Some Older Macs Won't Get Upgraded. Is Yours One of them?
We all knew that this one was coming, so it shouldn't be much of a surprise to Apple owners, as Apple famously tends to drop support for older hardware.
Mountain Lion is the codename for Apple's latest software release coming to its Mac range of computers. It is coming out sometime this month and will be distributed digitally via the Mac App Store and adds many new features to compatible systems.
If you're lucky enough to be getting the latest big-cat variant from Apple, you must be at least on:
- iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
- MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or early 2009 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
- Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
- Xserve (Early 2009)
Nobody likes being cut off from software updates, but this is the harsh reality with gadgetry, eventually everything will end up going unsupported. The problem being compatibility.
Apple is known to pull the plug on their products in order to ensure a consistent experience for all users, which it is famous for, so this should come as no surprise to Mac owners.
While you may not get this upgrade, it's not like your Mac will stop working overnight, so don't worry. You should, however, start planning for an upgrade path, so you aren't left in the dust come time for a crititcal security update, etc.
While it is good practice to have a system only run software that it is capable of running, nobody likes to be left out in the cold.
Looks like it might be time to get ready to plan an upgrade if you want to take advantage of Cupertino's latest and greatest.
Read more on my new blog, TechCentral.
Dale
3:03 pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
Excellent work on the blog. I look forward to your podcast. Will the podcast be video or audio only?
Gavin Rozzi
3:29 pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
Thanks, Dale. The Podcast will return within the next week. We recently re-launched TechCentral, It will continue to be in both audio and video formats. You can view the previous episodes on our YouTube channel, TechCentralChannel
BeyondReality
8:41 pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
Only thing Macs are good for.
http://tosh.comedycentral.com/video-clips/tosh-destroys-an-ipad
Gavin Rozzi
8:42 pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
I'm not too keen on Apple either. Their stripped down products definitely aren't the greatest. Funny video
bud
3:23 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
Apple is now 5 times larger than Intel, and twice as large as Microsoft as measured by market capitalization. The WinTel era is slowly coming to an end. Apple has turned into a "money machine!" due to the Law of Supply and Demand!
CD
5:39 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
After being an Apple Dealer in the 80's through the time Steve returned, today's products are far superior and deliver much more. I vaguely remember selling laser printers for over $10k. These are the best times in tech.
bud
9:47 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
Are you the guy who was located on RT 9 in Manalapan? If so, I bought a few Apple computers from you. Apple LC II was the first computer that I used to access the internet via a 1200 baud modem.
Mark Richert
7:38 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Don't put up with Apple's un-upgradable, trash in two years, computers. Build a Hacktintosh, and be sure to buy the Mac OS to keep it legal. In short, you buy a regular Intel PC, and install the Mac OS onto it. That's what my next Mac will be. $400, and better then a Mac mini.
http://tonymacx86.com/
Gavin Rozzi
9:53 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
If you want OS X without Apple, hackintosh is definitely a great option. I've done it before and its extremely worthwhile.You can get the specs and h/w that you want without paying the "Apple Tax". Another good option if you want to avoid Windows is to use Linux. Very similar to Mac OS internally, but more configurable to how you'd want it and a lot stabler.
CD
9:19 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
My machines have lasted for quite a few years and I don't worry about upgradability. Then again, I used it for email, web, pictures and web design and some database work. I'm not a gamer since the golf game Leaderboard on a Macintosh SE with internal 20mb hard drive and 1.44HD floppy disk drive. I like to buy new stuff. I can afford it every 3-4 years. New stuff is fun and better. And Bud, I wasn't located in New Jersey. I was in the suburbs of Philly. We supplied the Philadelphia School system Apples/Macs for a number of years before Apple came in, after letting us do all the leg work, and took it direct.