4 ms·

My corp desktop is an iMac Pro (2018). For a long time, it was the best way to get a Retina-quality desktop without getting into VFX budgets. It was also in t

My corp desktop is an iMac Pro (2018). For a long time, it was the best way to get a Retina-quality desktop without getting into VFX budgets. It was also in that weird period in Apple's product calendar when the one-and-done trash can was obsolete, but its replacement hadn't been released. Work usually issues whatever panels they can buy in bulk from overseas, but for a magical window, we could get a nice screen with no shenanigans by ordering an iMac Pro. My heart dropped for a second when I saw Sequoia only supports iMacs from 2019, until I saw it supports iMac Pros from 2017. I wonder how much longer I have before Apple stops releasing updates, and corp IT decides the iMac Pro is now e-waste. It's really unfortunate that they don't do Target Display Mode anymore. These iMacs have panels that are still top-of-the-line 6 years later. (A Studio Display is basically an iMac Pro with Apple Silicon in Target Display Mode.) I wonder if there will be a Linux distribution to convert these things into monitors when they go obsolete.

ryandrake 2y ago
I've got so much perfectly-working e-waste from Apple. It's so sad. I'm on a Late 2014 Mac mini that's stuck on Monterey macOS 12 and a Late 2014 retina iMac that's stuck on Big Sur macOS 11(!!) An iPhone7 that's stuck on iOS15. The display on that iMac is still IMO second to none. These computers do everything I need, yet their software support is stuck back in time. And 3rd party developers are terrible about supporting previous version of macOS. They alway seem to assume you are running the latest and greatest, and deliberately remove support for earlier OSs. Hell, I have an O.G. iPad 1 that still works perfectly as it did the day I bought it, but most of the built-in software no longer works, and the App Store is basically empty. What a sad state of affairs.
- EricE 2y ago
  Your not stuck (the Mac's at least) https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/ https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/
  - sgerenser 2y ago
    I have a 2012 Mac mini server running Monterey right now thanks to Open Core. Still getting security updates (for now at least). Too many reported issues with Ventura and Sonoma to bother trying them.
  - windowsrookie 2y ago
    I am using open core on several Apple devices from 2008-2010. A Metal capable GPU makes a huge difference in performance. After upgrading my 2010 iMac to a Firepro M4000, it runs the current version of macOS Sonoma better than the 2018-2019 MacBook airs do.
- jamesy0ung 2y ago
  I have a 2012 Mac Mini, running Linux with a bunch of services on it. Works quite well as a server. Low power and silent.
Eric_WVGG 2y ago
> top of the line panels A few different people have figured out how to convert these panels into stand-alone displays. It's a pity that it would be impractical to make a small business out of this. - https://ohmypizza.com/2023/04/converting-a-5k-imac-into-an-external-5k-display https://ohmypizza.com/2023/04/converting-a-5k-imac-into-an-e... - https://mschmitt.org/blog/convert-5k-27-imac-external-display-usb-c/ https://mschmitt.org/blog/convert-5k-27-imac-external-displa...
- bsimpson 2y ago
  Thanks for the tips! Wild that a hobby project I've never heard of has a whole outfit in China supporting it: http://chiyakeji.com/ http://chiyakeji.com/ I wonder if I'll be able to expense one of those when/if Apple finally deprecates the iMac Pro on my desk.
- ray__ 2y ago
  I've done this and it's amazing-it's the only monitor that I can use for my workstation (Linux/Windows) and my laptop (macOS) because even the (relatively) cheap LG UltraFine monitors don't work with the Nvidia GPU on my workstation.
hcarvalhoalves 2y ago
Apple is now imposing the same iOS obsolescence program to MacBook/iMac. That’s how you make easy money nowadays.
- setopt 2y ago
  iPhone XR was released in 2018, and I got mine in 2019. It will still be supported by iOS 18, which is being released in 2024. 5-6 years of fully functioning hardware with official OS updates is much better than the Android phones I had before it.
  - hcarvalhoalves 2y ago
    Apple never advertised how long they would support updates, but recently published a 5 years policy [1]. It’s still bad since the device is well made and would easily outlast 5 years with battery replacement. https://www.androidauthority.com/iphone-software-support-commitment-3449135/ https://www.androidauthority.com/iphone-software-support-com...
    - kaba0 2y ago
      A battery replacement after 3 years costs pennies, relative to its value
  - 1over137 2y ago
    You shouldn't measure by the release date of the hardware, but by the last sale date of the hardware. In Apple's list of supported Macs, the "iMac Pro (2017)" is the oldest year. But that computer was sold until 2021! Makes Apple look more generous putting 2017 in that list instead of 2021!
  - eviks 2y ago
    Being better doesn't even mean being good (6 is small), and it had no relation to the original point Also you dates are wrong, measure from the last device sale, not the first
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
musictubes 2y ago
Not quite a perfect solution but you can use the iMac as an airplay display.
graeme 2y ago
The line seems to have been drawn at the T2 chip. One thing I can tell you though is that Intel has EOL’ed the chip in the iMac Pro. Meaning no more security support for the chip. So I’m not sure the iMac Pro will get the next update. Though possible Apple has found a way to mitigate any security issues. This is the best article I found on the topic. Note also that once the iMac Pro is out of support, it’s os will still get security updates for two years past that. So with this announcement today we are guaranteed security support until Oct 2027 or so. I own an iMac Pro and was pleasantly surprised today. Had been concerned the Intel EOL might end things. https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/07/with-macos-sonoma-intel-macs-are-still-getting-fewer-updates-than-they-used-to/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/07/with-macos-sonoma-in...
- bsimpson 2y ago
  Unfortunately, I don't think our IT dept will support an old OS if a newer one is available; even if the old one gets security patches and the new one doesn't work on some machines.
aikinai 2y ago
I also really appreciated that magical window with my 2018 iMac Pro at work! Never going to be able to justify a Studio Display…
- bsimpson 2y ago
  It's insane that it costs as much as an iMac, but it's also insane that it effectively _is_ an iMac (with nerfed software).

