Mac OS X version 10.3 Panther

Note: This document has been significantly revised since it was first published as a news article in October, 2003. The original article is here.

Mac OS X version 10.3 Panther, released on October 24, 2003, is the latest version of Apple's flagship operating system. Mac OS X version 10.3 is the third significant update to Mac OS X.

Information Systems & Computing (ISC) supports Mac OS X version 10.3 for its clients, including off-campus students. ISC recommends an upgrade for PowerPC G3s and PowerPC G4s 533 MHz or above that have at least 384 megabytes of RAM and at least 16 megabytes of VRAM. Please refer to ISC's Mac OS System Specifications to find out which versions of the Mac OS are recommended for your Macintosh computer. The full install of Mac OS X version 10.3 uses between 500 megabytes and 3.0 gigabytes of hard disk space, depending on the type of Macintosh and choices made during the install.

Issues

There are a number of known issues with Mac OS X version 10.3.x, several of which are especially relevant to Penn's Macintosh users:

• Mac OS X version 10.3 shipped with several severe bugs, including a problem that corrupted FireWire 800 hard drives. ISC strongly suggests updating to Mac OS X version 10.3.1 or above, available here or by using Software Update.


• Mac OS X version 10.3 does not include any version of Mac OS 9, though it will function correctly with a previously installed version of Mac OS 9 such as Mac OS 9.2.2.


• ISC has released a Mac OS X version 10.3.x-specific Network Applications Installer.


• The PennConnect Fall 2003 CD-ROM runs, with these important provisos;
• The Network Applications Installer installs all applications successfully.


• Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1, databeast dataComet Secure 10.0.1, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.2.3, and Netscape 7.0.2 run natively.


• Qualcomm Eudora 5.2.1 and Fetch 4.0.3 run natively, but do not work in Kerberos-enabled mode. An updated Kerberos installer that is compatible with Mac OS X version 10.3 is available here.


• NewsWatcher 2.2.2up, will only run in the Classic Environment.


• There are scattered reports that Eudora 5.2.1 and Eudora 6.0 have problems with IMAP under Mac OS X version 10.3. A 'Pennified' version of Eudora 6.0.1 is available as part of the Mac OS X version 10.3.x-specific Network Applications Installer.

How to get it

The full version of Mac OS X version 10.3 (four CD-ROMs) is available from the Computer Connection for approximately $70.

Mac OS X is now available to University of Pennsylvania departments through the Apple Maintenance Program (AMP), a volume license agreement. All purchases of this Apple license agreement are made through the Office of Software Licensing.

What's new in Mac OS X version 10.3

Mac OS X version 10.3 is significantly faster in many areas, especially in Macintoshes with PowerPC G5s and/or modern video cards. Applications launch faster and OpenGL is faster (with full support for advanced video cards using Quartz Extreme).

Mac OS X version 10.3 includes a significantly reworked Finder. Each Finder window has the metallic look-and-feel which is reminiscent of current versions of Safari, iCal, iTunes, etc. The redesigned window interface is more user-centric, with quicker access to files or folders: a definite improvement to the cumbersome, multi-level navigation needed in previous Finders. Finally, a context-sensitive Action command further enhances the Finder, allowing users to perform various actions, depending on local or current circumstances.

Other Finder enhancement features include Exposé, which uses a function key to allows users to temporarily tile or sort through the multitude of open windows in the Finder, in order to find a particular window or icon hidden on the desktop.

A newer version of Apple's Mail.app continues to support Kerberos authentication, includes X.509 digital signature support, improved spam filters, and now supports threaded e-mail discussion.

Other enhancements in Mac OS X version 10.3 include Fast User Switching, which allows others users to log in without logging out the current user, an enhanced Preview which features fast searching through PDF files, iChat AV which now supports personal videoconferencing, and Font Book, an easy way to organize and manage system fonts.

Finally, Mac OS X version 10.3 includes modern but previously released software, such as QuickTime 6.4, and iCal 1.5.1, and iTunes 4.1. Mac OS X version 10.3 still includes Microsoft's Internet Explorer 5.2.3, but now also features Safari 1.1, Apple's web browser.

- John Mulhern III and Vern Yoneyama, ISC Technology Support Services