Apple announced a few days ago the release date for its next version of OS X (10.4) named Tiger. I have been trying to do some research about the benefits of upgrading, since this is the first version update since I bought my Powerbook. The need to evaluate this decision is because of the $129 fee for this upgrade – $95 if you pre-order through Amazon.

From a developer point of view, I would love to upgrade in order to remain on the leading edge of this OS X. Apple lists over 200 new features with Tiger but I wonder how much of this is actually marketing talk vs. true value for the user. As a regular user of OS X, the two applications that I am looking forward to is the new search technology named Spotlight and any improvements made to Mail.app. Anything else would be extra as far as I am concerned at this point in time.

I have also been reading how Tiger is not worth $129 for the new features that it provides. A lot of people have been talking about Dashboard but I don’t see much benefit from this technology with regards to my daily activities.

I also would like to see this OS in production before I go ahed and make the investment. I am assuming that a lot of the new Windows users migrating to the Applie Mini will face this same question. It will be interesting to see the adoption rate of this version from users other than the true Apple fanatics. We have an older Mac still running Panther (10.2) at the office so I might suggest we buy the upgrade for that machine and see it first hand.

update: I just checked with our campus bookstore and they offer a maintenace plan where they will cover any Apple release for the next 3 years (starting this past March) for only $79. They expect 10.4 and 10.5 to be released within the 3 year space. Even if they only release 10.4 within the covered time frame, it is still a cheaper alternative to the $95 from Amazon. This could be a good alternative and most likely we’ll do it of our Mac at work.

update II: we bought the 3 year maintenance deal from the campus bookstore for the office Mac. Once I am able to see Tiger first hand, I will decide if it’s worth doing the same for the Powerbook.