Mac OS X Snow Leopard Ships with New Mac Mini, Buyer Claims

The Japanese version of Engadget has posted pictures reportedly provided by an anonymous Mac mini buyer in Japan who claims to have received an install DVD of Snow Leopard with the purchase. The images, purporting to show the Mac OS X 10.6 Install / Restore disc that ships with Apple hardware, as well as the installation process, seem real.

Macnn reports that, according to the buyer, the Mac mini was purchased on August 20, with the submitted photos showing that it included a disc labeled “Mac OS X version 10.6; Disc version 1.0, 2Z691-6492-A.” “To further support his claim, the user also submitted a few screenshots [in Japanese] of the software installer,” the site says. The screens are available at the bottom of this piece.

Apple has announced a $29 upgrade price from Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, and a $49 price tag for the five-license Snow Leopard family pack. Mac OS X Server 10.6 Snow Leopard is priced at $499. Buyers of a “qualifying” Mac or Xserve (systems that meet Snow Leopard requirements) before the operating system’s public release can upgrade to Snow Leopard for as little as $9.95, through Apple's “Up to Date” program.

Several, accidental events signaled last week that Apple was preparing to ship Snow Leopard early. For instance, a glitch on the company’s website led to the appearance of a page listing the Snow Leopard box set as already available for purchase. The Apple Store UK later listed Snow Leopard availability “by August 28th,” adding to the speculation that Build 10A432 (thought to be the GM of Snow Leopard) had already been printed to optical media.

What is known for a fact is that Apple’s next-gen OS is just around the corner, whether it’s an August release date, or the promised September time frame. Fans should note that the software requires an Intel processor before placing an order.


Purported Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard installation screens
Credits: Engadget (Japanese version)