For Mac Users: Upgrade tiger to snow leopard?

lurchlarson · 09-03-2009, 04:42 PM

First off, if I'm posting to the wrong part of the forum by all means, move this to the correct one.

I don't know that I actually will pony up the dough and upgrade my iMac (2.33 ghz intel chip with ATI x1600 256mb graphics 2.5gb ram) from 10.4->10.6. I tend to be of the philosophy that it isn't really worth it to upgrade to a new operating system unless you are upgrade to new hardware. This question is more out of curiosity than anything.

And so the questions

Has anyone upgraded from tiger to snow leopard?

If so,

What is your hardware?

Was there any significant improvement in system speed?

Were there any major problems?

Is it worth it?

Thanks!

mickeyobe · 09-03-2009, 05:00 PM

I have.

Hardware Overview:
Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac8,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 3.06 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version: IM81.00C1.B00
SMC Version (system): 1.30f1
Serial Number (system): W883102H0N4
Hardware UUID: CBE1302F-0E65-59F3-93B2-3F20369084FC

The increase in speed is outstanding.

So far no major or minor problems.

Installation was a cinch.

It cost me $39.55 Can. including taxes at the Apple store.
Yes. it is well worth it if only for the speed increase.

Mickey

mtroute · 09-03-2009, 05:11 PM

I did, and the upgrade from Leopard to Snow leopard was minor but important.

The upgrade from Tiger to Leopard (any version) was tremendous. Many many new and valuable features plus a significant speed gain for me (MacPro 2x 2.66 dual core, 8gb ram) was pretty noticeable but not huge.

For $29 dollars it's a no brainer! Also the "upgrade" disk is actually a full version and DOES NOT require you to be running Leopard (other than those concerned with not violating Apples license agreement).

davemdsn · 09-03-2009, 07:22 PM

The upgrade from Leopard to Snow Leopard was minor on the surface and doesn't seem much different, but I think it has done a lot of good for my Mac and my daily digital life. Aperture isn't way faster, but it is a little faster and doesn't slow down after cropping and straightening like it did before.

Not a huge deal, but I LOVE the new QuickTime. No window frame whatsoever, just a movie floating over your desktop. Loads quicker too.

Edvinas · 09-03-2009, 09:15 PM

On my MacBook Pro 3,1 Snow Leopard gave very noticeable performance boost.

Edvinas · 09-03-2009, 09:16 PM

On my MacBook Pro 3,1 Snow Leopard gave very noticeable performance boost compared to Leopard.

Chwisch87 · 09-03-2009, 09:46 PM

I upgraded a friends 2007 macbook from tiger to snow leopard without much trouble. He reports no problem.

PeteyJ · 09-03-2009, 10:06 PM

I upgraded my MacBook on Saturday to great results, and when I get the chance, I'm gonna do a clean install on my early 2006 iMac that is still running Tiger (I bought the family pack). I expect the difference to be huge on the iMac. I may or may not buy some extra RAM for it, but that's irrelevant to the topic at hand.

As mentioned, if you are running Tiger you do NOT need to buy that box set like Apple says. The regular $29.99 version will work just fine for users still running Tiger.

Ari · 09-04-2009, 06:17 AM

Just did it. Don't see much of a difference yet - I am going to have to read the release notes and see what I'm supposed to be "experiencing"..........

**Ahab** · 09-04-2009, 07:51 AM

It's $24.99 at Amazon including shipping. I have an IMac 2.4gighz and a MacBook 1.8. Yes, it's faster across the board but most notably with QuarkXPress and Elements 6.

mtroute · 09-04-2009, 10:21 AM

Originally posted by Ahab

It's $24.99 at Amazon including shipping. I have an IMac 2.4gighz and a MacBook 1.8. Yes, it's faster across the board but most notably with QuarkXPress and Elements 6.

QuarkXPress is still in business?

a a i b · 09-04-2009, 10:47 AM

^ I use Quark, almost daily, and I wonder this too.

I would think upgrading from Tiger to SL would be worth it just for Time Machine alone.

Personally, while my three upgrades from Leopard to SL haven't demonstrated incredible speed increases, I think the new Finder is worth the price of admission alone.

JonPB · 09-04-2009, 11:33 AM

Originally posted by lurchlarson

tend to be of the philosophy that it isn't really worth it to upgrade to a new operating system unless you are upgrade to new hardware.

I have found Mac OSX upgrades to improve old hardware rather than to require new hardware. My current Mac shipped with 10.3 and each upgrade has been worthwhile. If you don't want to upgrade to Snow Leopard, you could probably find a cheap, used copy of Leopard. By the way, I'm happy with how Leopard performs and your computer is about 4 times faster than mine. Go for it!

Ari · 09-06-2009, 09:17 PM

Seems the finder is a little nicer (and snappier to restart). And it looks like Mail has gotten quite a few bumps (native Exchange support is very nice. And, if I can ever find another job, should come in handy...)

maconmatt · 09-07-2009, 08:07 AM

Yes! If you're coming from Tiger...you'll definitely notice a speed increase!

