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PC world did an X300 v Air comparison and came up with this gem.

OS
Hey, we're not called PC World for nothing. Air's Leopard is cute, and secure, and its back-up software is very 2001: A Space Odyssey. But we prefer to live in the wider world opened by the X300's Windows Vista. Of course, the likes of Bootcamp now let you run Windows on a Mac and, for the really pervese, Hackintosh will put the MacOS on a PC. But for best performance, keep things native.
Winner: X300

Get the full story here. http://blogs.pcworld.co.nz/pcworld/ck-live/2008/02/lenovo_walks_on_air.html

Nuf said!

According to the MDN Take, they are running leapord on a 400 mhz G3 processor right. I'm pretty sure the requirement for this is a processor that runs at a highler clock speed than that. There is a dual 500mhz G4 tower we have here at work that wouldn't install leapord because it was saying the processor were not fast enough? Is there a work-around for this? If there is, let me know so we can get that computer up to date.

Feb 29, 08 - 05:20 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

{burns}

Excellent.

{/burns}

Feb 29, 08 - 05:22 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

"But for best performance, keep things native."

What's less native about running Windows on an Intel processor in a computer built by Apple vs. one built by Dell?

Yeah, I thought so.

Feb 29, 08 - 05:27 pm Comment from: DanDrums

Confused one:

You can install Leopard on a hard drive in a compatible machine then simply swapping it out.

Suck on that MAC dorks!

Feb 29, 08 - 05:32 pm Comment from: DanDrums

By the way if anyone has a copy of leopard on a spare hard drive they have knocking about, can I have it? My two machines are a G4 400MHz AGP (Under-specced) and an intel MacBook (No HD swapping) so I don't think I can do it myself? Or can I do it with 'Target disc mode'?

Regarding MDN take, I find it completely absurd that 10.5 runs on anything less than an Intel-based Mac or PowerPC G5. Sure it runs fantastic on my MacBook Pro and Mac Pro, but out of curiosity I installed 10.5 on my revision A 867MHz 12" Powerbook G4. A machine that just _barely_ edges under Apple's minimum spec for 10.5, and the performance compared to 10.4 is terrible. Like trying to run Vista on anything less than a dual-core PC. It's certainly possible, but when something as simple as text-to-speech doesn't work as expected in Calculator of all apps (voices like Fred will stutter when speaking a simple result), then something is definitely up with the so-called minimum requirements.

Feb 29, 08 - 05:39 pm Comment from: Hm...

Well, let's see: MS execs knew that Vista wasn't living up to the promises made to consumers because even they couldn't get it working. Wow. And their defense in this lawsuit is what? "The devil made me do it."? "I was just following orders."? "We meant that it was 'Vista Capable' since you could upgrade your ram and drive and video card."? All of the above?

@DanDrums ... you do need to do this with the same Processor family (PPC), so you're correct, you can't put Leopard on a PPC G4 via your Intel, you'll need to find a PPC Mac out there somewhere, but the process does indeed work. I have Leopard on G4s under the 867 mhz limit and it runs without problems.

Feb 29, 08 - 05:47 pm Comment from: Jim - TIV

@Jim R.

I've got it running on a G4, 400hz sawtooth with 1 meg of ram. Installed it on an external disk, booted the computer with that external, installed leopard from the DVD to the G4.

I'm not having any of the issues you spoke of, it runs fine. (Actually better than on my lampstand iMac.)

@DanDrums.. I would install Leopard on the Macbook, then target disk mode the MB to the AGP, select the MB as your start up disk in System Preferences, then restart the AGP and install Leopard.

Feb 29, 08 - 05:53 pm Comment from: coolfactor

Leopard runs great on my 1.5GHz PowerBook G4, but wouldn't install onto my 400MHz G4 tower. I suspect it would run just as well as Tiger does now. Quite usable for an office machine.

Feb 29, 08 - 05:59 pm Comment from: Lurker_PC

After reading these articles all I can say is that the Wow starts now.

Have a good weekend.

Peace.

Feb 29, 08 - 06:05 pm Comment from: Ampar

"Ballmer responded with a terse "Righto.'"

After he removed the light bulb from his mouth.

What is amazing is that M$ keeps making these completely dumbass mistakes and nobody on their board ever questions Gates' or Ballmer's competence. In the rest of the world executives, at that level, lose their jobs for less....

