
-This OS includes the release version of Boot Camp. I've not used it yet as I have Parallels, but I like how Apple has included this feature... sometimes it's just best to get along as even programs offered on both platforms are just different enough to be annoying. So if you are using PowerPoint at work on a PC, you can use it at home on your Mac acting like a PC... thank you Apple.
-The new "you can see the content of folders in the dock bar" feature is handy, especially if you have many projects going and you dump a lot of picture files into them. They call this new feature "stacks" and it works really well.
-I find that movies too now give you a preview icon which is great.
-New OS did not trash my preferences, such as my Son's photo on the desktop... very plug and play
-Safari web browser is appears somewhat faster, perhaps 1x faster to load a page but I didn't really notice that much difference as I was using another browser up to this point
-The widget-maker is really interesting... I made my first widget of a stock I follow, in about 30 seconds. This was really great. I expect future versions of the feature to add more punch (e.g. the ability to add a title bar to your new widget, improved ability to make very small widgets, ability to use arrow keys to get the widget just right, ability to resize the widget once made instead of deleting and starting all over, etc.), but is still great as is.
-When I have multiple windows open I notice a slight shadow to help me identify which one is active, or on top. Apple continues to impress with their ability to tune into subtle usability features that are so obvious that they have been overlooked. Wonderful (although I would love a darker shadow, and perhaps a bold frame around the window too).
-The Apple web site offers a very nice 9-10 minute introduction. Check it out, it's worth it (trust me).
-Cover Flow is AWESOME! If you are familiar with flipping through album art on the new iPhone or iPods, you'll recognize the power of this feature right away. For those who've been on the sidelines, let me catch you up. There's icon view. There's list view. There's also a column view that's less popular. And there's now cover flow. Much like iTunes, you can flip through files like albums in a juke box, or turning pages in a picture book. The Mac lets you see the first page, so you don't get just a dumb icon, or even a tiny picture, you get a nice big image. It's nothing short of amazing. Cover flow does more (like you can play a video in cover flow without exiting the program or launching a player, fast and convenient), but again, this is a simpler version for the rest of us.
-A further extension of file management is Quick Look. You can sort of open files without launching a program. It's designed to be a time-saver for the person with a lot of files.
-Spaces. OK, this might be a little hard to describe. Essentially, are you someone who like to have 10 programs running at one time? If so, Spaces is ideal for you. You can open say a few photos in one space, a publishing program and Photoshop in another. You can toggle back and forth between the spaces and the effect is a less cluttered environment. It's neat.
-Mail. THere's many new things here, most small. However, for those setting up a mail account for the first time, say on Yahoo or "another popular website", you enter your email address, password, and click OK. Leopard finds it and sets it up. This blows me away. Forever are gone are the days of entering POP and SMTP data, which I guess wasn't terribly bad, but again, this is 2007. Computers are supposed to be more intuitve, not less right? Mac delivers yet again.
-I didn't mention the Notes and To Do features in Mail, which are excellent adds. Example of what these are: I often send myself an email so that I have a note: Well, instead of sending a mail to myself, which can, if hung up take a minute or an hour to return to me, I can write myself a note which sits in my inbox. I can add attachments like an email. I can also turn a note into a "To do", assigning a due date and getting a check box to check when it has been completed. Anywhere I can access my email, I can also get my notes. Weird and wonderful! To do events sync to iCal (which also syncs to my iPhone)... excellent.
-Email contacts, addresses, phone numbers can be added to existing contacts, or a new contact with a couple clicks. This is very handy for the busy professional.
-The teleconferencing features of iChat makes presentations really personal and also allows you to share desktops. I won't use this at home, and I can only dream of this at work when working remotely with our team/my boss in the UK. Words don't do this feature justice.
-My existing programs seem to work ok. I did get a minor error with Parallels (see Cons section for more), but all other programs tried functioned fine.
Con:
-Boot Camp requires reboot to run Windows
-Changed the icons some, which is not a big deal, but which was unnecessary
-With all this advanced file-sharing capability in iChat, I am concerned that a guest could inadvertently open sensitive files or emails. I get confidential materials sometimes, and I have little means of limiting access. It's too open and I'd love some locking features, both in iChat and in case I walk away from my Mac and someone decides to have some fun.
- Parallels has become unstable and won't launch. A free patch fomr the Parallels website (build "5582") fixed the crash on launch issue, however an IP conflict gotten originally still persists. This IP error does not seem to cause any issues as far as I can tell, it is just a nuisance.

