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Entire review can be found here
Quick quiz: what revolutionary new product did Apple Computer introduce in September of 2000?
No, it wasn't the iPod. It wasn't the flat-panel iMac or the iBook consumer notebook either.
In September of 2000, Apple introduced Mac OS X, a completely new version of the Mac's system software. OS X was not just another version of the classic Mac system. It was a user-friendly version of UNIX.
This was a more significant accomplishment than most people realized at the time. Programmers, engineers and scientists began to look seriously at Apple computers because Mac OS X offered the power and security of UNIX plus Mac software and Windows compatibility.
Fast-forward to October 2003. Mac OS X "Panther" (version 10.3) is the third major update to Mac OS X in three years. Like the previous releases, Panther mixes high-tech and high-touch, combining the power of UNIX with beginner-friendly buttons, menus and icons. It's simple enough for a child to use yet powerful enough to drive a super-computer.
Panther provides better performance, better compatibility with Windows, plus some innovative new features.
STABILITY
As a Windows user, I was trained to save my work frequently "just in case." I knew from experience that some random event (like launching my e-mail program while printing a Word document) might lead to a "blue screen of death."
The classic Mac system was easier to use than Windows, but it could not walk and chew gum at the same time. If a program crashed, the whole system often went down as well. The cute little picture of a bomb on the screen offered little comfort.
Mac OS X is different. Panther uses a new memory system that protects the computer from unstable programs and device drivers. If a program freezes or crashes in OS X, you can kill that specific "process" (to use UNIX terminology) without affecting the rest of the system. There's no need to shut down or restart the Mac because of one bad program.
I won't say OS X is completely crash-proof, but I can honestly say that in three years of use I can't remember ever losing data as the result of a crash or system freeze.
PERFORMANCE
When Apple moved to OS X, veteran Mac users complained that the new system felt sluggish compared to the classic Mac OS. Although OS X could run dozens of processes at once without breaking a sweat, the "snappiness" of the classic Mac user interface was missing.
Each new release of OS X has attempted to address this problem, and Panther finally gets it right. Startup, restart and program launch times have been greatly reduced, and menus are much more responsive. Overall, this release feels much "snappier" than any previous version of OS X.
Now think about that for a second. OS X Panther performs better than the previous version on the same hardware. You don't need to buy a new computer to get the performance boost offered by Panther (although I'm sure Apple won't mind if you do).
EXPOSÉ
The most stunning new feature of Panther is tool called Exposé that's designed to address the problem of window clutter. When activated (by keystroke or mouse action), Exposé shrinks all visible windows to tiny tiles, making it easy to "Find the window you need. Now." Exposé can also be used to display only the windows for the current program, or to clear away all windows to display the Desktop. To see Exposé in action, see http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/expose/
FAST USER SWITCHING
This new feature, shamelessly borrowed from Windows, makes it possible for a second user to access their profile in OS X without forcing the current user to log off. Apple has implemented this feature in style, using a visually stunning "cube-turn" effect. See www.apple.com/macosx/features/fastuserswitching/.
A NEW FINDER
The file manager known as the Finder has been tweaked to add some new features. Each Finder window now has a Sidebar on the left, providing quick access to disk drives and favourite places. A new "Action Menu" button in each Finder window performs essentially the same function as right-clicking (a baffling concept for Mac users who have always used one-button mice).
Networked computers can be more easily accessed using a new "Network" option in the Sidebar (rather than the clunky "Connect" menu in Jaguar). Finally, a much-requested feature called "Labels" — borrowed from the Classic Mac OS — makes it possible to colour-code folders and files.
Some subtle changes in Panther's "look and feel" may go unnoticed at first. The ubiquitous pinstripe background from previous versions of OS X has been toned down in menus and completely eliminated from windows and "brushed-metal" toolbars. A new, more obvious highlighting effect makes it clear which icons on the Desktop are selected, and a large, on-screen menu (invoked by Command+Tab) appears when you switch applications from the keyboard.
WINDOWS COMPATIBLE
Mac OS X plays nice with Windows machines. In my home network, the PC in the basement shares a network with two Macs. I can share files from any computer, and even share external devices like printers and scanners.
Panther features enhancements to TextEdit, Apple's free word processing software. You can now open and save documents in Microsoft Word format directly from TextEdit, without resorting to add-on software or buying a copy of Microsoft Office.
Panther also adds support for some Microsoft-specific technologies including Active Directory and the Windows Exchange mail server. Apple says the new built-in Virtual Private Network client in Panther is compatible with popular VPN servers, including those from Cisco and Microsoft. (I haven't tried this yet.)
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS
The Panther file viewing software, Preview, now features better PDF management than Adobe's own Acrobat Reader software. You can scroll quickly through huge PDF documents, search and copy text, and grab selections from PDF documents using a new "crop" tool.
Panther automatically detects many networked devices, allowing you (for example) to import pictures from someone else's digital camera if they're on your network. Font management has been substantially improved from the mess that was in Jaguar (where fonts could be stored almost anywhere). The Disk Utility program can now "image" your hard drive (a la Symantec Ghost) to make a perfect backup.
PROBLEMS
Panther is not all sunshine and roses. As usual with any new software update, some problems were discovered after the program shipped to retailers.
The biggest problem in Panther was a nasty bug that corrupted data on some high-speed FireWire 800 disk drives. Panther's new "FileVault" data protection tool also caused problems for some users. Other, less serious problems are being catalogued and discussed on Mac-related Web sites like MacFixit.com.
Apple has responded to the problems in Panther with two quick updates that users will get automatically when they connect to the Internet. This highlights the Mac OS X feature called Software Update, which is used to download and install security patches and other updates. Panther has added the option of downloading updates in the background rather than on-demand. Panther also gives you access to Software Update in one click, directly from the Apple menu (upper-left corner of the Desktop).
PANTHER — SHOULD YOU GET IT?
If your Windows PC is near the end of its life, I encourage you to take a serious look at Panther (perhaps on an eMac computer) before chaining yourself to anther Windows-based machine. This advice goes double for anyone with children, and triple for anyone with teenagers. (If they want to buy a bare-bones PC to download music from Kazaa and play PC games, let them spend their own money. You have a life of your own.)
If you're a power user who prefers plain text to eye candy, take a look at all that OS X offers under the hood (e.g. FreeBSD, Apache, GCC, X11, etc.). It's a good thing to be able to code while downloading e-mail and watching a DVD.
Finally, if you're a Mac user still clinging to the classic Mac OS, I encourage you to set aside your preferences (literally) and embrace the future. Think of it this way: you've avoiding paying for three system upgrades so far. Treat yourself to a new Mac now, and you can have Panther for free!
Apple says there are 150 new features in Panther. I haven't found them all yet, but I think I've found enough to justify the $179 (Cdn.) upgrade price. If you would like to refresh your Mac — or change your life by switching to a computer that works — check it out.
-Taken from Globetechnology.com
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