Another question for the brain trust - Mac computers
 

My old iMac is aging. I can't upgrade the OS and I keep running into applications that can't be updated because they need a newer OS. I really like this computer. It's got a big screen, and I'm familiar with it. I also have external hard drives and a printer with the old rectangular USB plugs. From what I've seen, these aren't compatible with the new iMacs.
And honestly, the biggest hurdle is I don't want to dick around setting up a new system. If I had to upgrade a perfectly working car every 10 years because it's "no longer supported," I swear I'd start walking everywhere. (Yes, I know that is exactly what is coming) I'm going to hang on to this baby as long as I can, but I'm afraid someday soon my hand will be forced.

So - what are my Apple options?

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I am still using Mojave on a very similar machine. I am using 2011 Word and Excel. Have a 43" separate monitor that I love.

What apps can't you run? or can't you upgrade?

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My only Mac experience is with making them run Linux (which they typically do quite well) ...

The big ones are Photoshop, Bridge, and Safari. Safari is a real pain because the browser I use mostly is Firefox, but my bank's on-line system won't play with Firefox on Mac OS and wants a later version of Safari. I'm using Photoshop and Bridge 2023 and I don't want to update, but it seems to get slower and has a lot of hiccups anymore.

The USB issue is easily addressed with USB-A -> USB-C connectors available for cheap Amazon etc... there are many different options.

Transferring to a new Apple device is really simple on both Mac and iPhone. The new device will ask if you want to transfer from older device. You agree to both syncing together. Takes a couple hours depending on your data size.

I use both a macbook air(m2) and a mac mini(m1). My next purchase will probably be a mac mini, which I'll mount to the back of a large monitor.

As to ports, I use a USB hub that gives me both style USB ports, SD card port, and an HDMI. For the macbook, I carry a usbc to hdmi cable for monitors when I travel.

USBC is surprisingly fast, I also use it to attach exteral/backup drives.

Have you tried Chrome as an alternative to Safari or FF?

Use software to find what other progs are running in the background. (in windoz it is task manager) Kill the useless bloat ones.
Cleanup and Defrag.
For windowz the is a system file integrity checker.
Might even clean router cache if it's just internet slowdown.
Copy all your personal proprietary data to an external drive. Or two. Or USB sticks. Looks like 128GB for $17.

I would consider getting the latest Intel i7 Mac and moving everything over from your older i5. I have strongly resisted getting a new M series chip for personal use, just have an M2 Mini for picture storage and viewing away from my desk. It's mostly I can't stomach paying subscription cost for Word and Excel with the new Macs.

what other browsers does your online banking use? Probably a waste of time but call in to their tech support might help.

Agree. I ran office '97 until at least 2020, until I switched back to macs. Now I use Libre Office on my macs. Full featured and free.

I'm in the same boat, Patrick. My Mac is over ten years old. There are now an increasing number of websites that are no longer compatible with the newest version of Safari that my Mac will accept. I go back and forth between Safari and Firefox depending on which sites will open with which. My wife tells me I should try running Chrome, so maybe I will. I'll be watching this thread for other suggestions. I really, really don't want a new computer, this one does everything I need. I really hate the opportunity for planned obsolescence that modern computers, phones, and all of that have now afforded their manufacturers. They really seem to take full advantage of it.

FYI Walmart usually sells brand new old stock macs.... i got a brand new MB air M1 for $599 in October... It has been awesome.

Also got a new iPhone 13 for $150

I don't wanna go against the grain but i'll just say that

any problem you have now with the computer being outdated will only and always get worse.

You can buy a brand new M4 imac for about $1100 and be on your way for another 10 years.

The USB thing is a non-issue, very easy to buy a small hub for your other stuff.


and FWIW I'm in the same boat, my oldest macbook of 3 i use at work is a 2015 i7 and it's great but it's gonna eat poo at a very inopportune time and it's going to be on it's way out soon.

spend the money. get a new one. an air is plenty for most people on here.

put them next to each other on your network and the new one copies everything from the old one over and makes the new one look as much like the old one as possible.

it's one of the best features of a mac.

i use them for work and at home - there's a half dozen sitting round the house of various vintages.

macos is linux under the covers.

it's just ringfenced to stop most seat to keyboard interface problems - meaning you can't screw it up so bad it won't boot unless you are really trying.

unlike debian - where i needed a windows computer and IE to tell me how to fix the gpu drivers after every "update"...

Google already has its talons in me too deep for comfort. I've been trying to resist, but this may be a matter of "resistance is futile."

Thank you. When I tried to research the answer to this I hit an undecipherable wall of word-salad acronyms. That's when I came here for help. Fortunately, you all speak English here (except for KC ;) .

100%. I hate this. I'll do without before I'll pay a subscription.

Yep, I use FF 98% of the time. I probably use Chrome another 1.9% of the time, and use Safari if all else fails (which is rare). But then my Mac is a 2019, so still updating (although I've resisted going to Tahoe so far).

As others have posted, the USB thing should be a non-issue with several possible solutions. I didn't search specifically for Anker stuff, but they do make high quality stuff and stand behind it, so it may not be the cheapest, but it should be high quality.

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