Bottom line: Highly recommended. Sleek, smart, and straight-forward. The review title says it all, however there are obviously many reasons to buy, including staying current with the OS so that you have access to future releases and features.Apple Mac OS X Version 10.5.6 Leopard (OLD VERSION) OverviewMac OS X v.10.5 Leopard includes new interface and over 300 new innovations designed to help customers accomplish any task. Improvements have been included for Mac programs like iChat and Mail, as well as all-new features such as Quick Look, which lets to peruse the contents of a multiple-page document or video without opening the whole file, and Time Machine, which can recover files in seconds. OS X 10.5 has search technology, graphics, rapid connectivity and solid stability. iChat now lets to present movies, presentations and virtually any document during your chats with iChat Theater. You can even save your audio and video chats for sharing or synching with an iPod to play on the go. Communicate with 30 professionally designed stationary templates, keep important notes and track to-do items in Mail. You can now group applications into Spaces and move between each Space with keyboard shortcuts to organize your windows and reduce clutter.

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Family Tree Maker 9.0 Review

Family Tree Maker 9.0
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Family Tree Maker 9.0 ReviewI teach Family Tree Maker to senior citizens and am an amateur genealogist. It usually takes no more than an hour or two for my students to get around enough basics about Family Tree Maker to start entering their genealogy. It has clear windows and comfortably large fonts, very user friendly error messages that actually make sense.... (ie when typing a name all in lower case, a message pops up saying "the name may have too many or too few capital letters" and you have the option to make the change right there or use the "auto-fix" button).
As another review mentions, this is first and foremost a data entry tool for genealogy, as well as a data output tool such as family trees of various configuration, several standardized reports, and my favorite: the ability to put a genealogy book together.
Family Tree Maker's helpful research tools should be used in combination with classic research mediums: Libraries, genealogy groups, the internet, historical societies, local town halls....Family Tree Maker 9.0 OverviewPC FAMILY TREE MAKER (BM)

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Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac - Old Version Review

Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac - Old Version
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Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac - Old Version ReviewThis is a very good PC emulator. It runs very fast. It uses Intel virtualization so it is able to run at near native speeds. I have run many of the Microsoft Office products as well as Developer Studio on it, it works great. A few things you should keep in mind:
** You Need a Copy of Windows
You will have to have your own copy of Windows to make use of this program. I thought I was going to use an upgrade CD that came with one of my computers that I no longer use. But Windows Genuine Advantage flagged it as an illegal copy of Windows, I guess it was licensed only for my old computer. Anyway, I bought a new copy of XP(an upgrade) and it worked just fine.
** Special Drivers
Parallels comes with some special drivers that they recommend that you install on whatever operating system you are using. This is not required. You can run the operating systems just as you would install them on any other computer. However installing the Parallels drivers increases performance. One really nice feature is the mouse driver. When the mouse driver is installed it allows you to simply drag the mouse over Parallels and click on things. Otherwise, you must click on the window first and switch your focus to the virtual machine.
** Games
I have run into some problems where the game will install just fine, but it will refuse to run saying that you must put the game's CD-ROM in. I assume this is because the virtual CD-ROM driver used by Parallels is not supporting the CD-ROM down to a low enough level to support the game's copy protection. One game that has this issue is the Sim's 2.
Also the 3d graphics are NOT virtualized. So any sort of 3d game will run as if you have no 3d acceleration hardware. Which is slow. Overall, the best way to run a game is "boot camp".
** Versions of Windows
I have used several versions of Windows on Parallels and it works great. I have tested both Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
** Other Operating Systems
I have also used several flavors of Linux. It works very well. It really simulates a virtual computer, and you can install anything on it you like.
** You need RAM
Running this with less than 1gig of RAM can be painful. If you want to run several virtual machines I would suggest up to 2 gigs. However, one gig ran very well.
All in all this is a very good PC emulation and is quite fast. I have uses other emulators, that are just deadly slow. This one is quite usable. If you don't plan to use this for games, you will be very happy with this product. If you do want games its a little more hit and miss. Better to use Boot Camp.Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac - Old Version OverviewParallels Desktop 3 for Mac scores big with additions and enhancements that cover everything from enhanced 3D graphics to making sure that you can enjoy full access and control of your Windows applications from wherever you are with Parallels Mobile, our all-new iPhone/iPad mobile app.

