Trying to sync my iPhone 5 with an iMac OS X running 10.5.8 but need 10.6.8. Tried to update to get the 10.6.8 and response is the software is up to date thus keeping 10.5.8. Is my problem that I need to pay for an upgrade rather than an update? If so, what are the recommendations on upgrade... can I go beyond 10.6.8 on a six year old iMac currently running the 10.5.8?
iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8)
Snow Leopard 10.6.8 is not an update but a paid-for upgrade.
Start by checking if you can run Snow Leopard:
Requirements for OS X 10.6 'Snow Leopard'
http://support.apple.com/kb/SP575
OS 10.6 Snow Leopard is once again available for $19.99 from the Apple Store:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
and in the UK:
http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
but nobody knows for how long it will be available.
When you have installed it, run Software Update to download and install the latest updates for Snow Leopard.
To use iCloud you have to upgrade at least to Lion, but some functions are only available in Mountain Lion:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4759
You can also purchase the code to use to download Lion (Lion requires an Intel-based Mac with a Core 2 Duo, i3, i5, i7 or Xeon processor and 2GB of RAM, running the latest version of Snow Leopard), or you can purchase Mountain Lion from the App Store - if you can run that:
Snow Leopard 10.6.8 is not an update but a paid-for upgrade.
Start by checking if you can run Snow Leopard:
Requirements for OS X 10.6 'Snow Leopard'
http://support.apple.com/kb/SP575
OS 10.6 Snow Leopard is once again available for $19.99 from the Apple Store:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
and in the UK:
http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
but nobody knows for how long it will be available.
When you have installed it, run Software Update to download and install the latest updates for Snow Leopard.
To use iCloud you have to upgrade at least to Lion, but some functions are only available in Mountain Lion:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4759
You can also purchase the code to use to download Lion (Lion requires an Intel-based Mac with a Core 2 Duo, i3, i5, i7 or Xeon processor and 2GB of RAM, running the latest version of Snow Leopard), or you can purchase Mountain Lion from the App Store - if you can run that:
Thanks. Contacted Apple. They confirmed I can upgrade all the way since it turned out the iMac is only four years old and has 2GB RAM. CD with 10.6.3 Leopard is on the way . Then online can update to 10.6.8. at no cost. Then can upgrade online without CD to 10.8.X Mountain Lion for another $19.99. It is somewhat confusing using numbers and wild animals as the reference -- some use just the numbers and some use the Lions, Leopards, Tigers and maybe Elephants.... what a circus.
Sync iPhone 5 with an iMac OS X -- Will not update beyond 10.5.8
