MAC OS X Leopard

Macintosh users, unlike pc users, have unparalleled advantages. Macintosh products continue to grow in value thanks to constant updates to the operating system, thereby allowing users to get the best out of their computers. The latest technological innovation in the Macintosh world, MAC OS X Leopard, has proven to take Macintosh Computers to the next level. Many new features set it apart from the former operating system: organizational tools, ichat updates and clutter reducing databases are among some of the many changes. As Winston states, there must be a supervening social necessity for the successful diffusion of a product, and it must surpass the law of suppression of radical potential. Leopard provides the solution to many people’s organizational frustrations, and is available to all for low prices, therefore, Leopard will continue, as it already has, to penetrate the public sphere. Indeed there is a social necessity for Leopard. So long as there is a need for organization, there is a supervening social necessity for technology that assists organization, and Leopard stepped up to the plate to provide that.

Macintosh computers have always fared well with the public even before the invention of its new operating system, Mac OS X Leopard. “With such momentum preceding Leopard’s arrival, and with Apple having delivered the OS, Leopard can only sweeten the Mac’s appeal to potential buyers.” (Perenson & Dahl, 2008 ) Leading to the later success of Leopard was its timely arrival compared to its competitor, Windows Vista. An interesting dichotomy protruded from this. Those using windows realized the potential of Leopard, and are abandoning Windows Vista due to its flaws. As Mac continues to perfect the operating system it uses, more people will neglect Windows for a more promising Leopard operating system. Already this trend has snuck its way into the global market.

A war exists between PC manufacturers (Dell, IBM, Gateway and Sony among others) and MAC. Throughout the years, businesses have stayed faithful primarily to computers operating with Windows. However, with the aforesaid information, and Macintosh’s courageous strides in the market with products such as the ipod, one can expect businesses and domestic personnel to adopt Macintosh computers. Macintosh continuously provides more perks, and because of this, businesses have broken the once usual trend of using Windows, and have adopted Macintosh in an increasing amount. Bill gates predicted the need for an operating system in 1985, and released Windows, the first operating system to use graphic interfaces on personal computers. But Macintosh had already beaten him to the punch when they released MAC OS, Macintosh’s original operating system in 1984, and thereby representing a prototype for the later MAC OS X operating system. Windows and Mac OS X have both undergone similar changes over the years, mainly to keep up to date with the growing needs of the public. Leopard’s predecessor, Tiger, matched up well against Windows in earlier years, but Leopard accomplished feats that Windows will surely suffer from. “Apple has again redefined what personal computing looks like. It builds upon the already solid Mac OS X platform and advances all of the core features.” (Gartenberg, 2007) Not only does it build upon its predecessor, it hones the once traditional look and transforms it into an edgy, sleek, look. Everyone has a choice when they go buy a computer, and the perks of each one will ensure its diffusion. Leopard has enjoyed an immense rate of diffusion, which speaks volumes about the changes and the perks that come with it. It has also convinced Windows’ users to betray their usual habits in favor of the Macintosh.

Like its predecessor, Leopard is incorporated in all Macintosh Computers, and is available for download on all existing computers new or old. Out with the old, in with the new. Stacks undoubtedly had an inherent role in the successful diffusion of Leopard. With stacks as an organizational tool within Leopard, Mac users will no longer have cluttered desktops. Instead of storing documents directly to the desktop like Tiger once did, Leopard now organizes documents within a given icon. After clicking the icon, all related documents will pop-up in a rainbow-like motion with the most recent documents protruding out first. Each document also includes its own icon, which allows users to quickly navigate through them. Not a single trace will be left on the users’ desktop, which is an ingenious way to rid the computer of convoluted documents, photographs and files. Whether you are a businessman on the go, or a student rummaging through documents on campus, regardless, Leopard provides a way to access files in a timely, efficient, manner.

Leopard also updated Macintosh’s AIM equivalent, ichat, by incorporating new elements to video chat. As savvy Macintosh users know, the latest versions come with built-in cameras, which allows you to exercise a tangible conversation with your buddy on the other end. When both parties activate video chat, each user can see the other in real time. Leopard enhanced video chat’s capabilities by allowing users to present photographs, presentations and documents to other users. Businesses and students alike have fallen akin to this model as it allows for editing on each end. Each user can allow the other user access to their desktop via video chat, which grants them permission to edit any given document. This is extremely beneficial to students working on group projects. Sitting in separate homes, or living in different countries, students and businessman can file share, which saves time and money while reducing errors.

Time Machine, a compelling feature of the Leopard operating system, backs up files like never before. Anyone, from any field, can take advantage of this tool. Hourly, Time Machine backs-up every single file on your computer, and it also recognizes changes made to files. As it recognizes changes, it will automatically save them as you continue working. It also allows you to backup files from more than one Macintosh computer without overwriting files from another computer. It achieves this by allowing the user to unplug Time Machine while it is in process and connect it to another computer. “Moving a drive from one computer to another has the advantage of speed: back-ups will proceed much quicker than they would over a network.” (Kissell, 2008) In a world that demands efficiency, it is no wonder the Leopard has contributed to the sale of Macintosh computers. It is also not a mystery as to why Mac OS X Leopard has enjoyed individual sales aside from its contribution to the sale of computers in general; people are updating their old Macintosh computers with Leopard.

“According to IDC, U.S. desktop-PC sales have been declining for over a year, yet Apple has shown double-digit growth in the last two quarters.” (Perenson & Dahl, 2008) While Leopard is not fully responsible for this growth in sales, it is, however, in part responsible. Multitasking is a must in the job market today. Many times people open more than one browser as they work on several projects at once. Leopard allows each user to use spaces. You may have up to sixteen spaces, meaning you can work on sixteen different projects at once and still remain organized—here is how. It allows you to coordinate your projects into spaces. “In the spaces configuration screen, you can choose what keyboard and mouse shortcuts will activate spaces, toggle between spaces, or switch directly to a space.” (Perenson & Dahl, 2008) Each space represents a different project you are working on. Toggling between projects allows you to save information you have started on within an existing project and move to a new one. This reduces the amount of clutter on your desktop at any given time, thereby creating an efficient workspace.

Many factors contributed to the successful diffusion of Leopard. First, it beat its competitor Windows to the punch. Since the MS DOS and Mac OS days in the 80’s, Apple has remained a step ahead of its Microsoft competitor. Windows was once the chosen operating system among all businessmen due to its compatibility. However, with the rise in dissemination of Apple products and technology, Macintosh computers will continue to flood the market at increasing intervals and so too will Leopard. Apple producers learned to tweak the operating system in ways that cannot be paralleled. Leopard will continue to sway buyers toward Macintosh and away from PCs. It has organizational potential, quickens file backups, allows for third party editing and a slew of other beneficial perks. As this world progresses toward a sole dependency on technology, leopard will continue to reap the benefits.

 

Works Cited

 

Gartenberg, M. (2007). Apple Makes a Big Leap With Leopard. Computerworld, 41

(46), 30-31. doi 27543914

Glenn, F. File Sharing in Leopard. (2008) Macworld, 25 (3), 92-94. doi 29969048

Kissell, J. Back up Multiple Computers With Time Machine. (2008) Macworld, 25 (3),

43-43. doi 29969020

Perenson, M., Dahl, E. (2008). Apple’s Leopard OS: More Momentum for Macs. PC

World. 26 (1), 18-20. doi 27887015

Winston, B. (1998) Media Technology and Society: A History From the Telegraph to

the Internet. London: Routledge.