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Mac OS X Snow Leopard Family Pack (5-User) Review

Mac OS X Snow Leopard Family Pack (5-User)
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Mac OS X Snow Leopard Family Pack (5-User) ReviewGreat, but not essential
Is Apple's latest operating system, Snow Leopard, a strong, reliable OS that demonstrates the versatility of Macs? Yes
That being said, is Snow Leopard an essential upgrade? No, not exactly.
THE DIFFERENCE IS NOT THAT DRASTIC
The differences between Apple's "Tiger" OS (10.4) and "Leopard" (10.5) were very noticeable, and there were many improvements that made the upgrade worthwhile. Such as Time Machine, Boot Camp, Quick Look, and many more The bulk of changes between Leopard (10.5) and this latest release, "Snow Leopard" (10.6), are "under the hood" so to speak, and therefore the average user might not notice as much of a change as they'd expect with an OS upgrade. But then again, why fix a bone that's not broken? Leopard was a success, and Snow Leopard improves on it, without radically altering the user experience. The majority of improvements affect system reliability, speed, and resourcefulness. There is also Microsoft Exchange support, which is great for those who need it.
EXPECTATIONS
I bought the Snow Leopard upgrade knowing full well it wasn't going to be a drastically different OS, so I was by no means disappointed. I've been following the tech news regarding Mac and Windows operating system upgrades very closely, and am well aware that August's release of Apple's Snow Leopard and October's release of Microsoft's
Windows 7 are meant to provide additional stability and implement greater resourcefulness, rather than completely overhaul the user experience. This isn't a bad thing, since greater system reliability is more important than adding bells and whistles that ultimately take away from the user experience (i.e. Vista).
EXPERIENCE
I have only installed it on only one computer so far (running on an Intel chip and 4GB of RAM), but installation was a breeze, and Snow Leopard has been running smoothly so far. I previously strongly disliked `Preview' and `Quicktime' since they were so slow (I preferred freeware `Xee' and `VLC Media Player'). With Snow Leopard, loading times have noticeably improved for both Preview and Quicktime. I haven't yet noticed other improvements in speed, but that might be because my computer was already fast to begin with (4GB is great!).
Additionally, while I personally upgraded from Leopard to Snow Leopard, it is nice to know that even if you weren't using OS 10.5 (Leopard) and were still on OS 10.4 (Tiger), you can upgrade directly to OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard).
LAST THOUGHTS
I didn't have issues with Leopard, so I don't think Snow Leopard was to me as essential an upgrade as Windows 7 will be to Windows Vista. That being said, Snow Leopard is a very strong and reliable OS, so I don't regret my purchase. The low price makes this an affordable upgrade solution, but due to the lack of drastic changes between Snow Leopard and its predecessor, one that isn't absolutely necessary.Mac OS X Snow Leopard Family Pack (5-User) Overview
Mac OS X Snow Leopard is an even more powerful and refined version of the world's most advanced operating system. In ways big and small, it gets faster, more reliable, and easier to use. New core technologies unleash the power of today's advanced hardware technology and prepare Mac OS X for future innovation. And Snow Leopard includes built-in support for the latest version of Microsoft Exchange Server, so you can use your Mac at home and at work.

Family Pack License
Install and use one copy on a maximum of five (5) Apple computers in the same household.

The world's most advanced operating system. Finely tuned.

Top Updates in Mac OS X
Mac OS X is the world's most advanced operating system. Built on a rock-solid UNIX foundation and designed to be simple and intuitive, it's what makes the Mac innovative, highly secure, compatible, and easy to use.
The next-generation media technology, QuickTime X powers the audio and video experience in Snow Leopard.

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Parallels Desktop 5.0 for Mac Review