Just my $0.02

@Jim - TIV
I have a G4 (dual 500) I've thought about attempting something like that. Do you run into unsupported hardware problems with software update - i.e. when it scans your machine for software to update? Or do you just keep the update file and copy it to the older computer?

@ gow
"you do need to do this with the same Processor family (PPC),"
Are you saying you could from a G5 install to an older G4 via target disk mode?

thnx

Feb 29, 08 - 06:28 pm Comment from: Spark

Has anyone else noticed, and found ironic, that the new Ford Focus features the SYNC sound system powered by MS, and its big sunroof is named Vista? I may never look at Fords the same.

Feb 29, 08 - 06:28 pm Comment from: Jubei

@ Ampar


ahahahaha... I never thought of associating Ballmer with Uncle Fester! LOL

Feb 29, 08 - 06:59 pm Comment from: Ampar

" . . . and its big sunroof is named Vista?"

And it is difficult to operate, opens very slowly and sometimes not at all.

Jubei,

Yeah, um, no credit for Ampar. Ballmer as Uncle Fester is as old as the hills:

http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/10339/

Feb 29, 08 - 07:04 pm Comment from: Zune Tang®

The 'Wow' never stopped for me. The startup sound, spinning donut cursor, and glorious transparency that probably puts the MAC to shame (I wouldn't know for sure, I don't touch overpriced toy computers that can't play games) is as exhilarating today as it was the day I first powered on my Dell after waiting in line on Vista release day.

Chanting the countdown to Vista launch while waiting with the IT guys I work with is a memory I'll cherish forever. A special shout out goes to Merv in IT who came to my house and finally got my joystick to work with Bioshock Donkey Kong Edition. Now I just have to get it setup so I can play online. Vista RULES!

Maybe you smug MAC dorks are jealous of the camaraderie in the Microsoft Windows community. It's taking hold in Zune circles too.

Your potential. Our passion.™

Feb 29, 08 - 07:07 pm Comment from: ChrisW357

@ Ampar

I don't think it was a lightbulb... ;P

So I guess we'll never see in the MDN take that the numero uno problem at the root of the Vista Capable mess is the pathetic performance of the Intel integrated graphics that Apple's consumer-level machines have depend upon since the switch.

Microsoft Vista -- Quality forever on the horizon.

Feb 29, 08 - 07:22 pm Comment from: Zune Tang®

Good point OpJ! The Intel integrated graphics on a MAC seriously compromises performance. And MACs have glossy screens. Glossy!

Your potential. Our passion.™

Feb 29, 08 - 07:28 pm Comment from: Ampar

To Cousin It:

I wasn't taking credit and it's Cousin Itt created by TV producer David Levy. Thanks for playing.

Feb 29, 08 - 07:29 pm Comment from: Ampar

To ChrisW357:

Yikes. But funny!

Feb 29, 08 - 08:15 pm Comment from: Jamie

@OpJ,

"So I guess we'll never see in the MDN take that the numero uno problem at the root of the Vista Capable mess is the pathetic performance of the Intel integrated graphics that Apple's consumer-level machines have depend upon since the switch."

Good point OpJ. The fact that my MacBook graphics run so smoothly under Leopard and an integrated graphics chip is a testament to the efficiency in  code.

Feb 29, 08 - 08:43 pm Comment from: Tommyr

Vista sucks camel ass. 'Nuff said. They are even LOWERING Vista's price now, that says a LOT. I am SO GLAD I switched 9 years ago. Microsoft sucks massive ass. EVERYONE knows it. I have been spreading the word. Hope YOU are too.

Feb 29, 08 - 08:52 pm Comment from: Olmecmystic

The wow starts now, as in "Wow! Dell is pissed at M$ over Vista." A lot of the same details and the same players show up in the NYT story.

Check it out:

http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_002570DE00740E18002573FE006B7266.html

M$ always burns their partners. Dell should have made them wear a jimmy hat. If you're going to get screwed, you should at least practice safe sex.

Peace.
Olmecmystic

Feb 29, 08 - 09:03 pm Comment from: alansky

Leopard also runs fabulously great on my 12-inch, 1.5GHz G4 powerbook (1.25 GB RAM).

<ib>Leopard's minimum system requirements (according to Apple):</b>
PowerPC G4 Processor (867MHz or faster)
512 MB RAM
9 GB available disk space

For best performance, of course, one should install at least 1 GB of RAM on any Mac running OS X.

