Steve, it's absolutely not hype, which is why Apple's market share is (at last) rocketing skywards. The iPod has shown consumers that there is "a better way"...and not only for music players.

I bet it would be pretty tough to find a Mac user that chose to move to Windows but there are millions going the other way.

Martin, London,

I've always been a Wintel user for as long as I've used computers... Win 3.11, Win 95, Me, XP I went through all of them.
During all those years, I've felt like a frustrated idiot: why do I always get things not to work like I assumed they would? Am I doing something wrong? why do I need to configure things endlessly to get sometimes not even close to what the thing is entioned to do (like it says on the box)? why have all of my systems been so unstable?

Is it my fault?

my answer is today: Screw this.

I've just switched to a Macbook Pro with Leopard and I couldn't be more happyer, everything is doing exactly what It is intended to do, and I'm constantly getting those "eureka" moments where I'm finding this stuff to be even more pleasurable with the help of small details, that make your life plain simpler.

Oh and Its not for housewife// familly kinda stuff, I'm a regional executive in Asia and I'm using my computer to work.

So to all of those hesitant people out there: Do It !

charles, Tokyo, Japan

To Steve Lang - don't worry - it's not hype - it really is that good!

Sue B, Pontypridd, Wales

Having re-build my sony running XP 3 times in a year, after seeing friends notebooks doing the same, after 15 years as a MSE, I'm going to change to a Mac. I just want a stable unit that works and works without the need to 'fix' it every week. Please tell me it's not all hype!

Steve Lang, Atyrau, Kazakhstan

To Anthony: Not by Apple. Prior to the announcement that it would be released in October, all Apple had said was that it would be released in the first half of 2007.

To Gareth: Which version of Windows allows a user to open a file without opening the application? I'm not aware of any.

SteveM, Edgewater Park, USA/NJ

This file-preview thing - how is it any different to what Windows XP offered 6 years ago? I've begun to use my wife's PowerBook recently, and have to say I'm disappointed. Fairly reliable, and bright, crisp images, but less user-friendly than XP (haven't touched Vista yet). No interest in upgrading to Vista or switching to Apple. Too much hype, not enough delivery (yet).

Gareth, London, UK

You can already get Leopard for £70 through official Apple channels. :o)

SteveM, Leopard was originally touted as being released in Feb, not Jun. I know this as I held out at the time for a couple of weeks before buying a new macbook. In either case, it's infinitely better than Vista and I look forward to Microsoft's version of Spaces in their next OS which will probably be called Gaps (ala Widgets v Gadgets)!!!

Anthony Daly, Athlone/Swansea, UK

"Seven months late ..." ?

How is something that was originally due in June which actually ships in October seven months late?

Do you folks across the pond use a different calendar?

SteveM, Edgewater Park, USA / NJ

With the cost-calculation model used by The Times to label the price of an iPhone £900, shouldn't at least a year of internet access and part of the cost of the computer you will absolutely need to install the OS onto be added to the £85 price quoted in the article?

Bjorn, Tarrytown, NY

Apparently, Leopard doesn't include a spell-checker: "Spaces tries to keep you [sic!] desktop clean and tidy..."

Anja Stein, Dortmund, Germany

Leopard is an amazing operating system with key new features to make any task smooth. Worth getting for £85... Bargain if you think about it.

Owen, Newcastie,