Steve Jobs and his creative team in Apple always dazzle us with their innovations. Mac revolutionized the computing world and from then on they never looked back. Apple impressed us with their hardware and with Tiger they literally went in for the kill. Back then, it’s not surprising to meet Mac fans getting loans just to purchase the latest Apple hardware.

The highly anticipated and well-selling Leopard operating system has been getting some fabulous reviews from the professionals, but will the regular user really notice the difference?

We’re Mac fanboys here, and we’d like to think that everything Apple produces is the best. Unfortunately, Apple’s newest operating system doesn’t live up to its hype. Across the Apple/Mac rumors and new websites, Mac OS X Leopard has been getting fabulous reviews. Many have highlighted the new Spaces and Time Machine features, but here’s what we found.

The installation took a bit longer than one and a half hours. The upgrade makes a disc check that takes about 45 minutes (thankfully it’s optional). Then, a long process of installation begins. A calculating time feature doesn’t even show the estimated time until about one hour. After a stop and start installation, the installer says that the upgrade is complete.

The computer then restarts into the new Leopard operating system. A slow initial startup begins. Afterwards, the installation process is complete. After the install, you may want to do a “Software Update…” under the Apple icon. We found about 16 to 17 MBs of new updates after the installation of Leopard.

For most Mac users, the bottom bar of icons holds every application that they’ll ever use. There are noticeable changes in the design of the desktop, a translucent top bar and a 3D reflective bottom bar. Both changes are minimal and are neither positive or negative. iCal is cleaner and operates slightly quicker, but isn’t any major upgrade. Apple Mail gives users templates for creative e-mail design that is a practical feature. iChat allows for greater compatibility with chat applications and now incorporates Google Talk accounts. The Finder is interesting, as the upgrade makes the finder more like cover flow in iTunes.

One of the most functional and pleasant upgrades was the upgrade to iTunes. Now, when files are dragged onto an external music player, like an iPod Shuffle, users can operate iTunes without waiting for a short freeze in the program. This change not only saves time, but doesn’t result in the annoying hassles like before.

Time Machine’s features are quite revolutionary, allowing the user to backup files and literally go back in time to when certain files were deleted or added. In order to backup the entire computer’s file systems requires ample hard drive space or a well-sized external drive.

Unfortunately, the operating system’s new Spaces program is a semi-pointless feature. The different “Spaces” are really only a way to “hide” (Apple Command + ‘h’) programs. The new visual spots assign different Spaces for programs and as you switch between different programs, the computer switches to different desktops. All in all, it’s interesting, but by no means a necessary part of Leopard.

Leopard is definitely an interesting upgrade, but hardly worth the $129 it costs to upgrade. As stated before, most users will find the upgrades fun and interesting, but hardly necessary or time-saving.

Apple (AAPL) has literally sold tens of millions of iPods since they first debuted. Some people have purchased more than two and some have purchased different versions (nano, shuffle, etc.). With all the excitement surrounding the iPhone, there seems to be a euphoria that’s blocking the future outlook. Will previous customers eventually buy new iPhones, like they did iPods?

iPods have been a craze, year after year, it’s been on the top of lists and consistently selling far more than other MP3 Players (i.e. Zune). Currently, the iPod product lineup varies in price from $79 to the all-new iPod Touch’s top-of-the-line price of $399. There isn’t any plan attached to these Apple products, and no necessary additional costs.

Most iPhone purchases cost $599 (for 8GB model), alongside about a $60 a month voice and data plan from AT&T (T). Put the costs together and it is a phone/iPod that will cost over $2000 in total charges in the first two years. This price isn’t necessarily an unusual number for phones that need intensive data packages.

The question comes into play when you factor this exceptional amount of money alongside the possibility of Apple updating the product with 3G and more flash memory in the future. What will users do when the possibility of getting a new iPhone becomes a reality? Will they simply buy the new model and sell the old one, or will they hold out, and keep the phone for two to three years?

