@deany The upgrade won't touch your existing programs.
Your pre-existing virtual machines and Parallels installation will be untouched.
The only way you lose anything is if you do an erase and install instead of an upgrade.
Or if something goes really wrong, but that's why you make a backup.
You'll only run into problems with existing programs if they aren't compatible.
Given the trend over the last few years, it`s safe to say that 10.11 will have "some" issue on release, Apple will work to improve the OS in time. Personally I work in OS X and if needs be run some proprietary engineering applications in a compatibility layer. Same concerns I don't want the new OS to screw up applications that are currently no issue under 10.10.5
Ultimately as long as the system is backed up (I use SuperDuper) you are safe. It`s difficult to comment one way or the other on your plan, as either one has the potential to bring issue at some point, as you say more OS, more complexity. A third option maybe a little more prudent, by holding off until 10.11.1 release which is clearly in the near future. Apple are pushing the .1 release aggressively, which albeit assumption on my behalf tends to make me think that all is not perfect in the 10.11 initial release, equally Apple may just want to "get ahead of the game"
Another aspect of "holding off" for a limited period of time is that it gives the third party developers time to issue updates, as 10.11 does make significant changes to how OS X works, which "flags up" the caution in my mind as I do have some critical applications and don't need them going "dark" waiting on an update. Personally I have never had issue upgrading the OS, equally I do consider the options when to proceed, and in the case of 10.11 I am a little more cautious due to the changes in the underpinnings of the OS.
Q-6
cheers buddy@deany
Well, I kinda have no choice but to 'upgrade' to the release version when it comes out, I can't be running the GM candidate on or after that date.
Sure, if it helps.
That's a bit overly cautious. In my experience I've had zero problems with an upgraded OS since I switched to Mac in 2008.Personally I would never upgrade to OS that is just released because it could have serious bugs which were not found during testing. Its much safer to wait 2 or 3 updates before upgrading. Previous OS X versions were not exactly inspiring on the release day...
Make a Time Machine backup before updating/clean installing. It might also be worth your time to check the compatibility of the software you use frequently before updating, to minimise possible downtime.Currently on Yosemite 10.5.5 and works perfectly, on macbook air mid-2013
Should I really upgrade once its released?
I think its releasing 4-5 days right?
That's a bit overly cautious. In my experience I've had zero problems with an upgraded OS since I switched to Mac in 2008.
Having used OS X from 10.1 and Mac OS before that I prefer to be prudent rather than rash. Yosemite has given me more trouble than all previous OS X versions (apart from 10.7) my confidence in Apple is rapidly diminishing.
Only way I'm going to install 10.11 tomorrow is if someone is holding gun to my head...
That's a bit overly cautious. In my experience I've had zero problems with an upgraded OS since I switched to Mac in 2008.
Could it be that Apple are doing what Microsoft is doing by continually releasing new builds of their OS for devs and testers, culminating in a proper OS update with all the bug fixes up to that point? IIRC MS had already released a newer build of W10 RTM either right before or right after W10 officially dropped.10.11.1 is already out in Beta which is unusual, to me Apple are ether putting more focus on OS X, or the initial point release still has significant issue across their hardware, as September 30th is already here...
does anyone know how many hours before this is released?
just got time machine backups now i'm waiting...
Could it be that Apple are doing what Microsoft is doing by continually releasing new builds of their OS for devs and testers, culminating in a proper OS update with all the bug fixes up to that point? IIRC MS had already released a newer build of W10 RTM either right before or right after W10 officially dropped.
@kayleee
So is it worth upgrading to? Yes. Right away or later on? Right away. It's important to always have an up-to-date system.
Terrible advice? Seems like a lot of people today have updated. Reviews of El Capitan have also encouraged users to upgrade to keep their system up-to-date. Surely that's not terrible advice in general?