In an in-depth review of Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server, Ryan Faas (computerworld.com) cites “performance gains, improvements to several collaboration tools introduced in Leopard Server, enhanced simple administration for non-technical users and new features designed for mobile access and for supporting the iPhone.” Adds Fass: “Snow Leopard Server is a tremendous value.”

Reviewer Jason Snell (macworld.com) awards Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server 4.5/5 mice, calling it a “fantastic product for workgroups, small businesses, and even schools to use.” Emphasing value, Snell adds: “Mac mini server is just too good a deal to pass up.”

Apple has released the latest drivers for Brother, Canon, HP, and Lexmark printers and/or scanners for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.

More info and download links:

• Brother Printer Drivers for Mac OS X 10.6: This download includes the latest Brother printing and scanning software for Snow Leopard (99.9MB)

• Canon Printer Drivers for Mac OS X 10.6: This download includes the latest Canon printing and scanning software for Snow Leopard. Requires Mac OS X v10.6.1 or later (274.59MB)

• HP Printer Drivers for Mac OS X 10.6: This download includes the latest HP printing and scanning software for Snow Leopard (387.44MB)

• Lexmark Printer Drivers for Mac OS X v0.6: This download includes Lexmark printing software that shipped with Mac OS X v10.6 (117MB)

Source: MacOSXHints

Accessing the root account is disabled by default in Snow Leopard and the Directory Utility application is not available in the Utilities folder any more.

Here’s how to enable root in Snow Leopard:

1. Open Directory Utility in its new home, which is /System/Library/CoreServices.
2. Unlock the application by clicking the padlock icon and entering your Administrator login.
3. Select Edit » Enable Root User.
4. Choose Edit » Change Root Password, and choose a password for the root user.

That’s it! Make sure to re-lock the application by clicking the padlock icon.

Warning: Enabling the root account can leave your Mac vulnerable to security threats. Only enable it if you are aware of the risks and know what you are doing.

Source: MacOSXHints

Citing significant upgrades to the Podcast Producer, Wiki, and Mobile Access components of Mac OS X Server Snow Leopard, reviewer Cameron Sturdevant (eweek.com) recommends that IT managers “put Snow Leopard Server on their short-term evaluation list when considering system updates in creative departments where Mac systems predominate” or in any enterprise “where high-value content is produced.”

In Mac OS X 10.5, you could combine the use of Exposé’s Application Windows mode and the Command-Tab application switcher by first activating Exposé and then pressing Command-Tab. When you selected another application and released Command-Tab, that application would come to the foreground in Exposé mode, revealing all its windows. Alternatively, you could release just the Command key, and cycle through all your applications (while still in Exposé mode) by just pressing the Tab key.

While this worked well, it required you to activate Exposé before pressing Command-Tab. In Snow Leopard, this process has been greatly improved. While the old method still works as before, you can now activate Exposé’s Application Windows mode after pressing Command-Tab. Don’t try to do this with the Exposé key on your keyboard, though, because that won’t work.

Instead, keep the Command key pressed, release Tab, and then press either the Up or Down arrow. This will switch you into Exposé’s Application Windows mode for the currently-select application in the Command-Tab app switcher. At this point, you can release the Command key, too, leaving no keys pressed.

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In Mac OS X 10.5, the AirPort icon in the menu bar had a trick up its sleeve—hold down Option when clicking the icon, and you’d see more information about the various available AirPort networks. In Snow Leopard, this feature has been expanded, not just for the AirPort menu, but for some others as well.

Here’s what you’ll see when you hold down the Option key and click on various menu bar icons:

AirPort: In addition to the hardware (MAC) address of the wireless station, which channel is in use, the signal strength (RSSI), and finally an indication of the data transmission rate (all available in 10.5), you can also see what mode your connected network is using (802.11n, for instance), security (WPA2 Personal, etc.), and something called the MCS Index, which appears to be related to the 802.11n standard. (If you’re really into this stuff, feel free to look up your MCS Index value on this table; interpreting what you find there, though, well, that’s up to you!).

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