iCloud on a 2008 MacBook?
My MacBook was bought in 2008 and is running OS X 10.5.8. Can I upgrade it to be capable of using iCloud?
MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.8)
13 replies
For your MacBook to be capable of running iCloud, you need to download OS X Lion (10.7) or OS X Mountain Lion (10.8).
First we need to know which one of the 9 different models of MacBook you have. To see which model you have go to the Apple in the upper left corner and select About This Mac, then click on More Info. When System Profiler comes up check the Model Identifier and post it back here.
The Early 2006 model 1,1 Core Duo can only run a maximum of 10.6 Snow Leopard. The models Late 2006 Core 2 Duos 2,1 through Early 2008 4,1 can only run a maximum of 10.7 Lion. The Late 2008 model 5,1 Aluminum Unibody through the Mid 2010 White Unibody model 7,1 can run 10.8 Mountain Lion.
Thank you all for your replies.
a brody, I had already read the discussion you listed before I posted but the most relevant link on it to my situation didn't work/had expired. But thank you.
frederic1943, following your instructions I found Model Identifier: MacBook4,1. This was under "Hardware Overview" - there is nothing called System Profiler.
So this means I can run 10.7 Lion, so, according to JBActor, that I can run iCloud?
Many thanks to you all.
Not just any Lion, 10.7.2 minimum is needed on the Mac OS X side. You don't have to install 10.7, which requires either 10.6.6 or a USB Flash drive version of Lion. You can always install Windows on your Mac and get the full iCloud that way. But before you jump into iCloud, tell me what link had expired?
Post deleted as seemed irrelevant, but now it's been answered I will repeat it.
I asked whether this meant I would have to buy Snow Leopard to upgrade to Lion.
Thanks.
Message was edited by: Fliff
Yes, because you need the Mac App Store which is not available on 10.5.8. Call Apple to order it for $19.00.
Under most scenarios yes. All of these can be done on your MacBook. And 10.6 is available by calling the Apple online store directly. It is not for sale through the website. The USB Flash drive version of Lion is becoming increasingly difficult to find.
1. 10.4.4 through 10.5.8 -> Buy Snow Leopard -> Download the free 10.6.6 Combo -> Download the paid Lion -> Download free 10.7.2 Combo, 10.7.3 Combo, or 10.7.4 combo, and setup iCloud.
2. 10.4.4 through 10.5.8 -> Erase and partition external hard drive or USB Flash drive with enough room for Lion -> Buy 10.7 USB Flash drive -> Install on external hard drive or other USB Flash drive, Download free 10.7.2 Combo, 10.7.3 Combo, or 10.7.4 combo, and then setup iCloud.
3. 10.4.4 through 10.5.8 -> Install Windows Virtualization iCloud compatible verison of Windows -> Install iCloud.
4. Read my tip and see if iCloud features you really need can be done without any updating of your operating system.
Notes:
1. Backing up is essential prior to any upgrade to be done at least twice. See my backup tip.
2. upgrading 10.6 or later may not be as compatible wtih your applications as just staying with 10.5.8 or earlier.
3. upgrading to 10.7 drops Rosetta support and old PowerPC application support from Mac software that predate 2006.
4. upgrading to 10.7.3, 10.7.4, or any version of 10.8 is required for safe Java installation on Macs. 10.5.8, 10.6.8, 10.7.3, 10.7.4, or any 10.8 are required for safe Adobe Flash use on your Mac.
For more on both limitations, see this tip.
It's late at night here in the UK. I will be back tomorrow.
I should add that I have an illness which affects aspects of my concentration and cognition, so I need to read through your doc with links again, but one of them definitely cannot be found - this section:
Which also explains the full assortment of system requirements for iCloud. What you can see is at least Safari 5, which is available for Mac OS X 10.5 can access some iCloud features. For a complete listing of what's supported and what is not in pre-Mac OS X 10.7.2, see:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4929
Many thanks.
Thanks again for this, a brody. I will read through it tomorrow. I appreciate your help very much.🙂
Good point, I will check with the knowledge base article authors what happened to it. I'm not hopeful it will be recovered. Sadly the infamous web archive engine can't find it either.
I found another one which doesn't work:
Apple's transition to iCloud from Mobileme is outlined in this article:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4597
Haven't checked them all yet!
Goodnight from the UK.
I fixed that link. The "Wayback Engine" a really cool archival website had that link in its scans. Sadly, it didn't have the first one.
iCloud on a 2008 MacBook?