New MacBook Pros and LEOPARD: Compatibility

[r1400sch]

Hey,
I'm a long time lurker here but have a big question about the recently released laptops.

Since a beta version of Leopard is supposed to be released at the WWDC within hours from now (its late night on sunday here), I was wondering if anyone tested the new OS on a new MBP, the santa rosa one that was just released. Does it run smoothely? Is it even faster than 10.4? And because it runs so well, do you think that these laptops were built to ship with Leopard, which was originally scheduled to be released @ WWDC, but don't only because of the Leopard delay?

The main question I'm concerned about is this: If I buy the Leopard update in October to use on a new MacBook Pro I buy now, will Leopard run optimally, or so close to optimally that I'd never know the difference? Or is a major hardware update expected on the horizon for Leopard, which might mean Leopard would not run up to what its supposed to on the recent MBPs?

Thanks in advance!
~r1400sch

 

[0007776]

They will run Leopard fine, most of the things that you have asked cannot be answered by the people who actually know because of NDAs, and the current builds of Leopard are still buggy, so it will run the final version better than the current version.

 

[samh004]

Leopard wont be like Vista, requiring a major update in specs to run properly. It should run on most hardware that's around already, all of it in fact. If you wanted to you could but a Rev. A MBP and I'm sure it'd run Leopard fine, obviously a faster processor and specs will help it along, and the faster computer will always run it the best...

 

[zap2]

OS 10.5 will run great...the MBP will most likely not see an update(atleast the model that are out) before Leopard launched. I'm planning on having my iMac G5 run 10.5...most likely my iBook G4, but they is no way I'd even think about any Intel Mac having trouble supporting 10.5...a MBP now should be good for a few more updates. 10.6+10.7 no problem if Apple keeps a similar update timeframe for OS updates.

 

[JNB]

I was wondering if anyone tested the new OS on a new MBP, the santa rosa one that was just released.

Apple has, extensively

You've got nothing to worry about. You'll likely be able run 10.5, .6, .7, etc. on the current MBP's with little problem.

 

[kcross]

if anything apple is know for trying to extend too far back in their product line with their os. if anyone remembers the os9 -> osx debacle. so im sure that itll run 10.5 without any issues...

 

[aaronw1986]

MBP's won't be upgraded for like a couple months earliest after leopards release...so, this will be the hardware it will run on.

 

[aliquis-]

Hey,
I'm a long time lurker here but have a big question about the recently released laptops.

Since a beta version of Leopard is supposed to be released at the WWDC within hours from now (its late night on sunday here), I was wondering if anyone tested the new OS on a new MBP, the santa rosa one that was just released. Does it run smoothely? Is it even faster than 10.4? And because it runs so well, do you think that these laptops were built to ship with Leopard, which was originally scheduled to be released @ WWDC, but don't only because of the Leopard delay?

The main question I'm concerned about is this: If I buy the Leopard update in October to use on a new MacBook Pro I buy now, will Leopard run optimally, or so close to optimally that I'd never know the difference? Or is a major hardware update expected on the horizon for Leopard, which might mean Leopard would not run up to what its supposed to on the recent MBPs?

Thanks in advance!
~r1400sch

They are still PCs, I doubt any really revolutionary will happen with PC design just because Leopard is released. Of course everything will get faster, smaller and use less electricity with time, but that will happen no matter if and when Leopard is released or not.

 

[e12a]

i'm not so sure about using less electricity. Sure when computers were the size of a bedroom to a Pentium 3 there were usage drops. But now we need 600w PSUs in our high end desktops and its only getting higher.

 

[weeman]

The new MBP will be good for a couple more OSXs, youve got no reason to worry.