Parallels Desktop 5.0 for Mac
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Parallels Desktop 5.0 for Mac ReviewI used this and used VMWare Fusion 3. Both have issues. But Parallels has fewer deal breaking issues. So I chose Parallels. I use a 13" MacBook Pro with Snow Leopard. I run Windows 7 in the VM. Here are my findings:
Parallels 5
Pros: Fast, rock solid
Cons: Windows Manager (which manages the Aero interface) keeps crashing under 2 CPU configuration. So Aero is really usable under 1 CPU configuration. Windows 7 cannot even run all the tests to calculate the Windows Experience Index with 2 CPU configuration due to video issue.
VMWare Fusion 3
Pros: It runs
Cons:
Aero exhibits random missing tile effect. That is, random patches of square of the user interface would "lag" and appear missing for a fraction of a second. DirectX implementation apparently isn't that good.
The share OS X folders with VM implementation is retarded. All shared folders appear under one virtual drive in the VM. What it means is the root of the virtual drive is not writable.
It is not fast. I ran a time consuming task in Parallels, it took about 10 minutes to finish. I ran the same task in VMWare, I lost patience after maybe 15-20 minutes. I went and took a shower just to give it enough time to finish.
I highly recommend getting the trial versions of both software and see which one works for you. For me the speed of VMWare and that dumb shared folder implementation are the deal breakers for me and so I went with Parallels.
Parallels gets 4 stars out of 5 because of the Aero problem under 2 CPU configuration.
---------- Update 1/5/2010 ----------
Parallels has released the first update to Desktop 5.0 for Mac, which has fixed the Aero problem under 2 CPU configuration. Aero is rock solid now. While I did not try to find every supposed improvement in this update, I did notice one big improvement in the area of shared folder access. Access of Mac files from within the VM is very much faster than before. I can actually use file access intensive program on a Mac folder mounted in the VM as a network shared drive whereas before doing so would impose a speed penalty. Considering the fix to Aero, I have updated my previous four stars rating to five stars.
---------- Update 2/23/2010 ----------
I have installed Windows 7 using Boot Camp on a separate partition of my MacBook Pro. This gives me the option of running Windows 7 natively on the hardware in addition to running under a virtual environment provided by Parallels. I did a Windows Experience Index comparison between the two. Now note that Windows 7 has full access to my MacBook Pro's 4GB of RAM under Boot Camp but only 2GB under Parallels. Here are the results:
Boot Camp
Processor:5.9
Memory: 5.9
Graphics: 5.3
Gaming graphics:5.5
Primary hard disk:5.9
Parallels
Processor:5.8
Memory: 5.5
Graphics: 4.8
Gaming graphics:3.9
Primary hard disk:6.5
The results are very competitive, especially if you don't play games on your Mac. It validates my previous impression that Parallels indeed provides a very fast virtual environment.
Parallels Desktop 5.0 for Mac OverviewWith more than 2 million users worldwide, the award-winning Parallels Desktop for Mac is easier than ever to use with its brand new Mac user interface and lightning-fast performance. This new version is packed with over 70 new features that make running Windows programs on a Mac completely seamless.

Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac delivers brand new features plus performance enhancements including full support for Aero in Windows Vista and 7, faster virtual machine performance, expanded USB device compatibility, enhanced 3D graphics and optimization for Mac OS X Snow Leopard. New Features in Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac include:
Run Windows up to 3 times faster than previous version.
Support for Aero in Windows Vista & 7: Get the complete Windows experience with Aero animation.
Smart Copy and Paste: Easily move formatted text and images between Windows and Mac Applications
Coherence Mode: Seamlessly run Windows programs alongside Mac applications.
3D Graphics Support: Run 3D applications with DirectX 9Ex and OpenGL 2.1
Optimized for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard: Take advantage of Apple's latest operating system.
Plus additional performance and general enhancements, such as:
Runs Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and more
Improved USB device connectivity and performance
Use Multi-touch gestures, Spaces and Exposé
Up to 7 times faster graphics performance than previous version
Full support for Mac OS X Server, 8 virtual CPUs and 64-bit Windows


