Life with the Snow Leopard

**Paul Daniel Ash** · 08-30-2009, 10:56 AM

source: Dot Earth

As advertised, the new release gives a number of stability and speed improvements, much of which may be be imperceptible to the casual user. This is still a must-have upgrade, though it doesn't provide much white-knuckle excitement for the early adopter. It's an important step forward for an operating system that's been two years without a major upgrade, solidifying what's already under the hood and building a strong foundation for what's to come.

The only significant piece of software I have that just doesn't work is SonicWALL's NetExtender VPN client. SonicWALL claims to be hard at work on a fix, but for now, I'll have to work around (basically, hauling out my poor, ignored ThinkPad).

Firefox was having some odd, memory-hoggy behavior until I deleted Firefox and Mozilla folders in ~/Library/Application Support. I did mess around with Safari 4 a bit while trying to figure the problem out. It's solid and fast... I'm considering making a shift, despite my general preference for open-source software.

The Finder is smooth and visually appealing in its new Cocoa-based incarnation. The massive 512x512 icons are a bit much for my MacBook's 13" screen, but offer yet another reason for me to get that Cinema Display I've had my eye on.

One subtle but immensely useful enhancement is the ability to set the default scope of a search. Previously, Finder searched your whole drive by default. Now, you can choose the option of setting the local folder as the initial scope of a search, which is more intuitive and a great time saver in terms of workflow.

The new black-look Dock contextual menu is kind of cool, I guess, but the Mac purist in me is somewhat offended by the inconsistency. Why just that menu in black? The ability to use Grid view in Stacks, though, is a real improvement. I'd avoided using Stacks, because they were just unmanageable for all but the simplest folder. You can nest Stacks, and view those Grids as well. I am thinking of moving my XMenu folders to the Dock, for a full stock-Mac UI.

One other feature which appeals to my bithead side is Apple's adoption of the true gigabyte. What the Mac OS had been using - and Windows still uses - is the gibibyte: two to the thirtieth power (1,073,741,824) bytes. Now, when Apple says a gig, it means a gig: a billion bytes. It ends up making your drive look bigger, though nothing has changed... and the amount of space used looks bigger, too, which means the space you saved in the upgrade will actually be more than you think.

All in all, if you have been sitting on the fence, you should feel confident making the upgrade. You'll appreciate the speed bump, everything works smoother, and it makes what was already the best-in-class OS that much better.

**StealthBravo** · 08-30-2009, 11:04 AM

Great review. I agree about the black contextual menu.

**GregTheWang** · 08-30-2009, 11:18 AM

The true gigabyte is interesting...

**rwin84** · 08-30-2009, 11:27 AM

Just adding to list of why I need snow leopard in my life. Hackintosh support please.

**StealthBravo** · 08-30-2009, 11:29 AM

^ I thought I read about people running it already

**Zeal** · 08-30-2009, 11:42 AM

LolWut?

**smuggler** · 08-30-2009, 11:55 AM

nice, can't wait to make the upgrade and join the party

**d00by** · 08-30-2009, 11:58 AM

While I appreciate the refinements Vuze/growl/Apple Remote(with VLC) are not playing nice.

The Biggest plus for me is the reclaiming of HDD space which is in short supply in my 2007 Mac Mini.

**StealthBravo** · 08-30-2009, 12:01 PM

Anyone else having problems with Cyberduck?

Nevermind you have to use the new beta of Cyberduck Cyberduck 3.3b1

**aziatiklover** · 08-30-2009, 01:00 PM

Has anyone installed SL one single disk license on more than 1 macbooks? I'm asking cuz For some weird reason I installed SL on my macbook air thru my other macbook optical drive. and by accidentally install SL on the macbook as well. Isnt supposed to be license on 1 machine? Thanx for an answer guys

**KartRacer** · 08-30-2009, 01:21 PM

RightZoom is really inconsitent for me.

**mroof1** · 08-30-2009, 03:35 PM

Hey I was curious b/c I have not installed the OS on a mac before, can you do an upgrade with the Snow leopard cd or do you do a fresh install? I was wondering which would be better? My mbp is starting to run sluggish and was contemplating just doing a fresh install. Thanks for the advice.
I cant wait to try it out!

**Melech518** · 08-30-2009, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by aziatiklover

Has anyone installed SL one single disk license on more than 1 macbooks? I'm asking cuz For some weird reason I installed SL on my macbook air thru my other macbook optical drive. and by accidentally install SL on the macbook as well. Isnt supposed to be license on 1 machine? Thanx for an answer guys

there is no license for SL. Therefore it will work on as many machines as you choose

Anyone else getting the "Choose Application" window from Setup Assistant asking "Where is System Events?" right after installation completes for SL???

**aziatiklover** · 08-30-2009, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by Melech518

there is no license for SL. Therefore it will work on as many machines as you choose

Anyone else getting the "Choose Application" window from Setup Assistant asking "Where is System Events?" right after installation completes for SL???

s u r telling its useless to get the family pack instead just buy or use my single upgrade license SL for 29 for my whole household?

**Melech518** · 08-30-2009, 06:17 PM

I just installed it on 2 MBPs, a MB, and 2 mac minis without a hitch if thats says anything.

**aziatiklover** · 08-30-2009, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by Melech518

I just installed it on 2 MBPs, a MB, and 2 mac minis without a hitch if thats says anything.

awesome!!! with the single upgrade license rite? haha

**Melech518** · 08-30-2009, 06:41 PM

Yes sir...and it was the nice man at the Apple Store who told me it would work

**mgebara** · 08-30-2009, 06:54 PM

I like how generally the system runs as smooth as Tiger did.

**rhekt** · 08-30-2009, 07:48 PM

yeah...cyberduck not loading. neither is mactuneup...anybody else have non functioning apps on sN0w?

**StealthBravo** · 08-30-2009, 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by rhekt

yeah...cyberduck not loading. neither is mactuneup...anybody else have non functioning apps on sN0w?

here is the newest cyberduck that works with sl

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Thread: Life with the Snow Leopard

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General Apple/Mac

source: Dot Earth As advertised, the new release gives a number of stability and speed improvements, much of which may be be imperceptible to the casual user. This is still

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