Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar [OLD VERSION]

With iChat, the AOL-compatible instant messenger, you can chat with your AOL and Mac.com buddies through a fun, easy-to-use interface. Sherlock 3, the new Web search tool, delivers stock quotes, maps, restaurants, and more without a browser. QuickTime 6 supports MPEG-4, the new worldwide standard for playing and viewing pro-quality audio and video over the Internet. This new version also includes Rendezvous, a revolutionary networking technology that lets you link computers and devices instantly without any configuration.

Another cool new feature is Inkwell, which lets you write on a graphics tablet, and Jaguar turns your handwriting into typed text at the cursor in any application. And with new compatibility built into Mac OS X 10.2, sharing files, using Windows documents, and connecting to a Windows network have never been easier. And it easily runs Microsoft Office. For business users, Jaguar comes with Active Directory interoperability, and with a PPTP-based VPN (virtual private network) client that allows Mac users to connect remotely to Windows corporate networks.

Jaguar's complete suite of professional-quality developer tools now features GCC 3.1, which radically improves C++ build times and standards compliance. The updated Interface Builder makes it easier to group, lock, and drag Aqua controls between windows for rapid user-interface creation. And, perhaps best of all, these professional tools are still included with every copy of Jaguar, empowering Java, C, and AppleScript Studio developers to do their best work on the Macintosh platform.

Product Description
Code-named "Jaguar," the next major release of Mac OS X will delight you with the innovation, elegance and ease of use you've come to expect from Apple.The initial release of Mac OS X gave you the power of UNIX with the simplicity of Macintosh. But it merely paved the way for the next generation of hardware and software offerings from Apple and third parties.

Cons:
- Internet Explorer is embarrassingly buggy and limited (upcoming Internet Explorer 6.0 should remedy most of its shortcomings)
- Limited customization (e.g., mouse pointer, color, limited number of "themes")
- Still buggy (I found several iChat, Finder, and Mail bugs after weeks of use; soon-to-be-released 10.2.1 free patch should fix most of these)
- Incompatibility with some 10.1 applications
- Skimpy manual
- Slow help engine
- Some free iApps or applets need more features (i.e., you cannot edit photos with iPhotos)

I've switched to Mac platform nearly a year ago, courtesy of Apple PowerBook G4 667 MHz (Gigabit) and Mac OS X 10.1. I've been computing under Microsoft platform for over 17 years, starting with PC-DOS 3.1 in 1995, Windows 2.0 in 1987, and continuing with most iteration of Windows ever since. I've also used various flavors of UNIX (Solaris, AIX, Linux), but mostly for academic and professional reasons.

For an OS only 3 years of age, the Mac OS X is surprisingly mature and complete. For most number of users (including Windows "switchers"), Mac OS X is highly capable. Just throw in few productivity applications (e.g., Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office v.X, Quicken) and download some freeware (e.g., Mozilla), you have nearly full-featured system.

Dare I say it? The Mac OS X is the best client operating system there is. Yes, it is not YET as polished and matured as older systems such Windows XP and Mac OS Classic, but on the plus side, it has little or none of the "old operating system" baggage. Mac OS Classic compatibility box is kept separate (so much that it no longer comes bundled with OS X), with modern Cocoa and traditional Carbon APIs to attract large number of developers (there are now more developers writing Mac software than ever before).

Although OS X takes a lot longer to boot than Windows XP, its rock solid foundation makes it a moot advantage. I've experienced some crashes under 10.1, but none with 10.2. My PowerBook frequently felt sluggish under 10.1, but with 10.2, it is quite speedy (still not as fast as my IBM ThinkPad with 1.6 GHz Pentium 4-m processor, however).

I highly recommend OS X to power users willing to explore new OS, students (particularly graphics and engineering students), or basic users looking for stable and easy to use platform.


Recent upgrade was well worth it.   January 30, 2003
Michael A. Brown (Salt Lake City, UT USA)
38 out of 39 found this review helpful

I've been working with OS X for several months now. MY resistance to upgrading to Jaguar (OS X.2) was based primarily on the fact that I bought a new iMac last year and didn't want to shell out more money for the new OS. Finally, I gave in. And it was worth the time and effort.

Jaguar has a cleaner, faster interface to work in. Start-up is much faster. It's a more stable system than OS X (which is saying something, because OS X was already the most stable Mac OS).

The Mail client is also improved immensely over the previous version.