09-03-2009, 04:42 PM	#1
lurchlarson Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oregon, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 681	For Mac Users: Upgrade tiger to snow leopard? First off, if I'm posting to the wrong part of the forum by all means, move this to the correct one. I don't know that I actually will pony up the dough and upgrade my iMac (2.33 ghz intel chip with ATI x1600 256mb graphics 2.5gb ram) from 10.4->10.6. I tend to be of the philosophy that it isn't really worth it to upgrade to a new operating system unless you are upgrade to new hardware. This question is more out of curiosity than anything. And so the questions Has anyone upgraded from tiger to snow leopard? If so, What is your hardware? Was there any significant improvement in system speed? Were there any major problems? Is it worth it? Thanks!

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09-03-2009, 05:00 PM	#2
mickeyobe Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,759	I have. Hardware Overview: Model Name: iMac Model Identifier: iMac8,1 Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor Speed: 3.06 GHz Number Of Processors: 1 Total Number Of Cores: 2 L2 Cache: 6 MB Memory: 4 GB Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz Boot ROM Version: IM81.00C1.B00 SMC Version (system): 1.30f1 Serial Number (system): W883102H0N4 Hardware UUID: CBE1302F-0E65-59F3-93B2-3F20369084FC The increase in speed is outstanding. So far no major or minor problems. Installation was a cinch. It cost me $39.55 Can. including taxes at the Apple store. Yes. it is well worth it if only for the speed increase. Mickey

09-03-2009, 05:11 PM	#3
mtroute Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Portland OR Posts: 533	I did, and the upgrade from Leopard to Snow leopard was minor but important. The upgrade from Tiger to Leopard (any version) was tremendous. Many many new and valuable features plus a significant speed gain for me (MacPro 2x 2.66 dual core, 8gb ram) was pretty noticeable but not huge. For $29 dollars it's a no brainer! Also the "upgrade" disk is actually a full version and DOES NOT require you to be running Leopard (other than those concerned with not violating Apples license agreement).

09-03-2009, 07:22 PM	#4
davemdsn Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Boise, Idaho Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,413	The upgrade from Leopard to Snow Leopard was minor on the surface and doesn't seem much different, but I think it has done a lot of good for my Mac and my daily digital life. Aperture isn't way faster, but it is a little faster and doesn't slow down after cropping and straightening like it did before. Not a huge deal, but I LOVE the new QuickTime. No window frame whatsoever, just a movie floating over your desktop. Loads quicker too.

09-03-2009, 09:15 PM	#5
Edvinas Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kaunas Posts: 1,458	On my MacBook Pro 3,1 Snow Leopard gave very noticeable performance boost.

09-03-2009, 09:16 PM	#6
Edvinas Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kaunas Posts: 1,458	On my MacBook Pro 3,1 Snow Leopard gave very noticeable performance boost compared to Leopard.

09-03-2009, 09:46 PM	#7
Chwisch87 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Photos: Gallery Posts: 317	I upgraded a friends 2007 macbook from tiger to snow leopard without much trouble. He reports no problem.

09-03-2009, 10:06 PM	#8
PeteyJ Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Chicago/Cleveland Posts: 176	I upgraded my MacBook on Saturday to great results, and when I get the chance, I'm gonna do a clean install on my early 2006 iMac that is still running Tiger (I bought the family pack). I expect the difference to be huge on the iMac. I may or may not buy some extra RAM for it, but that's irrelevant to the topic at hand. As mentioned, if you are running Tiger you do NOT need to buy that box set like Apple says. The regular $29.99 version will work just fine for users still running Tiger.

09-04-2009, 06:17 AM	#9
Ari Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Freehold, NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 856	Just did it. Don't see much of a difference yet - I am going to have to read the release notes and see what I'm supposed to be "experiencing"..........

09-04-2009, 07:51 AM	#10
Ahab Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Arnold, Md. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 762	It's $24.99 at Amazon including shipping. I have an IMac 2.4gighz and a MacBook 1.8. Yes, it's faster across the board but most notably with QuarkXPress and Elements 6.

09-04-2009, 10:21 AM	#11
mtroute Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Portland OR Posts: 533	Originally posted by Ahab It's $24.99 at Amazon including shipping. I have an IMac 2.4gighz and a MacBook 1.8. Yes, it's faster across the board but most notably with QuarkXPress and Elements 6. QuarkXPress is still in business?

09-04-2009, 10:47 AM	#12
a a i b Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brooklyn Photos: Gallery Posts: 315	^ I use Quark, almost daily, and I wonder this too. I would think upgrading from Tiger to SL would be worth it just for Time Machine alone. Personally, while my three upgrades from Leopard to SL haven't demonstrated incredible speed increases, I think the new Finder is worth the price of admission alone.

09-04-2009, 11:33 AM	#13
JonPB Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Portland, OR, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 430	Originally posted by lurchlarson tend to be of the philosophy that it isn't really worth it to upgrade to a new operating system unless you are upgrade to new hardware. I have found Mac OSX upgrades to improve old hardware rather than to require new hardware. My current Mac shipped with 10.3 and each upgrade has been worthwhile. If you don't want to upgrade to Snow Leopard, you could probably find a cheap, used copy of Leopard. By the way, I'm happy with how Leopard performs and your computer is about 4 times faster than mine. Go for it!

09-06-2009, 09:17 PM	#14
Ari Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Freehold, NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 856	Seems the finder is a little nicer (and snappier to restart). And it looks like Mail has gotten quite a few bumps (native Exchange support is very nice. And, if I can ever find another job, should come in handy...)

09-07-2009, 08:07 AM	#15
maconmatt Forum Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Macon, Georgia Photos: Gallery Posts: 62	Yes! If you're coming from Tiger...you'll definitely notice a speed increase!