To SSD or NOT to SSD... Macbook 1,1 (edited)

[cbelt3]

Ed: Turns out it's a Macbook 1,1... the original, baby. Core Duo, 1.83 GHz

Mrs. cbelt3's aging Macbook 1,1 (Snow Leopard locked, etc..) is sitting, unused in a backpack. 2GB of RAM, 100GB hard drive in it, but everything works... even the newer battery. She likes her iPad Mini, and does not plan to go back because it's 'slow'.

Is it worth dropping an SSD into it to give it a little oomph, or should I just say 'g'bye' and offer it up here on the new Phorum ?

[pdq]

Depends on the size of SSD required.

My daughter has a 1,1 MacBook (Core Duo) with 2 GB RAM, not sure which OS, but probably the last it's capable of, and its faster-feeling than any other computers I work with (including the work dual-core i7 PC and the home quad-core i7 Mini).

I think it's only a 128 GB SSD - maybe smaller - and those are pretty darn cheap these days. Plus, the install is a breeze.

[sekker]

It's going to feel large compared to her iPad no matter what.

But adding an SSD and a fresh OS install will make it feel entirely a new machine, especially for simple web and email work (where RAM is not a big issue).

[raz]

pdq wrote:
Depends on the size of SSD required.

My daughter has a 1,1 MacBook (Core Duo) with 2 GB RAM, not sure which OS, but probably the last it's capable of, and its faster-feeling than any other computers I work with (including the work dual-core i7 PC and the home quad-core i7 Mini).

I think it's only a 128 GB SSD - maybe smaller - and those are pretty darn cheap these days. Plus, the install is a breeze.

That's been my experience as well. The laptop was long ago relegated to kitchen use (quick web recipe search), but is now spiffier than the kids' iMac.

[deckeda]

Speed it up all you like but it'll never be fast enough. The difference in size and weight will still send her back to the iPad mini in a heartbeat. There are also other reasons but none really matter.

[OWC Jamie]

I'd nuke and pave

upgrade to 10.6.8 and newer browsers if it is still running 10.5


the above made the biggest improvement on my macbook 4.1
( didn't try a SSD but had to replace the HDD last Fall )

[modelamac]

I put an 80GB SSD in our 2006 MB 2.0 CD 2GB, used it for a year, then gave it to our daughter 3 years ago. It's still running fine with SL, and granddaughter is using it for high school work. Recently put Office 2011 on it to help her out. All is well.

cbelt3 wrote:
Mrs. cbelt3's aging Macbook 2,1 (Snow Leopard locked, etc..) is sitting, unused in a backpack. 2GB of RAM, 100GB hard drive in it, but everything works... even the newer battery. She likes her iPad Mini, and does not plan to go back because it's 'slow'.

Is it worth dropping an SSD into it to give it a little oomph, or should I just say 'g'bye' and offer it up here on the new Phorum ?

[Lew Zealand]

If it's just 'slow' then a 120GB SSD will make it much faster and is worth it for ~$100. I have one each in a MacBook 1,1 and 3,1 and the improvement is dramatic. Max (2GB) RAM in the 1,1 and 4GB in the 3,1 is required, of course.

BTW, a MacBook 2,1 can take Lion, you're not stuck at Snow Leopard. The MB1,1 is stuck at Snow Leopard and the noticeable difference between that and my Lion-max MB3,1 is the far superior memory management in Safari in Lion.

[Robert M]

Cbelt,

What are the specs of the machine? Here is RAM info on that model year machine:



Apple says it maxes out at 2 gigs but OWC says it can handle more. That and installing RAM and replacing the drive appears to be very easy. We're talking about ten minutes and a minimal amount of work with a screw driver.

My concern is that it's a very old machine that can't run more recent editions of the OS. 3 gigs of RAM and an SSD will make it feel like a new machine. No doubt about it. But, the expense is significant and I'm not convinced it's worth while on a machine of its vintage. But, the upgrades appear to be very easy and will be much less expensive than buying a new, refurbished or even used machine.

Robert

[silvarios]

Don't bother. No reason to upgrade a computer likely to get minimal to no use.