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Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Position Paper

Approved September 17, 2007

Background

As part of Apple’s dedication to improving their operating system platform, Apple released the beta version of Mac OS X 10.5 to developers in March 2007. Apple is expected to release Mac OS X 10.5 sometime in October 2007.

Apple indicates there are 300 enhancements included in Mac OS X 10.5. The most notable of those enhancements is the inclusion of “Boot Camp” as an integrated piece instead of an add-on utility as is currently found with Mac OS X 10.4. Boot Camp allows users to install Windows XP or Windows Vista in a separate partition on Intel based Macs, which allows them to run Windows based software applications.

Features

Mac OS X 10.5 includes a number of new and/or enhancements to existing features which are highlighted below:

• Desktop
• Finder
• Quick Look
• Time Machine
• Spaces
• Mail
• iChat
• iCal
• Dashboard
• Safari
• Parental Controls
• Boot Camp
• Photo Booth
• Front Row
• DVD Player
• Accessibility
• Automator

Position

Due to Mac OS X 10.5’s release date of October 2007, IMT recommends that faculty and staff delay upgrading to Mac OS X 10.5 until the fall of 2008 for the following reasons.

1. IMT will need several months to test Mac OS X 10.5’s compatibility with APU’s software standards.
2. With the exception of the features listed thus far, Mac OS X 10.5 offers no substantial functionality over the current version. While the ability to run both Windows XP and Mac OX S, and their corresponding applications, on the same computer may be compelling, the actual benefits and value to the user and the university are not known. This same functionality has not been assessed for its impact on the IT infrastructure and resources required to support it.
3. Fall 2008 is the next opportunity to install Mac OS X 10.5 to a large group of faculty/staff in the most economical manner.

Impact

The impact of Mac OS X 10.5, from a benefits, costs and support perspective are not fully known and will not be until it is released to the general public and we’ve had an opportunity to test it in APU’s infrastructure.

Action

It is university policy that IMT will not deploy or implement a major software upgrade (e.g., Windows operating system, Microsoft Office, Mac OS X) until the first Service Pack has been released. Apple does not release Service Packs or major patches/upgrades in the same manner, so only a six to nine month period after public release can ensure all major bugs and incompatibilities have been resolved. Additionally, IMT will thoroughly test the software to insure proper functionality with all other applications upon which the University relies for its daily operations.

Plan

• 2007Q4
  IMT will begin testing Mac OS X 10.5.
• 2008Q1
  IMT will determine the viability of supporting “Boot Camp” as part of the Mac OS X 10.5 deployment.
• 2008Q2
  IMT will complete testing Mac OS X 10.5.
• 2008Q3
  IMT will deploy Mac OS X 10.5 on all refreshed computers.
  Upgrading non-refreshed computers to Mac OS X 10.5 will be performed on an appointment basis.

Additional Notes

IMT recognizes that through the use of a 3rd party software product, Parallels, users can run Windows applications side-by-side with Max OS X applications without the need to reboot the computer to switch between the two. IMT does not intend to support the Parallels product at this time.

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