What OS for a 1st-gen Macbook Air?

[Cute James]

Hello chaps,

 

I've recently acquired a first generation (early 2008) Macbook Air (2gb ram, 128gb SSD).

 

It's currently running Snow Leopard, however I'm wondering if it's worth upgrading to Lion (I can still purchase the OS on a USB stick from Amazon JP).  Aside from security and application compatibility, are there any performance enhancements in the newer OS?  I read of reports of overheating when the 1st-gen MBAs were upgraded to Lion, but perhaps these issues have long since been resolved?

 

Alternatively, would I be better off installing Windows 7/8.1 via Bootcamp?

I'm actually rather interested in trying the new 'NTLite' tool to create custom, stripped-down Windows 7/8.1 installation, so this old MBA might be a nice testbed.

 

Thanks in advance!

[+InsaneNutter MVC]

I believe Lion is still supported with security updates, however i couldn't find for how much longer. Windows might be the better option if you are thinking of using the laptop long term.

 

If you can get Windows 8 on there it will be supported and get security updates until 2023, or 2020 with Windows 7.

[pdmcmahon]

The first-gen MacBook Air (1.6 GHz Core 2 Duo) supports 10.5.1 through 10.7.5

[bandit_liberty_rumble]

If you're interested in the best possible performance, I'd probably keep it on Snow Leopard. Depends a bit on what kind of work you intend to do with it though. Personally I'd be worried about having only 2 gigs of RAM.

[fusi0n]

If you're interested in the best possible performance, I'd probably keep it on Snow Leopard. Depends a bit on what kind of work you intend to do with it though. Personally I'd be worried about having only 2 gigs of RAM.

Snow Leopard is still my favorite OSX.. The last few have been a mess.. I hope they fix all of it in 10.10..

[Studio384]

I believe Lion is still supported with security updates, however i couldn't find for how much longer. Windows might be the better option if you are thinking of using the laptop long term.

 

If you can get Windows 8 on there it will be supported and get security updates until 2023, or 2020 with Windows 7.

As far as I know, Lion isn't supported anymore. Even Mountain Lion isn't supported anymore.

[123456789A]

Windows would run on it very nicely.

[bandit_liberty_rumble]

Windows would run on it very nicely.

Windows is always an option (put 10 on it and use it for testing)...you don't really need a MacBook Air for that though.

[Guest]

Try to install Windows 10.

[UKer]

Lion will be fine, the problems have been solved. I wouldn't try newer versions though.

 

It will be more than adequate for at least 3 years, when you will need to upgrade, ignore the others who are trying to make you install Windows, which will see you hardware run like crap. I've seen Windows 7 on the original Air and it runs terribly as it's not optimised. OS X is.

[Cute James]

Wow, I had forgotten about this thread...thanks for bringing it back pdmcmahon, and to everyone else for their replies.

 

Truth be told, after I started the MBA up, installed all the updates, I haven't really touched it a great deal, which is strange because the performance (in theory at least) should be much better than the older Dell laptop I'm currently using.

[Xerino]

I ran OSX Mavericks on a early 2008 macbook pro, same CPU, not sure what yosemite requires, but you can atleast get up to 10.9