Hi Rob, >From your post, I think your Macbook models are: * 2008 Macbook model 4.1 <http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook/specs/macbook-core-2-duo-2.1- white-13-early-2008-penryn-specs.html> * 2009 Macbook model 5.1 <http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook/specs/macbook-core-2-duo-2.26 -white-13-polycarbonate-unibody-late-2009-specs.html>
If so, then: RAM * The 2008 model 4.1 had 1GB standard and Apple officially supports a maximum of 4 GB of RAM but third-parties have been able to upgrade the system to 6 GB of RAM using one 2 GB and one 4 GB memory module. He has 4GB RAM presumably 2x2GB. * The 2009 model 6.1 had 2GB of RAM is installed as two 1 GB modules and Apple officially supports a maximum of 4 GB of RAM, but third-parties have confirmed that it actually supports 8 GB of RAM. The one you bought has the standard 2GB. You will definitely see much better performance with a RAM upgrade. * If you want to check out the RAM upgrade options for the 2009 macbook go to <https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade> > * 2009 model 6.1 upgrade to 4GB (2x2GB) currently US$29.99 > <https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/8566DDR3S4GP/> > * 2009 model 6.1 upgrade to 6GB (1x2GB & 1x4GB) currently US$47.99 > <https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/8566DDR3S6GP/> > * 2009 model 6.1 upgrade to 8GB (2x4GB) currently US$61.99 > <https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/8566DDR3S8GP/> * I have bought RAM from OWC in the past and found them quick and efficient but you can obviously also buy the RAM locally. OWC also provide videos to walk you through the installation. OSX * The 2008 model 4.1 was probably pre-installed with Leopard OSX 10.5.x and is currently upgraded to Snow Leopard OSX 10.6.3. The latest SL upgrade was 10.6.8. This laptop cannot be upgraded past Lion OSX 10.7.5. * The 2009 model 6.1 was probably pre-installed with Snow Leopard OSX 10.6.x (the latest SL upgrade was 10.6.8). It has been upgraded to the current Sierra OSX 10.12 but not the latest 10.12.5 (upgrade earlier this month). * You mention the learning curve is high for an 88yo - if your father-in-law is used to Snow Leopard, he may also find the jump to the Sierra OS a steep learning curve. He may also need to upgrade software to be compatible with Sierra. * I am still happily running SL 10.6.8 on my late 2009 iMac and early 2008 Macbook Pro. The iMac (2.8GHz core i7 with 12GB RAM) is very responsive. The MacBook Pro (2.4GHz Core2 Duo with only 2GB RAM) is significantly slower but still quite useable when we are on the road). However, Apple no longer support SL and you will find more incompatibilities with this software going forward. * For Sierra, the 2009 Macbook is the oldest compatible laptop and 2GB is the minimum required RAM so it is not surprising that it is a little sluggish. MY THOUGHTS * All other things being equal, the 2009 Macbook has better specs than the 2008 Macbook and with more RAM should perform as well or better than the 2008 model. * You need to discuss with your father-in-law whether he is personally better sticking with the Snow Leopard OS he is familiar with or moving to the latest Sierra OS. This will depend on what he wants to do, the software he runs/wants to run and his general preference as to sticking with the old and familiar vs embracing the newer software & methods of working. * If you try to stick with the 2008 laptop, and get a new battery for it, you should at least update the OS from 10.6.3 to 10.6.8 but, personally, I wouldn¹t bother trying to track down a Lion upgrade. You do not have the option of upgrading past Lion. Personally, I think you would be better working on improving the performance of the newer 2009 Macbook. * If he is happier to stick with Snow Leopard, try installing that on the 2009 Macbook you will, at least, see how much of the slow-down is due to the demands of Sierra and how much is due to having half the RAM. * A RAM upgrade for the 2009 macbook will significantly improve it¹s performance. If you are sticking with SL it should definitely perform better than the 2008 laptop. If you stay up-to-date with Sierra the extra RAM will definitely improve performance but I wouldn¹t know how that would compare to SL on the 2008 Macbook. Anyway, just my thoughts ;o) HTH Cheers Neil -- Neil R. Houghton Albany, Western Australia Tel: +61 8 9841 6063 Email: [email protected] on 30/5/17 21:29, Rob Phillips at [email protected] wrote: > > > Greetings > > > My 88yo father-in-law has a 2008 Macbook. Its battery died and he went with my > brother-in-law to a northern suburbs mac dealer. > > > He was sold a second hand Macbook as a replacement. Today, we picked this up, > and he said it seemed slow compared to the old one - he has created some PPT > photo shows with hi-res photos - file size ~250Mb. I know he should reduce the > size of his photos, but the learning curve is high for an 88yo. > > > The Feb 2008 MB 4.1 has these specs: > > * OS10.6.3 > * Intel Core Duo 2.1Ghz > * 4Gb 667 Mhz DDR2 SDRAM > > > The $400 late 2009 replacement has: > > * OS10.12.1 > * Intel Core Duo 2.26Ghz > * 2Gb 1027Mhz DDR3 SDRAM > * > > > This doesn't seem like a good deal. The slight increase in CPU speed is offset > by 50% of the RAM and a slow-down of the later OSX. > > > Maybe battery replacements are no longer available for the 2008 model, but I > would have expected he would have been offered an improved model. We'll go > back and talk to them. > > > Nevertheless, he's looking for a better machine, but it doesn't have to be the > latest model. Does anyone have an older macbook which is surplus to > requirements. Something later than 2010 for up to $1000? > > > I guess the other option is to try to find a RAM upgrade for the 2009 model he > just bought. > > > Any help/advice welcomed. > > > Rob >
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