Apple lists "over 150" features and improvements in Jaguar that didn't exist in previous versions of the Mac OS, such as iChat, Rendezvous, and an improved Calculator (oooooo), but for some reason the company's been somewhat silent about one of Jaguar's biggest improvements of all: the new kernel panic! When previous versions of Mac OS X imploded into a whimpering pile of smoldering code fragments, we were exposed to a sudden spate of decidedly un-Mac-like tech gibberish spilling right out through the GUI, exposing stark white characters on a plain black screen beneath. But as of Mac OS X 10.2, a kernel panic is now a decidedly friendlier affair, as a white box pops up informing you that "you need to restart your computer now" in four languages.

Or so we're told. To be honest, since we installed 10.2, we haven't actually had any kernel panics, so we're just taking other people's word for it. And while we figure that a screenshot in an AppleCare Document is a pretty reliable outside source, some part of us can't help thinking that we really should experience this nifty new improvement first-hand-- partially for curiosity's sake, but mostly to get our money's worth. After all, we did pay $129 for this upgrade, and what's the use of paying for a vastly improved kernel panic if our Mac never crashes?

Luckily, should we ever decide we really need to experience that shiny new kernel panic for ourselves, there's a simple way to induce one, which is now the topic of heavy discussion over at Slashdot a week or two after it surfaced over in the MacNN Forums. Apparently Mac OS X 10.2.2 collapses into a wretched, sobbing heap the instant one pops open the Terminal and tries to replace one directory with another of the same name. (Mac purists, we are certain, will interpret this as punishment of those wicked souls who choose to violate the "Thou Shalt Not Use Command Lines" commandment and will spend the next few weeks even more smug than usual.)

Actually, we'd also have to upgrade to 10.2.2 first; we decided to stick with 10.2.1 after we saw the copious reports of 10.2.2 weirdness. Sure, Apple says to "update to the latest version of Mac OS X to avoid certain potential kernel panic situations," but this is one such situation that comes with 10.2.2.

So if, like us, you're Jaguar-enabled and panic-deprived, consider this your personal ticket to System Crash Purgatory. Please note that we're not suggesting that you use this information to crash your Mac on purpose, since, unless you've got a full backup of your data and you really don't care about potential data loss, doing so ranks right up there on the Stupid Scale with shaving your legs with a cheese grater. But if user-induced kernel panics sounds like your idea of fun, act quickly; Think Secret reports that Mac OS X 10.2.3 is "due for release in December," and you can bet that it'll fix this embarrassing little issue. Then the fun part will be figuring out what embarrassing issues it introduces. The merriment never ends!