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It’s the first time in years that I’m actually excited about a new release of an operating system. How sad is that? Oddly enough the last time it was for a different version of the same operating system. Back in 2000 I actually bought an Apple iMac specifically because OS X was due to be released soon. I even pre-ordered my copy and everything.

Of course with Microsoft’s operating systems nothing has really much happened since 1995. Windows 98 was more of the same but ever so slightly different. Windows ME? Let’s not even go there. The only major leap was from NT4 to Windows 2000. XP is Windows 2000 in a new dress and Vista is just a pile of steaming, stinking crap. I love the way a lot of people are referring to Vista as Windows ME II. It is really the best description for it.

What about Linux? Well unless you are in to the nuances and minutae of operating systems then you won’t have seen much changes since 1992. Or even from its predecessors and inspirations from the early 1970′s. The Linux desktop has changed a lot over the years with lots more functionality added over time. Sadly though the consistency just isn’t there. Using Gnome on Ubuntu and Gnome on Fedora and you will see that the menu layouts are completely different. Even on the server level there are marked differences between distributions. Configuration files in different places, different start up scripts, program locations and on and on and on.

Today OS X Leopard is being released. I don’t have a copy on pre-order and I’m not going to be hanging outside and Apple retailer at 6pm waiting to buy a copy but I certainly will buy one in the next couple of weeks. There are enough tweaks and new features that are enough to get me to pay for a new copy. I’ve mentioned this before but this is where Apple score highly in my books. OS X Leopard is priced at €129. That’s it. You get the full version. There are no Ultimate, Professional, Home, Home Professional, Premium or whatever the hell editions. You get the kitchen sink for €129. Which compared to a shrinkwrapped non-OEM copy of Vista Ultimate selling for €600 is quite a difference. Have more than one Mac that you would like to upgrade? Well you can trot off and buy a family 5 pack for €199. That’s still cheaper than an OEM copy of Vista.

Hard to argue with that. The only shame is that you need Apple hardware.