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Mountain Lion OS X 10.8 Launch Day Roundup

Wednesday July 25, 2012 3:40 pm PDT by Arnold Kim
Today, Apple launched OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion for $19.99 on the Mac App Store. The latest version OS X provides a number of new features borrowed from iOS as well as some Mac specific ones. This overview video from Apple provides a quick look at the biggest new features.


Other sites have put together more detailed videos showing smaller changes and a more detailed look at AirPlay mirroring.

In general, the reception has been positive amongst reviewers, especially given the $19.99 price tag. The launch, however, has resulted in the removal of OS X Lion from the Mac App Store. While this isn't too big a surprise, it could leave some owners of older Macs stuck if their Mac isn't supported by OS X Mountain Lion but were supported by OS X Lion.

The other major hiccup in today's launch was the distribution of codes for Apple's Up To Date program. The Up To Date program offers Mountain Lion OS X to customers free of charge if they have bought a new Mac since June 11th. Apple seems to be aware of the issue and is working on reissuing faulty codes.

There have been a number of OS X Mountain Lion related software updates and news items today. If you aren't following our full RSS feed, you may have missed the many updates on our Mac Blog today:

- Adobe and Avid Report Only Minor Issues With Mountain Lion
- Microsoft Confirms Office 2011 and 2008 Compatibility with OS X Mountain Lion
- Create a Bootable Mountain Lion USB Key Installer
- Apple Updates iPhoto, iMovie and Aperture Alongside OS X Mountain Lion
- Apple Updates iWork with iCloud and Dictation for OS X Mountain Lion
- Apple Launches 'OS X Server' for Mountain Lion for $19.99

Tidbits offers a nice overview of tips and little details from Mountain Lion. Macworld has posted a number of detailed looks at Mountain Lion's Safari, Messages, and Reminders. Finally, MacRumors readers have been posting in our Mountain Lion forum for questions and tracking issues.

[ 198 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

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MacintoshUser86
92 months ago
So much faster!

I have an early 2008 iMac and wow I've noticed an increase in speed that I haven't seen since Leopard that was original installed on my iMac. Snow Leopard was quick too but Lion was pretty sluggish. I can't get over how fast Sarfari is now too, super quick! Good job Apple. :)

For $20 Mountain Lion is 100% worth it.
Rating: 16 Votes
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F4C4
92 months ago

they only changed the wallpaper! propaganda, propaganda!


I am officially down voting this!
Rating: 13 Votes
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SamSmith
92 months ago

I have an early 2008 iMac and wow I've noticed an increase in speed that I haven't seen since Leopard that was original installed on my iMac. Snow Leopard was quick too but Lion was pretty sluggish. I can't get over how fast Sarfari is now too, super quick! Good job Apple. :)

For $20 Mountain Lion is 100% worth it.


I agree. Safari sure does feel snappier :D
Rating: 12 Votes
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frunkis54
92 months ago

I agree. Safari sure does feel snappier :cool:


never gets old....
Rating: 9 Votes
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applefan289
92 months ago
Another thing I like about Mountain Lion is that now it doesn't "auto save" and there seems to be less of a focus on the "Resume" feature.
Rating: 7 Votes
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Bevz
92 months ago
Aww... I kinda miss "Software Update" ;) RIP
Rating: 5 Votes
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Nermal
92 months ago

If you aren't following our full RSS feed (http://feeds.macrumors.com/MacRumors-All), you may have missed the many updates on our Mac Blog (https://www.macrumors.com/mac/) today:


Well, I'd love to, but Safari doesn't support RSS anymore :mad:
Rating: 5 Votes
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Icaras
92 months ago

In general, the reception has been positive amongst reviewers (https://www.macrumors.com/2012/07/25/roundup-of-os-x-mountain-lion-reviews-faster-and-smoother-incremental-bargain-at-twice-the-price/), especially given the $19.99 price tag.


And the haters and nitpickers continue to look past this part. For the super low price tag, and relatively rapid development time since Lion, I think this is a worthy refinement of last year's OS.
Rating: 5 Votes
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PlayfullyEvil
92 months ago

After using 10.8 for 2 weeks, I have to say, glad I didn't pay $19.99.

$20 is that difficult to cough up and justify to you for an OS upgrade? *shakes head*



I believe stukick meant to say this:

After using [Windows 7 Ultimate upgrade] for 2 weeks, I have to say, glad I didn't pay $179.99.


Unless stukick would have rather spent $179.99 for a Vista-to-Win7 upgrade then the $19.99 for the Lion-to-ML upgrade? (I know, it doesn't make sense; unless of course, you'd be a Microsoft fanboy.)

Seriously, though, ML is worth the upgrade value. What cheap bastard would splurge on a Mac but not on a well priced OS upgrade? Admittedly, I too downloaded the GM but saw great value in it worthy of paying for the OS upgrade.
Rating: 4 Votes
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vpro
92 months ago
more more more

And the haters and nitpickers continue to look past this part. For the super low price tag, and relatively rapid development time since Lion, I think this is a worthy refinement of last year's OS.


There are more new OS's coming out the rear end than there are good stuff going in the mouth. Everything is eared towards the gear headz with all those devices, every device has to have the same thing all at the same time = sooooo control freaky yeah?? I don't know anyone who gets much done at all these days with all that stuff in all those gearz?!

I just want simple, i don't want any of the bells n whistles, faces book, reminders, email pop up stuff, I can multi-task just fine without the computer's OS helping me. Stability and speed and take up as little resources as possible please n thanks.
Rating: 4 Votes

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