Q: Can iMac be updated or just get new one? On iMac with OSX10.5.8, 2Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo--it's so much slower than iPad. It hasn't had cache cleaned or "First aid". I'm wondering if a computer store/techie can clean/update it or better to put $$ towards new

How full is your Mac's hard drive?

How much RAM installed?

Under About This Mac, when the pop up window opens, click,the more info button and give me the iMac model identifier number so I and the rest of us here can better serve you.

It should be something like iMac 5,1 or something similar.

ThanX

Well,

Good news is you can instal a much larger boatload of RAM into your iMac.

That will help speed things up some.

Your iMac can take a max. RAM amount of 6 GBs.

I would install the max.

Correct and reliable Mac RAM can be purchased from online Mac RAM source OWC (macsales.com).

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/5300DDR2S6GP/

Also, you can upgrade your OS X version to OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, if you like!

You won't lose any data by upgrading the OS, but you should have a backup of data anyways in case the OS X upgrade goes wrong.

Apple Store online has the Snow Leopard DVD for sale for $19.99 U.S.D..

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard.

My opinion, seeing your iMac is older, I would not go past OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.

IMO, OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard is the last and best version of what OS X should have kept going as.

If you decide to purchase and install OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, once installed, run Software Update in the OS X Preferences Panel to update all of the software and run any OS X updates, as well.

Your iMac can run the more newer OS X versions like OS X 10.7 Lion or OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, but these OS X versions run a lot slower on Macs that have lower max. memory requirements and slower CPUs.

Plus, if you do not like Lion or Mountain Lion and want to revert back to OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, it now becomes a real pain and issue to go back. You basically have to backup everything on your iMac, wipe your iMac, reformat the drive and do a clean install of OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard from scratch.

Good Luck!

If you want to clean up your hard drive some, here are some of my tips, also.

Hard drive getting full or near full?

Do a search for and downlaod and install OmniDisk Sweeper and OnyX.

Here are some of my tips for deleting or archiving data off of your internal hard

Have you emptied your iMac's Trash icon in the Dock?

If you use iPhoto, iPhoto has its own trash that needs to be emptied, also.

If you use Apple Mail app, Apple Mail also has its own trash area that needs to be emptied, too!

Other things you can do to gain space.

Delete any old or no longer needed emails and/or archive older emails you want to save to disc, Flash drive/s or to ext. hard drive.

Look through your Documents folder and delete any type of old useless type files like "Read Me" type files.

Again, archive to disc, Flash drive or ext. hard drive and/or delete any old documents you no longer use or immediately need.

Uninstall apps that you no longer use. If the app has a dedicated uninstaller, use it to completely uninstall the app. If the app has no uninstaller, then just drag it to the OS X Trash icon  and empty the Trash.

Also, if you save old downloaded  .dmg application installer  files, you can either archive and delete these or just delete the ones you think you'll never install, again.

Download an app called OnyX for your version of OS X.

When you install and launch it, let it do its thing initially, then go to the cleaning and maintenance tabs and run all of the processes in the tabs. Let OnyX clean out all web browser cache files, web browser histories, system cache files, delete old error log files.

Typically, iTunes and iPhoto libraries are the biggest users of HD space.

If you have any other large folders of personal data or projects, these should be thinned out, moved, also, to the external hard drive and then either archived to disc, Flash drive or ext. hard drive and/or deleted off your internal hard drive.

Good Luck!

Adobe Flash and YouTube issues maybe tied to the fact you are not running a more recent OS X version.

OS X 10.5.8 Leopard is going on seven years old.

OS X 10.6  Snow Leopard is still being supported after all of these years and you should be able to update Adobe Flash Player to the most recent version once your OS X version has been upgraded.

Installing an OS isn't hard and RAM is user installable/upgradeable and is relatively easy to do to.

If you want to purchase a new Mac, that is up to you. But, to buy one simply to avoid doing any type of upgrading is not a real valid reason to go out  and spend thousands of $$$ buy a new computer when a cheap upgrade may solve some of your issues.

That is your decision.

You ask me for help about upgrading and cleaning up your Mac's hard drive and that is what I have given to you.

Here are instructions for install RAM into your iMac.

It's pretty easy and can take less than 10 minutes.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1423?viewlocale=en_US#2

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=DUkkENEyqbU&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DDUkkENEyqb U

jwall5 wrote:

 

MICHAEL--I'm helping her look through your complete info. THANKS SO MUCH. One final question:

Given we're not "techie competent," should we do this or is it better to buy a new one? (maybe you can't "recommend" something like this, but just wanted to ask. ) WILL DOING IT ALL SPEED UP THE FUNCTIONING. (I also just found out she can't get YouTube or download flash, but those may be separate, unrelated problems.) AGAIN, THANKS.

Yes, installing RAM, upgrading the OS and cleaning up the hard drive of unnecessary data and files will all make your iMac run smoother and faster.

This is the whole point of doing what I have been recommending.

You'll see a big improvement in operation with just the 6 GBs of RAM installed.

It may speed up more if you can gain more free space on your iMac's internal hard drive, as well.

You're Welcome!