Just bought an iPhone, so would like to be able to fully utilize iCloud. I have Mac OS X v. 10.4.11, so would need to upgrade to Snow Leopard and then to Lion. Are there any problems (other than cost) in doing so, like compatability w. current programs?

Hi Louiseeh,

Let's see if it even orwould be able to...

At the Apple Icon at top left>About this Mac.

Then click on More Info>Hardware and report this upto but not including the Serial#...

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: iMac

Model Identifier: iMac7,1

Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo

Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz

Number Of Processors: 1

Total Number Of Cores: 2

L2 Cache: 4 MB

Memory: 6 GB

Bus Speed: 800 MHz

Boot ROM Version: IM71.007A.B03

SMC Version (system): 1.21f4

Snow Leopard/10.6.x Requirements...

General requirements

* Mac computer with an Intel processor

* 1GB of memory (I say 4GB 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.

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[(I recommend 6GB or more)

• 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[(I recommend 50 GB or more.)

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

Louise:

Since you have an older MacBook and you must upgrade to Lion to utilize iCloud for your new iPhone, if you are running any older PPC applications (that require Rosetta, which is no longer included with Lion), you will have 3 options:

1. Upgrade all of your PowerPC applications to versions that are written for Intel and hence will work with Lion.

2. If you must continue to run a PPC application (due to cost to upgrade, newer version not as robust [such as Final Cut Pro X] and/or inavailability of an Intel version), consider either partitioning your internal HD or using an external HD with Snow Leopard installed on it and use the Dual-Boot system to be able to run Snow Leopard (and Rosetta) to run your PPC applications; or

3. Install Snow Leopard (and Rosetta) in Parallels 7 in Lion, which will allow you to run your PPC applications concurrently with Lion:

Installation instructions can be found here:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1365439