no $hit

Really, is this news?

it is smart a** since some people are thinking it might take a couple of weeks to do so. this is good news...

I highly doubt Apple would drag on this... as no one would be rushing out to buy a brand new Mac with an old OS installed on it once Panther is out of the bag.

"...as no one would be rushing out to buy a brand new Mac with an old OS installed on it once Panther is out of the bag."

unless, of course, you actually NEED a computer between now and then, but don't want to be stuck without a cheap upgrade path. but hey, who buys what they need anymore???

Sure they'd still sell macs to either people not in the loop about panther or two urgent upgrades, but the vast amount of people who would simply put of their purchases for afew days / a week or two is big big bucks.

I think its the only common sense thing to do; just make sure all Macs sold after the launch would have Panther included, even if its just the upgrade CD packaged thrown in the box (like I had with Jag). its not a revelation or apple doing its customers a giant favour... its smart business.

It sure doesn't include the iBook I bought tonight!

Now, will systems still come pre-loaded with OS 9 for classic support, or is Apple going to gouge us for that as well? Some of us still have some apps for which there is STILL no OS X version...

Classic is not dead! Bootable OS 9 is. It's that simple...