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The new Macintosh operating system, Leopard, was released Friday, October 26. This new operating system, also known as Mac OS 10.5, has an attractive new look and many improved features. However, Leopard also has some compatibility issues which could lead early adopters to experience some problems completing needed tasks, such as printing via the network in academic departments and managing databases with FileMaker. Also, important services such as Retrospect backups (automated office computer backups) and virus scanning are not yet fully available. ACC is working hard to ensure that Leopard works effectively in our campus computing environment. We have a work around for the network printing issues and virus program, and are awaiting new application software releases to resolve the other main issues. Nevertheless, unless you need to purchase a new Macintosh at this time, we would recommend waiting until more of these problems have been resolved before upgrading to the new OS. Also keep in mind that some other third party programs and peripherals (i.e. printers, cameras) may need updates to work with the new operating system. If you are considering upgrading your operating system or purchasing a new macintosh, please contact your liaison for assistance in determining what kind of impact you might experience. For more details and up-to-date information, please see our "Leopard at Haverford" web page, http://www.haverford.edu/acc/docs/leopard/. If you wish to take a look at Leopard, you are welcome to stop by Stokes 204, where we have it installed on a public system and we will be happy to demonstrate some of the new features. Do I need to upgrade to Leopard?No. If your Mac is running OS 10.3 “Panther” or OS 10.4 “Tiger”, it is not necessary for you to upgrade. Upgrading will give you some additional features, but you may not benefit directly from them. For example, in order to use the Time Machine backup feature, you must have an external hard drive larger than your computer’s hard drive. How do I know if I can run Leopard?Apple publishes a list of hardware requirements on their website at: www.apple.com/macosx/techspecs . Generally, you need a 887 MHz or faster G4 or higher computer. This includes all G5 and Intel Macs. Also, you need a minimum of 512 MB of RAM, though 1 GB RAM is preferred.How much does Leopard cost?Personal copies for home or personal computers cost $116 with the Apple Education discount for a single copy, and $189 for a Family 5-pack. These can be purchased from the online Apple Store (see link on our site at: www.haverford.edu/acc/sales/macbuy.html) or in person at the Apple Store in Suburban Square in Ardmore. Show your college ID for the discount.Copies for college owned computers cost $69 each. Are there any problems with using Leopard with Haverford software and our network?Yes. As of October 26, ACC has identified that some key software used at Haverford, namely Microsoft Office Mac 2004, Adobe CS3 suite, Eudora, and Cisco VPN all work with Leopard. However, the following software does NOT work:
Also, there have been some issues with adding network printers. ACC will continue to test Leopard, and will post updates or solutions to common software issues as they become available. Additional Questions?Please call the Help Desk at 610-896-1480 or email helpdesk@haverford.edu. |
For Questions and Comments, contact Haverford
College's Academic Computing Center.
Last updated on
November 6, 2007
