Should I update my 2007 Macbook to Lion?

I have an old MacBook, specs here:
2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
I really want to update to iCloud, but need to update to Lion first if I am going to do that. Will my computer slow down significantly? I have seen messages indicating that it is either super fast or super slow -- no real indication what may happen if I put it on my machine.
Any advice you can provide would be stellar.
Thanks so much,
Olivia

Your computer probably would run the newest OS X Lion OK; however it should have more RAM installed first. Note that Lion is rather different in how it appears and some things have certainly changed from Leopard 10.5 and Snow Leopard 10.6. You may find it interesting, but if you do not like it after an upgrade, the older OS version would no longer be available for you to re-boot to (and the new Lion has a different appetite for applications and utilities, these would likely require an update or upgrade as well, in order to work.) Do you make backup clones? Are they bootable?
My first-edition MacBook (1.83GHz core-duo 13") had 1024MB RAM installed, via two-512MB chips; it was OK even running Leopard 10.5.8, but runs significantly better with two-1024MB chips. In mine, this maxxed out the RAM. Check your computer model's upgrade spec capability and install as much upgrade RAM, usually in pairs or similar capacity/series chips, as it can use.
If you make a bootable complete backup clone of your computer's current hard disk drive content, to an external self-powered hard disk drive, you could still have access to any or all of the older content should you upgrade; as some older files or content may not be available to you after you upgrade. You may have to buy or get later versions of correct software in order to access files; some may also be converted when opened.
The Lion page in Apple Support should cover the minimum hardware specifications for the new 10.7.x system; since your MacBook is a Core 2 Duo, that should work OK if the RAM is upgraded and if the hard disk drive has space enough for any older files. But, you should check into what else you may have to buy to be able to continue using your older saved work; as Leopard 10.5.8 is a few steps behind Lion 10.7.2.
Good luck & happy computing!

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