smiles911
Level 1 (4 points)

Q: Updating macbook pro (pro's vs con's)

My macbook pro is 10.5 and I'm finding many things just don't work for sharing with my iMac 10.9.4.....the range between the two is just horrible.  I don't want to sell my laptop and wanted to know what is the best way of going about updating it.  I'm not sure that it will be even with my iMac but want something that is much closer.  What do you all think?

iMac

Posted on Sep 8, 2014 2:44 PM

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smiles911

Q: Updating macbook pro (pro's vs con's)

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  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Sep 8, 2014 3:40 PM in response to smiles911
    Level 6 (14,434 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 8, 2014 3:40 PM in response to smiles911

    The earliest MacBook Pro model should have no issue with an upgrade to

    at least Snow Leopard 10.6.8, then it could be used to look into further

    upgrades that involve new systems from the Mac App Store online...

     

    http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

     

    A retail Snow Leopard 10.6 DVD is still available online or perhaps in an

    official Apple Store, these cost about $20. to buy, then once installed, the

    next step would be to run Software Update in the booted new system to

    get the Combo update for Snow Leopard 10.6.8 v.1.1 from Apple servers.

     

    And then, after that's installed & running the computer see what else the

    in-system Software Updates will show.

     

    •How to identify MacBook Pro models

     

    Of course, if the computer is still running the original hard disk drive and

    also has not seen a RAM upgrade to more capacity memory chip totals,

    these two items can help an aging Mac work more like new. A replacement

    hard disk drive can be of greater storage capacity, as more internal space

    is always better than running low; and the RAM memory helps the OS X

    run better and give it resources to function while also running applications.

     

    You'd have to better identify the computer model and build identifier you have

    so as to closely match any upgrades of hardware and software, for exact fit.

     

    So, it can be done. A few reputable sources for hardware upgrade include

    macsales.com (aka OWC) and you can find the parts based on exact Mac

    product information. The need to get correct exact RAM is essential, btw.

     

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by smiles911,

    smiles911 smiles911 Sep 8, 2014 4:08 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 8, 2014 4:08 PM in response to K Shaffer

    Okay, thank you.  I've never done this kind of an upgrade....I've backed up all my documents, pictures, music now however wondering if I will loose my current applications when I do the upgrade. 

     

    Then as for doing the upgrade...how do I go about doing that?  Is it just a link at apple.com that I can do? 

  • by kaz-k,

    kaz-k kaz-k Sep 8, 2014 5:20 PM in response to smiles911
    Level 5 (5,850 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 8, 2014 5:20 PM in response to smiles911

    You'd better back up boot drive as clone also with Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper! before upgrade to Mavericks.

    You can back to old environment easily.