ryandrake 2y ago

I've got so much perfectly-working e-waste from Apple. It's so sad. I'm on a Late 2014 Mac mini that's stuck on Monterey macOS 12 and a Late 2014 retina iMac that's stuck on Big Sur macOS 11(!!) An iPhone7 that's stuck on iOS15. The display on that iMac is still IMO second to none. These computers do everything I need, yet their software support is stuck back in time. And 3rd party developers are terrible about supporting previous version of macOS. They alway seem to assume you are running the latest and greatest, and deliberately remove support for earlier OSs. Hell, I have an O.G. iPad 1 that still works perfectly as it did the day I bought it, but most of the built-in software no longer works, and the App Store is basically empty. What a sad state of affairs.

EricE 2y ago
Your not stuck (the Mac's at least) https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/ https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/
- sgerenser 2y ago
  I have a 2012 Mac mini server running Monterey right now thanks to Open Core. Still getting security updates (for now at least). Too many reported issues with Ventura and Sonoma to bother trying them.
- windowsrookie 2y ago
  I am using open core on several Apple devices from 2008-2010. A Metal capable GPU makes a huge difference in performance. After upgrading my 2010 iMac to a Firepro M4000, it runs the current version of macOS Sonoma better than the 2018-2019 MacBook airs do.
jamesy0ung 2y ago
I have a 2012 Mac Mini, running Linux with a bunch of services on it. Works quite well as a server. Low power and silent.

Eric_WVGG 2y ago

> top of the line panels A few different people have figured out how to convert these panels into stand-alone displays. It's a pity that it would be impractical to make a small business out of this. - https://ohmypizza.com/2023/04/converting-a-5k-imac-into-an-external-5k-display https://ohmypizza.com/2023/04/converting-a-5k-imac-into-an-e... - https://mschmitt.org/blog/convert-5k-27-imac-external-display-usb-c/ https://mschmitt.org/blog/convert-5k-27-imac-external-displa...

bsimpson 2y ago
Thanks for the tips! Wild that a hobby project I've never heard of has a whole outfit in China supporting it: http://chiyakeji.com/ http://chiyakeji.com/ I wonder if I'll be able to expense one of those when/if Apple finally deprecates the iMac Pro on my desk.
ray__ 2y ago
I've done this and it's amazing-it's the only monitor that I can use for my workstation (Linux/Windows) and my laptop (macOS) because even the (relatively) cheap LG UltraFine monitors don't work with the Nvidia GPU on my workstation.

hcarvalhoalves 2y ago

Apple is now imposing the same iOS obsolescence program to MacBook/iMac. That’s how you make easy money nowadays.

setopt 2y ago
iPhone XR was released in 2018, and I got mine in 2019. It will still be supported by iOS 18, which is being released in 2024. 5-6 years of fully functioning hardware with official OS updates is much better than the Android phones I had before it.
- hcarvalhoalves 2y ago
  Apple never advertised how long they would support updates, but recently published a 5 years policy [1]. It’s still bad since the device is well made and would easily outlast 5 years with battery replacement. https://www.androidauthority.com/iphone-software-support-commitment-3449135/ https://www.androidauthority.com/iphone-software-support-com...
  - kaba0 2y ago
    A battery replacement after 3 years costs pennies, relative to its value
- 1over137 2y ago
  You shouldn't measure by the release date of the hardware, but by the last sale date of the hardware. In Apple's list of supported Macs, the "iMac Pro (2017)" is the oldest year. But that computer was sold until 2021! Makes Apple look more generous putting 2017 in that list instead of 2021!
- eviks 2y ago
  Being better doesn't even mean being good (6 is small), and it had no relation to the original point Also you dates are wrong, measure from the last device sale, not the first

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

musictubes 2y ago

Not quite a perfect solution but you can use the iMac as an airplay display.

graeme 2y ago

The line seems to have been drawn at the T2 chip. One thing I can tell you though is that Intel has EOL’ed the chip in the iMac Pro. Meaning no more security support for the chip. So I’m not sure the iMac Pro will get the next update. Though possible Apple has found a way to mitigate any security issues. This is the best article I found on the topic. Note also that once the iMac Pro is out of support, it’s os will still get security updates for two years past that. So with this announcement today we are guaranteed security support until Oct 2027 or so. I own an iMac Pro and was pleasantly surprised today. Had been concerned the Intel EOL might end things. https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/07/with-macos-sonoma-intel-macs-are-still-getting-fewer-updates-than-they-used-to/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/07/with-macos-sonoma-in...

bsimpson 2y ago
Unfortunately, I don't think our IT dept will support an old OS if a newer one is available; even if the old one gets security patches and the new one doesn't work on some machines.

aikinai 2y ago

I also really appreciated that magical window with my 2018 iMac Pro at work! Never going to be able to justify a Studio Display…

bsimpson 2y ago
It's insane that it costs as much as an iMac, but it's also insane that it effectively _is_ an iMac (with nerfed software).