6 ms·

There must be millions of Intel Macs still around. Why wouldn’t they update it?

shepherdjerred 2y ago
The parent comment said that Apple is rushing iOS updates. iOS is the operating system for iPhones which use Apple Silicon rather than Intel processors.
wannacboatmovie 2y ago
Well for starters, they stopped providing any updates for many perfectly functional Intel Macs years ago for no other reason than planned obsolescence. A side effect of the "they make both the hardware and software that's why it's better" paradigm. Things like OpenCore Legacy Patcher prove it's possible; they just don't want to. I don't think anyone feels entitled to new features in perpetuity. Security updates only would be fine thank you. Don't tell me the richest company in the world can't pay for a couple of developers who just want to rest and vest to take care of and test the legacy platforms. A cushy job and you keep the customers happy. Ironically the best way to stay safe on these computers is to install Windows or Linux.
- StressedDev 2y ago
  Software needs longer support life cycles in general. I find it frustrating that organizations do not support operating systems, hardware, and applications for at least 10 years. Note Apple is one of the better organizations on this. Consumer router companies are notorious for shipping unpatched software. Here is what I would like to see: 1. All hardware and software should come with a highly visible end of support date. 2. All hardware and software should notify people when it is no longer receiving security patches. It should also explain to users why running unpatched software or hardware is dangerous.
  - wannacboatmovie 2y ago
    To my knowledge Apple has never published EOL or support dates in the future. Someone correct me if something has changed in the last few years.
    - wtallis 2y ago
      https://support.apple.com/en-us/102772 https://support.apple.com/en-us/102772 outlines "vintage" and "obsolete" status for hardware products, with a few exceptions. I'm not aware of a similarly straightforward criteria or comprehensive list for software support periods.
      - wannacboatmovie 2y ago
        The issue with passing off a list of vintage products as some kind of past tense support schedule is by definition products become vintage when they are added to the list at some arbitrary date. My expectation is a table of OS versions and EOL dates published in advance. Like nearly every other responsible OS vendor in existence. Apple continuing to get a pass on this in 2024 is abhorrent.
        wtallis 2y ago
        > The issue with passing off a list of vintage products as some kind of past tense support schedule is by definition products become vintage when they are added to the list at some arbitrary date. If you read some of the text above the product list, you'll see that Apple does publish guidelines about when products can be expected to be added to the list: > Products are considered vintage when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago. > Products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 7 years ago. Monster-branded Beats products are considered obsolete regardless of when they were purchased. > Apple discontinues all hardware service for obsolete products, and service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products. Mac laptops may be eligible for an extended battery-only repair period for up to 10 years from when the product was last distributed for sale, subject to parts availability. So as you can see, it's not arbitrary or unpredictable when a product is going to show up on the vintage product list. The only unpredictable or obscure part of this process is finding out how long an outdated product was still being sold after its successor launched.
  - pjmlp 2y ago
    Which is why having cybersecurity laws and liability in computing is so relevant.
- threeseed 2y ago
  Sequoia is supported on most Intel Macs going back to 2018. And it's far more than just a "couple of developers" to support older operating systems.
  - chris_wot 2y ago
    Not on Macbook Airs that are only 3-5 years old though. We have a number that we plan on replacing after EOY, but we are still using for now. Can't get Sequoia.
    - password4321 2y ago
      Not really suitable for a corporate environment but in case you weren't aware: https://github.com/dortania/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher https://github.com/dortania/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher macOS Big Sur and newer on machines as old as 2007 macOS Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma and Sequoia
      - chris_wot 2y ago
        Nice. Yeah, never going to fly here :( pity
    - phony-account 2y ago
      > Macbook Airs that are only 3-5 years old MacBook Airs from 2020 support Sequoia - so just the very upper limit of your range is relevant.
      - wannacboatmovie 2y ago
        Absolutely not. Apple was still selling non-Retina Intel MacBook Airs until 2019. Those are now completely unsupported with no security updates having topped out at Monterrey. 5 years of updates on a new laptop is borderline criminal.
    - chris_wot 2y ago
      I see the Mac fanboys aren't happy with my factual statement. I love Macs (won't use anything else) but I also live in reality.
- hulitu 2y ago
  > Don't tell me the richest company in the world can't pay for a couple of developers who just want to rest and vest to take care of and test the legacy platforms. Why would they shoot themselves in the foot ? If the new MacOS does not run on older HW and they don't release patches (no development team) it is a win-win situation: user must buy a new Mac and no money is wasted supporting old HW.

