Advice on choosing new iMac

[nancyspeed]

What I have: iMac (Retina 27", 2017); 3.4 GHz Intel Core i5; 8 GB 2400 MHz DDR4; Graphics Radeon Pro 570 4 GB; 500 GB flash storage. I am running Mojave Version 10.14.6 and can't upgrade because my accounting software will not work on Catalina and above. Account Edge made this decision when Catalina was released.

I do realize I won't have regular USB ports and will have to change to that. I really don't understand the new language they use and hope someone can make it so I can understand. It seems the only difference is ports and the ethernet cable and Touch ID (which I do understand).



Looking on Apple site available:

8-Core CPU
8-Core GPU
16GB Unified Memory
256GB Storage¹​

• 16-core Neural Engine
• 24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
• Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports
• —
• Magic Keyboard

Apple Intelligence Footnote ∆
$1,299.00

10-Core CPU
10-Core GPU
16GB Unified Memory
256GB Storage¹​

• 16-core Neural Engine
• 24-inch 4.5K Retina display²
• Four Thunderbolt 4 ports
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Magic Keyboard with Touch ID

Apple Intelligence Footnote ∆
$1,499.00

 

[RadDave]

What I have: iMac (Retina 27", 2017); 3.4 GHz Intel Core i5; 8 GB 2400 MHz DDR4; Graphics Radeon Pro 570 4 GB; 500 GB flash storage. I am running Mojave Version 10.14.6 and can't upgrade because my accounting software will not work on Catalina and above. Account Edge made this decision when Catalina was released.

I do realize I won't have regular USB ports and will have to change to that. I really don't understand the new language they use and hope someone can make it so I can understand. It seems the only difference is ports and the ethernet cable and Touch ID (which I do understand).

Hi Nancy - macOS is now up to 15.1.1 Sequoia which will likely come on your new iMac - assume that you have an older version of the AccountEdge software (probably a single paid package?) - the company seems to be offering only subscription options now (see below from HERE) which run on Sequoia - you will not be able to stick with your old software if Mojave is the macOS 'end of the line' for its use?

Provide some more information, e.g. is this single use 'personal' software for the home or are you using the app for a business with multiple users - any possibility of switching software? Hard to be specific about the two Macs you've chosen w/o more information - Dave

 

[MacBiter]

Basically you have two options:

1. Keep your existing iMac (if it's running well) though you could think about getting the RAM upgraded to AT LEAST 16GB, and maybe getting a 1TB SSD but only if you need more space?

2. Get a new iMac but use VMWare (now free for personal use) to install Mojave as a VM on which you could run your existing AccountEdge software. However, the 2 iMacs you've quoted only have 256GB SSD storage, and Apple's price for adding more is criminal; but with the speed of Apple Silicon you could - for example - run a Mojave VM on an external SSD and notice little or no reduction in speed compared to your existing setup.

 

[nancyspeed]

I would use my present iMac for nothing but Account Edge and I'm fine with it. Right now I have it on my 2007 iMac running El Capitan but one day that computer is just going to give out. Before Catalina came out they promise they would rewrite the software to work on Catalina but then backed out saying it was too expensive. I really don't want a subscription based service.

You are correct -- Account Edge will not run on Catalina or anything above. They decided not to revamp their code base and basically abandoned us unless we wanted to do subscription.

I did try other accounting software but I've been using Account Edge for 30 years--it used to be MYOB and I just like it. It's just me now since the farm side will no longer be necessary since husband died in February. I volunteer as treasurer for a couple of nonprofits and what I have is just simple to me. I like being able to have as many company accounts as I want to have. I'm sure another software would work but I don't want anything cloud based.

But my browser desperately needs updating. And I always wait too late to buy a new computer.

I don't do games and right now have 333GB of flash drive storage available. I'm only using 2 memory slots also.

