OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
Mac Corner
Mac OS 10.5 Leopard (FAQs)
rev. 11/29/08
Mac OS 10.5 Leopard is the current Apple operating system that ships with Macintosh computers. Review the FAQs on this page to obtain information regarding Leopard and the university. Upgrading old Macs to Leopard is not generally recommended. The Office of Technology Services (OTS) developed a university Leopard configuration for installation on Apple computers that are purchased with university funds.
1. What is the standard university Leopard configuration?
The university Leopard standard configuration has been tested and setup to work on the university network and includes the Leopard operating system; and standard campus applications including: Microsoft Office 2008, McAfee anti-virus, and Firefox. For details see: MAC OS 10.5 Leopard Standard University Configuration.
If departments are running Macs that are not running university configurations, the department will need to assume primary responsibility for these non-standard Macs. OTS can provide limited assistance, on a case by case basis, for non-standard configurations. OTS staff are familiar with university configurations and can provide more effective service and assistance.
OTS understands that there are unique situations when non-standard technology may be required. If a situation where technology is required outside of university standards, OTS will assist with selection and purchasing. This will allow us to work with you to determine what level of support OTS can provide. Contact Jack Stark (410-704-3905) if you have questions.
2. Where do I purchase Leopard?
Leopard is purchased at the Apple Store web site.
3. Do I need to upgrade from Tiger to Leopard?
No. university Mac computers that are running Tiger will continue to serve most users until their next Mac computer purchase. As a general rule, it is best to retain the primary operating system that originally was shipped with your computer; the original operating system has been thoroughly tested and certified for use with your hardware. An upgrade to Leopard may cause hardware and/or software incompatibilities. Printers, scanners, and other peripheral devices may not function properly; Classic Mac applications are not compatible with Leopard; and other applications may not run or must be upgraded to run on Leopard. Clients will want to do thorough research and contact hardware and software venders to verify compatibility with Leopard before an upgrade is considered.
If your department has a compelling instructional, research, or businesses need to upgrade from Tiger to Leopard; first, review the requirements below, contact: Jack Stark at 410-704-3905 to discuss your needs.
A. Requirements for a Leopard Upgrade
After researching Leopard compatibility with your Mac hardware and software, below are the requirements necessary for a Leopard upgrade. If an upgrade is planned, it is important that OTS staff perform the upgrade in order to configure the Mac to work properly with the university network products and services.
- The Mac computer meets the following hardware requirements:
- If the Mac meets the hardware requirements, Leopard will need to be purchased from the on-line Apple Store (http://www.apple.com) cost for upgrades is approximately $116.00 per computer
- After Leopard is purchased, OTS staff will schedule a fresh installation of the operating system that will include:
- performing a back up of the Mac hard drive prior to installing Leopard
- performing a fresh install of Leopard that will reformat the hard drive; all data and applications will be deleted and need to be reinstalled after the Leopard configuration has been installed.
Note: licensed applications will only be reinstalled on the Mac by OTS staff if they are on original media or proof-of-purchase documentation is provided.
Note: Microsoft Office 2004 is replaced by Office 2008 in the Leopard university configuration
OTS staff will make reasonable efforts to get everything working. Complete compatibility with all applications and hardware is not guaranteed when an operating system is upgraded on a computer.
4. What Leopard resources are available?
See the Apple Resources web page.
5. How do I purchase Apple computers for the university?
For information on Mac hardware purchases, repairs, and AppleCare, see
Mac Hardware and Purchasing FAQs
6. What about Leopard personal Mac computers?
Leopard can be purchased at the Towson University Apple Store. If you are considering an upgrade on a personally owned computer (home system), do your homework on hardware and software requirements for Leopard and follow recommended backup procedures to create a complete, recent, and verified bootable backup of your drive. Than perform a fresh Leopard installation.
Note: a search on the web will yield some good resources for upgrading and backing up your Mac.
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