14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has been updating Leopard at a steady pace prior to the operating system's October release, but other than bug fixes and the likes, there have been no new surprise features. The one surprise was the last minute change to the minimum system requirements, which might not be pleasant to everyone.
With the Leopard release being just a few weeks away, Apple has modified the minimum system requirements for its next-generation operating system. Developer documentation had long stipulated that the new version of OS X would require 'an Intel processor or a PowerPC G4 (800MHz or faster) or G5 processor,' which did a lot to calm the nerves of those worried that the G4 processors would be left behind. Now Apple requires a minimum of 867 MHz for PowerPC-based Macs. Although the 67Mhz increase might seem insignificant, it will exclude a number of Mac models such as the 800MHz PowerBook G4 (Titanium), 800MHz iBook G4, 800MHz PowerMac G4 (Quicksilver), 800MHz iMac G4, and 800MHz eMac. Leopard will also require a DVD drive, built-in FireWire, at least 512MB of RAM (additionally recommended), and at least 9GB of hard disk space.
The change is due to Apple engineers feeling that Leopard simply ran too slowly on the 800MHz PowerPC G4. Like many version of OS X before it, Leopard will undoubtedly run even on these older machines that have just been left out, with a little determination, but Apple doesn't want the bother of having to support all these machines that are by now quite outdated. So far, the official requirements have not been stated, so those listed here are only given to developers for the preview build. Despite this, it is unlikely that Apple will go back now and lower them again. The most recent developer build for Leopard was released over the course of the weekend.