If this happens, the market could see a saturation of iPhones and the supply will outweigh the demand. Then, new model iPhone sales could quickly dry up. We’re hoping for the iPhone to continue to sell like the iPod did, but there could be trouble in the next couple of years.

Disclosure: Long Apple Inc. (AAPL)

It’s unclear how long Apple’s (AAPL) rally will continue, but for now, let’s look back on one of the most incredible stocks in recent history.

Let’s not forget how Apple was merely a $20 stock back in 2004 and 2005. A pebble in the electronic market, little more than a tick on Microsoft’s (MSFT) back. Those times have quickly changed, and Apple is capturing one of the largest profit margins in the industry.

Investors were quite curious about the “iPod” in 2001, as a set back Steve Jobs introduced the revolutionary device to a crowd of no more than seemingly 100-150 people. The stock hit the ground running from there. As the evolution of newer devices and more cross-platform technology was introduced by Apple, investors saw the opportunity to jump aboard (me being one of them).

Shortly after a nice run, Apple had a 2-for-1 split on February 28, 2005. Many took their profits and let the stock take its course, but nobody could’ve expected Apple’s near future. By that time, Apple has introduced the iPod mini, soon afterwards, the first iPod shuffle was created. The stock didn’t stop.

Each time a new product was announced, the company quickly popped in stock, and investors were questioning every move. Consumers were eating up Apple products, not Creative or SanDisk products. How could this be? It was a simple result of pure brand power. The company had captured the attention of the World through the consistently sleek designs that were now an expectation of the company’s end results.

The most influential move had yet to come. The stock had actually been suffering for quite some time. Slipping from an all-time high of close to $90 per share in January 2006. Then, in January 2007 Apple came back into the spotlight. The MacWorld event at Moscone West was due to start, and months of rumors had been floating around. In the end, many of the rumors were hardly far from the truth.

The iPhone was introduced and the stock immediately jumped over $100 per share. Took the Americas by storm, and propelled Apple into the mobile phone market. While rumors speculated over various concerns, Apple prepared for the launch date and delivered, with thousands of phones selling the first day.

Now, Apple consumers and investors have plenty to look forward to this upcoming holiday season. From the iPhone to the all-new iPod touch, those stockings will be full of products dawning the little Apple logo. With rave reviews already being placed into young kids’ brains, parents will be looking for any way to get their hands on these one-of-a-kind products. Looks like it’s going to be another nice holiday for AAPL.

Below is the original event in which Steve Jobs announced the iPod:

Disclosure: Long Apple Inc. (AAPL)

With the holiday season just around the corner, and an impressive new line of updated and new iPods, Apple (AAPL) is set-up to make a killing.

Here’s a brief rundown:

iPod Shuffle

• Reinvented Colors
• Product (RED) Color

iPod Nano

• New Stockier Version
• Cut to $149 and $199
• Plays Video
• Slideshows with Music
• New User Interface

iPod Classic

• New Name for Original iPod
• 80 GB and a larger 160 GB Hard Drive
• Rounded, All-Metal Casing
• Now from $249
• New User Interface
• Black and White

iPod Touch

• 8 GB and 16 GB
• 3.5″ Touch-Screen Interface (much like the iPhone)
• Wi-Fi Enabled
• Download Music from iTunes Store Wirelessly
• Safari Web Browser
• YouTube Online Videos
• 8MM thin
• Starting from $299

iPhone

• Wi-Fi iTunes Downloads
• No longer offering a 4 GB version
• Price Reduction of the 8 GB to $399!

Disclosure: Long Apple Inc. (AAPL)

Rumors have been surrounding a possible addition to the multitude of Apple iPod Shuffle colors. The addition will be a (RED) product, which helps support charities and non-profits for Africa. Supposedly, up to $10 of every sale could potentially go to charities, without an actual price increase. Product (RED) merchandise has been selling like hotcakes for Apple’s current iPod Nano, but the addition of the red color should be quite complementary to the current product line.

Disclosure: Long Apple Inc. (AAPL)