One last tickle for Panther

Although Apple has finalised the next release of the Mac OS for April 29, the current version, 10.3, has been given one last lick of paint. A 51MB download, this update to Panther includes a raft of security fixes and finessing to several key components.

Meanwhile, Tiger, AKA 10.4, will cost the usual €130 when it goes on sale in just under two weeks. Unlike Microsoft, which hasn't added any significant features but for security measures since XP was launched in 2001, Apple has rewired the Mac OS four times in the same period if you count the imminent Tiger.

The privilege of keeping up with Apple has been thus about €400 (one of the updates, 10.1, was free) No Windows updates has meant no cost, but the OS has effectively trod water for four years and there's no likelihood of the next version, codenamed Longhorn, before 2006. I know which approach I'd prefer.