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However, I was finally obliged to reboot anyway in order to test a bootup from a DVD in conjunction with testing a software application for review, so I figured I would kill two birds with one stone so to speak.
Since I hadn't restarted the PowerBook in a while, I also ran the repair permissions and maintenance script routines with OnyX before running the OS 10.5.4 updater, and made sure my Time Machine backup was up to date as well.
While I prefer to use the combo updater even when I'm moving up just one version point number and as I was this time, I hadn't gotten around to driving to the nearest WiFi hot spot (24 mile round trip) and investing an hour so to download the 561 MB 10.5.4 combo installer, so I opted for an all-nighter download on my dialup service and got the more modest 88MB Delta incremental updater. That took about nine hours of download time, and the connection even got dropped once at the 70 percent mark, but Opera 9.5's robust download manager was able to resume the download without difficulty and delivered the disk image file intact.
The update itself was completely undramatic and only took about five minutes were so. The double-pump restarts we got used to with OS 10.4 Tiger updates seem to be a thing of the past with Leopard, and the PowerBook booted back up happily upon completion of the install.
It's been six days now on that restart, and I still have nothing dramatic to report or any differences noted from version 10.5.3, and in some respects, no news is good news I guess. I had hoped, wistfully, for better email performance, but no joy there. In fact Eudora 6.2.4 even seems a bit more crash-happy than it had been under previous Leopard builds, but that my just be coincidence.
The Mac OS X 10.5.4 Update is recommended for Mac OS X 10.5, 10.5.1, 10.5.2, and 10.5.3 Leopard, and according to Apple includes general operating system improvements that enhance the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac.
To update to Mac OS X 10.5.4, you have the option of using Software Update or a standalone installer - the latter being my recommendation. The standalone installer is available in incremental "Delta" version that lets you update from Mac OS X 10.5.3 to 10.5.4, and comprehensive "Combo" version that lets you update from Mac OS X 10.5, 10.5.1, 10.5.2, or 10.5.3 to 10.5.4, However, I also recommend using the combo updater even if you're only moving up one notch from OS 10.5.3 to OS 10.5.4.
To Use a Standalone installer:
Download the update installer and run it manually. This is also a useful option when you need to update multiple computers but only want to download the update once. These versions of the standalone installers are available from Apple Support Downloads.
To use Software Update (if you must):
Choose Software Update from the Apple menu to automatically check for the latest Apple software using the Internet, including this update. (Software Update might have linked you to this article to learn more about the update.) If your computer is not up-to-date, other software updates available for your computer may appear which you should install. Note that an update's size may vary from computer to computer when installed using Software Update. Also, some updates must be installed prior to others, so you should run Software Update more than once to make sure you have all available updates.
What's included in the OS 10.5.4 Update:
General
Includes recent Apple security updates.
Resolves an issue with saving and reopening Adobe Creative Suite 3 les on a remote server. Includes additional RAW image support for several cameras. Addresses an issue that may result in a partially installed X11 application. Improves L2TP VPN client reliability.
AirPort
Addresses AirPort reliability issues with 5GHz networks. Addresses AirPort issues that may result in slower performance in Logic Studio or MainStage.
iCal
Improves overall iCal reliability for meeting requests, cancellation notices, delegation, and syncing with iPhone. Resolves an issue that prevents deleting an iCal event without notifying the creator. Addresses an issue in which events in all calendars affect availability. A checkbox now enables information-only calendars to be transparent from free/busy lookups. Resolves a UI issue preventing delegated calendars from showing up as a separate window. Addresses an issue with copying and pasting attendees from one event to another. Resolves an issue in which iCal may not delete events after a specied time interval, even when set to do so in iCal preferences. Addresses an issue in which To Dos cannot be marked private.
Safari
Addresses a potential performance issue when loading secure web pages. Resolves issues that may be encountered when accessing secure web pages with client certificates that reside on a smart card.
Spaces and Expos
Addresses an issue in which switching from a space with a Finder window keeps the Finder as the active application instead of the application residing in the destination space. Fixes an issue in which dragging an application from the list of application assignments in Spaces System Preferences does not assign the application to the desired space. Resolves an Expos issue that may result in only a subset of windows being shown.
I'm certain there is more than that, and I'm hoping for some more general refinement as well.
Mac OS X 10.5.4 Combo Update - 561MB
Mac OS X 10.5.4 Update Delta - 88MB
Mac OS X Server 10.5.4 - 133MB
Mac OS X Server Combo 10.5.4 - 677MB
Download site:
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/
For more information, visit:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1994
Charles W. Moore
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