New OS; Do I upgrade?

[p1ferrari]

I have a wonderful 2017 iMac 4k 21.5-inch with 16GB RAM and 1 TB SDD. This has been a great Mac and is working flawlessly. I'm no longer the power user I once was (age and marriage can do that). I occasionally use AutoCAD and OmniGraffle for a hobby project, for the most part it's a computer to store personal files and a place to store my photo's and music.

The Issue: The new OS will not support my wonderful iMac. Not that it would really matter, as most of the new stuff I wouldn't use. I'm sure there are items in Ventura that I don't use that maybe I should.

The Question: Do I upgrade to a new iMac or Mini or do I take a chance that I will have a seamless transition 2-4 years down the road? I've owned 6 Mac's over the years and the one thing I really like about owning a Mac is the ability to hooking up Time Machine and let a Mac be a Mac and transfer all the files over and boot up the new Mac like it was my old Mac. But I've always done this going from one Mac to another Mac in the same OS. I'm really afraid that if I don't upgrade now, before the new OS comes out, that it will not transfer the files over correctly and look my playlist in iTunes or photo albums.

I welcome any thoughts on this question! And thanks!

 

[Chuckeee]

The new OS will not support my wonderful iMac. Not that it would really matter, as most of the new stuff I wouldn't use. I'm sure there are items in Ventura that I don't use that maybe I should

This is implying you are using Ventura now, correct? If so you don’t have to worry yet, Apple will have still be providing security support for at least another year or more. Even after that you have the option of using OpenCore to install a new er OS on to an older machine that is no longer officially supported.

If & when you do actually do upgrade hardware, Apple’s Migration assistant actually works really good, you can move all your data and (non-system) software either directly from your older machine or a Time Machine backup. You don’t have to worry if the OS doesn’t match.

Also your “new” hardware doesn’t have to be the latest Mac. You can get a newer model of a used machine.

So for now just wait, there might be a new large screen iMac somewhere in the relative near future. I ended up with a Mac mini and that was a surprisingly good choice too

 

[p1ferrari]

This is implying you are using Ventura now, correct? If so you don’t have to worry yet, Apple will have still be providing security support for at least another year or more. Even after that you have the option of using OpenCore to install a new er OS on to an older machine that is no longer officially supported.

If & when you do actually do upgrade hardware, Apple’s Migration assistant actually works really good, you can move all your data and (non-system) software either directly from your older machine or a Time Machine backup. You don’t have to worry if the OS doesn’t match.

Also your “new” hardware doesn’t have to be the latest Mac. You can get a newer model of a used machine.

So for now just wait, there might be a new large screen iMac somewhere in the relative near future. I ended up with a Mac mini and that was a surprisingly good choice too

Thank for your input!! That was my thinking too, but wanted to talk to another Mac person to see what they thought. Big thanks!

 

[JamesMay82]

Thank for your input!! That was my thinking too, but wanted to talk to another Mac person to see what they thought. Big thanks!

I’m on a 2014 iMac with big sur and have a similar use case to you and it all works fine. I also have a m1 air for work and I can’t even tell the difference between the OS so I don’t think you’d would either.

 

[MrScratchHook]

D

I have a wonderful 2017 iMac 4k 21.5-inch with 16GB RAM and 1 TB SDD. This has been a great Mac and is working flawlessly. I'm no longer the power user I once was (age and marriage can do that). I occasionally use AutoCAD and OmniGraffle for a hobby project, for the most part it's a computer to store personal files and a place to store my photo's and music.

The Issue: The new OS will not support my wonderful iMac. Not that it would really matter, as most of the new stuff I wouldn't use. I'm sure there are items in Ventura that I don't use that maybe I should.

The Question: Do I upgrade to a new iMac or Mini or do I take a chance that I will have a seamless transition 2-4 years down the road? I've owned 6 Mac's over the years and the one thing I really like about owning a Mac is the ability to hooking up Time Machine and let a Mac be a Mac and transfer all the files over and boot up the new Mac like it was my old Mac. But I've always done this going from one Mac to another Mac in the same OS. I'm really afraid that if I don't upgrade now, before the new OS comes out, that it will not transfer the files over correctly and look my playlist in iTunes or photo albums.

I welcome any thoughts on this question! And thanks!

do yourself a HUGE favor, buy an external hard drive, like a glyph black box 2tb or similar and store all your important information there. also keep a folder with your apps. i say this because even if you use time machine but your mac decides to never turn on again how will you retrieve the info? as a 17 year user of macs ive learned the hardway

 

[p1ferrari]

D

do yourself a HUGE favor, buy an external hard drive, like a glyph black box 2tb or similar and store all your important information there. also keep a folder with your apps. i say this because even if you use time machine but your mac decides to never turn on again how will you retrieve the info? as a 17 year user of macs ive learned the hardway

Isn't that the whole point of time machine is to back-up your files and retrieve it when something goes bad? Like having to buy a new Mac and putting it all back to original without having to manually put it on an external HD?

 

[sack_peak]

I have a wonderful 2017 iMac 4k 21.5-inch with 16GB RAM and 1 TB SDD. This has been a great Mac and is working flawlessly. I'm no longer the power user I once was (age and marriage can do that). I occasionally use AutoCAD and OmniGraffle for a hobby project, for the most part it's a computer to store personal files and a place to store my photo's and music.

The Issue: The new OS will not support my wonderful iMac. Not that it would really matter, as most of the new stuff I wouldn't use. I'm sure there are items in Ventura that I don't use that maybe I should.

