Where Can I Buy OS X Leopard?

Question

Level 1

49 points

Where Can I Buy OS X Leopard?

Hello. I have an iBook G4 from Mid-2005, and I would really like to update it from Tiger to Leopard. But I can't find Leopard anywhere! The only places I'm finding Leopard is from a couple of sites with crazy prices ($100+). Snow Leopard is only $20 or $30, and it does so much more! Is there any way to either buy it from Apple for an appropriate price or download it? I have found a place to download Leopard, but it makes you complete an endless "offer" before you can download it and the offers don't even load! So is there anyplace I can buy or download Leopard for a reasonable price? Please help.

iBook, Mac OS X (10.4.11), G4

Posted on Jul 25, 2015 2:54 PM

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Answer 1

HFTaylor12 Author

Level 1

49 points

Jul 27, 2015 7:31 AM in response to Ralph Landry1

Ralph Landry1 wrote:

You take a huge risk downloading an operating system of any kind from a non-official site. There are no guarantees that the files have not been corrupted or hacked so going that direction puts you and your data in jeopardy. It is far safer to just pay the money and get an official disk for Leopard.

I don't care how safe it is. I'm going to clean install Leopard (no data is at risk), and I would check the Activity Monitor for anything suspicious. And if anything went wrong, I could just clean install Tiger (that I have the disc for).

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Answer 2

seventy one

Level 7

27,460 points

Jul 25, 2015 3:04 PM in response to HFTaylor12

I really don't think Apple has stock any more, though you can always ask. Only Amazon and eBay are worth trying but be sure you buy the right disc. The grey disc is not for general use, being machine specific. You need the retail version which has a big X on the front amidst a picture of the universe. Do not buy downloads, particularly via Softonic and the like.

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Answer 3

Klaus1

Level 9

52,873 points

Jul 25, 2015 3:05 PM in response to HFTaylor12

Probably not. Leopard is no longer available from, or supported by, Apple, so eBay or Amazon is your only solution to finding a proper retail Leopard install disk - and that price is regrettably about right.

Leopard has never been legally available for download. Do not be tempted to purchase a download from a torrent site - it will be accompanied by all kinds of malware.

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Answer 4

HFTaylor12 Author

Level 1

49 points

Jul 25, 2015 3:11 PM in response to seventy one

seventy one wrote:

I really don't think Apple has stock any more, though you can always ask. Only Amazon and eBay are worth trying but be sure you buy the right disc. The grey disc is not for general use, being machine specific. You need the retail version which has a big X on the front amidst a picture of the universe. Do not buy downloads, particularly via Softonic and the like.

Thanks for your help, but Amazon and eBay are those places with crazy prices! If I was to ask Apple if they had any, what's their email address?

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Answer 5

HFTaylor12 Author

Level 1

49 points

Jul 25, 2015 3:13 PM in response to Klaus1

Leopard has never been legally available for download. Do not be tempted to purchase a download from a torrent site - it will be accompanied by all kinds of malware.

I hate torrent! I'm so annoyed that so many sites have torrent downloads. What about ISO or DMG downloads? Any of those out there?

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Answer 6

seventy one

Level 7

27,460 points

Jul 25, 2015 3:18 PM in response to HFTaylor12

Contact the Apple on-line store. There is no other possible outlet. It is a case of supply and demand; some people want Leopard and others know they will pay for it. That's life.

But as Klaus said and I alluded to, any kind of download would be fishy.

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Answer 7

HFTaylor12 Author

Level 1

49 points

Jul 26, 2015 7:14 AM in response to Ralph Landry1

Ralph Landry1 wrote:

Apple has been out of Mac OS X 10.5 for at least three years, but you can try if you like, 1-800-MY-APPLE.

Prices are crazy, on the order of $150-160 for an original retail box.

Does Apple have an email address? I've been looking everywhere.

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Answer 8

Jul 26, 2015 2:00 PM in response to HFTaylor12

You take a huge risk downloading an operating system of any kind from a non-official site. There are no guarantees that the files have not been corrupted or hacked so going that direction puts you and your data in jeopardy. It is far safer to just pay the money and get an official disk for Leopard.

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Answer 9

Kurt Lang

Level 9

68,556 points

Jul 26, 2015 2:15 PM in response to HFTaylor12

I know it can only be installed from disc, so I was going to burn those in-existing DMG or ISO files to a disc.

I know Ralph just said it, but that's an extremely bad idea. You have no idea what other items have been added to the original Leopard installer package. Once you give your admin password to install Leopard, you also give the installer permission to install any "extras", such as keyloggers, in those illegal downloads. It doesn't have to ask you again.

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Answer 10

HFTaylor12 Author

Level 1

49 points

Jul 27, 2015 7:34 AM in response to Kurt Lang

Kurt Lang wrote:

I know it can only be installed from disc, so I was going to burn those in-existing DMG or ISO files to a disc.

I know Ralph just said it, but that's an extremely bad idea. You have no idea what other items have been added to the original Leopard installer package. Once you give your admin password to install Leopard, you also give the installer permission to install any "extras", such as key-loggers, in those illegal downloads. It doesn't have to ask you again.

See my response to Ralph's post. In addition to that, I could install Leopard by just opening the Base System, Essentials, etc., on the DMG or ISO itself, instead of booting from it.

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Answer 11

Kurt Lang

Level 9

68,556 points

Jul 27, 2015 8:07 AM in response to HFTaylor12

Hmm, okay. Don't say you weren't warned. I gave you a link that has plenty of official Apple retail disks for under $60 for sale. An open box copy will work just as well as an unused sealed copy, provided the previous owner(s) didn't trash the disk. I looked again and there's a copy with a disk stated as being in like new condition for $50. Not sure why you'd hesitate to get a copy you don't have to worry about.

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