Run Windows on Your Mac the Easy Way. Right Alongside Mac OS X. Parallels Desktop for Mac makes it possible to run Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Linux and more side-by-side with Mac OS X without rebooting. With Parallels' award-winning virtualization technology, you can run Mac OS X and your favorite Windows applications at the same time. You can even drag-and-drop files between desktops! Launch Windows applications like Mac applications--right from your Mac's dock.
Parallels Desktop for Mac 5 is the biggest upgrade ever with over 70 new features. It also comes with a complete suite of essential tools you need to run Windows on a Mac. Parallels Desktop now ships with $175 in bonus software including Kaspersky Internet Security, Acronis Disk Director and Acronis True Image.
Lightning-fast performance Parallels Desktop takes advantage of Intel Core Duo and Core 2 Duo processors and Intel VT-x2 hardware accelerated virtualization, for near-native speed and rock-solid performance. With support for up to 8 GB RAM and up to 8 CPUs, Parallels Desktop for Mac delivers maximum performance.
Unmatched Compatibility Enjoy all the benefits of having a Mac and keep running the Windows programs you can't live without. Parallels Desktop for Mac runs thousands of Windows applications and is compatible with your favorite USB devices including mobile phones, printers, scanners and GPS devices. With Parallels Desktop you can run any version of Windows, including 7, Vista and XP, as well as Linux, FreeBSD, even MS-DOS, at the same time as OS X! Parallels also supports running Mac OS X Leopard Server in a virtual machine.
Comprehensive Protection and Privacy Parallels Internet Security by Kaspersky protects your Windows programs from virus and spyware threats and even includes a firewall and anti-spam tools. Parallels Desktop also includes SmartGuard instant "snapshots" which make backup and recovery easier than ever.
Additional Features
Advanced virtualization engine with lightning-fast performance
Use Windows on your Mac without rebooting
Install Windows XP, Vista or 7 in 3 easy steps
Run literally thousands of Windows apps, like Outlook, Access, Project, Quicken and QuickBooks--all at near-native speed.
Easily share files between Mac and Windows
Launch Windows apps directly from the Mac Dock.
Run more than 60 different OSs, including Linux, BSD and more.
Run Mac OS X and Windows on multiple monitors.
Migrate your existing PC to your Mac. Even import Boot Camp partitions and VMware Fusion virtual machines.
Use iPhone to manage virtual machines
SmartGuard's instant "snapshots" make backup and recovery easier than ever.
Unmatched Ease of Use

Includes $175 in Essential Windows Software
Parallels Internet Security by Kaspersky protects against virus and spyware threats, plus firewall and anti-spam. $79.99 value
Acronis TrueImage Home backup and recovery software for Windows. $49.99 value
Acronis Disk Director Suite disk partitioning software for Windows. $49.95 value

With more than 1 million users worldwide, the award-winning Parallels Desktop for Mac is the #1 Mac System Utility.*
90 Day Money Back Guarantee If you are not completely satisfied with Parallels Desktop for Mac for any reason, you may return the software directly to Nova Development within 90 days of purchase for your money back.
*No. 1 claim based on NPD Techworld Reports for the period 8/1/06 - 9/30/09. Reviews and awards cited may be for previous versions of Parallels Desktop for Mac. Windows operating system sold separately.


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Mac OS X version 10.6.3 Snow Leopard Review

Mac OS X version 10.6.3 Snow Leopard
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Mac OS X version 10.6.3 Snow Leopard ReviewIs Apple's latest operating system, Snow Leopard, a strong, reliable OS that demonstrates the versatility of Macs? Yes
That being said, is Snow Leopard an essential upgrade? No, not exactly.
THE DIFFERENCE IS NOT THAT DRASTIC
The differences between Apple's "Tiger" OS (10.4) and "Leopard" (10.5) were very noticeable, and there were many improvements that made the upgrade worthwhile. Such as Time Machine, Boot Camp, Quick Look, and many more The bulk of changes between Leopard (10.5) and this latest release, "Snow Leopard" (10.6), are "under the hood" so to speak, and therefore the average user might not notice as much of a change as they'd expect with an OS upgrade. But then again, why fix a bone that's not broken? Leopard was a success, and Snow Leopard improves on it, without radically altering the user experience. The majority of improvements affect system reliability, speed, and resourcefulness. There is also Microsoft Exchange support, which is great for those who need it.
EXPECTATIONS
I bought the Snow Leopard upgrade knowing full well it wasn't going to be a drastically different OS, so I was by no means disappointed. I've been following the tech news regarding Mac and Windows operating system upgrades very closely, and am well aware that August's release of Apple's Snow Leopard and October's release of Microsoft's
Windows 7 are meant to provide additional stability and implement greater resourcefulness, rather than completely overhaul the user experience. This isn't a bad thing, since greater system reliability is more important than adding bells and whistles that ultimately take away from the user experience (i.e. Vista).
EXPERIENCE
I have only installed it on only one computer so far (running on an Intel chip and 4GB of RAM), but installation was a breeze, and Snow Leopard has been running smoothly so far. I previously strongly disliked `Preview' and `Quicktime' since they were so slow (I preferred freeware `Xee' and `VLC Media Player'). With Snow Leopard, loading times have noticeably improved for both Preview and Quicktime. I haven't yet noticed other improvements in speed, but that might be because my computer was already fast to begin with (4GB is great!).
Additionally, while I personally upgraded from Leopard to Snow Leopard, it is nice to know that even if you weren't using OS 10.5 (Leopard) and were still on OS 10.4 (Tiger), you can upgrade directly to OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard).
LAST THOUGHTS
I didn't have issues with Leopard, so I don't think Snow Leopard was to me as essential an upgrade as Windows 7 will be to Windows Vista. That being said, Snow Leopard is a very strong and reliable OS, so I don't regret my purchase. The low price makes this an affordable upgrade solution, but due to the lack of drastic changes between Snow Leopard and its predecessor, one that isn't absolutely necessary.Mac OS X version 10.6.3 Snow Leopard Overview
Mac OS X Snow Leopard is an even more powerful and refined version of the world's most advanced operating system. In ways big and small, it gets faster, more reliable, and easier to use. New core technologies unleash the power of today's advanced hardware technology and prepare Mac OS X for future innovation. And Snow Leopard includes built-in support for the latest version of Microsoft Exchange Server, so you can use your Mac at home and at work.