The Question: Do I upgrade to a new iMac or Mini or do I take a chance that I will have a seamless transition 2-4 years down the road? I've owned 6 Mac's over the years and the one thing I really like about owning a Mac is the ability to hooking up Time Machine and let a Mac be a Mac and transfer all the files over and boot up the new Mac like it was my old Mac. But I've always done this going from one Mac to another Mac in the same OS. I'm really afraid that if I don't upgrade now, before the new OS comes out, that it will not transfer the files over correctly and look my playlist in iTunes or photo albums.

I welcome any thoughts on this question! And thanks!

I'd replace for a year model months after its 8th year.

 

[p1ferrari]

I'd replace for a year model months after its 8th year.

I have to ask how you came up with that number. There has to be a story here.

 

[sack_peak]

I have to ask how you came up with that number. There has to be a story here.

As you pointed out your iMac did not receive macOS Sonoma. So it has about 2 more years of macOS Ventura Security Update.

After that the only way to access the web securely is via 3rd party browsers like Firefox & Chrome. They provide +5 years of feature & security updates.

Depending on how valuable your personal data is you either use the iMac another 2 years or 7 years.

Going beyond that indicates your personal data is not that valuable.

If I were in your situation get the iMac months after the final update of macOS Ventura or your 3rd party browser. That's a total of 8 years or 13 years use.

I'm on a similar boat. My 2012 iMac 27" received its last update on Jul 2022. If there was a iMac 32" last Jan 2023 when the Mac mini was refreshed I'd have bought that and replace it in the future by 2033.

 

[MrScratchHook]

Isn't that the whole point of time machine is to back-up your files and retrieve it when something goes bad? Like having to buy a new Mac and putting it all back to original without having to manually put it on an external HD?

yes it is, but lets say the power supply goes bad, or the processors go bad,how will you retieve it?

 

[p1ferrari]

yes it is, but lets say the power supply goes bad, or the processors go bad,how will you retieve it?

My Time Machine is on an external HD.

 

[MrScratchHook]

My Time Machine is on an external HD.

ahhh missed that part, stupid me...ok i digress🥶😁👍🏽

 

[tstafford]

We are in a similar spot w/ my wife's 2015 iMac. She loves the thing and has all of her stuff set just how she likes it. She is not a power user at all but is on it all the time for her home based biz. We have a Time Machine back-up running on an external SSD.

We will bite the bullet and do some sort of upgrade once the security patches end - this summer for her machine I think.

I know folks will recommend legacy patcher but we aren't techie enough for that especially on her machine!

My advice: hold out as long as you can. The new stuff is great but the old iMacs are special.

 

[sack_peak]

I know folks will recommend legacy patcher but we aren't techie enough for that especially on her machine!

My advice: hold out as long as you can. The new stuff is great but the old iMacs are special.

Those patchers are counter to why anyone bought a Mac.

Patchers makes using your Mac more like Windows.

If you two do not want to use Firefox or Chrome then buy into next year's iMac M3. That will be good for until 2034.

 

[Chuckeee]

Those patchers are counter to why anyone bought a Mac.

Patchers makes using your Mac more like Windows.

I agree with the sentiment. Patchers are ok if you have to run something NOW. I don’t think they represent a good long term solution. They can be a fun toy for hobbyists who have several computer lying around but not for long term general use.

 

[sack_peak]

I agree with the sentiment. Patchers are ok if you have to run something NOW. I don’t think they represent a good long term solution. They can be a fun toy for hobbyists who have several computer lying around but not for long term general use.

If you bought your Mac brand new before it was refreshed I do not see those Patchers as a better solution than replacing a decade old device.

That's why I hope Apple's able to source cheaper 30" 5.5K or 32" 6K display parts for the 2024 iMac M3 ($1,799 to $1,999), M3 Pro ($2,299 to $2,799) M3 Max ($2,499 to $3,199) or M3 Ultra ($4,999 to $7,399).

 

[3xBoom]

IMO, you are doing everything right (although I prefer CCC over TM) and should be OK for at least two and more years. No need to upgrade to Sonoma. In my experience, upgrading to a new OS unavoidably leads to the growing but unjustified desire to upgrade the hardware as well. However, it is more important to enjoy the consistently working routine rather than inviting problems.

 

[kagharaht]

I’m kinda hesitant to use Time Machine to restore when i get a new iMac. My current one is Late 2013 stuck in Mac OS Catalina. I suppose Sonoma, if that’s what the new IMac will have, will be smart enough to copy and enable just the right OS stuff to prevent issues Going from Catalina to Sonoma I hope. LOL i can always manually copy stuff or re-download Apps. Might be the cleanest safe route right?

 

[MrScratchHook]

I’m kinda hesitant to use Time Machine to restore when i get a new iMac. My current one is Late 2013 stuck in Mac OS Catalina. I suppose Sonoma, if that’s what the new IMac will have, will be smart enough to copy and enable just the right OS stuff to prevent issues Going from Catalina to Sonoma I hope. LOL i can always manually copy stuff or re-download Apps. Might be the cleanest safe route right?

i would reinstall. may take longer but ensures no bad carry over

 

[HDFan]

Isn't that the whole point of time machine is to back-up your files and retrieve it when something goes bad? Like having to buy a new Mac and putting it all back to original without having to manually put it on an external HD?

In the recommended 3-2-1 backup strategy only 1 of the 3 backups should be TM due to its tendency to fail.