[jwtseng]

Thinking about buying a Mac Mini once Tiger is released. Here's my question (somewhat unrelated)... Assuming I wait for Apple to have Tiger preinstalled on the Mac Mini... What kind of system reinstall disks will be included? Is Apple still including the full OS install disks with new machines, or are machines these days only coming with system *restore* disks (preventing installation on other machines)?

[darthslacker]

My mini came with a restore disk. I would imagine if you get one with Tiger pre-installed, it will also come with a restore disk.

The only way I can see getting Tiger on it's own disk(s) is if you get a mini with Panther installed and the Tiger flat pack in the box.

[jwtseng]

Is it possible to use the restore disks to install Panther on other computers?

[tooki]

There are no Mac OS X "restore" discs: it's always a full Mac OS X installer plus a separate application restore.

tooki

[skalie]

.........while we're here.

How long after the release of Tiger will it be till the Mini-Mac ships with it?

[all2ofme]

I'd be interested to know if the mini's upgrade discs could be used on another machine also.

I'd like to buy a mini, get the upgrade and then run Panther on the mini and Tiger on my Powerbook.

Anyone know if this'll work? I'll buy a mini tomorrow if I know it will.

[betasp]

I don't know about you question, but early G4 restore discs worked on any system. After the first G4 rev. the restore discs only worked on that model and no other.

I understand why Apple does this but all of us tech guys were scrambling for old discs for support purposes.

[Jasoco]

If you buy a Mini (Or ant new Mac between yesterday and the 29th, you'll be able to get Tiger free.. well, plus probably the 20 shipping.

[tooki]

$10 this time. Dunno why they decided to lower the cost, but they did. (Though something tells me they still make a killing on it.)

tooki

[Jasoco]

I bought my mini in January, so it doesn't matter to me. I think mini owners should at least get a lower price.

[jwtseng]

For me, I'm just trying to figure out whether I should buy Tiger (the full retail package) for $129 when it comes out on April 29th or just wait for Apple to preinstall Tiger on the Mac Mini that I am already planning to purchase.

In my experience with the Panther Up-to-Date program, what I got were strictly UPGRADE OS X discs. If my memory serves me, this meant that the install discs would only install OVER a pre-existing Jaguar system. There were no options to do a clean install onto a blank HD. And there is no telling what little bits get installed over and/or left behind when doing an upgrade install, not to mention the inconvenience (Since I like to reinstall a fresh system on a fairly regular basis).

So what happened THEN was that I bought my PowerBook and then paid $10 for Panther Up-to-Date. Then eventually bought the retail Panther box as well to avoid having to install Jaguar and then upgrade to Panther every time I wanted to wipe my drive.

Just thinking aloud here. Thinking that I might just go ahead and plunk down my cash for Tiger retail. Of course that *is* already 20% the cost of a Mini!

Can anyone with a Mini check their OS install discs for me? Are they simply restore disks or regular full install disks? And for extra credit... If they are full install disks, do they work on other machines??? Haha. Thanks.

[NYCFarmboy]

to the previous poster, I seem to recall having to install Jaguar THEN panther to get Panther onto my old orange ibook.

I'm waiting on a mini to ship with Tiger from Amazon (no tax and no shipping charge)....don't know how long that will take but no hurry.

[Paco Loco]

Originally Posted by tooki

There are no Mac OS X "restore" discs: it's always a full Mac OS X installer plus a separate application restore.

tooki

So can I use the restore discs from my eMac which has OSX 10.3 to install 10.3 on my iBook, which only has 10.2? That would be amazing... how is it done?

[Cei]

Restore discs only normally work on the type of system they shipped with. For example, you buy a PowerBook and the discs will only work on another PowerBook, not a G5 for example.

[all2ofme]

Does an *upgrade* disc (not the restore ones you get with the machine) with the up-to-date program work on machines different to the type the original was purchased with, though?

This, in other words:
1) Buy Mac mini with Panther
2) Get Tiger discs with up-to-date program
3) Install Tiger on a Powerbook instead of the mini

Hope the answer is yes. That way Apple get the price of a mini from me instead of the price of an OS upgrade.

[Randman]

No, chances are the update will only work for a mini, not a PowerBook.