What Macs have USB 2.0?

[Soundhound]

We want to buy my sister in law a mac that will work with the new iPod Nano we just got her, which needs USB 2.0. She has an old iMac (original ones, with crt! it;'s that old.)

I'm assuming you can't update that mac to work with usb 2.0, so we want to get her a used imac or powerbook or macbook, or something that will let her use itunes with her nano etc.

Anyone have a list of when/which models USB 2.0 was implemented in powerbooks, imacs, etc? thanks!

 

[flopticalcube]

Budget? Any Intel-based Mac will have USB 2. Does it need to be portable? Does she already have or have access to a separate display?

 

[Blue Velvet]

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/index-imac.html shows the iMac G4/1.0 15-Inch "FP" (USB 2.0) as the first iMac there. A quick look at the PowerBooks and iBooks, It seems like every Mac introduced after Sept-Oct 2003 has USB 2.0.

 

[Soundhound]

Thanks for the info. Looking into this, it seems that the new nano needs system 10.4.8 (or so) and that means an intel mac. So that means even more recent than macs with USB 2.0. cheapest I can figure it a used macbook or mini w/an inexpensive monitor. So much for an inexpensive gift.

 

[aquajet]

Thanks for the info. Looking into this, it seems that the new nano needs system 10.4.8 (or so) and that means an intel mac.

No it doesn't. A number of G4 Macs and all G5 Macs include USB 2 -- all of which support Tiger 10.4.

 

[Cinematographer]

[…] it seems that the new nano needs system 10.4.8 (or so) and that means an intel mac.

That's not true. Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger" runs on PowerPC Mac as well. The system requirements are:

PowerPC G3, G4, or G5 processor
Built-in FireWire;
At least 256 MB of RAM (512 MB or 1 GB recommended);
At least 3 GB of available hard disk space; 4 GB of disk space including the Xcode 2 Tools;
DVD drive (CD media exchange was available; offer ended March 19, 2007).

So there's a lot of used Macs on the market that will work fine with the new nano. I'd suggest a nice white iBook.

 

[Naimfan]

Heck, I just installed 10.4.10 on my girlfriend's iBook G3/600......and it runs well, noticeably faster than 10.3.9.......

Bob

 

[psingh01]

Thanks for the info. Looking into this, it seems that the new nano needs system 10.4.8 (or so) and that means an intel mac. So that means even more recent than macs with USB 2.0. cheapest I can figure it a used macbook or mini w/an inexpensive monitor. So much for an inexpensive gift.

The next few versions of OS X (i.e. 10.5, 10.6 & 10.7) should still support ppc macs.

 

[Soundhound]

That's great news. Ahhhh I see what I did, I went to apple.com, typed in 10.4.8 and saw that the updater needs Intel, but there are updaters for PPC as well! Thanks!

We have an old G4 400hz Titanium with 10.3.9 on it. Can I just use the PPC updater for 10.4.8 to update it? (And give that mac to the sister in law with the new nano...)

Edit to the above: In looking on the site, it seems I need to get every updater between 10.3.9 and 10.4.8 and install them in sequence. Arrgg! Is that true?

 

[Naimfan]

You'd have to buy Tiger (10.4) first....

 

[Cinematographer]

There's no software update from OS X 10.3.9 to OS X 10.4. You have to buy "Tiger" and install it from the DVD.

Afterwards you can easily update from OS X 10.4 to OS X 10.4.10 in one step, and for free.

 

[Soundhound]

Gotcha. Thanks again, everyone. One last question. I plugged the new nano into our old G4 titanium 400hz ppc powerbook, and it recognized the nano. it then said the nano needed the newer (7.4 or so) itunes software, which I installed, and then it said it needs 10.4.8 to run that, so that's what got me figuring out how to get to 10.4.8.

The question is, I thought the new iPod nano needs USB 2.0? But it seems to be recognized on this powerbook (it's on the desktop). Do you think if I bring it up to 10.4.8 it will work??