Expected cost of OS X Snow Leopard full version

I'll probably go the Leopard to Snow Leopard route. Worst case scenario I end up even, best case I save I few dollars.

Well I've seen both server and workstation specs for Snow Leopard saying it's intel Macs only.

Since, it will in effect cut off all the older macs out from the upgrade I can't help thinking it should be released as OS XI, as it's more than just a point release when you have to buy a new computer. But that may cause confusion/legal problems with X11 for Linux/Unix, so maybe iOS (nope that's CISCO upset) that would mean skipping to XII or something.

With 2 * G4 mini, a G4 Powerbook and a G5 iMac which will need replacing to switch to Snow Leopard, that's one heck of an investment, I'd be looking at; and I doubt I'd be alone here.

I seem to remember OS 9 living on for quite some time because of OS X's hardware requirements, so I' can see many staying with 10.4.x for a while for the same reasons. Of course there are flavors of LINUX which run on G4/G5 machines which might just inspire a few converts.

Couple of points that you seem to have misinterpreted.

Snow Leopard will only run on Intel Macs and is not a new operating system. It removes the PPC code from the existing OS X (10.5) and has a bunch of stuff that need the Intel processor to work.
This is NOT a point release, it is a full version upgrade from 10.5 to 10.6

Next version will be OS X will not cause any confusion/legal problems with anyone as its name will be OS X (10.7.0) which does not come anywhere near your cited X11.
By the time they get to version 10.9.99, the next version of the OS will invariably have another name as the X in OS X stands for 10. Maybe OS XI ?

Your G4 machines are in need of replacing if you want to be able to run what is now the latest version of OS X (10.5.7) at a decent speed on them. On a G4 processor I would not consider running the latest version of the OS. You G5 will be able to cope with Leopard though.

Yes, System 9 did hang on for quite a while after the introduction of OS X. I'm sure you remember the bloated, convoluted size of that OS, which had reached the point of being unsupportable and not easy to update.

Updating an Operating System is an ongoing process and at some point you will have to require new hardware to run the new system. This is true of Windows, Linux and OS X.
The new version of Windows will undoubtedly require hardware upgrades for millions of people, Vista should have done but was hidden from the average user which may account for some of the sucky experiences of Vista users. It's just not possible to support every type of computer that still exists in the wild, ask Microsoft, and at some point you have to call "obsolescence" on some machines.

I agree, replacing all those machines at the same time is a heck of an expense. Don't go that route. Upgrade your G5 for a new iMac (costing way less than the original prices of the G5 and be much faster and efficient) and, as the others become to expensive to repair, replace them. You don't have to have the latest and greatest all at once.
10.5 will not be going away soon, will continue to be updated by Apple and will continue to give sterling service for quite a few years to come.

P

Probably referring to the iBooks.

What is 10.7? I read in the post earlier, I think it was from P / Mr. MacFixit mentioning the new OS as 10.7 and I thought 10.4 is Tiger, 10.5 is Leopard, and 10.6 is Snow Leopard.

I still have 10.4.11

Any OS upgrades I will just get laptops

and netbooks, which Apple has yet to release one. .....until then I will get HP netbooks with Linux on them.

got stuck on the .7 of 10.5.x and went on from there.

Snow Leopard will be 10.6.0

As for the Netbooks and Linux, whatever floats your boat.

P