Hi Nancy - macOS is now up to 15.1.1 Sequoia which will likely come on your new iMac - assume that you have an older version of the AccountEdge software (probably a single paid package?) - the company seems to be offering only subscription options now (see below from HERE) which run on Sequoia - you will not be able to stick with your old software if Mojave is the macOS 'end of the line' for its use?

Provide some more information, e.g. is this single use 'personal' software for the home or are you using the app for a business with multiple users - any possibility of switching software? Hard to be specific about the two Macs you've chosen w/o more information - Dave

 

[MacInWin]

My thought: You need more storage than 256 Gb. Get at least as much as you have presently, which is 500GB. I would even go to 1TB if it were me. There is no option to upgrade later with the new machines.

 

[nancyspeed]

My thought: You need more storage than 256 Gb. Get at least as much as you have presently, which is 500GB. I would even go to 1TB if it were me. There is no option to upgrade later with the new machines.

I agree. I did have to increase my storage on the 2007 model.

 

[MacBiter]

But my browser desperately needs updating. And I always wait too late to buy a new computer.

Browsers are the worst problem when it comes to running old OS's. However, there are options: if you don't run subscription streaming video (e.g. Prime, Netflix) your existing browsers should open most websites, at least for now.

But there are official and unofficial ways around the problem. Mozilla still officially support Firefox from High Sierra onwards via Firefox 115 ESR (Extended Support Release) which you should download and use. This will run everything and is supported at least until March 2025, after which it will carry on working even unsupported (until sites like Netflix require something more modern).

There's even an up to date version of Firefox for 10.9 onwards which is based on Firefox 132 and is called Firefox Dynasty. However, that needs to be downloaded via GitHub and you may not be comfortable with that.

 

[nancyspeed]

Thanks for all the comments.

I thought last night. At $20 a month for the single user cost it would take a long time to spend $2,000 I would spend on a new computer. Food for thought. There's really nothing wrong with this 2017 except for running Mojave. Maybe the principle of refusing online is worse than doing it.

I'll be moving next year and will have better internet service. Right now my DSL is easily down for days at a time.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

...my accounting software will not work on Catalina and above. Account Edge made this decision when Catalina was released.

There are a boatload of accounting programs for the Macintosh. Some are reasonably priced and fairly easy to use. Maybe you could look at the free demos of a few, and find one that you are comfortable switching to (that is, one that is not cloud-based, of course). Here is a list of what is available:

Macintosh Accounting Software

DO have a look at BeanCounter and TinyBooks!

I do realize I won't have regular USB ports and will have to change to that.

That's easy and cheap enough to deal with.

uni USB C to USB Hub Multiport Adapter
$13
https://www.amazon.com/uni-Aluminum-Thunderbolt-Multiport-Chromebook/dp/B087QFM3GF/?th=1

I really don't understand the new language they use and hope someone can make it so I can understand.

Sure! Which language specifically do you need to have explained?

 

[RadDave]

Thanks for all the comments.

I thought last night. At $20 a month for the single user cost it would take a long time to spend $2,000 I would spend on a new computer. Food for thought. There's really nothing wrong with this 2017 except for running Mojave. Maybe the principle of refusing online is worse than doing it.

I'll be moving next year and will have better internet service. Right now my DSL is easily down for days at a time.

Hi again Nancy - below seems close to your current computer (from EveryMac) - all of the specs are available there - you can upgrade your macOS to Ventura (13.x) which will be supported by Apple for
another year (see quote below) - from my post above the accounting software by subscription runs on this macOS. Unfortunately, your RAM and SSD are not upgradeable in that computer - are you having any issues with speed or storage (i.e. how much is 'free' on your 500 GB SSD?). Good luck - you've receive a lot of great advice from many. Dave

Yes, Apple still supports macOS Ventura, with the latest version being 13.7.Apple typically provides security updates and updates for about three years after a macOS version is released. macOS Ventura was released on October 24, 2022.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

What I have: iMac (Retina 27", 2017); 3.4 GHz Intel Core i5; 8 GB 2400 MHz DDR4; Graphics Radeon Pro 570 4 GB; 500 GB flash storage. I am running Mojave Version 10.14.6 and can't upgrade because my accounting software will not work on Catalina and above. Account Edge made this decision when Catalina was released.

