Is there any advantage to upgrading to Sequoia 15.1 on a 2020 MBP Intel box from Sonoma 14..6.1?

[hempomatic]

I don't think my computer is that close to being obsolete, at least not yet, and I understand security updates and their inherent value these days, but other than that, and given the fact that I use MAYBE 5% of the features on Sonoma, is there any benefit for a troglodyte like me? My computer is a 2.3 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 with 16 gig of RAM. I don't have an iPhone, although I DO have a 9th gen iPad, but that is basically for casual browsing to minimize the use of my main computer.

 

[MacBiter]

Coming from a troglodyte running Mavericks on a 2011 i7 iMac with 16GB RAM & 1TB SSD, you can guess what my answer would be!

TBH, if your browsing is sensible (should be the latest browsers with the latest security in Sonoma), and you don't open any suspicious email links, then I wouldn't worry about losing security updates next year or the year after. However, if there's something in Sequoia you couldn't live without, then by all means upgrade, otherwise......

 

[hempomatic]

Coming from a troglodyte running Mavericks on a 2011 i7 iMac with 16GB RAM & 1TB SSD, you can guess what my answer would be!

if there's something in Sequoia you couldn't live without, then by all means upgrade, otherwise......

I doubt that there's anything on Jaguar I couldn't live without

 

[pm-r]

I doubt that there's anything on Jaguar I couldn't live without

Hmmm... ??? I think I would be fairly crippled in my work without many of the improvements and third party software I now use with El Capitan but I sure don't need the majority of Apple's " new and improved" OS and software, but I would sure love to have some of their features back on several of their applications that work so well for me.

Unfortunately, they don't seem to want to provide an option for us users to do so especially considering it wouldn't generate any money for them which is what keeps their company's wheels turning.




- Patrick
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[hempomatic]

Hmmm... ??? I think I would be fairly crippled in my work without many of the improvements and third party software I now use with El Capitan.

Unfortunately, they don't seem to want to provide an option for us users to do so especially considering it wouldn't generate any money for them which is what keeps their company's wheels turning.

- Patrick
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I was being moderately sarcastic when I said "Jaguar". I chose that as an example because it was the earliest OS I could remember. However, I don't use my computer for work and just use it for a little (very little) social media, simple photo editing, email and paying some bills. The reality however, the best OS I ever used was Mavericks. That I could have EASILY lived with it forever. If there was ANY way to do that with my current machine, I would in a heartbeat. If there was any way to find a reliable 2009 to 2012 machine, I'd snap it up.

 

[pm-r]

I was being moderately sarcastic when I said "Jaguar". I chose that as an example because it was the earliest OS I could remember.

I got your joke, and that was also the beginning of the era where apples OS and their computers " they "Just Worked".

The reality however, the best OS I ever used was Mavericks.

I would put Snow Leopard as the best Mac OS, which my late 2011 can actually Boot and run, followed by Mavericks but I was forced to upgrade for some software to work properly with the outside world so I ended up currently using El Capitan, which unfortunately started removing OS features that I used and relied on.

That I could have EASILY lived with it forever. If there was ANY way to do that with my current machine,

I am not familiar with the technology for the software, but I understand there are ways and means to do just that but I don't know how successful they with the outside world.

I would in a heartbeat. If there was any way to find a reliable 2009 to 2012 machine, I'd snap it up.

I'm sure there are still quite a few such machines around but without any software apps unfortunately they won't work and talk to the outside world for various reasons.

I think they call it progress but it certainly seems to be based on money.




- Patrick
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[MacBiter]

The reality however, the best OS I ever used was Mavericks. That I could have EASILY lived with it forever. If there was ANY way to do that with my current machine, I would in a heartbeat. If there was any way to find a reliable 2009 to 2012 machine, I'd snap it up.

I'm slowly getting around to upgrading my 2011 iMac to High Sierra, but running Mavericks permanently as a Parallels VM.

There are lots of 2011 iMacs on eBay very cheap. Find one you could upgrade to 16GB RAM & a decent SSD, then install Mavericks.

 

[pm-r]

There are lots of 2011 iMacs on eBay very cheap. Find one you could upgrade to 16GB RAM & a decent SSD, then install Mavericks.

And a Facebook member's local area Marketplace also seems to be a good place to purchase older Macs and doing so can save a fair amount on shipping alone and offers on the asking price are often quick and successful.



- Patrick
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[pm-r]

is there any benefit for a troglodyte like me?

