Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
Upgrade from Mac OS X Leopard with Snow Leopard, a simpler, more powerful, and more refined version of Mac OS X. It delivers a wide range of enhancements, next-generation technologies, out-of-the-box support for Microsoft Exchange Server, and new accessibility features. It's the world's most advanced operating system, finely tuned from installation to shutdown.
Snow Leopard is an upgrade for Leopard users and requires a Mac with an Intel processor.
Upgrade your Mac experience.
With Snow Leopard, iLife '09, and iWork '09 all in one box, the Mac Box Set is the best way to upgrade your Mac experience, especially if you're still using Mac OS X Tiger.
Overview
Better, faster, easier 
Snow Leopard enhances your entire Mac experience. In ways big and small, it gets faster, more reliable, and easier to use.
- Activate Exposé right from the Dock.
- Wake from sleep and shut down your Mac faster than before.
- Install it more quickly and get back 7GB of disk space.
- Enjoy dozens more refinements for everything from iChat to Preview and more.
Next-generation technologies 
New core technologies in Snow Leopard unleash the power of today's advanced hardware and prepare Mac OS X for future innovation.
- 64-bit support, the next big step for the Mac. All key system applications are now 64-bit so they can take advantage of all the memory in your Mac.
- Grand Central Dispatch, a revolutionary new way for software to get the most from multicore processors.
- OpenCL, a new technology that unleashes the power of graphics processors to accelerate application performance.
QuickTime X
As the next generation of media players, it's built on new core technologies and advances modern media and Internet standards.
- Watch your videos in a clean, uncluttered interface with the new QuickTime Player.
- Record audio or video using the built-in iSight camera and microphone in your Mac.
- Trim your media to the perfect length.
- Easily publish your media to MobileMe or YouTube.
Out-of-the-box
support for Microsoft Exchange
Mac OS X Snow Leopard delivers built-in support for the latest version of Microsoft Exchange Server, something even Windows PCs don't have.
- Use your Mac at home and at work and have all your messages, meetings, and contacts in one place.
- Easily set it up using the Autodiscovery feature in Exchange.
- Use Mail, iCal, and Address Book to access your work email, calendars, and the Global Address List alongside your personal accounts.
- Take advantage of powerful Mac OS X features such as Spotlight, Quick Look, data detectors, and more.
Safari 4
The latest version of Apple's blazing-fast web browser delivers up to 50 percent faster JavaScript performance and is more resistant to crashes than ever.
- Use Top Sites to view your favorite websites at a glance, see which ones have been updated, and visit them in a click.
- Complete search queries as you type with built-in Google Suggest.
- Flip through full-page previews of your browsing history in Cover Flow the same way you flip through album art in iTunes.
Universal Access
Every Mac comes with built-in technologies designed to help people with disabilities experience it. Innovations in Snow Leopard advance accessibility even further.
- Control your Mac using gestures on your Multi-Touch trackpad. And when you drag your finger across the trackpad, VoiceOver speaks the items you touch so you know how they're arranged on the screen.
- Snow Leopard includes support for over 40 braille display models, including Bluetooth models.
- New accessibility features make web browsing easier, faster, and more enjoyable.
Most Useful Reviews
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Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
GLITCH ALERT!!
Written by PS from HARWICH
04-Oct-2009
Like a fool; i upgraded to snow leopard straight away...
It keeps dropping the link to my Wi-fi router on average every 5 minutes, rendering the internet experience utterly rubbish.
I have now tried everything- including changing routers :-(
A quick search of the forums reveals I am not the only one!
It has been a couple of weeks now, and I check for a 'software update' daily, but no luck so far!
Come on apple, pull the ol' thumb out! …More224 of 250 people found this useful
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Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
needs improvement
Written by KH from Dunbar
06-Oct-2009
Reading around it is clear that some people have no problems upgrading, and yes the actual process of installing the new software is reasonably quick (under an hour) and without any glitches.
The problems began after that: Safari, iPhoto, Mail all crashed without warning doing simple things like opening web pages, adding attachments to emails etc. Photoshop CS3 (not supported, I know) has crashed more times than I care to remember, taking hours of work with it.
Things are slightly better with the 10.6.1 update, but I wouldn't rush in yet. There are still crashes and my Canon iP4300 printer interface doesn't work. Yes, it is supported, but it is incapable of selecting anything other than the default paper tray. For envelopes etc this is necessary (thankfully this can be done using a button on the printer).
There are space savings so if this is an issue for you it might be a persuader. Some programs do seem to launch quicker, and there are a few nice refinements; however, the failings still outweigh the benefits for me.
