What to do with IMac 5,1 ?

[oldhifi]

I have a iMac 5,1 (Lion) it was new old stock when I got it, now it's just sitting in the box. I wish I could update to El Capitan. I really hate it, such a great machine..so what should I do with it? Linux?

 

[elf69]

I hate windows now but it will run windows 7 (32bit) native, which still has support til 2020.

I like linux and been playing with mint at moment on some old machines.

there is a hack to get El Cap on a 5,1 on this very forum.

EDIT: x1600 gpu not supported so hack will not work

 

[EugW]

I hate windows now but it will run windows 7 (32bit) native, which still has support til 2020.

I like linux and been playing with mint at moment on some old machines.

there is a hack to get El Cap on a 5,1 on this very forum.

EDIT: x1600 gpu not supported so hack will not work

Does Windows 10 32-bit work with iMac4,1 too? It’s a 2006 Core Duo 2.0.

I tried installing Chrome 32-bit on it but it wouldn’t install. The machine wouldn’t even detect the USB Chrome boot drive. The same USB drive will boot a Core 2 Duo MacBook4,1 just fine but that’s from 2008.

 

[Fishrrman]

For an older white iMac (I have one myself), Lion is "as far as it goes".
I've heard there are some hacks that will get some later versions of software running on it, but never tried it. Not worth the trouble.

I use mine with 10.7. It's not my "main machine" (used for music production only), and Lion is "good enough" for me.

I'm wondering if an iMac of this vintage would run snappily-enough with some version of Linux installed on it? Something like the "Deepin OS" version of Linux?

 

[oldhifi]

I found this:

https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac/how-install-linux-on-mac-3637265/

and please NO windows

 

[thefriendshipmachine]

Linux Mint is a good alternative, as is Elementary OS.

After installing just download docky and albert and it's very similar to MacOS in UI.