Can't agree more, though I have to say that I am total Mac noob. Was checking out the prices yesterday, between US and India, for the MB and MBP. The quotation I got for the MB was 63K INR, while the Apple website lists it for 1000 USD, which is a huge difference. Got my MBP for 93k INR, while the Apple website lists it for 1999 USD, which is a lesser difference.
On the whole, my experience has been nice, other than Firefox, which sucks now equally bad on both Windows and the Mac (uses up almost the same amount of memory and freezes up in the same manner; talk about being platform agnostic in terms of user experience suckage). More detailed version of that here: http://fatalerror.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/leopard-macbook-pro-first-impression-from-the-trenches/
That said, does Freemind freeze up on you, if you do use it all?
Mine was meant to be an upgrade, except for a glitch: I had just installed a new 160GB HD (having first mounted as USB device, partitioned and cloned via SuperDuper), and Leopard refused to install on it because the partition table was not of GUID type (whatever that is). I had no option but to boot off the old HD (now in turn mounted over USB), rsync the day's changes, repartition the disk, and install Leopard on a clean disk.
Post installation, however, Leopard asked if I'd like to re-import settings from the attached volume and proceeded to restore my working environment exactly as it was before (except for minor changes around /etc in smb.conf and postfix/main.cf).
Several sites around the web recommend turning off all InputManagers, APE haxies and SIMBL plugins before installation. APE in particular is incompatible with Leopard and known to be a leading cause of failed installs.
Good to hear that. I've ordered my copy few days ago - can't wait to upgrade. Also, 10.5.2 is on its way. That should iron out good number of bugs.
Few questions: 1. I guess installing new HDD for MacBook Pro requires you to remove the casing (unlike MacBooks) and that voids the warranty. Did you install the new HDD yourself or got it done by Apple? 2. Any specific reason you decided (initially) for 'Upgrade' rather than a clean install? 3. What application did you use to migrate the data from your clone? 'Migration Assistant' or is there something new in Leopard?
It requires removing the casing. The process requires some tugging and pulling in a manner that is very likely to void warranty -- the front of the case has no screws and is held in place with clips and some light glue. My laptop is a couple of months past warranty now. I did it myself.
I figured installation from scratch and restoration of my working environment would take far longer than I could effort, so planned an upgrade. Leopard's installer on first boot now asks if you'd like to restore settings from attached volumes or elsewhere. It handled everything and brought me back to the exact environment I had left with (but with the new OS interface).
Cosmetic improvements a worthy need?
anonymous
January 7 2008, 14:28:31 UTC
What cosmetic improvements are so important that made you want to upgrade? I have been looking at Leopard for a while now and none of the improvements really matter to me that much.
In fact, I would go as far as saying the backup utility isn't that useful either (TimeMachine) as I simply use a weekly backup using SuperDuper! which works amazingly well using the incremental backup option.
Now, getting a new Mac gets you iLife. That's a bargain.
Re: Cosmetic improvements a worthy need?jaceJanuary 8 2008, 03:45:41 UTC
Several. The Finder is finally usable, Stacks is great for the Downloads folder, Spaces is nice, X11 autolaunch is super, Spotlight actually works, Safari can search within the full text of its browsing history, Preview does the most common image touch-up functions I need, and that horrible brushed metal is fully gone.
There are more, but these are what come to mind immediately.
Comments 25
On the whole, my experience has been nice, other than Firefox, which sucks now equally bad on both Windows and the Mac (uses up almost the same amount of memory and freezes up in the same manner; talk about being platform agnostic in terms of user experience suckage). More detailed version of that here: http://fatalerror.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/leopard-macbook-pro-first-impression-from-the-trenches/
That said, does Freemind freeze up on you, if you do use it all?
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
Post installation, however, Leopard asked if I'd like to re-import settings from the attached volume and proceeded to restore my working environment exactly as it was before (except for minor changes around /etc in smb.conf and postfix/main.cf).
Several sites around the web recommend turning off all InputManagers, APE haxies and SIMBL plugins before installation. APE in particular is incompatible with Leopard and known to be a leading cause of failed installs.
Reply
Few questions:
1. I guess installing new HDD for MacBook Pro requires you to remove the casing (unlike MacBooks) and that voids the warranty. Did you install the new HDD yourself or got it done by Apple?
2. Any specific reason you decided (initially) for 'Upgrade' rather than a clean install?
3. What application did you use to migrate the data from your clone? 'Migration Assistant' or is there something new in Leopard?
Reply
I figured installation from scratch and restoration of my working environment would take far longer than I could effort, so planned an upgrade. Leopard's installer on first boot now asks if you'd like to restore settings from attached volumes or elsewhere. It handled everything and brought me back to the exact environment I had left with (but with the new OS interface).
Reply
Reply
In fact, I would go as far as saying the backup utility isn't that useful either (TimeMachine) as I simply use a weekly backup using SuperDuper! which works amazingly well using the incremental backup option.
Now, getting a new Mac gets you iLife. That's a bargain.
Reply
There are more, but these are what come to mind immediately.
Reply
Leave a comment