It seems odd to think that a publication such as PC Magazine, that seeming bulwark of all things Windows and PC, would even deign to review Mac OS X, much less give it the highest accolade and praise they’ve ever given an operating system.

(It’s an unfair and misguided notion of what PC Magazine is, whose “PC” is really plain-vanilla, non-partisan “personal computer” - meaning everything is fair game, including Apple products. It’s a prejudice I fought against when I was Editor-in-Chief of PC Magazine Philippines, but it was like asking the tide not to come in.)

Well, don’t be too shocked - PC Magazine, in a PCMag.com review by Edward Mendelson gives Leopard a near-perfect rating, and says the new version of Mac OS X is…

…by far the best operating system ever written for the vast majority of consumers, with dozens of new features that have real practical value—like truly automated backups, preview images in folders, and notes and to-do lists integrated into the mail program. Propeller-heads with IT know-how will no doubt hold up Linux as the better choice, and Vista has its devotees as well (and will probably have more when SP1 is widely available), but, for the average user, Leopard is the most polished and easiest to use OS I’ve tested.

…I found Leopard to be startlingly fast, brilliantly streamlined, and packed with conveniences and innovations. Leopard’s rich set of built-in software runs faster than I imagined possible”

To be fair, Mendelson has some pointed criticisms about Leopard as well, but generally seems almost shocked at how good Leopard is. I feel a sea change coming on.

Read the full PCMag.com review here.