Upgrade Op. System Or Buy New Computer??

[RickCoMatic]

My iMac treats me well. When it's Drive failed; I had a New HD installed and added RAM. It's performing excellently. Better than new!
Here's the New Profile:
20" White, iMAC, Intel, Core Duo, iSight, OSX-10.4.11 350GB-Drive, 7200rpm's, 2GB Ram.

I received "DRAGON - Dictate" v2.0 for MAC as a Holiday gift.
The New Software requires OSX 10.6.5

I want to install OSX 10.6 on this Computer.
a) Is it wise to do so; or should I get a new computer?
b) OSX 10.6 Discs can be found, at reduced costs, on Ebay. Try it?
c) What about the work I have on here, now. Will it be erased if I install 10.6 on this computer?

I'd like to be able to keep the MAC I have if it will work-out.

Sincere thanks,

Richard

 

[tersono]

Snow Leopard is inexpensive anyhow - £29.95 in the UK. Not worth bothering with eBay.

Your iMac should serve you well for some time - I have a 2007 C2D 2ghz iMac and it runs SL beautifully (given that SL is faster than Leopard, that's no surprise). Just make sure you have plenty of RAM - it's worth upgrading to 4gb if you run stuff like Photoshop etc.

 

[Grannyville7989]

I hear you can do an in-place upgrade from 10.4 to 10.6 (even with the Snow Leopard Upgrade disc that's technically for Leopard) but it would probably be wise to do an erase & install if you coming from Tiger because it's quite a change from Tiger to Snow Leopard under the hood.