White iMacs

[retta283]

Anyone still using a white 2006 iMac? Excellent little machines. Sadly they were cut off at 10.7. They still do make for good Linux/Windows machines, or for local content on OS X. Even seen some use them as a server.

17-inch models can be found for cheap on eBay. I have one that I don't really use very often, but I like to revisit it on occasion just to remember the old white plastic era of Apple. If I had a 20 or 24 inch I would probably keep it on the desk. Love how seamless everything is, the way the remote sticks to the side.

 

[Fishrrman]

I have a 2006 white Intel 24" iMac.
It still boots and runs ok, but I don't use it much anymore.
But it was a well-designed and built Mac!

 

[redheeler]

I still use my 24" white iMac, mostly as a secondary 1080p screen to watch YouTube or TV shows, with my main iMac free for other tasks. It works surprisingly well for a Mac manufactured back in 2006, limited more by the age of the software (OS X 10.8.5) than by hardware.

 

[retta283]

I still use my 24" white iMac, mostly as a secondary 1080p screen to watch YouTube or TV shows, with my main iMac free for other tasks. It works surprisingly well for a Mac manufactured back in 2006, limited more by the age of the software (OS X 10.8.5) than by hardware.

How did you get Mountain Lion on it? All white iMacs only go to Lion

 

[redheeler]

How did you get Mountain Lion on it? All white iMacs only go to Lion

Use MLPostFactor for Mountain Lion, runs well on my iMac 6,1 (though it is the high-end model upgraded with an SSD and max RAM). I'd recommend it over Lion, there was really no good reason for Apple to drop support other than forced obsolescence as some have theorized (the two-year-old iPad 1 was prematurely dropped by iOS 6 as well).

You can technically run up to El Capitan on a white iMac just like the 2006 Mac Pro, but the 32-bit GPU kexts don't load properly and hence performance is pretty much unusable.

 

[retta283]

Use MLPostFactor for Mountain Lion, runs well on my iMac 6,1 (though it is the high-end model upgraded with an SSD and max RAM). I'd recommend it over Lion, there was really no good reason for Apple to drop support other than planned obsolescence as some have theorized (the two-year-old iPad 1 was prematurely dropped by iOS 6 as well).

You can technically run up to El Capitan on a white iMac just like the 2006 Mac Pro, but the 32-bit GPU kexts don't load properly and hence performance is pretty much unusable.

I have the education version of the 17-inch, so I doubt it would run well. Interestingly, this 17-inch white iMac was sold until April of 2009. Mine was made in 2008, but still runs Tiger.

This picture is of a G5, but basically the same design. I love the way Tiger looks on these, so clean.

 

[redheeler]

I have the education version of the 17-inch, so I doubt it would run well. Interestingly, this 17-inch white iMac was sold until April of 2009. Mine was made in 2008, but still runs Tiger.View attachment 826474
This picture is of a G5, but basically the same design. I love the way Tiger looks on these, so clean.

I have Tiger installed on a 12" iBook G4, based on the serial number it was manufactured in early 2006 after the MacBook Pro had been released with a Core Duo. Always liked the look and performance of Tiger, especially on the older white plastic Macs.

And incredibly, Tiger was supported on a 1999 iMac G3 all the way to an 8-core 2007 Mac Pro. Very versatile OS.

 

[retta283]

I have Tiger installed on a 12" iBook G4, based on the serial number it was manufactured in early 2006 after the MacBook Pro had been released with a Core Duo. Always liked the look and performance of Tiger, especially on the older white plastic Macs.

And incredibly, Tiger was supported on a 1999 iMac G3 all the way to an 8-core 2007 Mac Pro. Very versatile OS.

Both the iBook G4 and 12" PowerBook continued to be sold until May 2006 when the white MacBook was introduced. I remember my friend bought a 12" PB right after the MacBook came out because it was clear they were not making another 12" laptop.

The Apple aesthetic of the Tiger era was great. Seeing a white iMac with a 5th gen iPod connected was always so cool. Only real issue I have with Tiger is the lack of stacks and quick look.

 

[MultiFinder17]

I have a 20" late 2006 iMac in my classroom. It's running Lion, and sits next to the door. I remote control it from my main computer (a 2010 21" iMac), using it to display announcements or instructions to the kiddos. It serves its purpose well enough, and does what I need it to do