Esteek
Level 1 (4 points)
Desktops

Q: I want to upgrade my imac OS 10.6.8, because browsers are not supporting it. Which OS will work Ok (not slowdown), and where and how to do this. Thanks. (relevant details below)

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: 4 GB

  Bus Speed: 800 MHz

  Boot ROM Version: IM71.007A.B03

iMac

Posted on Sep 11, 2016 1:54 PM

by MichelPM,Solvedanswer
MichelPM MichelPM
Level 6 (13,665 points)
iPad
A:

If you rather NOT upgrade your OS X,

 

You can use the last full featured version of Firefox for OS X 10.6.8-10.8 (vers. 48.0.0).

This should stay secure for awhile.

 

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/desktop/

 

OR

 

For OS X 10.6-10.8, you could go on Mozilla's Firefox ESR Web browser program which is a slighly older version of Firefox (vers. 45 & later version 52) which will get security updates ONLY (no more web browser feature updates) until April 2017.

Ignore the notes about enterprise and educational institutional use.

 

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/organizations/faq/

 

OR

 

for 10.6 and later,

 

Look at SeaMonkey.

 

http://www.seamonkey-project.org/

 

Good Luck!

Posted on Sep 12, 2016 1:59 AM

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Esteek

Q: I want to upgrade my imac OS 10.6.8, because browsers are not supporting it. Which OS will work Ok (not slowdown), and where and h ... more

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Sep 11, 2016 2:15 PM in response to Esteek
    Level 9 (54,100 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 11, 2016 2:15 PM in response to Esteek

    Your mid-2007 iMac should be capable of running the latest version OS X El Capitan (currently, 10.11.6)

    ... and here's how: Upgrade to OS X El Capitan - Apple Support

  • by Allan Jones,Helpful

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Sep 12, 2016 2:00 AM in response to Esteek
    Level 8 (35,081 points)
    iPad
    Sep 12, 2016 2:00 AM in response to Esteek

    El Capitan 10.11 will be the last OS your model (iMac mid 2007) will take; Sierra (coming later this month) will require a newer Mac. This is from Apple's current web info on the new OS version:

    These Mac models are compatible with macOS Sierra:

    • MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
    • MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
    • MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
    • Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
    • iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
    • Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)

  • by MichelPM,Solvedanswer

    MichelPM MichelPM Sep 12, 2016 1:59 AM in response to Esteek
    Level 6 (13,665 points)
    iPad
    Sep 12, 2016 1:59 AM in response to Esteek

    If you rather NOT upgrade your OS X,

     

    You can use the last full featured version of Firefox for OS X 10.6.8-10.8 (vers. 48.0.0).

    This should stay secure for awhile.

     

    https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/desktop/

     

    OR

     

    For OS X 10.6-10.8, you could go on Mozilla's Firefox ESR Web browser program which is a slighly older version of Firefox (vers. 45 & later version 52) which will get security updates ONLY (no more web browser feature updates) until April 2017.

    Ignore the notes about enterprise and educational institutional use.

     

    https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/organizations/faq/

     

    OR

     

    for 10.6 and later,

     

    Look at SeaMonkey.

     

    http://www.seamonkey-project.org/

     

    Good Luck!

  • by Esteek,

    Esteek Esteek Sep 12, 2016 2:32 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 12, 2016 2:32 AM in response to Tesserax

    I've used MichelPM's advise and switched to the Firefox browser.

    Thank you for the suggestion and Allan Jones too.

    However, my tech guy (that services my newer iMac late 2013 at work) told me not to upgrade to El Capitan, said that it will slow it down.  I bring work home sometimes and use Adobe graphics programs and need the imac to continue functioning ok. I've been reading online that Yosemite may be an option for the home iMac late 2007?

    Am I risking the whole package here with an upgrade or should I just leave well enough alone?

    Thanks

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Sep 12, 2016 3:10 AM in response to Esteek
    Level 6 (13,665 points)
    iPad
    Sep 12, 2016 3:10 AM in response to Esteek

    OS X 10.10 Yosemite is no longer available for initial download from the Mac App Store.

    A "local" Apple Store location maybe able to install Yosemite for you, but OS X Yosemite is just as resource intensive as El Capitán and may have a similar slowing down effect.

    There might be programs on your Mac now that may need, and is using,  the hidden Rosetta PowerPC emulator that is only part of OS X 10.6.8.

    Once you upgrade OS X, that emulator is gone for good and those apps that relied on that Rosetta PowerPC emulator will no longer function and you would need to upgrade those apps.

    Depending on the version of Adobe apps you use, the maximum OS X version your 2007 Mac maybe only able to run use either OS X 10.8.5 Moutain Lion OR OS X 10.9.5 Mavericks.

    I use Adobe CS4 Design Premium and that CS suite only works up to OS X 10.9.5 Mavericks with some of the Adobe Bridge and some CS4 support apps that no longer function.

    OS X 10.9 Mavericks is, also, no longer available for initial download, from the Mac App Store, either.

    You would need to call and. check a local Apple Store location to see if they could install thst version of OS X onto your iMac, too!

    I am actually, now, more regularly running OS X 10.8.5 Mountain Lion and ALL of Adobe CS4 runs fine on OS X10.8.5.

     

    Here's a website for to check app compatibility with newer OS X versions.

     

    http://roaringapps.com/

     

    In any event, if you decide at some point to upgrade your Mac's OS X, you need to backup all of your Mac's data, first before attempting anything.

     

    Another thing, if you want to improve your 2007 iMacs performance slightly, your year iMac can take a maximum of 6GBs of RAM.

    You replace one of the 2 GBs RAM modules with a 4 GBs RAM module only found here online.

     

    https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/5300DDR2S4GB/

     

    Good Luck!