Why can't I install on os X 10.6 on my macbook pro 3, 1?

Question

I'm trying to upgrade to Lion, but first need to upgrade to 10.6.  I have  a disk (my husband has it for his newer macbook pro).  I've inserted the disk and try to start installer, but get a warning that 10.6 "cannot be installed on this computer."  I believe I have all the system requirements.  Help!

Answer 1

stmitche wrote:
So, do I have to buy 10.6 beofre I'm able to get 10.7?
Yes, unless you buy the $69 Lion USB and fresh install it.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD256Z/A
stmitche wrote:
 What are Rosetta PPC programs?
These are programs that originally ran on PowerPC G5 processors Mac's used to come with.
When Apple swtiched processors there was a period where the operating system supported programs designed for either a G5 or a Intel processor.
10.5.8 is the operating system limit for PowerPC G5 processor based computers.
10.5 was two operating systems in one, it could run on PowerPC or Intel processors.
10.6 which only runs on Intel processors, has a compatability layer called Rosetta that allows the programs from 10.5 to run on 10.6    10.6 can run on 32 bit or 64 bit Intel processors.
10.7 does away with Rosetta, only runs on 64 bit Intel processors.
So in your case most older programs that you may have purchased were written for 10.5 or will work with 10.6 w/Rosetta will no longer run on 10.7 if you upgrade.
You will also likely have to buy iLife again, as Lion does not have it because your upgrading the operating system and upgrades don't' come with free iLife (it's only free on new machines gray disks), you have to keep using the old ones which are Rosetta based and Rosetta is not supported on 10.7. so you won't be able to use the old iLife at all.
If you upgrade to 10.7 you may have to buy all new versions of third party software, which some can be quite expensive if your using stuff like Adobe programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, Office etc., etc. costing you thousands of dollars you didn't expect to have to pay. All for a "older" machine that doesn't have the horsepower like the newer ones do.
10.6 is excellent right now, everything "just works" all the bugs are out, it's stable and reliable. It's nearly exactly to what your already used to using on 10.5 with slight video speed improvements and a few great new features.
10.7 is still in world of hurt, it's getting better but it's got another 6-7 months in my opinion and it's a world different than 10.5 or 10.6.
https://threatpost.com/en_us/blogs/apple-ships-mammoth-security-update-101311
I think for you, since Lion offers little and you strike me as a person who doesn't like a lot of change, is to use 10.6 and put off going to 10.7 and get it with a new hardware purchase. Then use both machines at once until your up and over Lions "differences".
Your present machine is more than 4 years old already, Apple has you in it's sights for a hardware upgrade, I think in your case it's a waste of money and effort to get a older box up on Lion with more RAM, brand new programs and $69 if all your going to get a new one shortly.
I'd say give Lion another 6-8 months, then buy a new machine with Lion on it and all new versions of software then, not now. By then more bugs will be worked out, third party software will have updates, printer drivers and other software will work and you will have less stress.
6-8 months later Lion will be a LOT more stable than it is now as Apple's interest is getting things to work on it's newer hardware, not so much on older hardware.