The parent comment said that Apple is rushing iOS updates. iOS is the operating system for iPhones which use Apple Silicon rather than Intel processors.

wannacboatmovie 2y ago

Well for starters, they stopped providing any updates for many perfectly functional Intel Macs years ago for no other reason than planned obsolescence. A side effect of the "they make both the hardware and software that's why it's better" paradigm. Things like OpenCore Legacy Patcher prove it's possible; they just don't want to. I don't think anyone feels entitled to new features in perpetuity. Security updates only would be fine thank you. Don't tell me the richest company in the world can't pay for a couple of developers who just want to rest and vest to take care of and test the legacy platforms. A cushy job and you keep the customers happy. Ironically the best way to stay safe on these computers is to install Windows or Linux.

StressedDev 2y ago
Software needs longer support life cycles in general. I find it frustrating that organizations do not support operating systems, hardware, and applications for at least 10 years. Note Apple is one of the better organizations on this. Consumer router companies are notorious for shipping unpatched software. Here is what I would like to see: 1. All hardware and software should come with a highly visible end of support date. 2. All hardware and software should notify people when it is no longer receiving security patches. It should also explain to users why running unpatched software or hardware is dangerous.
- wannacboatmovie 2y ago
  To my knowledge Apple has never published EOL or support dates in the future. Someone correct me if something has changed in the last few years.
  - wtallis 2y ago
    https://support.apple.com/en-us/102772 https://support.apple.com/en-us/102772 outlines "vintage" and "obsolete" status for hardware products, with a few exceptions. I'm not aware of a similarly straightforward criteria or comprehensive list for software support periods.
    - wannacboatmovie 2y ago
      The issue with passing off a list of vintage products as some kind of past tense support schedule is by definition products become vintage when they are added to the list at some arbitrary date. My expectation is a table of OS versions and EOL dates published in advance. Like nearly every other responsible OS vendor in existence. Apple continuing to get a pass on this in 2024 is abhorrent.
      - wtallis 2y ago
        > The issue with passing off a list of vintage products as some kind of past tense support schedule is by definition products become vintage when they are added to the list at some arbitrary date. If you read some of the text above the product list, you'll see that Apple does publish guidelines about when products can be expected to be added to the list: > Products are considered vintage when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago. > Products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 7 years ago. Monster-branded Beats products are considered obsolete regardless of when they were purchased. > Apple discontinues all hardware service for obsolete products, and service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products. Mac laptops may be eligible for an extended battery-only repair period for up to 10 years from when the product was last distributed for sale, subject to parts availability. So as you can see, it's not arbitrary or unpredictable when a product is going to show up on the vintage product list. The only unpredictable or obscure part of this process is finding out how long an outdated product was still being sold after its successor launched.
- pjmlp 2y ago
  Which is why having cybersecurity laws and liability in computing is so relevant.
threeseed 2y ago
Sequoia is supported on most Intel Macs going back to 2018. And it's far more than just a "couple of developers" to support older operating systems.
- chris_wot 2y ago
  Not on Macbook Airs that are only 3-5 years old though. We have a number that we plan on replacing after EOY, but we are still using for now. Can't get Sequoia.
  - password4321 2y ago
    Not really suitable for a corporate environment but in case you weren't aware: https://github.com/dortania/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher https://github.com/dortania/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher macOS Big Sur and newer on machines as old as 2007 macOS Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma and Sequoia
    - chris_wot 2y ago
      Nice. Yeah, never going to fly here :( pity
  - phony-account 2y ago
    > Macbook Airs that are only 3-5 years old MacBook Airs from 2020 support Sequoia - so just the very upper limit of your range is relevant.
    - wannacboatmovie 2y ago
      Absolutely not. Apple was still selling non-Retina Intel MacBook Airs until 2019. Those are now completely unsupported with no security updates having topped out at Monterrey. 5 years of updates on a new laptop is borderline criminal.
  - chris_wot 2y ago
    I see the Mac fanboys aren't happy with my factual statement. I love Macs (won't use anything else) but I also live in reality.
hulitu 2y ago
> Don't tell me the richest company in the world can't pay for a couple of developers who just want to rest and vest to take care of and test the legacy platforms. Why would they shoot themselves in the foot ? If the new MacOS does not run on older HW and they don't release patches (no development team) it is a win-win situation: user must buy a new Mac and no money is wasted supporting old HW.