It is not uncommon to find that the installer CDs in hand does not contain the most recent version of a software product. Usually, software updates can be obtained via a manufacturer’s Web site. Apple simplifies this process by automating the update process upon initial OS X startup. If by some chance this does not occur, the process can be manually activated via the Software Update preference panel. This will be reviewed in detail in Chapter 13. Figure 1-4 shows OS X’s Software Update preference panel, an excellent tool for obtaining the latest updates for Mac OS X.
Figure 1-4: No installation is complete without checking for product updates.
As you can see, it is not a difficult task to build an OS X box. Taking the time to evaluate your installation considerations and applying the appropriate OS X installation strategy goes a long way toward ensuring a smooth migration from a previous Mac OS version.