 Creative Intelligence @ Your Service |
Site Map +1 214 234 9283 | Send Email |
Creative Intelligence @ Your Service |
Site Map +1 214 234 9283 | Send Email |
Own an Apple® PowerBook® computer? How about an iBook®? Or any other PowerPC based Mac? Time to think about replacing those systems within the next few years or so.
Why? Well, several reasons. The primary one is that Apple started shipping Intel® models four years ago. And we've always recommended replacing computers, especially hard disk drives, about every five years (and never later then every seven years). Chances are that time has come, if not gone.
More importantly, however, the minimum requirement for the latest updates of FireFox, Flash, Office, and Safari is now OS X 10.4. That means without an update, users on 10.3 can't keep up with security fixes and other improvements as time goes on.
Unfortunately upgrading a computer's operating system has serious ramifications. We recommend avoiding this unless absolutely necessary. Luckily OS X, upgrades have few technical problems: most people can upgrade from the CD themselves. But OS X 10.5, the current version Apple sells for PowerPC users, requires substantially more memory then 10.3. So we recommend expanding memory to at least one gigabyte before upgrading.
Is there an alternative to not switching? Yes, if one is willing to make some changes. The latest version of the Opera web browser runs just fine on PowerPC with OS X 10.3. But if you need to convert .doc to .docx, you'll need access to a PC with OpenOffice as Microsoft's converter for the Mac requires a minimum of Office X 11.5 on OS X 10.4!
One nice thing about an OS X upgrade (especially compared to a Windows upgrade) is the reasonable price. Thirty dollars per copy for business users or fifty dollars for a five license, non-commercial family and student pack. One can buy the software and extra memory for less then the Windows license by itself.
When contacting Apple or an Apple Store, however, tell the sales agent you have a PowerPC and need an OS X 10.5 upgrade. The latest version of OS X, Snow Leapord 10.6, is Intel only. So 10.5 is the end of the line for the PowerPC.
Intel processors to power Apple's computers, Hiawatha Bray, Boston Globe, June 7, 2005.
Just contact us with any comments, concerns, or questions about items contained in this document. Or IT issues in general. Or call us at the telephone number below.
To get notified when we add a new article or tip, follow us on Twitter. To get monthly updates, subscribe to our mailing list by sending this email.
|
|
+1 214 234 9283 |