The System Requirements page for AccountEdge says that they support up to Sequoia 15 on all of their editions. So if you aren't running the latest version of the desktop app, you should first upgrade.

If your iMac is fine in all other aspects, you can think about upgrading the OS and continuing to use that or if you do upgrade to a newer Mac, with the upgraded software, things will migrate over no problem.

 

[nancyspeed]

The System Requirements page for AccountEdge says that they support up to Sequoia 15 on all of their editions. So if you aren't running the latest version of the desktop app, you should first upgrade.

If your iMac is fine in all other aspects, you can think about upgrading the OS and continuing to use that or if you do upgrade to a newer Mac, with the upgraded software, things will migrate over no problem.

Yes that is true, but not for the desktop version. Unfortunately they made the decision to only offer it only with subscription service (no desktop version).

'Apple will be releasing a new macOS (Catalina) in early Spring 2019. The latest version of AccountEdge (and all earlier versions) will not work on this new macOS.

Here at MYOB we've been hard at work to make sure a new version of AccountEdge software will be ready to use with the Catalina OS, however we're not quite finished.

If AccountEdge is critical to your business, you must not upgrade to Catalina until we have released the new version of AccountEdge."

 

[Randy B. Singer]

The System Requirements page for AccountEdge says that they support up to Sequoia 15 on all of their editions.

My understanding was that AccountEdge didn't truly have a version of their product just for the Macintosh. So I wrote to the company and this is what they said:


Hello Randy,

AccountEdge is not Mac native, it's our Windows AccountEdge repackaged to run on a Mac so some Windows and install messaging will be different than what you are accustomed to seeing. You can view this video here:

Microsoft .NET Framework is a component that was added to the latest version of AccountEdge in order for it to run in Apple's 64-bit environment, which includes MacOS Monterey 12 to MacOS Sequoia 15This message occurs since you're using a Mac product.

Apple’s release of their first 64-bit system deprecated some essential frameworks that the original native-running AccountEdge for Mac was built on top of. In the end, AccountEdge’s 30 year-old codebase proved too outdated to establish compatibility with Apple’s newer operating systems.

In spite of a multi-year project with a large team of developers and analysts, we were unable to make it function. All that said, we are pleased to offer a fully functional version of AccountEdge that works on the newer operating systems.

Regards,

Alex Newman

AccountEdge Customer Care

 

[nancyspeed]

Thank you for doing that. It was originally known as MYOB and that's what I bought it as 30 years ago. I knew it had something to do with the 64-bit change. It's a really nice accounting system.

My understanding was that AccountEdge didn't truly have a version of their product just for the Macintosh. So I wrote to the company and this is what they said:


Hello Randy,

AccountEdge is not Mac native, it's our Windows AccountEdge repackaged to run on a Mac so some Windows and install messaging will be different than what you are accustomed to seeing. You can view this video here:

Microsoft .NET Framework is a component that was added to the latest version of AccountEdge in order for it to run in Apple's 64-bit environment, which includes MacOS Monterey 12 to MacOS Sequoia 15This message occurs since you're using a Mac product.

Apple’s release of their first 64-bit system deprecated some essential frameworks that the original native-running AccountEdge for Mac was built on top of. In the end, AccountEdge’s 30 year-old codebase proved too outdated to establish compatibility with Apple’s newer operating systems.

In spite of a multi-year project with a large team of developers and analysts, we were unable to make it function. All that said, we are pleased to offer a fully functional version of AccountEdge that works on the newer operating systems.

Regards,

Alex Newman

AccountEdge Customer Care

 

[Randy B. Singer]

Thank you for doing that. It was originally known as MYOB and that's what I bought it as 30 years ago. I knew it had something to do with the 64-bit change. It's a really nice accounting system.

