NEW Reviews Beta Feedback

Apple Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger (Full Product)

91

Superior

Avg User Rating
5 User Reviews | add yours »

Pros
Good desktop search tool
Useful mini-applications called Widgets
Cons
Cannot run on non-Mac systems
Costs $129

$189.99
From 1 Merchant

Performance
Interface	Excellent
-	Interface is uncluttered, efficient, and logical, though some applications break its legendary consistency.
-	Subtle transparency and 3D effects aid with navigating dialog boxes and program windows.
-	Expose lets you see and choose among all of your open windows or the desktop with the press of a key. The forthcoming Spaces feature adds virtual desktops.
-	Dashboard desktop widgets are built-in.
-	Spotlight searches file metadata, and will expand to the Internet in OS X 10.5.
Security	Very Good
-	Supports strict separation of user and system files for maximum security against malware.
-	Default settings aren't secure.
-	Target disk boot mode can turn your Mac into an external hard drive for another machine. It's useful for system recovery, but it bypasses user file passwords.
-	Includes disk encryption.
Software	Very Good
-	The iLife suite's slick iPhoto digital photography tool lets you edit, print, and share photos. iWeb builds sites, and iMovie and iDVD offer lightweight digital video production.
-	A dearth of available game titles compared with Windows, but Photoshop and Microsoft Office are both here to stay.
-	Gorgeous design all around.
-	Budget Windows PCs are less expensive than even Mac Minis.
-	Low-end MacBook laptops don't cost much more than similar Windows models do.
-	Attractive but pricey Mac Pro and MacBook Pros compare well with high-end PCs from Lenovo and Sony.
Virtualization	Excellent
-	Boot Camp allows you to install Windows or Linux as a dual-boot option on Intel-based Macs.
-	Parallels and VMWare utilities permit Mac OS to run virtual versions of Windows and Linux.
-	Apple prevents OS X from running on non-Mac hardware, so a Mac is the only way to run all three OSs on the same machine.
Bottom line	Excellent
-	If Apple's hardware fits your price range, you'll get a nicely designed machine running a beautiful OS, plus you'll be able to switch to any other environment at the drop of a hat. While early versions of OS X were buggy and incomplete, Mac OS X 10.4 is much more solid. Version 10.5 promises additional polish and a few yet-to-be-announced features. All current Mac models run Windows and Linux, too, something no other platform can boast. Plus, as long as malware authors continue to focus on Windows, it's likely to remain relatively virus- and spyware-free.

User Reviews for Apple Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger (Full Product)

Reviewed by: joshuakeurentjes

Duration of ownership:

Strengths: dashboard, spotlight booth are easy to use and helpful

Weaknesses: have not found one yet

Overall Evaluation: after using OX 10.2.8 i find that Tiger is a joy to work with. the improvements such as spotlight and dashboard are nice and useful but the thing that i use and enjoy most of the improvements is automater it just simply makes the repetitive task so much easier and faster so that i can do what i need and want to do
Reviewed by: swissms46

Duration of ownership:

Strengths: Used this to repair a damaged Hard Disk & was without an ability to back-up files, yet this worked like a breeze for the purpose, and renewed my entire system. Great features for anyone upgrading!

Weaknesses: Only weakness is that Mac is updating so quickly it's OS X's that I'm afraid that this update will become an old one before long.

Overall Evaluation: I purchased a Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger CD package, having already been using the Tiger system on my Power Mac G4, but was without the installation disk (had received this computer from a relative, after they had purchased a new one with the OS already installed). I had come upon an emergency, where apparently had crashed entire system and could no longer access my hard disk. I was unable to startup at all, although the machinery was working. Upon further research & testing, I discovered that the disk was ok, but the operating system wouldn't start because I had deleted necessary files.I tried a repair utility, Disk Warrior, as I was able to boot up onto another CD, but it didn't replace what was needed.After purchasing the Tiger CD, I chose "Archive & Install" as my customized installation choice, and also checked "Preserve Users And Network Settings", unsure what all would be saved, but thinking that I would retain ability to access previous files, from old system, and copy them to new system.Surprisingly, after installing the new CD system, nearly everything of old system (personal files, music, photos, settings, bookmarks, most of the applications that I had installed) were readmitted as part of the new system automatically! In conclusion, this worked like a breeze to bring my computer back with everything intact, and, in addition, it appears to have re-enlivened lagging applications that had become defective, but now have been reinstalled as new. Everythings working much smoother & quicker. Only regret is that I purchased the Disk Warrior Repair disk, initially, to fix this breakdown. I am sure the Tiger OS X installation disk, however, will come in handy in future.The Tiger OS is bright & colorful, and has so many software applications & abilities that formerly were incompatible with old versions of Mac, and had only been compatible with Windows, such as ability to upload digital pics, play DVD's and Microsoft's Office group of software.The package comes with coupons for free Tiger download updates of the OS system. There is a greatly helpful accompanying booklet that showcases many of the Tiger features with tips on how to use, many of I'd never taken time to put into use, even with having used Tiger system for monthsVery pleased, on the whole.