Feb 29, 08 - 09:08 pm Comment from: alansky

I installed 10.5 on my revision A 867MHz 12" Powerbook G4. A machine that just _barely_ edges under Apple's minimum spec for 10.5, and the performance compared to 10.4 is terrible. ---Jim R.

How much RAM you got in that there powerbook, Jim? Every new version of OS X wants more RAM for optimum performance, and RAM is so dirt-cheap these days that there's really no excuse for not adding more RAM to your Mac, old or new. No other upgrade gives as much bang for the buck.

MDN-Take: "The fact that Apple's Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger runs on an old blueberry iMac G3/400Mhz/192MB RAM circa 1999 ... (we haven't gotten around to installing Leopard on it, yet). The point we are making remains exactly the same.]"

It is remarkable that you, MDN *cough*, are apparantly planning to install Leopard on that old G3 iMac, given that Leopard does not run on G3's (see Apple's minimum hardware requirements for Leopard).

Some point you are making.

I know, it is a long time ago when blind detestable apologism took over here from fact-based healthy fanboyism, but still. At least try to read up a bit more on Leopard before spouting of this kind of senseless dribble. You always go very aggressive and sometimes even plain hatefull against anyone who has even the tiniest tidbit wrong - in total cowardly anonymous fashion at that - but you yourself do not even know basic information at times.

Hint: go to the Apple site once in a while, you may learn something. "Good journalism" you know, that lame excuse you always use when harassing othes for your precious ad-hits...

ZuneTang says:

The Intel integrated graphics on a MAC seriously compromises performance. And MACs have glossy screens. Glossy!

Yes, sadly, Apple has copied something horrible from the PC side of the computing world. Glossy screens and integrated graphics.

Along with the abortion of a two button mouse.

Then comes along "BootCamp" like what the fsck does a Mac user ever need to install Windows for? What's with the name "BootCamp" anyway? Some hidden meaning?

Then I think, Apple is turning into a PC vendor.

If Microsoft Vista was the "sh*t" OS to have, I suspect OS X would have died a quick and horrible death and Apple would have gone on like a Gateway or a Dell and licensed Vista.

Unfortunatly Microsoft failed miserably with Vista, but Apple was definatly preparing to become a PC vendor.

I know this for sure. Apple was ready to dump OS X for VIsta. Apple IS A HARDWARE COMPANY.

If OS X didn't cut the mustard and Vista did, Apple was prepared to change to stay in business.

BUT THE FACT IS MICROSOFT DOESN'T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BEAT APPLE.

M$ had a chance, they really did. They just fscked it up.

Good for us. OS X lives!!!

I installed Leopard on my Sawtooth G4 400 using the technique outlined here:

http://lowendmac.com/osx/leopard/openfirmware.html

It's way under the hardware requirements, but it runs reasonably well.

@ Mad Mac Maniac,

That is a complete load of bollocks.

Mar 01, 08 - 04:09 am Comment from: makemineamac

Mad Mac Maniac:

I can assure you, as can many others I'm certain, that there was never any intention whatsoever for Apple to become a PC vendor. I think we all would have headed to Cupertino if that had ever occurred.

Bootcamp, was and is, simply an added strategy to make those that were still a little confused about buying a Mac a little more comfortable with the switch. And it was a brilliant move at that, as there are many more people that have switched as a result, at least in the circles I'm in. It just makes people feel better to know they can also run the worlds worst OS on the same machine as the best OS. Period.

And Apple is a hardware company, I would say the best there is, but if you can seriously look at their software accomplishments, and the industry standards they have created with them, the integration they have created across all their lines you really don't know Apple at all. Not at all, my friend...

Par for the course these days when using crap via M$$$$!

How about being realistic and think back to the OS X release, when nothing was working.

Mar 01, 08 - 06:27 am Comment from: ken1w

Vista is bad because Microsoft was working on a thing called Longhorn for "a few" years. Then, when it became apparent that the planned Longhorn project would never get completed, Microsoft started over with the Windows Server 2003 codebase and began working on Vista as we know it today. Unfortunately, Microsoft could not delay it any longer, so it got cobbled together and tested during the last 18 months or so and pushed out the door.

If Microsoft had worked on Windows XP version 2.0 in the first place, it would have been a much better (and probably earlier) release. It would have been Windows XP SP3 (that is being worked on now) with a few cosmetic changes. Apparently, that's what long-time Windows suffers want.

