iMac Nerds......

[Ol'Blue]

Hey guys,

So a friend left us a Imac before going to China. It's an older one but I guess according to the local Apple store it can run the new os system but it has to be redone on a new OS disk. or just run the snow leopard system?

So the question is it worth 70 bucks? Let me know. It's the 27 inch screen.

As you can tell I'm a big Mac user, NOT REALLY

Blue

 

[CXS]

Leave it with the OS that's on it if you're just using it for bowsing & e-mail. While you spend money on an OS upgrade you'll take a performace hit. Enjoy the big screen w/o laying out a dime.

 

[lucky7]

IMO, don't update the OS. Maybe have a SSD put in it, but I have a 2010 iMac 27, and it's fine if don't continuously update. Apple has a tendency to make your old hardware stop working with all the updates.

 

[Ol'Blue]

IMO, don't update the OS. Maybe have a SSD put in it, but I have a 2010 iMac 27, and it's fine if don't continuously update. Apple has a tendency to make your old hardware stop working with all the updates.

That is what this computer is also. I'm going to load the program to run windows on it and then run it like that. It's not really going to be ran hard. I run my Lenovo for all the office stuff etc...

Blue

 

[lucky7]

Is it Bootcamp? IIRC, that's the one. Unfortunately my '10 failed to start for me about a month ago, so I replaced it with a current 5k model. My intent was to have an SSD put in it, but I really can't justify it. There's a local shop that'll buy it, as well as my '10 MBP with a failed logic board.

 

[-JD-]

I'm curious as to what they mean by a new OS disk? Why can't you install the update on the current hard drive?

 

[SirBarton]

I'm curious as to what they mean by a new OS disk? Why can't you install the update on the current hard drive?

I think he/they mean he's not eligible for a free OS update as that computer has been grandfathered out. He may be able to upgrade it to a NEWER OS, but not the latest.

Either way, it shouldn't be $70.

There are a lot of threads about this on apple forums: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7291037?start=0&tstart=0

Also, I always recommend searching "Most stable OS" for your particular computer.

If you plan to run Windows in Boot Camp mode, I'm not sure how much it matters. You just need an OS that is new enough to run Boot Camp.

 

[Ol'Blue]

As stated above its to old for there to be a free update on Apple. So I'll have to get that 70 dollar copy of it and redo it.

I just want it to last a few more years then I'll redo all my computers then and run my huge duel screens again and call it cool with a wicked fast tower like I had at one time. I had a buddy build me one that was really nice.

Blue

 

[Hepar]

Is there something specific for wanting to run windows on it? Like others have said, I think it would be fine for simple stuff. Simple web, email, word processing, etc etc. I have an old iMac that I have in my home office that I use for just that when my main computer is tied up doing its processing stuff that it's meant for.

If you do decide to stick with the apple OS, I have a copy of Microsoft Office I can send you if you want it.

 

[Jimmy_D]

If you know somebody with a Mac that has a newer OS installed (Yosemite, El Capitan, Sierra) and you've got a spare thumb drive (8 BG or greater) you could ask them to download DiskMaker X (which is donation ware......in other words, free) and have them make you an OS installer. I've used it and it works like a champ.

It just dawned on me that anyone creating an install disc with DiskMaker will need the OS install file in their Applications folder in order to do so. I conveniently forgot that little fact when I made the recommendation. So if somebody wanted to make an install disc they would first have to download the OS update application and then quit it before installing the upgrade. They'd then use DiskMaker to make an install disc of that particular installer prior to upgrading their computer (the install file is deleted automatically after an OS upgrade is completed). Sorry about the confusion.

 

[Ol'Blue]

Is there something specific for wanting to run windows on it? Like others have said, I think it would be fine for simple stuff. Simple web, email, word processing, etc etc. I have an old iMac that I have in my home office that I use for just that when my main computer is tied up doing its processing stuff that it's meant for.

If you do decide to stick with the apple OS, I have a copy of Microsoft Office I can send you if you want it.

Your the man. That would be nice! Thank you.

Blue

 

[Ol'Blue]

If you know somebody with a Mac that has a newer OS installed (Yosemite, El Capitan, Sierra) and you've got a spare thumb drive (8 BG or greater) you could ask them to download DiskMaker X (which is donation ware......in other words, free) and have them make you an OS installer. I've used it and it works like a champ.

The plan is to run Sierra.

 

[wadle5]

As others have said, I wouldn't deal with an upgrade, although I would argue if you did get the entire computer for free, whats $70 to get it running at optimal performance. Again depending on the daily tasks you have in mind for it would more clearly depend on whether or not to upgrade the systems. Congrats on the MAC. Weird at first to use, but once you get used to it they are absolutely user friendly and idiot proof.....just ask my mom.

 

[Dorobuta]

Leave it with the OS that's on it if you're just using it for bowsing & e-mail. While you spend money on an OS upgrade you'll take a performace hit. Enjoy the big screen w/o laying out a dime.

OS upgrades are free on Macs...[eta: my bad read that it is too old for the automatic updates....]

 

[Hepar]

The plan is to run Sierra.

I just checked and my iMac is running 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard) If you want that, let me know too.

 

[CXS]

The plan is to run Sierra.

Make sure you have a backup so you can go back to what the machine is designed for. Sierra is good but may slow your older machine more thsn you like. Office should run find w/o upgrading.

Reading back it sounds like you're using an emulator to run Windows, am I guessing right?

 

[Dorobuta]

Is there something specific for wanting to run windows on it? Like others have said, I think it would be fine for simple stuff. Simple web, email, word processing, etc etc. I have an old iMac that I have in my home office that I use for just that when my main computer is tied up doing its processing stuff that it's meant for.

If you do decide to stick with the apple OS, I have a copy of Microsoft Office I can send you if you want it.

I run fusion for any VMs running other operating systems. I like it much better than boot camp or parallels.

 

[Ol'Blue]

Make sure you have a backup so you can go back to what the machine is designed for. Sierra is good but may slow your older machine more thsn you like. Office should run find w/o upgrading.

Reading back it sounds like you're using an emulator to run Windows, am I guessing right?

I'm not running anything to run windows yet. Just looking at options and reading up on it.

I asked Apple store about the slowing down stuff. He said the RAM upgrade will fix that issue. The processor is good he said. right now it has half of what is needed if I upgrade but I'm going to jump from 4gigs to 16gigs of RAM. they said that will do it just fine and run good.

Blue

 

[Hepar]

The processor is good he said. right now it has half of what is needed if I upgrade but I'm going to jump from 4gigs to 16gigs of RAM. they said that will do it just fine and run good.

Blue

Do you know which processor is in your Mac? Honestly, I highly doubt you'd see anywhere close to 16gb usage on that thing. Your processor is definitely going to be the weak/slow point.