MacOsX update dilema

[Deth]

Hi.
I wanted to know the "user opinion" on the problem i have.
I have a 2012 Macmini 2.5Ghz i5 / 4Gb ram / AMD / running with Lion, i wanted to upgrade to ML right after it come out of the box but i couldn't due some issues in the apple's payment method available on my zone. anyway once Mavericks was announced free i wanted to upgrade but i was forced to stay away from it because i needed some obsolete programs (like QuarkXpress among others) to keep up with my job

So... 3 years later LOL after seen that apple doesn't want anyone get any other OS other than ML or ElCapitan what do you guys recommend me to do?

The Apple tech/salesman/janitor told me that any version after mavericks its basically the same in performance and system requirements ...but im not really believing this.
I could get ML for 20 bucks and keep iit up like that or jump into the latest version for free (and upgrade the adobe CC and other things) ...or try to fight my way to get Mavericks from the Appstore of one of the co-worker computers (as i hear this can be done)

What do you think?
thanks.

 

[Weaselboy]

Since El Capitan is free, I would just clone/backup your existing setup so you can roll back if you want to, then install El Capitan and see what you think of it. El Capitan should run fine on that machine.

Then if you hate El Capitan you can just erase and roll back to your backup with Lion on it.

 

[Ebenezum]

For clarification I'm fairly certain your Mac Mini is 2011 model because 2012 models don't support Lion.

I recommend that you first check your software requirements and are there any bugs/ problems with newer OS. It is quite possible that obsolete software won't work in El Capitan because there have been much changes between it and Lion.

Then make a clone to external drive (use Disk Utility or other such software) before installing newer OS as there could be incompatibilities and you may want to return to Lion.

Another option is to keep using Lion, if everything works why risk a working combination?

 

[Deth]

Hi.
yeah it seems that the clone setup is the best option.. but the only time i try that i didn't went quite right...

Now that you mention it... yeah its 2011, i've living a lie for so long lol

Yeah, i guess el capitan its not very stable right now, like any other new os
One of the reasons why i wanted to move to ML right after i get it its because (i was told by many people) that the graphic drivers on Lion cause issues on the AMD video card this one have, the other is that as time passes by most of the program updates are requestion 10.8/10.9 or later so i believe this mac still got power to do the job for a couple of years and didn't want the obsolete os to drag it down to typewritter