Big Sur v Catalina

[shadyman]

I downgraded to Catalina after experiencing heating issues with Big Sur. I really can’t explain the reason for the heating up. Didn’t run anything demanding.

 

[loby]

I am almost certain you did not do a clean install.

Big Sur is not that much slower compared to Catalina. From other thread, you mentioned running on 2019 MBA, so the HW is more than capable.

Lots of changes with Big Sur, big and small. Good sense is to do a clean start.

It is running very well on my 2013 MBA.

I noticed slower responses when you upgrade from Catalina to Big Sur, but I did a clean install of Big Sur and it is running faster than before. Try a clean install.

Very happy with my MBA 2013. Screen looks way better and sharper.

 

[honestone33]

Thanks for the report, loby. Sounds encouraging! Looks like V11.1 is imminent. I plan on downloading it, but will not install it on a partition on my (new) T7 1 TB Samsung SSD until the new versions of Onyx and Thunderbird arrive. They are also imminent.

I am looking forward to testing Big Sur on that external partition, and hopefully, I will get similar speed results like you are getting.

 

[leman]

I realise that technology marches ever onwards but what do people think the main advantage of BS is to the user? So far I can’t see much apart from the “look” and my scanner now doesn’t work.

Disregarding the obvious UI changes (which already IMO bring a lot of advantage — control center alone is a great improvement), I would mention:

- new version of Time Machine (faster and more reliable)
- Messages with new functionality that finally bring sit up to date with the iOS app
- many under-the hood improvements that result in better performance
- massive improvements to Metal (ray tracing etc.) and great game controller support
- massively improved machine learning support

 

[Janeilfen]

Disregarding the obvious UI changes (which already IMO bring a lot of advantage — control center alone is a great improvement), I would mention:

- new version of Time Machine (faster and more reliable)
- Messages with new functionality that finally bring sit up to date with the iOS app
- many under-the hood improvements that result in better performance
- massive improvements to Metal (ray tracing etc.) and great game controller support
- massively improved machine learning support

It must be the "under-the hood improvements" that have stopped my printer/scanner from working.

 

[gilby101]

I shouldn't have updated as my existing VMware Fusion doesn't work. An update is available but its $80. I don't know why I need to be charged for compatibility purposes.

There was heaps of development required to get Fusion working on BS - much more than any previous release. And with VMWare Fusion the major (paid) versions usually go for 3 years without a paid upgrade. I consider that good value.

I trust you are aware that Fusion 12 is free for personal use.

 

[gilby101]

- many under-the hood improvements that result in better performance

And many under-the-hood improvements which completely screw up some apps and their performance.

 

[leman]

And many under-the-hood improvements which completely screw up some apps and their performance.

Haven’t had any issues. What are some apps you are having problems with?

 

[jennyp]

I found — with a clean install — a few bug fixes and a speed improvement on my 2015 MacBook Pro.

But, my gripe is ... the user interface. In particular the toolbars. The way the item name is shoved over to the left. Why?? (Kudos btw to DEVONthink for fixing that on their app - wish more devs would follow suit.) And their lack of contrast - the way they're "whited-out", so that often you can't even readily tell if they're active/focussed or not (they actually look slightly better when inactive).

Maybe that was design for the sake of something iOS-y, but I don't think it works on macOS. You can try to overcome it by using 'Increase contrast' in System Preferences > Accessibility but then you're almost back to System 6. I give Finder windows with an icon view a dark grey background to help the contrast a bit, but that's only for the Finder and you can't do that with list views etc. It would be better if you could colourise the toolbars and the sidebar a little, but of course, no, you can't.

I'm just hoping it'll .. 'evolve'. Meanwhile my iMac stays on Catalina. I can see my stuff.

 

[Jack Neill]

My older machines seem to have a serious performance boost of Catalina. I quite like the new UI. I was tired of Yosemite era UI

 

[gilby101]

Haven’t had any issues. What are some apps you are having problems with?

Anything (and everything) that used to use kernel extensions, particularly networking. e.g. VMware, VPNs, LittleSnitch, etc.

Beginning to sort itself out, but still issues, conflicts and Apple exclusions.

 

[leman]

Anything (and everything) that used to use kernel extensions, particularly networking. e.g. VMware, VPNs, LittleSnitch, etc.

Beginning to sort itself out, but still issues, conflicts and Apple exclusions.

Ah, yes, that is understandable. Then again, network filters and VPN providers had almost six months to update their software. I am using the built-in VPN client, so I don't have any issues.