Friday, 28 August is the day Snow Leopard debuts officially

Aug 24, 2009 13:47 GMT  ·  By

After taking its online store down and then putting it back online, Apple has finally disclosed what the entire industry has been expecting – that Mac OS X 10.6 aka Snow Leopard is shipping even earlier than the originally estimated time frame. The company has not only updated its online store with Snow Leopard banners and info, but also the front page of its website.

“Apple today announced that Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard will go on sale Friday, August 28 at Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers, and that Apple’s online store is now accepting pre-orders,” the Mac maker states in a report issued publicly. “Snow Leopard builds on our most successful operating system ever and we’re happy to get it to users earlier than expected,” Bertrand Serlet, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, says. “For just $29, Leopard users get a smooth upgrade to the world’s most advanced operating system and the only system with built in Exchange support.”

On the same date, Apple will also debut Mac OS X Server Snow Leopard, “the next major release of the world’s easiest to use server operating system,” as the Mac maker describes it. Bringing with it Podcast Producer 2 and Mobile Access Server, the software will set customers back some $499, for unlimited client licenses.

As fans of the operating system should know, Mac OS X 10.6 is coming as an upgrade to Mac OS X version 10.5 (Leopard). A single user license will be available for $29, with the Snow Leopard Family Pack (a single household, five-user license), priced at $49. Owners of an Intel-based Mac running Tiger will be able to upgrade by purchasing the Mac Box Set, which includes Mac OS X Snow Leopard, iLife ’09 and iWork ’09. The box costs $169 and also goes on sale on Friday. A Mac Box Set Family Pack will cost $60 more ($229).

Apple has also announced a Mac OS X Snow Leopard Up-to-Date upgrade package set to become available to all customers who purchase a qualifying new Mac system from Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller between June 8, 2009 and the end of the program (December 26, 2009). The product plus shipping and handling are all included in the affordable $9.95 price. Snow Leopard requires 1GB of RAM (minimum) and an Intel processor.