Mac OS Version Notes

Glossary

• • Universal: PowerPC and Intel compatible

Mac OS 10.3 "Panther"

• • Can run on most older PowerPC based Macs
  • Doesn't require a firewire port to install
  • PowerPC G3 compatible
  • Obsolete

Mac OS 10.4 "Tiger"

• • Can run on most older PowerPC based Macs
  • Requires a firewire port to install
  • First Mac operating system to be natively universal and to ship with Intel Macs
  • Requirements:
    • 256Mb RAM
    • Firewire port (not all G3 based macs have this)
    • 3Gb of Hard Drive space
  • Obsolete

Mac OS 10.5 "Leopard"

• • Dropped support for PowerPC G3 based Macs
  • Featured programs such as Time Machine and a new interface
  • Requirements:
    • PowerPC G4/G5 or Intel Processor 867Mhz or better (1Ghz recommended)
    • 512Mbs of RAM (1Gb recommended)
    • 9Gb of Hard Drive space
    • DVD drive (if using a disc), not all PowerPC G4 Macs have this
      • Using features such as core image requires a support GPU - See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Core_Image
      • Using DVD Player with de-interlacing requires a PowerPC G5 1.8Ghz or better
  • Old

Mac OS 10.6 "Snow Leopard"

• • Dropped all PowerPC support, all Mac OS versions after this are Intel only
  • Many features based off of the previous version
  • Requirements:
    • See http://support.apple.com/kb/sp575
  • Useable

Mac OS 10.7 "Lion"

• • Introduced the Mac App store
  • Only available on the Mac App Store, not by retail DVD
  • Requirements:
    • Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor
    • 2GB of RAM
    • Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later with the Mac App Store installed
    • 4GB Hard Drive space
  • Useable

Mac OS 10.8 "Mountain Lion"

• • Only available on the Mac App Store, not by retail DVD
  • Requirements:
    • Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor
    • 2GB of RAM
    • Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later with the Mac App Store installed
    • 8GB Hard Drive space
  • Useable

Mac OS 10.9 "Mavericks"

• • Only available on the Mac App Store, not by retail DVD