The world's most advanced operating system. Finely tuned.

Top Updates in Mac OS X
Mac OS X is the world's most advanced operating system. Built on a rock-solid UNIX foundation and designed to be simple and intuitive, it's what makes the Mac innovative, highly secure, compatible, and easy to use.
The next-generation media technology, QuickTime X powers the audio and video experience in Snow Leopard.

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Windows 7 PRO 64 Bit System Builder 1pk Review

Windows 7 PRO 64 Bit System Builder 1pk
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Windows 7 PRO 64 Bit System Builder 1pk ReviewThis isn't a review of Windows 7 itself, but of the Windows 7 Professional 64 bit System Builder pack as sold here.
Since I build all my PCs, I have to supply an OS for them and many of them need to be running Windows. Microsoft's pricing for the retail versions is simply horrid and gouging, especially when you consider that companies like Dell and EMachines pay much less than $100 per installation for any desktop version of Windows.
For the PC builder on a tight budget, they often think that they only have a choice of being raped on the price or installing a pirated copy of Windows. Since pirating is illegal, immoral and dangerous (most of the copies, activation cracks and keygens on the internet are infected with malware) to do it right means paying too much money.
This also applies to a home user (or even an office one) who wants to upgrade an existing Windows machine to the latest. Even Microsoft's retail prices for the upgrades are horrendously expensive.
This distribution is intended for those who build Windows PCs much as I did in my computer store throughout the late 80s and 90s. The ONLY differences between it and a retail copy of Windows 7 Professional are:
1. Price
2. No fancy box
3. No extra flyers, leaflets and junk
4. No support from Microsoft as the builder is supposed to support the customer
The box and flyers go in the trash anyway. In 20 some years of using Windows I've only called Microsoft once, and that was their "store" to order an "anytime upgrade" as their website was down. So #4 doesn't mean a thing to me.
Where this SKU shines is the price as you get the full "Professional Version" for less than the "Home Premium" version.
As I've stated in previous reviews, "Home Premium" is a waste of time for anyone need more than basic Windows functionality as Microsoft disabled too many features. With "Home Premium" the only way to network your computer to ANY prior version of Windows, Mac, Linux and a number of networkable devices is to edit the Windows registry. This eliminates probably 90% (or more) home users.
Also missing is the ability to have a relative or friend who is your "computer guru" use Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol to take over your computer and help you through a problem. Home users likely will never use that feature, but those who support them DO need it. The alternative is to install a 3rd party program that accomplishes the same thing, often at a cost of security and price.
For those two reasons alone, I feel that Windows 7 Professional 64 bit System Builder is a wise choice for your next upgrade or fresh installation.
*Please note that I do not disparage or discourage use of LogMeIn, TeamViewer or GoToMyPC, etc. as I DO make use of the first two.Windows 7 PRO 64 Bit System Builder 1pk OverviewUpgrade to Windows 7 Professional. With Windows 7 Professional, fewer walls stand between you and your success. You can run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode and recover data easily with automatic backups to your home or business network. You can also connect to company networks effortlessly and more securely with Domain Join. With all the exciting entertainment features of Windows Home Premium, it's a great choice for home and for business. Need to use multiple languages on your PC or help protect your data with enhanced BitLocker security? Get Windows 7 Ultimate.


