Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5) will be arriving later this year in October. For most people, 3 months is certainly a long time; plus, there is always the possibility of new hardware surfacing. In light of all that speculation, I’d like to answer the big question: is it worth waiting for a Leopard Mac (aka Leopard pre-installed on a Mac)?

The most obvious answer is whether you need it right now. A Leopard Mac will only be available in 3 months, but if one of the machines currently at an Apple store satisfies your needs for the next year or so, then you’re better off buying it right now. The value you get out of a current computer will be much higher than waiting for a Leopard Mac.

Then we have new hardware. Recent rumors have pointed towards new iMacs and MacBooks. The refreshed iMac is supposed to debut in the next few weeks; sources have said the new machine will come in a brushed-aluminum enclosure, together with a newly-designed keyboard. If you’re looking for a desktop computer, my advice is just like Glenn Wolsey’s: wait.

On the portable side of things, it’s harder to say. The rumors of the ultra-thin MacBook have been fairly sketchy; it sounds really good on paper, but predictions regarding its launch currently range far and wide. Again, if you truly need a portable computer right now, my advice is to go ahead with the purchase.

Don’t get me wrong; Mac OS X Tiger is still a very capable operating system. It does everything that I (and a lot of others) need. You won’t find me purchasing Leopard on day one either. Rather, I’ll be waiting at least a month or two for Apple to work out all the kinks and bugs before adopting it.

So, do you really need a brand new Mac now? Or are you going to wait for a Leopard Mac?