Jaguar includes iChat (instant messaging software), Mail, Address Book, and downloads are available for iSync (basically allows you to port your info from home to work and back seamlessly), iCal (scheduling software), and the new Safari web browser. (A warning though, at this writing Safari is still in Beta testing and definitely needs refining before going live.)

Put this together with the iLife software package (iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, and iDVD), and you've got yourself one great computer system.

As usual, Apple is letting third parties write their manuals. You'll have to buy those separately if you want them. However, this time they've included an interactive "Getting Started" CD which will get the novice up and running in Jaguar without too much stress.


A New Perspective on Mac OS   November 26, 2002
Voltaire
17 out of 18 found this review helpful

I am a recent switcher to the Macintosh platform, I, like many of the reviewers, have used Microsoft and various other OS. I have used MS OS since DOS. I must say that Jaguar is a beautiful OS, and to add to the beauty is the UNIX core that lies underneath. However it is a bit sluggish even on G4 machines, when compared to Apples previous OS9. I have an 800 MHz Titanium PowerBook with 512MB of RAM. The CPU get eaten up by intense applications, moreso than it did when using OS9 with those same applications. For everyday users this is not a concern, but for people working on grpahics and computer media, sluggish performance is unbearable. I do however love the fact that it is almost fully customizable.

PROS:

Astonishing Looks
Exceedingly stable (compared to Windows OS)
Excellent Memory Management
Infinitely cutomizable
Good selection of third party software for graphic designers
Nice Apple Apps for the so called "digital hub"
iTunes especially stands out with MP3 fanatics (light years ahead of Winamp for Windows)
Seamless integration with both Apple and Windows networks.

CONS:

Somewhat sluggish performance compared to OS9 (due mostly to the Astonishing Looks above)
Being codenamed "Jaguar"


The Undisputed Leader.   August 16, 2002
Maine Writer (Maine, USA)
23 out of 26 found this review helpful

When Mac OS X was first launched last year, it was a work in process. Facing increasing pressure to get "something" out the door, and having gone through several failed attempts to unleash a modern operating system to replace the aging, original Macintosh operating system, Apple threw OS X (10.0) at dedicated Mac users as, essentially, a pay-to-play beta test. Why, you might ask, would Mac users pay to play with a not-yet-ready for primetime OS? I suppose you should ask Windows users the same question. At lease Apple was kind enough to tell people that 10.0 was not for everyone and was going to be revised substantially.

Then came 10.1 (now at version 10.1.5). It improved the speed and features of 10.0 and made it ready for universal adoption.

OS X 10.2 completes the cycle. OS X has now been optimized. It's fast, elegant, and groundbreaking. It has been radically improved to work seamlessly with Windows computers and Windows networks. It has built in, easy to use Bluetooth support. Over all, it has about 150 additions and improvements. There is no doubt that it is now the most sophisticated, stable, and appealling operating system out there. With its UNIX core, it appeals to techies, too.

A great OS just got greater. Much greater.


Very happy user changed from OS 9 to OS X (Jaguar)   September 24, 2002
R. Hoyer (Orinda, CA USA)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful

I am one of those who has been very cautious about changing from OS 9 to OS X. Although I had occasional crashes and conflicts using OS 9, it seemed to perfrom ok and I could put of with those few glitches. I am not one who is interested in living on the "bleeding edge" of technology.

When OS 10.2 (Jaguar) became available, I decided it was time to hold my breath and take the plunge. I can't tell you how happy I have been since making the change.

I prepared myself by ordering copies of my most often used software including Office X, Quicken, Photoshop, etc. Although I expected there would be problems during the installation, it went without any hitches....that is ZERO problems!

I used an Epson 860 printer which worked immediately. I didn't have to go looking for drivers or any other software. My external CD/RW firewire drive worked without problems as did my USB flashcard readers. I have now had Jaguar installed for about a month (since it was released) and I have not had any hangs or crashes. There really was more frustration in my using OS 9 than I had realized. Certainly I think this is the time to consider moving to OS 10.2 if you are still marginally satisfied with OS 9 and have been waiting for a great new operating system.

I did buy David Pugue's "Mac OS X" book (O'Reilly) along with the software. I am happy to have the book as a good reference as it is very helpful for those of us who have moved from OS 9 to OS X. However I also find that the new operating system is so easy and intuitive and I have not spent a lot of time looking up details in the book.

So if you are one of those users who is still wondering if it is the time to change from OS 9 to OS X, I can confirm that the process was very easy and went without any problems for me. I also enjoy the look and feel of the new desktop. I really has been a very easy transition.

P.S. I like the new interface to the .MAC account as well as iPhoto.