Upgrade to Windows 7 All editions of Windows XP and Windows Vista qualify you to upgrade.
1. Choose your edition of Windows 7 Explore key features and choose the edition that's best for you. Be sure to check the expanded list of extended features in Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, and Windows 7 Ultimate. System requirements vary for each edition of Windows 7 because some features might require special hardware.

2. See if your PC has what it takes to run Windows 7 In general, if your PC can run Windows Vista it can run Windows 7. To make sure, download and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to do a quick check. If you want certain features, such as HomeGroup or Windows Media Center, check to see if your PC has the hardware that's needed.

3. Check which operating system your PC is currently running How you make the move to Windows 7 depends on your current operating system.

Windows Vista The transition to Windows 7 should be pretty smooth, although you may need to update your system to the latest service pack first.
Windows XP (or any other operating system) We recommend that you experience Windows 7 on a new PC. While we don't recommend it, you can opt to upgrade your current PC from Windows XP or another operating system to Windows 7. We recommend that you get help with this process from your local computer service provider. You'll need to back up your current files and settings, perform a custom (clean) installation, and then reinstall your files, settings, and programs.

Everything you need for work and home
Easiest Windows to use ever

Simplify your PC with new navigation features like Aero Shake, Jump Lists, and Snap.
Customize Windows to look and feel the way you like by changing themes and taskbar programs.
Easy to network (with or without a server).
Back up your complete system over a network.

Faster and more flexible

Windows XP Mode gives you the business flexibility you need.
Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker.
Takes full advantage of 64-bit PC hardware and memory.

Best PC entertainment experience

Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV with Windows Media Center.
Blu-ray read/write support for data files.
Includes integrated video and Dolby audio codecs.
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Simplifies Everyday Tasks
Simple to use
Windows® Taskbar Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.

Open files and get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar. You can easily pin programs you use often to the taskbar and launch them in just one click.

Jump Lists Open files you use regularly in just two clicks with Jump Lists on the improved taskbar.

Snap Windows 7 has simple new ways to manage open windows. For example, with Snap you can arrange two windows side-by-side just by dragging them to opposite sides of your screen.

Aero® Peek Windows 7 lets you peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop.

Windows Search Instantly locate and open virtually any file on your PC, from documents to emails to songs, right from the Start menu, with Windows Search.

Easy to connect
Wireless setup With Windows 7, setting up wireless connections is easier with consistent, one-click connections to available networks, whether those networks are based on Wi-Fi, mobile broadband, dial-up, or corporate VPN.

HomeGroup Connect Windows 7 PCs on a home network in just four clicks and easily get to the photos, music, and files on each one--even share printers--with HomeGroup.

Easy to browse the web
Windows® Internet Explorer 8 Visual search helps you quickly find the information you want by adding visual cues and previews to search results from top search providers including Live Search, Wikipedia, Yahoo, Amazon, and others.

Use Web slices to conveniently keep up with changes on frequently updated websites, like eBay auctions or traffic sites, directly from the IE8 toolbar.

Easy to communicate and share
Windows Live Photo Gallery Windows Live Photo Gallery makes share your photos to your favorite photo site easy.

Windows Live Mail Windows Live Mail makes managing multiple email accounts easy.

Windows Live Family Safety Keep your child safe by managing what sites they can visit and who they can send/receive emails and im communications from.

Works The Way You Want
Faster and More Reliable
Resume from sleep We designed Windows 7 to help PCs sleep and resume from sleep more quickly by improving the way Windows 7 manages drivers, programs, and power.

Faster and more reliable We reduced the amount of memory your PC needs for open windows and to execute commands to help it be more responsive to commands.

Fewer clicks and less interruptions

Makes New Things Possible
Media on your terms
Windows Media Center Turn your PC into a TV with Windows Media Center.

Windows Media Center Watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV.

DirectX 11 DirectX 11 technology delivers breathtaking game graphics so real, it's unreal.

New ways to engage
Windows Touch Windows Touch makes PCs with touch screens easier and more intuitive to use.

Media on your terms
Windows Media® Player More and more consumer electronics, from TVs to digital photo frames, can be connected to home networks. With Play To in Windows 7, you'll be able to easily send music, photos, videos from your PC to a networked device throughout your home.

You can enjoy the photos, music, and videos on your home PC when you're away from home with remote media streaming.

Work anywhere
Location Aware Printing Windows 7 will automatically pick the right printer for you when you move from home to work networks.

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