How much does MacOS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard" cost? Where is it available for purchase?

Apple offers MacOS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard" for US$29 for a single user copy and US$49 for a five user "family pack" (authorized for installation on five Macs in the same household) for those already running MacOS X 10.5 "Leopard" on an Intel-based Mac.

For those who bought a Mac on or after June 8, 2009 but before August 28, 2009 (when Apple began installing "Snow Leopard" on all new Macs), the company provides the operating system for just US$9.95. However, be sure to note that Apple requires you to submit an order form "within 90 days of the date of your purchase. . . or by December 26, 2009, whichever is earlier."

For users running MacOS X 10.4 "Tiger" on an Intel-based Mac, Apple formally requires you to purchase a "Mac Box Set" which includes MacOS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard" as well as iLife '09 and iWork '09 for US$169 for a single-user copy or US$229 for a family pack.

Given that single-user copies of iLife '09 and iWork '09 cost US$79 each, the box set is an excellent deal if you are running "Tiger" and want iLife and iWork (you effectively get "Snow Leopard" for US$11). For those who are not interested in the additional software and just want "Snow Leopard", it may be frustrating that there is not an "unbundled" option -- say, US$79 just for the operating system upgrade, perhaps.

However, as first publicized by the WSJ's Walt Mossberg, Apple has designed the standard US$29 copy of "Snow Leopard" to install on Intel-based Macs running MacOS X 10.4 "Tiger" as well. Likewise, the standard US$29 copy will install on more than one computer without the need to bypass copy protection either. Given Mossberg's close personal connections to Apple, it is a safe assumption that he would not have jeopardized his standing with the company if Apple was adamantly opposed to some "Tiger" users who are not interested in iLife and iWork just buying the standard US$29 version.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that buying either the single-user version and using it to upgrade multiple Macs or upgrading an Intel Mac that is not running MacOS X 10.5 "Leopard" is a violation of the Apple end user agreement. Users who choose this method also will be ineligible for Apple technical support should difficulties arise.

EveryMac.com strongly encourages readers to honor the "Snow Leopard" licensing agreement as a way to "thank" Apple for trusting its users and not implementing absurd copy protection schemes like Microsoft and Adobe.

Also see: What are the "pros and cons" of upgrading to MacOS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard"? Is it "worth it"? Is there any reason not to upgrade?

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