Is It Time to Upgrade to Panther?
My philosophy when it comes to the question of upgrading (either hardware or software) is that it only makes sense if the new features meet the need of the user. The same holds true when it comes to an operating system. Apple has packed some helpful features into its new incarnation of OS X, but one should not feel compelled to upgrade unless Panther meets her needs.

Here are a few of the new features:

The New Finder – Fast searching, labels, and action menus were among some of the new features of the Finder (the application that runs at the heart of the User Interface and presents your desktop, icons and navigation tools). The new user-centric finder window is a great navigation tool, putting your most widely used files, folders and disks in a handy panel on the left of the window.

Exposé – This new tool allows you to reveal all the open windows in an application, or among all applications. It’s a timesaver for people, like designers, who constantly work with multiple files simultaneously.

Fast User Switching – Panther now lets you switch between all the users on your computer without logging out and quitting active apps. This is great for going to an administrative user on the fly.

Font Book – Graphics and publishing users will find this new font management tool a welcome utility.

IDisk, Mail, Preview, iChat – Apple has improved many of its existing applications in the latest version of the operating system. From threading and improved interface features in Mail to faster PDF viewing in Preview, improvements to core applications are part of the 150 new features Panther has to offer.

I am a firm believer of the adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Each user should look at the features an upgrade offers and make her own personal decision. To find out if Panther is right for you check out Apple's website.