Early 2008 MBP(Non-Unibody) - I want to install FRESH OSX 10.6

[bds120]

Officially a mac-er

Im officially up and running. Got the SSd installed.

I am literally blown away by how simple it was to install the 10.7 using the USB. I just installed the SSD and ran the bootable usb and it was like 10-15 minutes and I was good to go.

Also...MAJOR surprised by the speed and movement of the this thing being 5 years old. Smoking my PC laptop from 2010. Got the Seagate 600 250gb SSD and 4gb of ram currently.

As well, went through and plucked off a few keys and alcohol washed them since they were sticky.

All in all, I cannot be more happy with this purchase. All I need to do now is apply the thermal paste. I was hoping it got delivered today but sadly it didn't. Once I get that updated. I will be on a roll.

THANKS SO MUCH MACRUMORS...You folks have been good to a new comer. NOW I just need to figure out what the heck I am doing. going to have to find a MAC for dummies or something.

 

[snaky69]

Im officially up and running. Got the SSd installed.

I am literally blown away by how simple it was to install the 10.7 using the USB. I just installed the SSD and ran the bootable usb and it was like 10-15 minutes and I was good to go.

Also...MAJOR surprised by the speed and movement of the this thing being 5 years old. Smoking my PC laptop from 2010. Got the Seagate 600 250gb SSD and 4gb of ram currently.

As well, went through and plucked off a few keys and alcohol washed them since they were sticky.

All in all, I cannot be more happy with this purchase. All I need to do now is apply the thermal paste. I was hoping it got delivered today but sadly it didn't. Once I get that updated. I will be on a roll.

THANKS SO MUCH MACRUMORS...You folks have been good to a new comer. NOW I just need to figure out what the heck I am doing. going to have to find a MAC for dummies or something.

[url=http://imageshack.us/a/img703/3950/oz4q.jpg]Image[/URL]

Honestly, the only real things you must remember when coming from windows is that closing a window with the red X does not quit the app, it only closes the window. CMD-Q will fully quit an app.

Pretty much every single shortcut is the same, except with CMD instead of CTRL.

That's pretty much it, the rest you'll find out soon enough.

 

[bds120]

Honestly, the only real things you must remember when coming from windows is that closing a window with the red X does not quit the app, it only closes the window. CMD-Q will fully quit an app.

Pretty much every single shortcut is the same, except with CMD instead of CTRL.

That's pretty much it, the rest you'll find out soon enough.

Yea the "app closing" thing is new for sure. The use of Command is new as well, and the use of the 2 finger + button for right click is new.

I am currently just understanding the how to use and hidden features of it. Like with windows, I knew all the ins and outs of "start and run" with the cmd and regedit so on.

I am a little unsure as to why my logitech usb mouse would not work but I will figure that out today.

Second to lastly...I just want to say I am liking this thing. For it to be 2008 and for what I would/will use it for, this could last me a couple more years easy if she stays running like this. I have a lady ready to buy my old HP so I will get the Learning by Fire Hose technique started here soon.

Lastly -- what are you all using for Microsoft office products? I need to still be able to use them (mainly excel, powerpoint and word)

 

[Gav Mack]

Yea the "app closing" thing is new for sure. The use of Command is new as well, and the use of the 2 finger + button for right click is new.

I am currently just understanding the how to use and hidden features of it. Like with windows, I knew all the ins and outs of "start and run" with the cmd and regedit so on.

I am a little unsure as to why my logitech usb mouse would not work but I will figure that out today.

Second to lastly...I just want to say I am liking this thing. For it to be 2008 and for what I would/will use it for, this could last me a couple more years easy if she stays running like this. I have a lady ready to buy my old HP so I will get the Learning by Fire Hose technique started here soon.

Lastly -- what are you all using for Microsoft office products? I need to still be able to use them (mainly excel, powerpoint and word)

Command = flag key

Mouse = the unibody later models support two fingers on the touchpad for right click so just use a mouse and assign the right click option for it.

Cmd = terminal

Underneath that sleek OSX it's FreeBSD linux mostly

Office products either use Office 2011 for Mac if you require Outlook, 2008 is still ok to use. Alternatively Apple's Pages, Numbers and Keynote for Word, Excel and Powerpoint substitutes.

