I'm writing this as a meal cooks on the stove in the next room; in about an hour or so I have to run out the door to head to the airport to pick up my friend Wendy who is visiting from the mainland.
But before I have to go I wanted to write a quick new newsletter about some new news -- earlier today it was announced that Apple will be releasing the brand new
version of Mac OS X -- version 10.6, a.k.a. "Snow Leopard" this Friday.
You may know that the new version of Windows, Windows 7 is coming out pretty soon too -- currently it's set for the 22nd of October.
In both cases, we're talking about a brand new version of the computer's "operating system" which is the underlying software needed to run the computer.
----------------------
Don't understand what an operating system is? Watch the easy video lesson in the "dictionary and computer concepts" area of my new member website. Not a member yet? Sign up for free using the form below this article!
----------------------
At times like these, I tend to get people asking me if it's a good idea to upgrade to the new version or not, so I thought I'd send out this newsletter to give my answer. My general advice with brand new versions of an OS -- whether that be a new version of Windows, or a new version of Apple's Mac OS X (that's a Roman numeral 10) is to wait a little while.
Now personally, I'm probably going to be pre-ordering my own copy of Snow Leopard (i.e. Mac OS 10.6) today or tomorrow so I get a copy on the release date, but as you might expect, I need to try these things out sooner than most people.
But for most people, I would say "don't rush into it".
This is because an operating system is a very complex piece of software, and this usually means that a brand new *major* version (i.e. going from any version of 10.5 to 10.6 is a major version, while 10.5.7 to 10.5.8 is a minor update which is free) will tend to have a few issues to work out that could cause problems for people.
This is unavoidable, and Apple is pretty good about getting most of the major issues worked out quickly. So most likely, we'll be seeing OS 10.6.1 coming out pretty soon, and around then would be when I suggest people who are interested make the change.
In contrast is Microsoft with their new versions of Windows.
As you know if you've been reading my newsletter for a while, I'm no fan of Windows Vista, the last major version of Windows to be released.
It has had so many issues that I *still* tell people to avoid getting it if at all possible. Usually for Windows I tell people to wait about a year to let them work out all of the bugs and other issues, but it seems that Microsoft has given up and decided to release an entirely new version (Windows 7) instead of fixing Vista.
In fact, they consider it to be the fix to Vista. No matter that they're going to charge you for a brand new version to fix the bad one you may have been suffering with.
Speaking of pricing, how much will it cost?
Well, the new version of Windows 7 when it's released will cost you between $119.99 and $319.99 depending on which version you get.
Microsoft tends to release multiple different versions of Windows with varying capabilities (which can often be unclear and confusing).
Apple on the other hand tends make things more simple by releasing just one new version of Mac OS X, which traditionally is a bit less than a new version of Windows.
This time, however, they're making it *really* inexpensive at a mere $29!
The caveat on this is that $29 is an upgrade price from OS 10.5 (Leopard). If you have 10.4 still, you will need to pay for both 10.5 and 10.6 (Leopard & Snow Leopard) which will run you about $169.
And there's one other requirement: you need to have an Intel-based Mac to run Snow Leopard. You can find out if you have one by going to About This Mac from the Apple Menu and if it mentions Intel, you're OK.
So if you have an older PowerPC based Mac (like a G4 or G5) then you will not be able to upgrade.
This happens about once every 10 years or so when Apple moves ahead and leaves older computers behind. This can be frustrating to computer users, but generally I agree with the policy as it can avoid a lot of problems.
Anyway, I'd better inhale my food and run out the door or I'll be late picking up my friend from the airport!
I just wanted to keep you up to date with what was going on in the computer world since I'll be playing host for the next few days and may not have had another chance to write this before she leaves.
until next time, take care, and enjoy,
Worth Godwin
Plain English Simplicity for This Complex Modern World
But before I have to go I wanted to write a quick new newsletter about some new news -- earlier today it was announced that Apple will be releasing the brand new
version of Mac OS X -- version 10.6, a.k.a. "Snow Leopard" this Friday.
You may know that the new version of Windows, Windows 7 is coming out pretty soon too -- currently it's set for the 22nd of October.
In both cases, we're talking about a brand new version of the computer's "operating system" which is the underlying software needed to run the computer.
----------------------
Don't understand what an operating system is? Watch the easy video lesson in the "dictionary and computer concepts" area of my new member website. Not a member yet? Sign up for free using the form below this article!
----------------------
At times like these, I tend to get people asking me if it's a good idea to upgrade to the new version or not, so I thought I'd send out this newsletter to give my answer. My general advice with brand new versions of an OS -- whether that be a new version of Windows, or a new version of Apple's Mac OS X (that's a Roman numeral 10) is to wait a little while.
Now personally, I'm probably going to be pre-ordering my own copy of Snow Leopard (i.e. Mac OS 10.6) today or tomorrow so I get a copy on the release date, but as you might expect, I need to try these things out sooner than most people.
But for most people, I would say "don't rush into it".
This is because an operating system is a very complex piece of software, and this usually means that a brand new *major* version (i.e. going from any version of 10.5 to 10.6 is a major version, while 10.5.7 to 10.5.8 is a minor update which is free) will tend to have a few issues to work out that could cause problems for people.
This is unavoidable, and Apple is pretty good about getting most of the major issues worked out quickly. So most likely, we'll be seeing OS 10.6.1 coming out pretty soon, and around then would be when I suggest people who are interested make the change.
In contrast is Microsoft with their new versions of Windows.
As you know if you've been reading my newsletter for a while, I'm no fan of Windows Vista, the last major version of Windows to be released.
It has had so many issues that I *still* tell people to avoid getting it if at all possible. Usually for Windows I tell people to wait about a year to let them work out all of the bugs and other issues, but it seems that Microsoft has given up and decided to release an entirely new version (Windows 7) instead of fixing Vista.
In fact, they consider it to be the fix to Vista. No matter that they're going to charge you for a brand new version to fix the bad one you may have been suffering with.
Speaking of pricing, how much will it cost?
Well, the new version of Windows 7 when it's released will cost you between $119.99 and $319.99 depending on which version you get.
Microsoft tends to release multiple different versions of Windows with varying capabilities (which can often be unclear and confusing).
Apple on the other hand tends make things more simple by releasing just one new version of Mac OS X, which traditionally is a bit less than a new version of Windows.
This time, however, they're making it *really* inexpensive at a mere $29!
The caveat on this is that $29 is an upgrade price from OS 10.5 (Leopard). If you have 10.4 still, you will need to pay for both 10.5 and 10.6 (Leopard & Snow Leopard) which will run you about $169.
And there's one other requirement: you need to have an Intel-based Mac to run Snow Leopard. You can find out if you have one by going to About This Mac from the Apple Menu and if it mentions Intel, you're OK.
So if you have an older PowerPC based Mac (like a G4 or G5) then you will not be able to upgrade.
This happens about once every 10 years or so when Apple moves ahead and leaves older computers behind. This can be frustrating to computer users, but generally I agree with the policy as it can avoid a lot of problems.
Anyway, I'd better inhale my food and run out the door or I'll be late picking up my friend from the airport!
I just wanted to keep you up to date with what was going on in the computer world since I'll be playing host for the next few days and may not have had another chance to write this before she leaves.
until next time, take care, and enjoy,
Worth Godwin
Plain English Simplicity for This Complex Modern World
Labels: snow leopard, upgrade snow leopard, upgrade windows 7, windows 7
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