Stuck in Monterey

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR MAC CAN'T TRAVEL

For several years now, Apple has chosen a California place name to add character to the annual upgrades of the macOS. It’s become an insider’s guessing game with each Apple Worldwide Developers’ Conference to bet on which landmark will be the next choice.

So far we’ve had famous place names like Mojave, Yosemite, Catalina, Sonoma, and Monterey. Some less so like Ventura, Sequoia, and Mavericks. What’s important to note, though, is that Apple’s Macs are constantly being upgraded along with the software - the macOS - and that with each evolution, there are older Macs that can’t run the new software. The older machines are too slow or just can’t process the new features. Apple tech works so well because the hardware and software is so tightly integrated, but it also means that one day those older Macs have to be retired.

In technology years, my back office is the computer equivalent of a senior living community. These are capable older Macs that have become a little slow, can’t run the current software, and may need regular checkups to run smoothly, but they’re useful, reliable, and still have some tricks up their sleeve. Not ready for recycle land.

I know many Apple users who are in the same boat. So when Apple announces a new generation of zippy Macs and you decide to upgrade, is there still a spot for the old Mac you’re replacing?

What do you do with an older Mac?

Macs are notoriously long lived. The embodiment of the classic “good news/bad news” gag.

The good news is that Macs run for years.

The bad news is that Macs run for years.

Here’s the skinny.

Apple technology is as good as it gets for today’s computers. Macs are well designed and the components are top drawer. I have a 2013 MacBook Pro that still runs well and is my all-time favorite Mac. I have clients come to me with iMacs from 2010. The things just keep going.

Macs cost of ownership is about 1/3rd that of PC’s in a business environment according to IBM.

None other than IBM found that in a Mac vs. PC comparison, the Macs - even with a higher purchase price - cost IBM about 1/3rd of comparable PC’s, partly because of the Mac’s longer useful life. Far less support, cheaper software, and higher employee satisfaction (efficiency, turnover) also contributed to the slimmer bottom line.

We love our Macs.

But Macs, like all computers, run on software. Eventually, even a well running Mac runs up against digital obsolescence when it can’t handle the latest software that is more productive and is compatible with the rest of the world.

But that lasts longer than you might think.

To put that in perspective, my 2015 MacBook Pro that shipped with Yosemite (macOS 10.10) was compatible with the next 7 years of macOS:

• El Capitan

• Sierra

• High Sierra

• Mojave

• Catalina

• Big Sur

• Monterey

It topped out with Monterey, the last macOS that the hardware will run.

BUT Apple provided security updates for 2 more years after that. So for all but the snazziest of new features, Apple supported the software aspects of my trusty little MacBook Pro for 10 years. Longer than the average U.S.person keeps their cars.

Not bad for an $1800 purchase. About $15 per month. So far. So when I see comments online about how unfair it is that someone can’t run new software on their 2010 iMac, I’m not moved.

Which is why I tend to hang on to old Macs longer than I probably should. But why not? They last a long time when cared for. But some point we all need to replace that old Mac with a new one that runs the latest software and can do all the things we need it to do. Then we have to consider what to do with a tired but useable old Mac that’s not up to the task.

Change the task

Maybe you can change the task.

First, let’s look at the non-negotiable issues.

Hard Disk failure - If you have a spinning hard disk drive (HDD) or Fusion Drive in your Mac, it’s either having problems or it will. That generally means a MacBook Pro before 2013, Mac mini’s before 2014, and iMacs before 2021. Have someone copy off the data if you haven’t already, and take them to Apple (or others) for proper recycling. If you aren’t sure what’s inside, use the serial number and check on Everymac.com to see what you’ve got.

Glitchy performance, spinning beachballs, crashes - If you have a more recent Mac or an old one with a Solid State Drive (SSD), it may be fixable. Again, be sure you’ve copied off all your data and reformat the SSD. Then upgrade it to the newest macOS that the Mac can run. If the problems still persist, then you probably have hardware issues. You can verify that at the Apple Genius Bar.

In general, doing hardware repairs of any kind on older Macs is not worth the cost unless it’s covered by an Apple recall or under AppleCare, but it’s worth checking.

So now we’re back to best cases. You’ve got an old Mac that is a little tired, but it works.

I think there are two great uses for an older functional Mac.

The first is as a media hub.

Media Hub/Photo workstation

Our photo/video libraries get bigger every year, and the Apple Photos ecosystem makes it easy to sync all your devices through iCloud, even if they are on older software. It’s brilliant. So using your older Mac as a media library can be a great addition.

Having a dedicated Mac with attached and backed up drives to hold all the media you have - photos, scans, videos, graphics, etc. - is a useful and easy step for convenience, security and your peace of mind. It could become the music source for your HomePod system or the video source for your family room TV. Options are endless.

And let’s talk about creative projects. My old 2013 15” MacBook Pro (stuck in Big Sur) has 3 tasks. It can display my Keynote slides and photos for a presentation. It serves as an extra photo workstation when needed. And it is tethered to a digital camera when I’m doing camera scans. It’s great. Many 3rd party apps are more backwardly compatible than you might think and will run on older versions of the macOS that Apple has left behind.

Office help

I also have a 2015 13” MacBook Pro (stuck in Monterey) that has become my home office and travel Mac. Maybe you’d like a dedicated work station in your home office or small business. Spreadsheets and word processing are low impact on the processor and generally don’t require the latest software to run.

Sure, you probably wouldn’t buy a dedicated workstation just for that, but it might be very handy if you’ve got one that’s gathering dust because you replaced it. Thanks to iCloud Drive and Desktop/Documents optimization, I can have all my documents on all my devices. It works great, even on my older machines.

So why replace these old Macs at all?

Accessibility and speed

Here’s the thing.

Today’s computing is dependent on the internet. Phones, tablets and PC’s are useful because of the connectivity they provide. Accessibility and speed. Along with that comes the need for security. We need tech that is better/faster/safer to do the things we do today. Which is why our old Macs eventually can’t keep up. Zoom calls, AI, video, automation. Our expectations get raised every day.

You need a frontline Mac that connects securely and talks the same language as the world around you. This means a Mac that supports current protocols and can stifle bad actors with state-of-the-art security. Files get bigger, transmissions get more complex, and websites demand more of your processing to show off their snazzy visuals. Technology is like strolling New York City; every time you visit they’ve put up a new building that has to be recognized and documented. Apple’s software support covers the current macOS and the prior two versions.

As of this writing, that’s macOS Sequoia, Sonoma, and Ventura. Soon the launch of Tahoe will kick Ventura off the bench, and so it goes. A 3-year window may seem stingy, but given the rapid hardware developments with Apple Silicon and the breakneck pace of technology advancements, it’s pretty good. Especially if you nurse it along until it really can’t do front line tasks.

And if you have an older Mac that’s sitting on a shelf gathering dust, don’t have a use for it yourself, and can’t bear to have it recycled, know that it can still be useful to someone. As long as your old Macs run okay, even slow, there are shelters and community programs that can use old Macs for basic tasks and communication.

Places that are just fine being stuck in Monterey.

If you are looking for some help with your photos, here are 2 ways you can work with me:

I do online consults with every day Photos users worldwide. Anything picture related on the Apple platform and a little more. I've helped thousands of people with their every day photography needs. No judgement. No jargon. Get your photos organized and backed up safely.

If you are an entrepreneur or small business who wants to leverage their photo and video content for marketing and legacy media, I can get you set up to master that.