For those of you who aren't already aware of Apple's newest operating system, it's time to get up-to-date.  Snow Leopard, also known as Mac OS X v10.6, was released on August 28, 2009, and the new operating system boasts of loads of updates and upgrades over its predecessor, Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard.  Aside from offering 64-bit technology, Snow Leopard also increased the efficiency of multiple-core processor management, improved security, and enhanced usability.  The good thing is, you can get these updates and many more for the low price of US$29, which will allow you to upgrade from your current Leopard system.  Here's how to upgrade your Mac from Leopard to Snow Leopard in three easy steps.

1.  Prepare your system

The first step in any OS installation is to prepare your system.  First, make sure that you back up all of the important information that you do not want to lose.  It would be best to backup your files to an external hard drive or to some form of removable media.  Second, clean up your system by deleting unnecessary files.  If you want to ensure that nothing can go wrong, you may want to make a bootable backup of your Mac.  A bootable backup will allow you to restore your system to the state it was in before you start your Snow Leopard installation.  Finally, make sure that you have the necessary media to install Snow Leopard, such as the Snow Leopard upgrade disc.

2.  Option A:  Install over your existing Leopard OS

Apple gives you two options for upgrading your system to the Snow Leopard OS and the first is to do a direct upgrade over your existing Leopard setup.  This is perhaps the easiest way to get your system running on Snow Leopard.  All you have to do is insert your Snow Leopard upgrade disc, click "Install Mac OS X", and follow the on-screen instructions to get your system running.

3.  Option B:  Do a clean install of the Snow Leopard OS

For power users who want full control over the setup and a brand new operating system, option B is the best way to go.  Basically, this will wipe out all of the data on your hard drive partition, installing Snow Leopard on a clean machine.  Insert your Snow Leopard upgrade disc and click on "Install Mac OS X" when you are prompted.  Click on the Utilities menu and choose the "Disk Utility..." option and you will be prompted to format and repartition your hard drive.  Finish up your installation as you normally would by following the on-screen instructions.

Remember, throughout the Snow Leopard installation, you will get a few chances to restore a Time Machine backup that you have previously made.  If you choose not to restore a backup during the installation, you can always do so after Snow Leopard is up and running.  Congratulations on your new Mac operating system!