How can I upgrade the spec of my mac from version 10.3.9 to something that will allow me to install my iphone?

[Pennies]

Can anyone help? I have bought a lovely shiny new iphone which DH and I are pathetically excited about and it won't let me install it as my mac runs on an old version.

[tissy]

what are the minimum requirements for an iPhone?

[tissy]

on my Macbook, you go to the Apple icon top left, click on software update, when it's done, restart, and Bob's yer uncle.

[Pennies]

It is saying 10.4.10

[Pennies]

Tissy I tried that but the only thing it came up with was something called iSight which is a video conference tool and this doesn't even have a lens so that's not it.

[retiredgoth1]

....10.3.9 is the last version of Panther, and there is no way it can be updated to service an iPhone, sorry.

....you will need a copy of Tiger (OS 10.4) perhaps from eBay for the iPhone to work.

[retiredgoth1]

like this

[tissy]

rg, how do folks who have an iPhone without a Mac cope then?

[retiredgoth1]

...it operates on Windoze XP and Vista, too.

[tissy]

aaahhh......

Ok then, while I've got you here, if I went out to the Apple Store next weekend, which iMac should I get?

(sorry for highjack, Pennies)

[Pennies]

Thanks RG1 - am a bit anxious about buying one off ebay as can't guarantee authenticity. Could I get it from PC world then? Is it expensive?

[retiredgoth1]

...if you buy from new you will probably only be able to get the most up to date version, Leopard (OS 10.5) which is splendid, but needs quite a lot of power in your Mac to support it. Yours must be quite old if it has that OS so it may or may not work.

How much memory (RAM) have you got, and what is the processor speed?

(click on Apple and about this Mac to check)

[retiredgoth1]

...if you buy from new you will probably only be able to get the most up to date version, Leopard (OS 10.5) which is splendid, but needs quite a lot of power in your Mac to support it. Yours must be quite old if it has that OS so it may or may not work.

How much memory (RAM) have you got, and what is the processor speed?

(click on Apple and about this Mac to check)

[retiredgoth1]

...and what model, as the RAM might also be upgradable without undue expense.

[Pennies]

It is a 1.8 GHZ processor with 512MB memory.

[Pennies]

It's a G5 (is that the model?!)

[retiredgoth1]

....then Leopard will run.

Ideally it should have 1GB of memory (the blurb tells you this), but will run on 512MB. I have upgraded an older iMac for a friend with just those specs to Leopard and it runs without difficulty.

(if you do choose to upgrade the RAM at any time, MR MEMORY sells Apple approved DDR sticks at a fraction of the Apple price. Again, I have done this!)

[retiredgoth1]

..if you are (or can find someone who is) a student or a teacher then the education version is good value otherwise it will cost you double...

[Pennies]

Thank you so much for this RG1 - very much appreciated.

[Pennies]

Well I work in a pre-school and my children are both at school so would either of those qualify me?

[retiredgoth1]

....it always shocks me to realise just how sad and geeky I am!

...enjoy your iPhone. They are splendid things!

[retiredgoth1]

I think it probably does. Follow the link and give it a try!

[Pennies]

Ohh - one last question which will demonstrate my true lack of technical ability but how do I get my SIM card into my iphone?!

[retiredgoth1]

.....look at the top of the iPhone. There is a long, slim slot just visible, with a tiny hole at one end.

If you have a new, boxed, 3G phone then there will be a little device in the box for opening this. If you haven't got this, use an unfolded paperclip and stick it in the hole! The little SIM card drawer will pop out.

(and I had an iPhone for 6 months before I figured this out, so you are not alone!!)

[Pennies]

Thanks again.

Can't seem to get the education version for a few weeks - not sure I can wait that long!

[retiredgoth1]

....sorry, didn't see the question about iMacs, Tissy!

Unless you are doing lots of power-hungry work (like video editing) then I think the base model will do for most general use. Mine is 2 years old, and has a similar spec to this. I have yet to find anything it cannot cope with.

The only thing that might be worth doing is upgrading the memory from 1GB to 2 GB. DON"T get the Apple store to do this, as it will cost a fortune. Buy the memory from MR MEMORY and do it yourself, it takes 5 minutes and does not invalidate your warranty!