Apple OS X 10.7 Lion: In-Depth Review

Speaking of features users will take for granted, I really like Resume. This lets you restart your Mac and go back to what you were doing. All your apps end up in the exact places you left them.

This new feature is handy, for example, if you're updating an app and need to restart the system. I don't know about you, but I hated having to close all my apps and re-open them again after the restart. Now that problem is a thing of the past. Resume lets me continue uninterrupted after a restart.

Alternatively, if I want to start with a clean slate, there's that option, too. This feature is a win in OS X Lion. I have the option to do that as well. Apple appears to have all the bases covered and I'll probably use this feature a lot. I think you will too.

OS X Lion is an upgrade, remember, but there are so many new features it feels like a much more major rev up. Even the About This Mac on the Apple menu, which links to the System Profiler, is changed in OS X Lion. See what I mean below.

The OS X server add-on is worth a mention, too. For about $50 bucks, you can turn your version of Lion into the server edition.

The new OS X Lion Server comes with a ton of enhancements that make it easier to control your Mac server and the folks who have access to it. The setup assistant that ships with this version of the OS X Server makes it easier to set up and configure your OS X Lion Server, too.

Lion Server also adds file-sharing capabilities for the iPad, and includes improvements to Wiki Server, iCal Server, and Mail Server. It comes with Xsan built in.

I'll be reviewing the server edition of OS X in the near future.

For now, I'll tell you that after spending a lot of time with OS X Lion--the client--there are some issues, as I mentioned. It isn't sterling. The Launchpad implementation feels awkward on OS X. Some of the new features, like full-screen apps, take some getting used to.

For the most part, Mac users are going to embrace Lion. There's a learning curve, but that's to be expected. Apple has always pushed and challenged their users to embrace new technologies, often for the better.

Even with its flaws, I'm still psyched about Lion. It's a nice affordable update packed with more than 250 new features that sells for only $29.99. I am now using it on all my Macs. I'll keep you up-to-date as system updates arrive. More will be revealed. I'll keep leading the OS X Lion team for BYTE in the days and weeks to come.

Based in Kemah, TX, David Martin is a senior contributor at BYTE. Follow him @David_W_Martin or email him at David.Martin@BYTE.com.