Enjoy - when you get a Mac Pro tower you'll have even more fun

 

[bds120]

Leap of Faith

Decided to go ahead and jump to 10.9 on the Early 08. Works nice and have had no issues.

What I am trying to decide now is how much of a difference will going to 6gb help? I am currently running 4gb and thinking of going to 6gb but that single stick is roughly $80-$100 depending on manufacture.

Is that extra 2gb really worth it?

 

[Gav Mack]

Decided to go ahead and jump to 10.9 on the Early 08. Works nice and have had no issues.

What I am trying to decide now is how much of a difference will going to 6gb help? I am currently running 4gb and thinking of going to 6gb but that single stick is roughly $80-$100 depending on manufacture.

Is that extra 2gb really worth it?

Think that model takes a 4gb ddr2-667 plus 2gb module for 6gb max, and not the extortionately expensive 4gb 800 MHz memory. I would go for a used stick off eBay with a returns option so you can test it thoroughly and save yourself money from buying new.

 

[bds120]

Scored some RAM

Welp, scored this 4gb stick of RAM this morning. I am hoping it will work.

I was doing some reading on the PC2-6400 800MHz that at least one PC2-5300 is needed to start the laptop but I have not been able to confirm it yet.

But I decided to jump this since it was a good deal. If it does not work, I will send it back.

 

[Gav Mack]

Welp, scored this 4gb stick of RAM this morning. I am hoping it will work.

I was doing some reading on the PC2-6400 800MHz that at least one PC2-5300 is needed to start the laptop but I have not been able to confirm it yet.

But I decided to jump this since it was a good deal. If it does not work, I will send it back.

[url=http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/8941/hp9t.jpg]Image[/URL]

That's very cheap for 4GB DDR-800 it's usually very expensive. Not sure if it will work with the slower module cos I've always fitted matched speeds and even manufacturers in 2008's with 2+4 6gb upgrades.

 

[bds120]

Thanks MacRumors

I am officially off my training wheels. Working this thing like a Pro.

Took her apart and reapplied thermal paste

and now have fully maxed out the ram(ram got delivered today, snapped it in and worked without a hiccup). She is working like a champ.





THANK YOU MACRUMORS...YOU HAVE GOT ME ROCKING AND ROLLING!!!

 

[Romanesq]

Now you are on Mavericks!

No fair, you maxed out to 6GB on memory but you also upgraded to Mavericks. That just makes it more smooth and buttery.

With the max memory and running off a SSD, your system runs better then when it was new.

I'm in the same boat (4,1) but mine isn't as clean and don't have the nerve to mess with the logic board to reapply Arctic Silver.

What I have done is install click to flash so that I can have lots of tabs open (usually Safari, sometimes Chrome) and the machine runs below 60 c. Right now at 57 with more than a dozen Safari tabs.

Blown away though with what you did with the mighty early 2008!

 

[bds120]

No fair, you maxed out to 6GB on memory but you also upgraded to Mavericks. That just makes it more smooth and buttery.

With the max memory and running off a SSD, your system runs better then when it was new.

I'm in the same boat (4,1) but mine isn't as clean and don't have the nerve to mess with the logic board to reapply Arctic Silver.

What I have done is install click to flash so that I can have lots of tabs open (usually Safari, sometimes Chrome) and the machine runs below 60 c. Right now at 57 with more than a dozen Safari tabs.

Blown away though with what you did with the mighty early 2008!

Thanks. The thermal paste is not too hard to do, it just requires some patience and keeping up with where you put the screws. Ifixit has a great walk through.

As well I believe the stats in istat pro are off. Because I am also running smcfancontrol and magician and they both say a temp well below what istat is reporting.

All in all, I am crazy happy with this purchase. I mean I got it for $100 so this had been great. Grand total spent is about $270($119 for SSD, $50 for 4GB stick) but I sold my HP for $140 so I have really only spent $130.

I will definitely be able to use this a couple more years as long as nothing goes wrong. I don't do much more than Internet and videos on it. I may go back and start coding but we will see.