Switching to Lion

[ElBeardo]

Having only had a MacBook Pro for six months with Snow Leopard, I now see that a new OS Lion is being introduced this month. My experience with PC's has always been don't touch a new version of Windows for at least 12 months. What do experienced Mac users do with new versions of the Mac OSX do they change on day 1 or do they leave for sevral months?

ElBeardo

[Dysfunction]

I'll probably upgrade most of the machines around the house shortly after it's released. The work laptop will have to wait, only to make sure that in-house apps support the new OS.

[Slydude]

I have usually waited for a month or two but mainly because of the need to save money for the upgrade. If this is your only system check first to see if "mission" critical applications need to be upgraded.

At this point here is what I am planning to do:
1. Clean install of Snow Leopard - only because I have not done a clean OS install in about three years maybe more. I also have some minor issues to clear up.

2. Clone clean install of Snow Leopard to backup drive. If I don't like Lion or have problems I can revert to Snow Leopard.
3. Install Lion.

[baggss]

I'll probably upgrade shortly after it's release if not the day of. OSX releases don't tend to be nearly as troublesome as Windows releases do.

[chscag]

I agree with member baggss. There may be some apps that will be broken by Lion but if their developers have kept up, new versions that are compatible will be forthcoming. We went through the same sort of thing when Snow Leopard was first released.

[baggss]

I agree with member baggss. There may be some apps that will be broken by Lion but if their developers have kept up, new versions that are compatible will be forthcoming. We went through the same sort of thing when Snow Leopard was first released.

...and Leopard...and Tiger....

[dmccloud]

I plan to upgrade as soon as it's available (which could be as early as July 6). Lion went Gold Master today, which means the code is locked for the final release.

[kribensis12]

I plan on upgrading as soon as it become available.

To dmccloud:
Goldmaster means the code is locked, but if there are any last minute bug issues or anything of the kind, the release will be postponed and they will work on it.

[toMACsh]

I always wait, in part to see what kind of problems are reported on forums like this one. It never fails, people have problems with a new upgrade.

But, mostly I wait because I have no good reason to upgrade. I'm still using Leopard. I'm still alive. (T'would be a big story if I was typing from the grave!) Upgrading just to have the latest version is not my way. If what I have works, I'll keep it.

[Ttaylor394]

@Slydude

You mention cloning the fresh install..

I think thats a good idea; as you said if you don't like it.

I won't be doing a fresh install or anything.. I have only had this iMac since Feb.. but what steps would I need to take in case of (my wife mainly) not liking how Lion operates.

I have heard of it on here before, but I have no idea what its called (the cloning program that is).

I currently have TM backing up to my external seagate you know.. as regular as TM does that stuff. No other back up software in use other than TM.


thanks

[harryb2448]

Well OP this is not Windows so do not judge a book by that cover. Having said that Windows 7 was excellent on release.

[Slydude]

Let's assume that your current installation is functioning the way that you like. That's just as good a starting place as a fresh install. You need a drive to hold the clone and it must be large enough to hold the contents of your current drive.

For an overview of cloning take a look at ATPM 8.10 - How To: The Cloning of a Mac. Ignore the software references there's newer software available now.

For cloning software I recommend either Carbon Copy Cloner - Features, SuperDuper!, or even Apple's Disk Utility.

It is actually quite easy to use Disk Utility for this by first formatting the new drive with a GUID partition then going to the Restore tab and dragging the current drive in the source field and new drive in the target field. See this guide to DU if needed ATPM 17.05 - How To: Using the Free Disk Utility on Your Mac

After you clone Snow Leopard make sure to boot from it once to make sure things are working properly. There is no worse feeling in the world than needing to boot from a clone to revert to an older OS only to discover the cline isn't working.

[chas_m]

Being a teacher of Macs, I tend to install stuff like this on day one -- and while there are usually bugs to be ironed out later, I can honestly say that with the last two releases I didn't get bit by any of them, which means they were either fairly minor or fairly obscure (at least to me and my usage).

I *do* fully agree that a clone backup of the existing system is a really sound idea. Not that I think anybody "won't like it" but in case the install goes wrong.

As for worries about not liking it, a general reminder directed at nobody in particular: anytime anyone changes the visual aspects of something we are used to, there's an instinctual tendency to dislike. Giving oneself a little time to make a fuller judgement often results in a revised opinion.

From the impressions I've gotten from the various "reviews" of Lion I've read, a lot of visuals have changed, other aspects (like Mail and iCal) have been tweaked (rather than overhauled) and on the whole it sounds to me more like a refinement of Snow Leopard with some added iOS bits rather than any radical change. We'll see, obviously, but the fact that they kept the price low tells me that they didn't feel the need to overhaul the kernel or anything hugely different under the hood, rather they built on what Snow Leopard established.

[J.Fo]

I'm downloading it the day it comes out. I can't wait to install it on both my Macs!

[ronin67]

I'm downloading it the day it comes out. I can't wait to install it on both my Macs!

It is July. What is the hold up Steve?