Maybe the best way to answer your question is suggest you do a search on the net and check out to see if any of the new features would be of any benefit to you:

Google Search

And a video covering some of the features:

Or maybe it's supports a third party utility you would really like to use butt only runs with a later Mac OS versions than the one you currently run.




- Patrick
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[Rod]

hempomatic, referring to your posted question and coming from a 72yo who always updates everything regularly, watch, iPhone, laptops, ect. to stay up to date with the latest software the short answer is no.

If what you have does what you need, is not malfunctioning and is reasonably secure online then stick with that until it doesn't.

I upgrade/update for function, features, compatibility and yes, pleasure, not to mention the challenge of answering posts on this and other forums. It's as much a hobby as a productive activity. Living o/seas we use our devices for everything from running a business, watching TV from home, banking, advertising, web site management you name it. For us staying abreast of the latest tech is highly valuable if not a necessity.

In your case updating your Intel device to Sequoia will not give you much in the way of new functions just new ways of doing the same old things. Apple Intelligence is only compatible with Silicon Macs.
After all you are running Sonoma on a pretty recent device so you'll still get Security updates for at least another two years.

 

[hempomatic]

I'm sure there are a few machines that still exist, but the only ones I've seen have had fatal flaws, badly scratched screens, bad batteries, or overheating. I also live a bit off the beaten track and I would never buy anything on Ebay sight unseen.

 

[hempomatic]

Maybe the best way to answer your question is suggest you do a search on the net and check out to see if any of the new features would be of any benefit to you

Or maybe it's supports a third party utility you would really like to use butt only runs with a later Mac OS versions than the one you currently run.




- Patrick
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Patrick, the first thing I checked was the "new" features, and there was nothing that jumped out as being even moderately necessary. My biggest concern is security. Virtually every upgrade I've ever done was preceded by a "sky is falling" scenario with regard to security. I don't have much in the way of 3rd party utilities. As a matter of fact, other than photo editing, I don't have ANY 3rd party utilities. Hmmm, now that I think about it, I don't need a computer at all.

 

[hempomatic]

Apple Intelligence is only compatible with Silicon Macs.

Thanks Rod. With regard to Apple Intelligence, I can think of nothing I could possibly want less.

 

[pm-r]

Hmmm, now that I think about it, I don't need a computer at all.

I would say for what you have and use you could just keep using your current Mac with the OS it is currently using as it appears to be working well for you and you certainly don't need any security to protect those photos assuming you have a backup of course.

You don't seem to have anything on that computer but anyone else would really want... No offense to your existing photos of course.




- Patrick
=======

 

[MacBiter]

My biggest concern is security. Virtually every upgrade I've ever done was preceded by a "sky is falling" scenario with regard to security. I don't have much in the way of 3rd party utilities. As a matter of fact, other than photo editing, I don't have ANY 3rd party utilities. Hmmm, now that I think about it, I don't need a computer at all.

Security updates are meant to patch potential vulnerabilities when online. If you have the latest browsers (even on an older OS ) they will have security built in. However, whether using a recent OS or an older one, there are rules of commonsense to observe:
1. take note when a browser - rightly or wrongly - warns about a link to certain websites
2, make sure a site you're going to is https not just http (though an old http site you know, is the exception)
3. don't browse recklessly, to dodgy kinds of site, or willy nilly
4. don't click on ANY email link unless you're 100% sure it's trustworthy

The sky won't fall unless you climb a very high ladder.

 

[MacBiter]

I'm sure there are a few machines that still exist, but the only ones I've seen have had fatal flaws, badly scratched screens, bad batteries, or overheating. I also live a bit off the beaten track and I would never buy anything on Ebay sight unseen.

You've got to do your research of course - study the seller's history and feedback, look at the pictures carefully, read the seller's description, compare the price with similar machines on sale, make sure you can return the item if faulty.

Luke Miani buys off eBay, and if HE does, anyone can!.

 

[rbpeirce]

One disadvantage is Time Machine seems to fail to complete backups a lot. I never noticed this with prior OSs. They eventually do complete but it is a pain.

 

[BG24BR]

I doubt that there's anything on Jaguar I couldn't live without

I could still use System 7 quite happily, if I still had my SE30 ...

 

[MacBiter]

I could still use System 7 quite happily, if I still had my SE30 ...

I still can! (though rarely do) using Basilisk software obtainable from the emaculation site (who also do Sheepshaver).