Now booting off an external SSD via USB 3. Currently on 10.11. 8GB RAM. Was thinking 10.14 Mojave so as to avoid 10.15 annoyances. This machine will probably be used for another year before getting replaced with the new big iMac.

opinions?

Mojave.

Clay,

That machine should be able to run Catalina! Should being the operative word. It should be able to run Mojave, too. Which you choose, depends on the apps you need to run on it. Obviously, if you need to run a 32-bit app like Quicken 2007, you'll need to stay with Mojave or earlier. If it can't run either of those, drop down to High Sierra. It should definitely be able to run High Sierra.

I think the key is to run the OS that allows the machine to run the apps you need but, at the same time, can still get current security updates. I'm running into a situation these days where several machines owned by family members can't run a version of Safari that is new enough. Ended up switching them to a different browser until such a time that I can replace their machines with one that can run a newer version of the OS and Safari.

Robert



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/2021 02:10PM by Robert M.

I think I'll go with Mojave. thanks!

You can run Mojave but I suggest stopping at High Sierra due to application compatability.

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“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

I don’t think High Sierra is receiving security updates from Apple anymore.

Which apps are okay under HS but break in Mojave?

I don't think Mojave has any compatibility problems. That is Catalina.

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If its running fine now... and you plan on upgrading in 2022... why not just leave as is?

One thing I would be sorta cautious about is your limited 8 Gb of ram with a more complex OS.

Maybe spend $50? on additional 16 GB.

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

Quote
jdc
If its running fine now... and you plan on upgrading in 2022... why not just leave as is?

One thing I would be sorta cautious about is your limited 8 Gb of ram with a more complex OS.

Maybe spend $50? on additional 16 GB.

I'm sitting on 16 GB and if I could add 16 for a 32 total at $50, I'd jump on it. Too bad it doesn't work that way.

Mo-Jayve