I have never updated macbook 10.5.8, grey screen at start up, battery not charging.  Is it worth getting it serviced?

So, My lovely Macbook 10.5.8 is struggling a little.  I cannot use any softwares because I have never updated the system - how many system updates will I need to install and purchase will I need to install until I can use all the modern softwares, and how do I do it? 
Also, the computer turns off immediately if the charger is removed?  Will I need a new battery?
Finally, manytimes the system struggling to start up and gets stuck on a pale grey/ white/ blue screen?  Any ideas?
I am thinking to take it to be serviced at the genius bar but there are a few issues here that could make the whole process very expensive and as the laptop is quite old now I am not sure it is worth it.  I'm not even sure how much it costs for a genius bar appointment.
I really don't know what to do, please help, any suggestions would be much appreciated!
THANK YOU

You could call ahead and ask about setting an appointment at an Apple Store
to talk to a Genius about your old MacBook, and see about a diagnosis of its
issues; that much should be free, from what has been said about it in the US.
Any further actions, after a diagnostic, would likely generate an expense, if
there are parts and labor involved to restore functions. Could be just a new
battery, or charger, etc may be needed if those don't check out well. Be sure
if you do visit with a Genius bar, you take along the MacBook's power adapter.
Depending on what the Model identifier number (macbook2.1, 3.1, etc) is you
may be able to upgrade an OS X version past Snow Leopard 10.6 (retail DVD
is the path to upgrade) however, several early MacBook models like 10.6.8.
So the price of admission to Snow Leopard, is about $20 for the retail DVD; &
then the last step update is a free download to get 10.6 to 10.6.8.
There is an option in the Snow Leopard installer, to put Rosetta in there, so
if you have a pile of older applications that have PPC code, these would
benefit from the Rosetta and allow you to continue to use them in 10.6.8.
Snow Leopard is the last OSX that could allow you to use older PPC apps.
Anyway, hopefully this helps somewhat.
Good luck & happy computing!

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