I would suggest at least another update is needed! …More164 of 187 people found this useful
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Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
Avoid at all costs
Written by PB from Dublin
08-Oct-2009
If you are in the graphic design or print business and rely on Postscript Type 1 fonts or practically any version of Helvetica Neue, including OTF, then avoid this update like the plague until Apple sorts these problems out (don't hold your breath, though: their response so far has been to stamp their feet and blame Adobe). …More
158 of 197 people found this useful
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Most Recent Reviews
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Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
Absolutely nothing to complain
Written by KP from LOHJA
21-Dec-2009
I paid 9 euros for the upgrade. Installing was super easy . Now after 10 weeks everything is working as it should, fast and ... it just works. One old photo sw stopped working - perhaps if would work after new installation...did not use it anyway.
Printer (old Canon), scanner , internet , old Office 2004 , Canons DPP - they all work faster and better than before .
It was a cheap upgrade - obviously everything happens under the hood. Nothing spectacular, no crashes, no problems...
Software should be like this. …More2 of 3 people found this useful
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Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
Brilliant!
Written by DS from Cardiff
10-Dec-2009
I'm happy with my upgrade! It freed up a massive 40GB of hdd space and has speeded my start up and shut down, ten fold! There's not much change to thte interior but in my eyes it didn't need cleaning up that much anyway. I haven't had any compatibility probs as yet, although don't really use that many apps. Ableton Live 8 and office work 100% fine for me...perfect! Well chuffed …More
7 of 8 people found this useful
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Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
A complete waste and disappointment to what one expects from Apple !
Written by SS from Amsterdam
09-Dec-2009
Everything is a mess after the "upgrade" !! Printer does not work !! ... jpeg pictures download with a strange extension automatically !! ... sync with I phone is all messed up !! ... Bento requires an upgrade too (of-course at a price) !!!! .... A totally shameful product to release and charge for. Somehow it feels like Apple is wanting to have windows reputation of being more about the revenue and publicity instead being reliable and steadfast. SAD. Anyone considering the upgrade. Forget it !!! Waste of time and money. …More
17 of 22 people found this useful
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Questions & Answers
Most Interesting
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My Mac is still with the Mac OS X Tiger, can I upgrade to the snow?
- Asked by FI
- 30-Sep-2009
Best Answer
As I said before - your processor - i.e. the age of your Mac is key to this. If you have an Intel processor (the newer Macs) - then yes you can install an upgrade to Snow Leopard 10.6, if not then no, you are stuck with Tiger 10.4.
Look on the Apple Store site for hardware requirements of Snow Leopard 10.6.
Apple stores do not sell older operating systems - such as Leopard 10.5 - you will have to get Leopard 10.5 if you want it from Ebay or somewhere similar. …More- Answered by JW from BEXLEYHEATH
- 01-Oct-2009
- 113 of 129 people found this useful
- 3 more answers
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My Imac is Mac OSX Version 10.5.8 Would I benefit by upgrading to Snow Leopard, or have I already got it.
- Asked by CW
- 30-Sep-2009
Best Answer
You have the most up-to-date release of Leopard, but not Snow Leopard. Snow Leopard is version 10.6 - you only have 10.5.8.
And to answer your second question, no, MS Word is not included with Snow Leopard - you have to buy it separately. It's about $150 US.
Hope this helped!
Daniel James …More- Answered by DD from Ohaupo
- 30-Sep-2009
- 30 of 34 people found this useful
- 10 more answers
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Lots of bad reviews. Should I wait to upgrade?
- Asked by AM from Hoffman Estates
- 11-Oct-2009
Best Answer
Reviews may say one thing and you might find out from your own experience another thing.
If you're speaking about upgrading to Snow Leopard, I suggest you look for an Apple store in your area and sign up for one of their free workshops on Snow Leopard.
While attending the workshop, you will find out more about Snow Leopard, and the person conducting the workshop will be able to answer some of your concerns about it.
Apple's workshops can be very helpful and informative. …More- Answered by CP from Golden Valley
- 12-Oct-2009
- 24 of 29 people found this useful
- 6 more answers
Most Recent
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My Epson Stylus Photo R1800 printer will not work with snow leopard...tried new drivers from Epson but did not work...any suggestions
- Asked by GM from Danville
- 23-Dec-2009
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I have MS Office 2008 for Mac. When I upgrade to Snow Leopard, will I lose it?
- Asked by AB from Somerset
- 23-Dec-2009
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Can I download the upgrade from 10.5.8 to snow leopard?
- Asked by MP from Hoover
- 23-Dec-2009
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I'm running 10.5.8.... can i upgrade to snow leopard?
- Asked by WS from St. John's
- 23-Dec-2009
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i'm running mac os x 10.2.8 and want to update quickly, can i update to the snow
- Asked by RD from Nora Springs
- 22-Dec-2009
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I have a PC running Windows 7. The processor is a dual core AMD 64. Is it possible to run Snow Leopard on a system running an AMD processor?
- Asked by CK from Corsicana
- 21-Dec-2009
