Upgrading to OSX Lion while waiting for decisions...yay or nay?

[telemaque]

This is kind of off topic, but I thought installing something like Lion on my macbook would at least keep me off gradcafe for a solid amount of hours this weekend. Does anyone have any thoughts about whether it's worth the $30? Specifically, I've read complaints about battery life decreasing precipitously and stuff randomly crashing, etc. I'm clearly not a computer person (I'm in history), so I would love any more informed opinions about this. I got my current Macbook Pro in mid 2010 and it's version 10.6.8 I believe, if that matters.

Thank you sooo much tech-literate people!

[Revo]

While I am not a Mac person, I do have quite a bit of experience with computers and software. Since your current version is not really out-of-date and seems to be working well for you, why potentially ruin a good thing? Plus, if you wait a bit, they should have patches/service packs out to address most of the major issues.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[snes]

Do you have any PowerPC applications? Beware; they no longer work on Lion. I lost my entire Adobe Creative Suite in the upgrade, a few games, and all of Microsoft Office 2004. They were all old apps but they worked fine and dandy in Snow Leopard. I idiotically did not prepare!

There are obviously good things to Lion, and Apple's website will tell you all about it. It's also been out for a while so any major issues have been fixed with patches, methinks. I have not had any crashing issues or battery life issues, but I also have the slightly newer 2011-era MacBook Pro. $30 is still a pretty good price.

[Jwnich1]

Lion is definitely worth it, IF you have >2 GB of RAM. Lion has been a great upgrade to my 2008 MBP BUT I've got 8GB of RAM. If you're going to upgrade your computer before school, I'd hold off and get it preloaded on a new model. If on the other hand, you're going to be taking your current system it with you, it's probably worth it.

Best,

Justin

[-hermes-]

Lion came preinstalled on my MBP, and I love it. That said, my laptop has 4 gigs of RAM.

I suggest reading up on the added functions you'd get with Lion on Apple's website and elsewhere online, to see whether the upgrade's worth it. I love the multitouch features, and AutoSave and Versions are really useful.

[telemaque]

Thanks for the info everyone - I really appreciate it! I have 4 GB of RAM, and I'm hoping to keep this laptop for at least the first couple years of grad school (maybe supplementing it with an iPad, though). If I install it and hate it, it's possible to revert back to Snow Leopard, right?

[telemaque]

I took the plunge and love it! Thanks for the advice everyone!

[-hermes-]

Yay! You're welcome! Is there anything specific that you feel is a marked improvement? A friend of mine is pondering upgrading from Snow Leopard.