Early 2009 iMac at $350?

[thewhitehart]

I'm thinking of getting a used iMac. I saw an early 2009 Core2Duo 2.66 Ghz with 4 Gb ram in a shop. It was running El Capitan.

I'm thinking though, would it run the next version of OSX? Would it be much better than my late 2007 MacBook? That can't even run Mountain Lion.

It's $350.

 

[Mark0]

I have a Mid 2009 and it is based on the early 2009. These models take 8Gb max of RAM - well worth the upgrade. MY version has the Intel Core2Duo 2.0Ghz (it's an education model) and its running El Capitan just fine. I'm currently investigating swapping out the HDD for an SSD to give it more of a boost.

 

[varian55zx]

I have one.

I haven't looked into it but it's not doing as well nowadays.

Looks nice though. I love the way all Macs look even the old candy colored iMac. A piece of Apple's history.

The OS I have it on isn't even remotely recent. I wouldn't even dream of upgrading it to a recent OS after seeing the disastrous results on other comparable devices, but I imagine with an SSD and RAM upgrade, it would be fine.

I might recommend you look into those.

 

[0007776]

I have one.

I haven't looked into it but it's not doing as well nowadays.

Looks nice though. I love the way all Macs look even the old candy colored iMac. A piece of Apple's history.

The OS I have it on isn't even remotely recent. I wouldn't even dream of upgrading it to a recent OS after seeing the disastrous results on other comparable devices, but I imagine with an SSD and RAM upgrade, it would be fine.

I might recommend you look into those.

It can run a new OS fine. I had a 2008 model upgraded to either Yosemite or El Capitan, I don't remember which and it was running fine up until the graphics card died on me. I would feel that $350 is a bit too expensive for a computer of that age, but maybe that's what they are worth.

 

[varian55zx]

It can run a new OS fine. I had a 2008 model upgraded to either Yosemite or El Capitan, I don't remember which and it was running fine up until the graphics card died on me. I would feel that $350 is a bit too expensive for a computer of that age, but maybe that's what they are worth.

My experience with upgrading OS's on Apple products has been nothing but terrible.

I've been buying iPhones since the original and they can't handle more than one generation of OS upgrade before they're better off as a chew toy for the dog rather than anything I'd ever carry.

I upgraded my iMac to Mountain Lion and that didn't even go so well IMO. Didn't dare go to Mavericks.

IMHO, Apple products simply aren't meant to have their OS continually upgraded. You're supposed to just buy a new one every several years.

It's something I've never had any issue with.

 

[Mark0]

I can't complain, my Mid-2009 cost me £25 ($36) The thin keyboard that came with it costs more new haha!

It's great when you know people in the school who were getting rid of them