Upgrade Operating System

I have an Apple Mac iBook G4 1.2 GHz, I have just upgraded its RAM to the maximum 1.25Gb and I would now like to upgrade its Operating System from 10.3.9 to its maximum of 10.5.8.

I would like to know to go about it.

Purchase an OS 10.5 install disk via eBay.

- Nick

And hold your breath whilst checking the prices. Also do NOT buy the silver/grey system discs, must be a black full retial install version.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mac-OS-X-10...perating_Systems_Software&hash=item1c447addaa

Looks like prices are coming down on the 10.5 install disks Harry. $55 is certainly better than what we used to see.

- Nick

Lol Nick still dearer than Mavericks, etc.

Gonna be tough to beat Mavericks!

- Nick

pigoo3 said:

Looks like prices are coming down on the 10.5 install disks Harry. $55 is certainly better than what we used to see.

- Nick

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Guess I should have sold mine while the prices were still high.

Stretch said:

Guess I should have sold mine while the prices were still high.

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I hear what you're saying. I have about 5-6 retail copies of 10.5 (one of them is a 5-user family pack). I was getting them via Craig's List deals for about $50 each over the past 3 years or so (sometimes it would come included with the purchase of a used computer). Then I was going to sell them on eBay for a small profit. But then I got lazy!

So if I sold them now…I guess I would be about breaking even.

But on the other hand…I have plenty of G5 Mac's. So to stay legal…having all these copies keeps me on the "right side" of things.

- Nick

pigoo3 said:

Gonna be tough to beat Mavericks!

- Nick

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The only way to beat Mavericks is PAY US to install Yosemite! Grin

Hey Dennis... nice article about Yosemite and iOS 8 in the latest issue of Macworld Magazine. Interesting stuff, lots that I didn't know. (I didn't bother getting into the beta program.)

Thanks, will go read that!

Thanks for the info.
From my experience of upgrading older versions of Mac Operating Systems i thought I'd have to do the process in stages. Upgrade to 10.4 first with a disc for that and upgrade in increments through that version to its maximum possible. And then do the same for version 10.5, I did not realize it was possible to simply jump ahead from 10.3.9 straight to 10.5.

I've had a brief look at prices and the costs seem pretty steep especially considering we are talking about a fairly old version of the OS.

madmac48 said:

I've had a brief look at prices and the costs seem pretty steep especially considering we are talking about a fairly old version of the OS.

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Indeed. ...market forces at work.

madmac48 said:

I've had a brief look at prices and the costs seem pretty steep especially considering we are talking about a fairly old version of the OS.

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I'm not sure what sort of prices you are seeing. But because OS 10.5 is the last OS version that is compatible with older Macintosh PPC hardware (which your iBook is)…the demand (and therefore price) remains higher for it.

What you have to realize is…OS 10.5 when it was originally released cost $129.99. Up until recently…OS 10.5 install disks on eBay were close to $100…and even more. It was mentioned earlier in this thread that an OS 10.5 disk could be had for $55.

So…$55 is certainly better than $100…and $55 is definitely better than $129.

If $55 is still too much (and you are currently running OS 10.3.9)…you could upgrade to OS 10.4. But…an OS 10.4 install disk is still going to cost you $25-$30 (maybe more)…so around $55 for OS 10.5 is really not that bad in comparison (considering that it is newer & more features than 10.4).

I'm thinking that there is simply a disconnect between what you thought an older OS should cost…and what it actually costs. If you had checked eBay first (to see what OS 10.5 disks were selling for)…then there would be no surprises or "sticker shock".

Another option is to purchase a newer Intel Mac (since your iBook is getting pretty darn old). The price Apple charges for OS installers for Intel Mac's are lower.

- Nick

Ah the old adage 'Market Forces' to 'explain away' extortionate priceing.
Tiz a strange ole world we live in where goods prices are determined by such quixotic considerations as these 'Market Forces'.
Brand new products are priced high unless in a 'Sale'.
Current product prices can be lower to enable competition.
Older products can be cheaper if there is enough of them about, such that suppliers can't demand a higher price for them.
Rarer products can end up more expensive if the suppliers can manage to get away with it.
MARKET FORCES INDEED

madmac48 said:

Ah the old adage 'Market Forces' to 'explain away' extortionate priceing.

MARKET FORCES INDEED

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I'm not sure why you are debating "market forces". They are what they are. Have you not heard of the economics principle of "Supply & Demand"??

If NOBODY wanted OS 10.5 install disks…then yes…they might only cost $5.00 each. But the fact of the matter is…10.5 install disks are still in demand (you are one of the folks wanting one). So since supply is probably fewer than the demand for them…the price remains higher.

You could wait another 2, 3, or 5 years…and then maybe OS 10.5 install disks would be a price more in line with what you were expecting. But then maybe you would have finally purchased a newer Intel Mac…and would no longer need OS 10.5.

- Nick

Passing thought - I thought the only purpose of holding on to the G4s was to use 10.4, the last OS that could access "Classic"ie OS9….just got rid of mine owing to house move and wondering if I am going to need to buy another!

crisscross said:

Passing thought - I thought the only purpose of holding on to the G4s was to use 10.4, the last OS that could access "Classic"ie OS9….just got rid of mine owing to house move and wondering if I am going to need to buy another!

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There's no one reason to keep any computer. Anyone who keeps an older computer can have one of many reasons for keeping it.

- Nick

I still have my original LC running 7.0.1 for my Apple Quicktake 200 Camera!


http://macspoilers.com/604/remembering-the-apple-quicktake-200-camera/

Keeping a G4 around to run OS 9 you say? Rubbish!



(devilishly difficult to set up, mind you ... I only keep it around to run literally two old games)