Mar 01, 08 - 07:29 am Comment from: DanDrums

@ Mad Mac Maniac.

OSX is the reason Apple has such a big advantage over every other hardware manufacturer. There aint a chance in hell that Apple would allow Microsoft's dreadful operating system on it's machines instead of OSX.

To even suggest such a thing makes me think you don't even use computers.

MDN and its sheep...

Are you stupid or just stoned??? You missed the whole point of MDN's response stating 1999 Mac's are still running some of the newest Mac OS when New Vista can't even run on new PC's let alone old PC's. Also the fact that the iMac contains a PPC and not Intel chips, but it still works, amazing. Talk about sheep, you and your MSFT fanboys should open your eyes to what MDN reports and tries the level the field of anti-Apple articles with misinformation that spews from the mouths of those loser MSFT fans. Oh by the way, MDN does not preach that they are right all the time, I am sure you have made some mistakes too you shithead!

Mar 01, 08 - 09:38 am Comment from: January 24, 1984

Everywhere I go, people are saying," I know someone who just got their first Mac."

It's like "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." One day we'll wake up, and Vista will be irrelevant.

I've already been snatched. It's a better life.

Apple! Glossy screens SUC!!!

I can't stand it anymore, these reflections from the overhead lights are GIVING ME HEADACHES!!!

I'm going to thrown this glossy iMac right through the front door of Cupertino itself!!!

SHITITITITI!!!

Mar 01, 08 - 10:49 am Comment from: DogGone

@ Mad Mac

I very much doubt Apple ever considered Windows. OSX was central to Job's plans from day one in 1997. It has evolved into more than a OS for PCs.

This bitching about glossy screens is pathetic. If it bothers you so much buy a glare screen.

Mar 01, 08 - 10:52 am Comment from: qka

" . . . and its big sunroof is named Vista?"

So that's Ford's problem - no drivers are available.

Mar 01, 08 - 11:28 am Comment from: Buster

....will not see availability for some time, if ever, depending on the [manufacturer]," Sinofsky wrote," Moses reports.

"Ballmer responded with a terse "Righto-but is Vista snappier?.'"

Mar 01, 08 - 12:33 pm Comment from: Mr. Reeee

@ Guest 51... you should NEVER update if you're going from one major OS release to the next: Tiger to Leopard.

Yes, you CAN update it, but if you want a trouble-free experience over time, it's best to:
Backup
ERASE and Install,
Then have the Migration Assistant do it's magic.

YES, it takes some extra time, but your Mac… and ultimately YOU… will be happier for the effort.

If you don't believe me, check out http://www.macfixit.com for installation suggestions.

Mar 01, 08 - 12:35 pm Comment from: Mr. Reeee

@ Spark, what's Ford gonna do? Call the sunroof Big-Ass Skylight?

Ford and Microsoft, a marriage made in heaven!

Let's not get too carried away with regards to how backward-compatible Leopard is. Apple eventually cuts off old hardware. It doesn't much matter, though, since any Mac running any version of OSX can at least talk to any other Mac running OSX, sharing files and so on.

What's more significant is your mention of Vista's inability to run properly even on newer machines. If you can't even get smooth performance from new hardware, really, you don't have ANYTHING. Vista clearly is just a major headache, causing many companies to choose simply not to install it at all. By contrast, most of the Mac installed base has by now moved over to some flavor of OSX.

So, really, there are now 3 major platforms out there: There's a Mac platform (with all OSX flavors and even System 9 playing nice together), a Windows platform (everything pre-Vista), and then there's the Vista platform.

The Windows platform is going to be, by necessity, abandoned by Microsoft. You might as well cite figures for OS9 - they're just as meaningless. It's an unsupported, dying or dead platform and it's not going anywhere. So - the only meaningful platform-size figures now involve installed Vista machines vs. installed OSX (all flavors) machines.

Using those parameters, it would be interesting to track the size of the OSX vs. Vista base. That's what the real future of personal computing will look like.

Microsoft

Your CPU. Our sea of P-U.

Mar 01, 08 - 05:15 pm Comment from: Cubert

I've got Leopard on my Cube I bought in Sept. 2000. It runs faster than it did with Tiger despite it not being supported. My friends freak out everytime they use it. They're amazed at how quick and responsive the GUI is.