[ero2]

And I bought my MBP on the 29 oth January...would I be entitled to a free upgrade to Leopard? Or does it have to be within 14 days? I assume they woudn't ACTUALLY make you return the computer and get one with Leopard correct? I know it's speculation but I'd hate to have to pay for it, for buying my computer a few days early.

[Big Mac]

If it works the same way as it worked with Tiger, then computers purchased on or after the date of Leopard's shipping announcement are entitled to a free upgrade. If you buy right before ship date you're definitely going to get the free upgrade.

[OreoCookie]

Since a release before the WWDC is unlikely, this is a question you should be asking yourself this summer It's right after MacWorld SF, so chances of a release of Leopard are slim to none.

If you need a computer now, then buy it now.

[Frugle]

its been such with me that you HAVE TO be within 2 weeks to get it free. that is there policy with anything... I bought my MBP right before the free nano promo, and since it was within 2 weeks, I took my reciepts back, and they basically returned the computer, waived the return fee, and then I bought the computer again and got the free nano.

I am almost positive it has to be within 2 weeks.

[Chuckit]

Don't worry about it. Leopard ain't coming out till the very end of spring.

[Adam Betts]

Expect Leopard release at around June (the new date for WWDC 2007). Leopard is pretty much still in Alpha right now.

Feb 20th is rumored to be the day for updated lines such as Mac Pro, Displays, etc

[neyoung]

From what I've read, the others are right. There is a a 14 day grace period. If you buy a Mac within that grace period and a new OS comes out then you are entitled to a free upgrade. Otherwise you gotta buy it.

[krove]

I'm not sure how this plays into the release, but WebKit just went into a bug triage/stabilization mode for an unspecified period per this blog post: Surfin’ Safari - Blog Archive � Stabilization Spree ‘07

No new feature checkins, just bug fixes, stabilization patches. Interesting, if you ask me.

[brokenjago]

Originally Posted by BigMac

If it works the same way as it worked with Tiger, then computers purchased on or after the date of Leopard's shipping announcement are entitled to a free upgrade. If you buy right before ship date you're definitely going to get the free upgrade.

Listen to the man. He's right.

Eidt: SO basically, the answer to your question is No.

[little a]

i'm in a similar position -- i will probably buy a macbook soon but i'm concerned about paying too much for not waiting -- and i was wondering how it worked when Tiger came out. that is, for people who had the previous OS and had to pay to upgrade, how much did it hurt?

alfio

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by little a 

i'm in a similar position -- i will probably buy a macbook soon but i'm concerned about paying too much for not waiting -- and i was wondering how it worked when Tiger came out. that is, for people who had the previous OS and had to pay to upgrade, how much did it hurt?

alfio

$129 on the Apple Store, as little as $70 if you find the right deal.

[Gee4orce]

FWIW I don't think the end of June is a likely launch date - that's too close the the iPhone, and if there's one thing Apple does well it's space out it's product launches so that each one receives it's time in the limelight.

I personally suspect a launch early spring, perhaps around Easter, perhaps with an announcement to that effect on the 20th of this month

[legacyb4]

It'd make sense too since you would want your base of upgraded Leopard people jonesing for a new toy that brings all the communication features of Leopard together in one sweet package.

[mitchell_pgh]

I generally wait until the first hardware upgrade after a major OS release, but I plan accordingly. I also shy away from the first version of a piece of hardware. It's far from scientific, but it works for me.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by Gee4orce 

FWIW I don't think the end of June is a likely launch date - that's too close the the iPhone, and if there's one thing Apple does well it's space out it's product launches so that each one receives it's time in the limelight.

I personally suspect a launch early spring, perhaps around Easter, perhaps with an announcement to that effect on the 20th of this month

And moving WWDC to the very last week of the season that Leopard was supposed to be released is just a coincidence? That seems less likely to me than Apple releasing Leopard a month earlier than the iPhone.

[mdc]

Originally Posted by Frugle 

its been such with me that you HAVE TO be within 2 weeks to get it free. that is there policy with anything... I bought my MBP right before the free nano promo, and since it was within 2 weeks, I took my reciepts back, and they basically returned the computer, waived the return fee, and then I bought the computer again and got the free nano.

I am almost positive it has to be within 2 weeks.

That's hardware. If you buy a Mac today and a few days later Apple announces a new model you can swap your one for the new one.

To get a free upgrade to the latest OS you need to buy your Mac after the release date for 10.5 has been announced. Apple will then let you upgrade for free.

[slugslugslug]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

And moving WWDC to the very last week of the season that Leopard was supposed to be released is just a coincidence? That seems less likely to me than Apple releasing Leopard a month earlier than the iPhone.

I know Think Secret's track record has been sliding downhill lately, but it's at least worth mentioning that they're hearing word of a March release for Leopard (along with iLife & iWork '07)...

[Gee4orce]

I don't see a tie-in between WWDC and the OS release. Really.

Developers already have Leopard. It's not like Apple are going to stage WWDC after (or on) the 10.5 launch and say "by the way, here's all those secret features" to the developers.

June is about as early as Apple can stage WWDC (to prevent it being too soon after last year's). So even if WWDC is early and you're assuming that's because they want to cover the new stuff in Leopard, all that says to me is that 10.5 is going to be out before WWDC.

WebKit has been feature frozen, and developers are now only concentrating on bug fixes. Traditionally this is a big pointer that they are getting it ready for a Final Candidate OS release. Add a few weeks for bug fixing, a few more for packaging and distribution, and I think we'll see 10.5 in the shops sometime in April.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by Gee4orce 

June is about as early as Apple can stage WWDC (to prevent it being too soon after last year's).

Not just June — the very last week before they miss their deadline for Leopard. That's the part that made me take note. I don't think one week earlier or later in June would have been too early or too late compared to last year, but one week later would definitely be too late for Leopard. I mean, there are 51 weeks in the year that have no significance vis-a-vis Leopard, and they picked the other one.

Originally Posted by Gee4orce 

So even if WWDC is early and you're assuming that's because they want to cover the new stuff in Leopard, all that says to me is that 10.5 is going to be out before WWDC.

So you really think there's no significance to it being the very last week of the season? It's a complete coincidence? I suppose you could be right, but it just seems improbable.

Originally Posted by Gee4orce 

WebKit has been feature frozen, and developers are now only concentrating on bug fixes. Traditionally this is a big pointer that they are getting it ready for a Final Candidate OS release.

Well, duh. The question is just whether they're feature-freezing it just couple of weeks before it goes GM or if they're freezing it early so people have months to find bugs in the system.

[Catfish_Man]

As of last week WebKit has 148 priority 1 bugs remaining. That's after we knocked 12 of 'em out on bugday

(I got one!)

<edit>Make that 143 now</edit>

[godzookie2k]

if you just dropped 1500 bucks on a laptop and are worried about another 100, apple's OS release schedule is the least of your worries.

[earthlings]

I wonder and suspect if there is going to be some new designs on the look of the imac this year.