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
-
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! …More184 of 203 people found this useful
Was this useful?
-
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! …More131 of 148 people found this useful
Was this useful?
-
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
123 of 152 people found this useful
Was this useful?
Most Recent Reviews
-
Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
Anxiety
Written by AM
19-Nov-2009
Snow Leopard appears to have been a rush job – I guess Leopard was a little slow.
This version is faster and does contain some new functional gimmicks. The problem is that someone seems to have forgotten that for some of us the mac is more than an entertainment center. When fonts, printers, and pdfs no longer work – anxiety sets in. Some consultation with Adobe before releasing this upgrade might have helped! …More13 of 14 people found this useful
Was this useful?
-
Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
snow leopard
Written by AK from dartford
18-Nov-2009
Wow it shuts down a bit faster and wow it starts faster(not so sure) yes my mac now eats power and yes 3rd party software hangs and crashes a lot. Would not mind but my new mac book (only 2 months old) has more problems than before the upgrade. I have been a mac user for along time and this appears to be a big con to get £25.00 off a lot of mac fans. Anyone wanting to throw away £25.00 then dont buy the upgrade, post me the money and i will have a night out..... …More
9 of 12 people found this useful
Was this useful?
-
Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
What a shame
Written by AD from Stanford le hope
18-Nov-2009
Since upgrading my internet often freezes. Something which never happened before the upgrade.
My calender and address book no longer sync with itunes, and thus are no longer available on my ipod.
This feels more like a microsoft non-upgrade than an Apple upgrade
I haven't noticed the alledged speed increase in system start up and shut down
Plus points ........ It loaded easily …More9 of 10 people found this useful
Was this useful?
Questions & Answers
Most Interesting
-
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
- 63 of 78 people found this useful
- 2 more answers
-
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
- 26 of 30 people found this useful
- 10 more answers
-
Lots of bad reviews. Should I wait to upgrade?
- Asked by AM from Hoffman Estates
- 11-Oct-2009
Best Answer
In my opinion, research the programs you are going to use most frequently and see if there is any mention about them being upgraded for snow leopard, many applications have been upgraded already, and more are on their way. It's entirely possible that most, if not all of the applications you use have already been upgraded and are ready to use. If not, wait a little while, or find a replacement product from a company that responds faster.
At the very least, the apps that have been upgraded already tell you a bit about the efficiency of the company you received the software from, and tells you if you can rely on them for speedy updates or not, which is often one of the most important parts of any software company.
And with that said, many applications that worked for 10.5 (Leopard) will work fine on 10.6 (Snow Leopard) such as Firefox, VLC, and various messenger apps, so also look up if the application doesn't need to be upgraded at all, perhaps it works as it is.
Hope this helps. =) …More- Answered by DS
- 11-Oct-2009
- 18 of 22 people found this useful
- 6 more answers
Most Recent
-
My MacBook Pro is running Mac OS X 10.4.11 with an Intel processor. Do I have to get the box set or can I just get Snow Leopard by itself?
- Asked by JN from Bayonne
- 21-Nov-2009
-
how do i know if i have leopard or snow leopard?
- Asked by SH from Huddersfield
- 20-Nov-2009
-
Will I have to reinstall my software after my upgrade from Tiger?
- Asked by CB from Albuquerque
- 20-Nov-2009
-
Will I lose QuickTime Pro after upgrading to Snow Leopard?
- Asked by GS from MACOMB TOWNSHIP
- 19-Nov-2009
-
I have a mac G4 OS X version 10.2.3 (I think that's the version I have) What would be the best option for me to upgrade?
- Asked by NC from Edmundston
- 19-Nov-2009
