- Leopard looks a bit different than Tiger. This is first apparent with the Dock, which now is transparent. You also can use the Dock more in this version. It's always been a place for aliases of software programs from preloaded Apple applications such as iTunes, iWeb and GarageBand, but now it contains a folder for downloads. You don't have to save them to specific places as you download them; you can download and leave them in the folder or click on it to expand it. These are called Stacks and you can create your own by dragging folders to the appropriate location on the Dock.
- Time Machine is a backup program you can set to automatically keep track of your hard drives and data. It needs an external hard drive dedicated to it, but once you have connected it and set up the program, it automatically will make a full backup of your data, then save any changes at set times. Eventually, it will fill up your external hard drive, but it will begin deleting older copies of the data. You can set it to warn you when it is going to do this. Time Machine can be accessed through the System Preferences module on the Dock.
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Two more innovations that can make work and play easier on the Mac are Spaces and Cover Flow. Spaces, formerly Exposé, allows you to compartmentalize multiple projects. In other words, it allows you to bunch together things you need. Go to System Preferences>Exposé & Spaces to access it. You can choose how many Spaces you need. For example, you can have separate Spaces for blogging, writing, music composition, writing and photos. Close Exposé. Then select the first item you want to add. Open Keynote, and it will become part of Space 1. Then go to Spaces on the Dock. Here you can create your second Space by selecting GarageBand.
The other innovation is Cover Flow, used originally in the iPhone and iPod. It allows you to visually "flip through" files. In a standard Finder window, there now are four choices for browsing represented by icons in the upper bar. From left they are icons, list, columns and Cover Flow. When you select Cover Flow, a window will appear showing images of the files. You can use the slider to move through them or you can use the mouse pointer to flip them by clicking and dragging slightly to the left or right.
