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
Two steps forward, one step back
Written by ML from Montreal
Sep 30, 2009
The speed increases are significant, and probably worthwhile in the long run, but applications - Apple and non-Apple Intel applications included - crash fairly regularly. All the non-Apple applications have crashed several times since I started using Snow Leopard a few days ago, and Apple applications such as Mail, iPhoto, and Safari have also crashed. While the speed increase, and some of the layout improvements, make it overall a good product, the number of bugs means it's probably worth waiting for some updates before buying it. …More
936 of 1028 people found this useful
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Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
Too many issues to bother with now
Written by AK from Kansas City
Oct 1, 2009
Luckily I had only had my computer for two months before I attempted this, because it was utter ____. I've lost a couple of things because I had to revert back to leopard, and Firefox was one of the main ones. My office 2008 is buggy now and I've tried to fix it, but I think its even past my help. My advice is to wait a few months, and back up your computer first if you do attempt it. Luckily I did. …More
666 of 782 people found this useful
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Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
Playing nice with other software
Written by EH from Minster
Oct 1, 2009
Beware. If you are using Adobe Products such as CS4 or Nikon products such as Capture NX2. Snow leopard does NOT play real well. locks up (Beach ball of death) alot. Also Snow Leopard will cause your legit copy of Lightroom 2.5 to expire.
Other than that nice savings to the HD and noticeable speed increase. …More610 of 720 people found this useful
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Most Recent Reviews
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Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
Reminds me of Windows "upgrades"
Written by CC from Dallas
Dec 8, 2009
First, I am a low end user. I use my mac for spread sheets, word processing and the internet. The conversion to Mac 3 years ago was painful requiring me to purchase new printers, etc b/c drivers weren't available for the machines I had that worked perfectly. All said and done, it was worth it. The support you generally get from Apple in the stores and the fact that most things just work far exceeds the painful conversion; however, not so much with Snow Leopard. It has thrust me right back where I was a few years ago. I have spent an entire weekend trying to get everything to work and endless hours on the phone with Apple support....and the saga continues. Every time I try to scan a document, Snow Leopard locks up. Honestly, at this stage of the game, it doesn't offer any advantages and only headaches. My advice to fellow low end users, WAIT. I wish I could go back. …More
10 of 11 people found this useful
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Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
Written by TJ from Aalborg
Dec 8, 2009
DON´ T WASTE YOUR MONEY! Like I did. I have to agree with the one star reviews on this site- Since upgrading Leopard, computer is chrashing almost every day. Before the "upgrade" (what a joke) computer running smooth without any flaws.
Shame on you Apple. You have turned my IMac into a windows nightmare regarding reliability. …More11 of 16 people found this useful
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Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
Snow is a no! no!
Written by TT from CHICAGO
Dec 8, 2009
I regretted updating to Snow Leopard, for since the upgrade I have not been able to enjoy my Mac again. Application freezes like no man's business, I have to force quit apps constantly about 10-15 times per session. Apps load quickly now; don't get me wrong, but what is the essence of it loading quickly if it's only gonna crash or freeze the next minute. Also, some third party apps that were working fine on Leopard, are just plainly malfunctioning in Snow Leopard, I wish I could go back to the way things were before Snow Leopard, it has made my Mac experience very tedious... My PC is starting to look very attractive these days, at least I know what to expect from that... …More
5 of 5 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
- Sep 30, 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
- Oct 1, 2009
- 95 of 110 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
- Sep 30, 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
- Sep 30, 2009
- 28 of 32 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
- Oct 11, 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
- Oct 11, 2009
- 20 of 24 people found this useful
- 6 more answers
Most Recent
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If I install a third-party Duel 1.8 ghz processor upgrade in my G4 PowerMac, can I run Snow Leopard?
- Asked by BB from Tulsa
- Dec 7, 2009
