Upgrading OS on mac

[funnypeculiar]

I really need to upgrade my OS - currently running OS X 10.6.8 - but have never done it, my head is hurting trying to understand things on app store, and I can't get into genius bar for a couple of weeks.

Would any nice techie like to talk me through what to do, and whether I can go straight for the latest version, or whether I need to do it in steps?

TIA...

Hopeful bump...

You can buy Mountain Lion (most up to date version) from the app store on your mac and click on install. It's a big download, 4gb, so it may take a while depending on your Internet connection.

You don't have to do any steps. And if I remember rightly, you don't have to do any updates after buying it and installing it either.

I just did it a few weeks ago and was previously on 10.5.something. My broadband is very slow and it took 12 hours to download.

funnypeculiar - just curious but what do you find 'poor' about 10.6.8 (I'm running it too, without any feeling of embarrassment!) that makes you want to upgrade ?

I'm also running 10.6.8 and no plans to upgrade at the moment.

Having said that, I'm curious to know if you loose any saved files when you upgrade your operating system. Anywone tell me?

Ta.

Thanks all :-)

Networkguy - there are a couple of apps I want to invest in for work that aren't compatible with 10.6 & when I mentioned this a work colleague was absolutely shocked that I hadn't upgraded already - so rather presumed I must be missing something! Um, cloud sync-ing is only available with later OS I think (have ipad & iphone) - suspect you know waaaayyyy more than me though!

Laptop is also running very slow at the mo, & wondered whether that might help it...

BridgetJones - as I understand it, it shouldn't cause any problems, but am similarly nervous!

I'm also running 10.6.8 and it hadn't even occurred to me to shell out for an upgrade!

I backed up one computer before upgrading but not the second one. Nothing was lost on either macs but unsurprisingly, Office 2004 was incompatible with Mountain Lion. I hadn't used it since 2006 anyway so no loss really.

I upgraded solely to get the new Garage Band. Cloud might be useful if I get an iPad. I'd say that your colleague would keel over if they saw me using my first gen ipod touch. But I luffs it!

:-) You're all making me feel less of a dinosaur, so thank you.

I think I'm twitchy because I'm SE, and any laptop problems are a big headache. I might be a wuss and go into the genius bar and get them to do it for me!

Unless anyone else would like to share stories of easy, painfree upgrades...?

"suspect you know waaaayyyy more than me though!"

:)

Please don't count on it. I may have a few iMac G5 systems (and 10.6.8 is the latest installed version) plus an eMac or two, an iMac G4 (the one with the screen at the end of a pole from a base shaped as a hemisphere) and an iMac G3, but I really am not a massive fan of Apple and have never bought anything at the "new" price, have no iPad or iPod or iPhone (and while it might be nice to do so, feel no need for any of them, as I have adequate Archos tablet, MP3 player, and several Android phones).

Someone is going to wonder "WTF does he have several iMac systems if he's not a fan of Apple ?" and the answer is that they're handy as they have a version of Unix sitting inside, and it is easier to use one of these without needing to 'sacrifice' a working Windows XP system (ie one of those I know well, and am extremely comfortable with, have utilities and applications for and will keep going until I stop breathing, with a little luck!)

I'm only familiar with a few of the changes over the years in the Apple Mac world, and limitations (such as the Chrome browser only running on the Intel powered G5 iMac, various bits of software not being compatible with 10.4.x or 10.3.x, etc, etc).

All in all, just as I've been less than impressed by Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows Vista, I might simply be more comfortable with kit I have used in the earlier 25 years of my career (up to 2003/4), and not the very latest operating systems!

When I asked, it was genuinely to see if there was really a good reason to upgrade to a newer version (bearing in mind this machine was only 150 quid when bought Nth-hand - no knowledge if it was secondhand, third hand, etc!)