Tiger vs Snow Leopard vs Lion???

It would help to know more specifics about each computer other than generic "iMac" which covers over a decade of models. Some cannot even run Tiger so I'm at a bit of a loss until I know which model you have. Even some Macbooks can and cannot run Lion so recommendations await specifics, 🙂

Hi Kevin,

If you need to support the latest IS iDevices & such, you habe no choices really other than...

Leopard requirements/10.5.x...

* Mac computer with an Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor

minimum system requirements

* 512MB of memory (I say 1.5GB for PPC at least, 2-3GB minimum for IntelMacs)

* DVD drive for installation

* 9GB of available disk space (I say 30GB at least)

List of Applications Not Compatible with Leopard...

http://guides.macrumors.com/List:Applications_Not_Compatible_with_Leopard

Snow Leopard/10.6.x Requirements...

General requirements

* Mac computer with an Intel processor

* 1GB of memory (I say 2GB at least)

* 5GB of available disk space (I say 30GB at least)

* DVD drive for installation

* Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.

* Some features require Apple’s MobileMe service; fees and terms apply.

Which apps work with Mac OS X 10.6?...

http://snowleopard.wikidot.com/

It looks like they might still have it...

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A?fnode=MTY1NDAzOA

If it's a core Duo & not a Core2Duo, then it'll only run in 32 bit mode.

Snow Leopard/10.6.x Requirements...

Lion/101.7 System requirements

• x86-64 processor (Macs with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Intel Core i3, Intel Core i5, Intel Core i7, or Xeon processor.)

• At least 2GB of memory[14]

• Latest version of Mac OS X Snow Leopard (10.6.8), with the Mac App Store installed

• At least 4GB of disk space for downloading[14]

Like Snow Leopard, Lion does not support PowerPC-based Macs (e.g., Power Macs, PowerBooks, iBooks, iMacs (G3-G5), eMacs).

Lion also does not support 32-bit Intel Core Duo or Core Solo based Macs. Rosetta is no longer available in Lion, which means Lion no longer supports PowerPC applications.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_OS_X_Lion#System_requirements

http://www.apple.com/macosx/how-to-buy/

What applications are not compatible with Mac OS X 10.7 "Lion"?

http://ow.ly/5Iz09

http://roaringapps.com/apps:table

General requirements

* Mac computer with an Intel processor

* 1GB of memory (I say 2GB at least)

* 5GB of available disk space (I say 30GB at least)

* DVD drive for installation

* Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.

* Some features require Apple’s MobileMe service; fees and terms apply.

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/software/apple?mco=OTY2ODUzOA

http://www.apple.com/macosx/specs.html

Look at this post telling how to format (including adding graphics) posts for Apple Discussions...

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=607563

Good man, BDAqua. I wasn't going to bother with all that until I knew which computer models the OP has. 😉

You don't state the exact model of your Macs, but I believe these are the specs.

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook/stats/macbook-core-2-duo-2.0-white -13-mid-2007-specs.html

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/stats/imac-core-2-duo-2.16-17-inch-sp ecs.html

Both can run Lion. However, you currently have only 1GB of RAM, which is marginal for both Tiger & Leopard. Both Macs can accomodate 4GB RAM. You should upgrade the RAM to at least 2GB. One big consideration for upgrading the OS concerns your apps. Will all of your purchased apps run with Snow Leopard or Lion.

 Cheers, Tom 😉