Late additions: Java and disk backups

Just as easily remedied was the initial lack of Java 6 support. While most users of Leopard never noticed a problem, Java developers who rely on Mac OS X did -- Java SE 6 offers a slew of new features for developers, such as simplified graphical user interface development, streamlined Web services and a standardized framework for scripting languages.

Apple released a build of Java 6 on December 14, 2007, about six weeks after Leopard's release, quieting the complaints coming from Java developers. It also released another update in mid-February, adding even more improvements over the initial release, though compatibility is still limited to 64-bit Intel chip sets.

It took Apple longer to add a feature to Leopard that had been promised by CEO Steve Jobs and cut from the operating system before it was released: Support by Time Machine -- the backup utility included in Leopard -- for AirPort disk backups. Apple users who relied on the company's AirPort Extreme base station for wireless connections had been told that they could attach a hard drive to their wireless router and use that disk for backups with Time Machine.

When Leopard first shipped, people were surprised to find this a no-go. Without saying why, Apple had culled the feature from the shipping version of the operating system and only implemented it -- unofficially -- when it released a slew of software updates in February. (Apple also released Time Capsule, hardware that made those backups even easier.)

The one change with Leopard that could be a show-stopper for some was Apple's decision to discontinue all support for its "Classic" OS -- meaning no one on Leopard could run Mac OS 9 programs. (In fact, that one change has prevented the company I work for -- a major media firm -- from migrating our users to Leopard.)

This was not unexpected, as even the Intel version of Tiger didn't support the Classic environment. The only users who could run Mac OS 9 programs in Tiger were those with older PowerPC-based hardware. Although Leopard runs on the older machines, support for OS 9 was finally dropped altogether. For Apple, the move was seen as a necessary step, but it's a problem for users with legacy software.

Perfection remains on the horizon

Since Leopard's debut, Apple has been busy, bumping Mac OS X from the initial 10.5 on October 26 to 10.5.1 on November 15 -- a quick update largely aimed at squashing all those niggling bugs that shipped with the operating system. Version 10.5.2 arrived on February 11, and the next update, Version 10.5.3, is expected soon, although Apple hasn't said when. Those revisions have included numerous bug fixes, security updates and code tweaks, including the aforementioned tweaks to the menu bar and Stacks.

By way of comparison, Mac OS X Tiger had three upgrades in its first six months. By the time Tiger was replaced by Leopard, it had received 11 such upgrades and dozens of security updates and software tweaks. What does this mean for Leopard? Look for a series of future updates as Apple continues to improve on the Leopard code base, just as it has for every other version of OS X.

Leopard also offers behind-the-scenes benefits for users: built-in developer tools that allow Apple to detect problematic code and to help boost performance. Because Apple has implemented DTrace in its development environment, Mac users are likely to see a more stable operating system and applications. Anyone using Apple's developer tools for their applications is also using the very same tools Apple uses for its own diagnosing and bug-fixing.