Hands on with Apple’s Mac OS X 10.5.5

“Monday’s release of OS X 10.5.5 brought a slew of updates—136MB worth in the Software Update version on my Mac,” Rob Griffiths reports for Macworld.

“I’m sure you’d like to know how well OS X 10.5.5 works. In a word, my experience thus far could be best described as uneventful—and with something like an OS upgrade, that’s a good thing. I’ve upgraded four machines now, ranging from my aging-but-still-beloved 12-inch PowerBook G4 up to my Quad-core Mac Pro, and I’ve yet to experience so much as a hiccup,” Griffiths reports.

“Overall, OS X 10.5.5 seems like a solid mid-lifecycle product release,” Griffiths reports. “There are, of course, still some annoying problems I hope are fixed in 10.5.6…”

Full article here.

MacInTouch offers reader reports of Apple’s Mac OS X 10.5.5, which “lists the changes and documents customer experiences with the update,” here.

here.

30 Comments

  1. After updating, my iPhone sync now works. Prior to this and after getting iTunes 8 and iPhone 2.1 OS the phone would not sync because of some “unknown error”. I’d have to do a small work around involving shutting off the phone and then syncing with iTunes.

    This update fixed it and the phone now syncs like it should. Thanks for fixing this Apple. However, shame on you for making this a problem to begin with.

  2. @ Jim

    I’m sure Apple would love all their software to be PERFECT, but that’s not gonna happen with human programmers.

    Many others did not have a problem with the iphone sync.

    Apple tries to test all variables but it is virtually impossible to think up all the possible combinations, so bug/crash reports are sent in and they see a trend, then fix it.

  3. I use a Powermac G4 1.25 Ghz at work and upgraded to 10.5.5 yesterday. I have noticed no problems. At home I have a Powerbook G4 1.67 Ghz that’s running 10.4.11. I still feel no need to upgrade my Powerbook to 10.5.

  4. @ tz

    How about un-snappy?

    I went to install the update last night, and it was downloading slowly – I was told that it would take 2+ hours. So I aborted the update and figured I’d wait a day or two until the demand on the Apple servers goes down.

  5. I think it’s time to sit back, relax, and let the software guys get caught up. I like uneventful software updates as much as I like updates with new features. iPhone, Mac OS, Apple TV, whatever.

    Run Software Update, install everything= better experience, everytime.

    It seems like the quality of upgrades increases in a near exponential way. Snow Leopard is the best idea I have heard in a long time…

  6. Since I installed my 10.5.5 update yesterday, my iTunes 8 with iPhone 2.1 is now back to hours-long backups (which took only minutes before the 10.5.5 update). No matter how many times I restart both Macbook or iPhone, I seem to be back to pre-iPhone 2.1 long backup problems. Anyone else experiencing this?

  7. Does 10.5.5 finally restore Spotlight to its Tiger speed? Spotlight would be near instantaneous in Tiger (even when searching for words like “and” and getting tens of thousands of hits, which impressed my PC using friends). In Leopard, Spotlight creeps.

  8. MacSmiley

    Some of us are probably still waiting for 9.3

    But don’t hold your breath

    ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />

    Now, here IS something worth bitching about:

    (and I will take this opportunity, maybe someone at Apple reads the posts here)

    The Finder/Spotlight search result view options in 10.5.x

    Total Bull Shit

    Yes, am really Pissed Off about this one ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”angry” style=”border:0;” />

    In 10.4 could see and arrange Search results according to same criteria as the View in any Finder Window of a Folder, Drive etc.

    Name, Kind, Size, Version, Dates, Comments, etc

    And arrange/sort those results by clicking on any given column

    Now, with 10.5 when searching a Folder/Drive

    Only View Options for Results are

    Name, Type, Last Opened

    And, those results, by default, always start with the ENTIRE COMPUTER – My Mac

    After the Beach Ball spins a bit, can then click on the Current Folder Button to get to what/where the Search was about in the first place, dig ?

    Now, might be some 3rd Party Apps which will bring back the search results view options present in 10.4

    I’ve been looking for those Apps along the way, if you know some that specifically do this, please pass along, they’ll get a sale from me.

    Otherwise, Apple

    Shame on you for the removal of a Basic Feature that worked well, and had great value, least to me.

    10.5.x in this regard, sucks

    Thank You (not)

    BC Kelly

  9. No problems here with 10.5.5 on my aging G5 1.8 Ghz tower. I’m with BC Kelly on the Finder Spotlight thing. That has been the single most annoying thing of 10.5+. I’ve already written to Apple Feedback about that. Searching the currently selected folder makes the most sense anyway…NOT THE WHOLE FREAKIN’ COMPUTER DAMNIT! At the very least they could give us the option. I waste a lot of time just waiting to click on the folder after the spinning beach ball, too.

    Apple is famous for doing 97-99% brilliance and then doing that one annoying bonehead thing.. Nobody’s perfect, but COME ON! Hello? McFly?

  10. Hey that new iTunes visualiser is sick.

    I just tried it for the first time. Thanks for the heads up Raving MacHead. I was mesmerised.

    Now what I want to see are these visualisers on the AppleTV instead of just the boring single screensaver rotating picture option. It would be sweet at parties on my 42″ LCD. Come on Steve if you read this. AppleTV visualiser please dude ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />

  11. Cubert.iSeeUtalkAboutSearchSpeed

    But, sorry, don’t see where you speak of the number of steps in the search process, where those steps take us, and if we even want to go there.

    Gettin’ to the wrong place in a hurry is still the wrong place ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />

    And the kids in Africa, anywhere, are dying because that’s all they do have

    Empty Lines

    BC

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