We ordered two new MacBooks last week, and found out from UPS that they were accidentally unloaded from an airplane somewhere in China. So while we wait for them to “clear customs,” Daryl and I thought it would be interesting to make a quick survey of the “300+ New Features” Apple is listing for their new operating system, which they are calling “Leopard” (I’m having a hard time not reading “Leotard” or “Leopold” every time I see that name), to see what exactly is considered a “feature.”

Let me preface this by saying that I am an avid Mac user and have been for years. I use lots of Apple hardware and software, and am generally very pleased with the quality and utility of the products. Also, of the 300+ new features listed for Leotard there are many useful and exciting improvements. It’s just that after reviewing the full list, Daryl and I feel like the new OS is being a bit oversold. With most of its marketing, Apple focuses on hyping the qualitative (nice design, simple, will make you cooler) rather than the quantitative (see, we have more than 300 new features, count them, be swayed to purchase). So this felt a bit strange – to basically count features and make that the thrust of their value proposition (by the way, “value proposition” is a phrase that I loathe for its utter doublespeakendess, but I cannot think of an alternative at the moment).

So, in honor of our favorite hype machine, here are our favorite “new features” in Leopold:

• Apple Script now has Descriptive Error Messages - much better than the non-descriptive error messages in the previous version.
• DVD Player Floats Above Other Applications – according to Apple, this lets you “watch a DVD while working in another application.” Now Daryl can watch Braveheart while balancing the company books.
• Front Row has an AppleTV like interface – the description actually says “sit back and be amazed.” That’s the most Apple-like description in this list.
• iCal lets you Turn Off All Alarms with a single preference setting – this seems a bit obscure, but I guess it qualifies as a “feature.”
• iChat has More Smileys – this might be an incentive NOT to upgrade.
• Mail now has Stationery – Apple says that this feature will let you “choose from more than 30 professionally designed stationery templates that make a virtual keepsake out of every email you send.” I’ve never really thought about making a “virtual keepsake out of every email” I send. Mostly I’m just hoping that I don’t come across as ignorant or offensive.

Some others for which no commentary is required:

• Empty Trash Button
• Arabesque Screen Saver
• Danish Spell Checker