Snow Leopard (10.6) question

[biggestmuff]

I bought my Mac Pro last summer so I've been on board since 10.5.5, but I haven't seen a big OS revision.

So, my question; will the update to Snow Leopard, 10.6 cost anything or is it free?

 

[aphex]

Point updates are free, 10.5.X, full OS updates are not, 10.6, 10.7, etc...

The only time they allow you to upgrade the OS for free (or for $10) is if you buy a system right before the new OS is released.

 

[biggestmuff]

What's the typical cost of the full updates?

 

[sourceninja]

It's around 90 some bucks. I think.

 

[timswim78]

Originally posted by: sourceninja
It's around 90 some bucks. I think.

Retail was $129 for the Leopard (10.5) upgrade. It's less if you have a student or work discount.

 

[TheStu]

You can also get the Family Pack (5 licenses, but not really since OS X doesn't use serial numbers) for $200, bringing the per license cost to $40. A really great deal for someone like me since me, my mother, and both my sister use Macs. And my one sister has a MacBook and an iMac... so that is 5 systems right there.

 

[Kmax82]

Yea, I have three Macs at home, so I just buy a Family License and get enough "licenses" for those computers, plus two. And it only comes out to around $60/ea.

Plus, if you aren't needing the features of the new OS X revision, you can always wait and grab it later. For instance, they are now bundling Leopard with iLife '09 and iWork, so it essentially makes the OS free... or you can wait and grab a copy off of Amazon, which has it for $110 (no S&H and no tax). You'd be saving $30 there.

 

[timswim78]

I am running 10.5 and iLife 08 now. If 10.6 is released this summer, it will take 6 months or so to be really bug-free. By that time, it will be January, and iLife 10 should be here. So, I'll probably by the Apple Box Set at that point. With my work discount it is $140 for one computer or $190 for a 5 computer license.

 

[Injury]

I've heard people saying that Snow Leopard was going to be a free upgrade for anyone running 10.5... maybe that's changed?

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Injury
I've heard people saying that Snow Leopard was going to be a free upgrade for anyone running 10.5... maybe that's changed?

No one was saying that, at least not that I heard. I heard plenty of people say "I wonder if 10.6 will be a free update to 10.5, gosh I hope so!".

Much like those that have said the same, but replace 10.6 with 7 and 10.5 with Vista.

The only time that Apple has given away a .n update away for free was from 10.0 to 10.1. But that was because 10.0 was a horrific piece of buggy crap, and 10.1 came out just a few months later.

Apple has put a lot of work into this release, just in under the hood enhancements alone, and I for one have no problem with the price. Just as I have no problem with the price of 7, although to date I have never paid for Windows. I got ME on an old desktop, XP free upgrade with it. Vista Business through my school, so here's hoping I can find a way to get 7 for free legally.