A lot of folks were upset when AccountEdge for the Mac was discontinued. AccountEdge was always known for being a comprehensive program, but with a pretty bad interface. Now is your opportunity to switch to something that's better, from a company that is more devoted to the Macintosh.

Macintosh Accounting Software

 

[Rod]

My ten cents worth would be just to second what's already been said re storage. If you do decide to upgrade your device 256GB is simply not enough. With a larger free storage requirement for SSD's 500GB is the minimum. With good housekeeping I manage to keep 100GB (20%) free of 500GB on my M1 14" MBP which is ideal. I'm sure you could do the same but if unsure 1TB would be better.

I think what others have said regarding your accounting software is spot on, while you still have access to AccountEdge on that iMac it's and ideal time to change to a more Mac friendly up to date accounting app. When you're ready to make the break you can delete AccountEdge and update the iMac to macOS Ventura. This will give you a bit of a buffer ( maybe a couple of years) before taking the big step of upgrading to the Mx series equivalents.

 

[nancyspeed]

Yes, there were quite a few of us. Mostly it was because they kept promising it was in the works when, in reality, it never was. At the very last moment they announced it wasn't going to happen. Most of the die hards just didn't upgrade or put it on an older Mac on principle alone. But now we are shooting ourselves in the foot because of still being on Mojave.

A lot of folks were upset when AccountEdge for the Mac was discontinued. AccountEdge was always known for being a comprehensive program, but with a pretty bad interface. Now is your opportunity to switch to something that's better, from a company that is more devoted to the Macintosh.

Macintosh Accounting Software

 

[nancyspeed]

Yes I agree it is time to try out new hardware and move on now that my life has changed so much. May as well change that too. Plus January 1 is such a good time to start.

Today I had to pick up my MacBook Pro from the Apple store. Screen was fine when I went to bed. Cracked when I got up. No charge thanks to having 5 months left on Apple Care+. Of course I looked at the new iMacs. One of the employees told me about black Friday and I told him the iMacs weren't included. He didn't believe me and said just wait until Friday and look then.

Thanks everyone. I know I will find something made just for a Mac. And if I buy a new iMac I'll certainly get at least 500GB.

My ten cents worth would be just to second what's already been said re storage. If you do decide to upgrade your device 256GB is simply not enough. With a larger free storage requirement for SSD's 500GB is the minimum. With good housekeeping I manage to keep 100GB (20%) free of 500GB on my M1 14" MBP which is ideal. I'm sure you could do the same but if unsure 1TB would be better.

I think what others have said regarding your accounting software is spot on, while you still have access to AccountEdge on that iMac it's and ideal time to change to a more Mac friendly up to date accounting app. When you're ready to make the break you can delete AccountEdge and update the iMac to macOS Ventura. This will give you a bit of a buffer ( maybe a couple of years) before taking the big step of upgrading to the Mx series equivalents.

 

[RadDave]

I would use my present iMac for nothing but Account Edge and I'm fine with it. ..............

You are correct -- Account Edge will not run on Catalina or anything above. They decided not to revamp their code base and basically abandoned us unless we wanted to do subscription.

I did try other accounting software but I've been using Account Edge for 30 years--it used to be MYOB and I just like it. It's just me now since the farm side will no longer be necessary since husband died in February. I volunteer as treasurer for a couple of nonprofits and what I have is just simple to me. I like being able to have as many company accounts as I want to have. I'm sure another software would work but I don't want anything cloud based.......

Hi again Nancy - first I think many of us missed the statement in bold above - very sorry for your loss. I agree w/ the others if you're planning on getting a 'new' computer, go with at least 500 GB of storage. Of course, the other issue is AccountEdge - do you want to upgrade to the subscription service that will run on your new Mac or switch to another app - Randy has linked you to to plenty of other options and others have supported the change - I'm assuming that if you do change your data on the old app can to easily transferred but needing investigation. Please post back for more help if needed and good luck! Dave

 

[Rod]

I certainly did, my condolences for your loss nancyspeed.