MacBook 2014 should I upgrade macOS?

[Heliotropen]

Hi,

I still work on an older iMac late 2013 that boot from a Thunderbolt ssd and cant be updated to Big Sur (I will only get around replacing it in a year from now, maybe later on).

I also have a 2014 MacBook Pro.

The question is, should I update the MacBook to Big Sur?

My conserns:

- Will it still run as good and fast as it does right now?

- Will the MacBook be outdated faster by doing this? Break or slow down sooner?

- Is the new design sooo much better?

- Will it make the diffeence between the two macOS on the two machines feel like im working on diffrent systems?

- Will it make the iMac seam even older in comparingson?


hope someone have experiences with similar machines.

Thnx.

 

[ssmed]

I reckon Mojave is the sweet spot for you at the moment. Catalina did end up being fairly stable by the fifth update, but some still complain and I would give Big Sur a few months before adopting although so far seems quite good. Many other opinions will be aired on this one! Written on a MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015) with BS 1.1 beta (my test machine).

 

[Heliotropen]

Im actually running Carolina on both Mac’s already ... and it runs rather well on both.

Does Mojave runs faster on these machines?

This MacBook offecially support the Big Sauer, but the iMac does not.

 

[ssmed]

Im actually running Carolina on both Mac’s already ... and it runs rather well on both.
Does Mojave runs faster on these machines?
This MacBook officially supports the Big Sur, but the iMac does not.

Based on that reply I would update the MacBook after another point update or possibly 2. I like Big Sur - just check your other software will not need updating beforehand. I was answering your question as if you had not done any previous upgrades - SORRY. I had a lot less trouble with Mojave than Catalina (crashy) , but Catalina is OK now. I wouldn't revert. My impression is that BS has been a little bit more carefully released than Catalina - possibly because of the M1 chip coming into play.

 

[Heliotropen]

So after another point updates or two ... you recommend running Big Sur on the Macbook Pro 2014 and Catalina on the iMac late 2013?

So to go trough my list, this means:

1) Big Sur is as fast as Catalina on the 2014 Macbook Pro?

2) It will not make my macbook slowdown faster than if it ran Catalina?

3) The design on Big Sur is better than Catalina?

4) There will be a diffrence but they feel similar enough that it won't be annoying running diffrent Macos between machines I switch between?

5) It won't make the imac + Catalina feel old to work on in comparinson?

Can you verify this?
And thank you for your answer ... very kind of you.

 

[ssmed]

All a bit subjective - but here goes! Also I have a few Macs (some good reasons not just greed!) and this means I can mess around and restore from a back-up and still be productive. If I had one desktop and one portable both for work I would be careful not to lose work time.

1) Big Sur is as fast as Catalina on the 2014 Macbook Pro?

That would be my experience, I suspect slightly better - I did do a complete fresh install - not an update. The battery life seems better on the 2015 MBP - I expected this to be the other way

2) It will not make my macbook slowdown faster than if it ran Catalina?

I can see no reason for this

3) The design on Big Sur is better than Catalina?

That depends on your point of view. I like the rounded iOS look and the interface fonts – others hate it

4) There will be a difference but they feel similar enough that it won't be annoying running diffrent Macos between machines I switch between?

I am using Mojove, Catalina and Big Sur - I don't feel a conflict. The Catalina machines would be Big Sur if 4D and Endnote ran without crashing on Big Sur (and I have my suspicions about some parts of Creative Cloud Suite that I will test before being too adventurous)

5) It won't make the imac + Catalina feel old to work on in comparinson?

That is a personal opinion, but I am fine with both

 

[Heliotropen]

All a bit subjective - but here goes! Also I have a few Macs (some good reasons not just greed!) and this means I can mess around and restore from a back-up and still be productive. If I had one desktop and one portable both for work I would be careful not to lose work time.


That would be my experience, I suspect slightly better - I did do a complete fresh install - not an update. The battery life seems better on the 2015 MBP - I expected this to be the other way

I can see no reason for this

That depends on your point of view. I like the rounded iOS look and the interface fonts – others hate it

I am using Mojove, Catalina and Big Sur - I don't feel a conflict. The Catalina machines would be Big Sur if 4D and Endnote ran without crashing on Big Sur (and I have my suspicions about some parts of Creative Cloud Suite that I will test before being too adventurous)

That is a personal opinion, but I am fine with both

Thank you so much ... great evaluation. 🙏🏻

I think there is big diffrences from the 2014 to 2015 13" macbook pro though.
But still ... I still love this machine, and loves working on it ... so would hate if Big Sur bricked it.

What's the advantage of fresh install?

 

[Heliotropen]

Just wanteded to say I risked the update ... and it didn't brik my mid 2014 13" macbook pro.
But god does it run aweful ... so I'm reverting back ... apps takes ages to load and runs much slower.

 

[ssmed]

Sorry to hear that! I hope you did a clone for speed to revert back.

 

[Heliotropen]

No worry mate, I didn't but a clean install will do the machine good ^^