Apple is packaging Snow Leopard as an "upgrade" for Leopard users, which explains the $29 price (previous versions of Mac OS X have retailed for $129). Snow Leopard includes a rewritten Finder; performance improvements to Mail, Time Machine, and Safari 4; and a new version of QuickTime called "QuickTime X" with a redesigned player. Snow Leopard will also take better advantage of 64-bit CPUs, with full 64-bit support built in to Mail, iChat, Safari, and the Finder. There's also full support for Microsoft Exchange built in.

Snow Leopard has finally been given a ship date and a price by Apple. In a press release sent out during the WWDC Keynote address, Apple announced that Snow Leopard will be shipped in September and will cost $29. The five-license Family Pack will cost $49. Those purchasing new Macs between June 8 and December 26, 2009 will be able to get Snow Leopard for $9.95.

For those looking to upgrade to the latest version of Mac OS X and iLife at the same time, the Mac Box Set with Snow Leopard, iLife '09, and iWork '09 will cost $169, with a Family Pack priced at $229.