ANY way to Check OSX Before buying?

[harleymhs]

Hey Guys, is there ANY WAY to check what OSX is on a Brand New MacBook Pro Retina by looking at the sticker on the box? I went to a store in my area ( MicroCenter ) and they were selling NEW MBPr 13 in the box for 100 less than apple and they said it had Mavericks install .. That's what I wanted, got home with it and Yosemite was installed, but really wanted Mavericks.. So the I wanted to know is there a way the sticker on the box has any hints of the OSX with out opening them? Thanks!

 

[GGJstudios]

Hey Guys, is there ANY WAY to check what OSX is on a Brand New MacBook Pro Retina by looking at the sticker on the box? I went to a store in my area ( MicroCenter ) and they were selling NEW MBPr 13 in the box for 100 less than apple and they said it had Mavericks install .. That's what I wanted, got home with it and Yosemite was installed, but really wanted Mavericks.. So the I wanted to know is there a way the sticker on the box has any hints of the OSX with out opening them? Thanks!

I don't know of any indication on the box that shows the OS X version, but most newly-purchased Macs will likely come with the most current version: Yosemite. You can always open the box in the store and turn it on to verify the version before leaving the store.

 

[Wreckus]

All the mid-2014 MBP should have yosemite on it by now as the store should've got new stock from Apple by now. Current apple products rarely go on sale unless it is in the stores flyer about a sale and I haven't seen a brand new MBP go on sale for 100 bucks less (50 bucks I have though).

If you want mavericks, I would ask the check the box to see if its from 2013, not 2014. If you see 2014 on the box, then it will probably have Yosemite installed. But, someone else may have an idea on what to look for on the box.

 

[harleymhs]

I thought for sure it had Mavericks being they advertised it as having it plus 100 $ the price ..

 

[Wreckus]

I thought for sure it had Mavericks being they advertised it as having it plus 100 $ the price ..

Every store has a different way of doing things (especially putting out price tags). Some stores are very good at putting the right/latest price tags out, some ignore them. If your salesperson was quick to say yes to your questions or very quick in doing the sale, then he wasn't a good salesperson and just wanted to sale.

 

[harleymhs]

Every store has a different way of doing things (especially putting out price tags). Some stores are very good at putting the right/latest price tags out, some ignore them. If your salesperson was quick to say yes to your questions or very quick in doing the sale, then he wasn't a good salesperson and just wanted to sale.

yes u are right, all of them said YES YES YES it has Mavericks and it said it ONLINE on their website! Yes it was a good deal if you wanted Yosemite! I wanted Mavericks .. Back to return it and wait for the NEW Air to come out .. If Im going to run Yosemite may as well get ALL new technology and get Yosemite anyway! Thanks for your help guys!!

 

[snaky69]

Hey Guys, is there ANY WAY to check what OSX is on a Brand New MacBook Pro Retina by looking at the sticker on the box? I went to a store in my area ( MicroCenter ) and they were selling NEW MBPr 13 in the box for 100 less than apple and they said it had Mavericks install .. That's what I wanted, got home with it and Yosemite was installed, but really wanted Mavericks.. So the I wanted to know is there a way the sticker on the box has any hints of the OSX with out opening them? Thanks!

No, there is no way. Why do you insist on getting Mavericks?

 

[harleymhs]

No, there is no way. Why do you insist on getting Mavericks?

Yosemite Sucks.. LOL

 

[snaky69]

Yosemite Sucks.. LOL

That's a matter of opinion. I rather enjoy it.

 

[harleymhs]

That's a matter of opinion. I rather enjoy it.

Agreed! Love it or Hate it.. ALl my Macs are running Mavericks and we love them so I wanted to keep them all the same OSX, I was on the fence to buy this MBPr now or wait till the NEw 12" Air Comes out with Retina,. Microcenters error helped me decide on what to do, Ill wait to see how the NEW Air is with retina.. Thanks guys!

 

[Wreckus]

Agreed! Love it or Hate it.. ALl my Macs are running Mavericks and we love them so I wanted to keep them all the same OSX, I was on the fence to buy this MBPr now or wait till the NEw 12" Air Comes out with Retina,. Microcenters error helped me decide on what to do, Ill wait to see how the NEW Air is with retina.. Thanks guys!

Why don't you create a USB image of Mavericks from your other mac and just install mavericks on the new mac you just but with the USB image.

 

[simonsi]

Yep just clone your Mavericks install if that is what you want, no need to fuss about what is preinstalled...

 

[maflynn]

Nope, and at this point most if not all computers being sold will have Yosemite. That is unless the product is very very old and in that case, do you want a computer that's been sitting around for 6+ months without being charged up?

 

[ixxx69]

Agreed! Love it or Hate it.. ALl my Macs are running Mavericks and we love them so I wanted to keep them all the same OSX, I was on the fence to buy this MBPr now or wait till the NEw 12" Air Comes out with Retina,. Microcenters error helped me decide on what to do, Ill wait to see how the NEW Air is with retina.. Thanks guys!

Heads up - the "NEW 12" Air" will come with Yosemite, and you won't be able to install Mavericks on it.

As others have pointed out, if you've previously downloaded Mavericks to your other Macs using your iTunes account, than you shouldn't have too much of an issue installing it on your new rMBP. Seems kind of crazy to return the computer because of that, but to each their own.

 

[Z3man]

Hey Guys, is there ANY WAY to check what OSX is on a Brand New MacBook Pro Retina by looking at the sticker on the box? I went to a store in my area ( MicroCenter ) and they were selling NEW MBPr 13 in the box for 100 less than apple and they said it had Mavericks install .. That's what I wanted, got home with it and Yosemite was installed, but really wanted Mavericks.. So the I wanted to know is there a way the sticker on the box has any hints of the OSX with out opening them? Thanks!

Surely you are in the best position to answer your own question, as you have just purchased a brand new Macbook and have the box in front of you.

What does it say on the box.

 

[harleymhs]

Surely you are in the best position to answer your own question, as you have just purchased a brand new Macbook and have the box in front of you.

What does it say on the box.

Nothing about what version its running, Just OSX Installed..

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Yep just clone your Mavericks install if that is what you want, no need to fuss about what is preinstalled...

I thought that if you buy an OSX running a NEW version OSX you can NEVER install an older version only go forward.. I do have a copy of Mavericks installer on a USB drive but I know for a fact the NEWER machines won't install on it the logic board won't take an older version. Is this correct?

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Heads up - the "NEW 12" Air" will come with Yosemite, and you won't be able to install Mavericks on it.

As others have pointed out, if you've previously downloaded Mavericks to your other Macs using your iTunes account, than you shouldn't have too much of an issue installing it on your new rMBP. Seems kind of crazy to return the computer because of that, but to each their own.

So if thats the case the New air would be able to take Mavericks from a USB installer?

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Yep just clone your Mavericks install if that is what you want, no need to fuss about what is preinstalled...

I have a CCC of my system running Mavericks.. I used Migration ass and it all on Yosemite … IS THERE any way to get Mavericks on a Machine that came with Yosemite? Thats the BIG question here! Thanks Guys!

 

[DeltaMac]

...
I have a CCC of my system running Mavericks.. I used Migration ass and it all on Yosemite … IS THERE any way to get Mavericks on a Machine that came with Yosemite? Thats the BIG question here! Thanks Guys!

The big answer: If your Mac model previously shipped with Mavericks, but now comes with Yosemite (which is how you received it), then you SHOULD be able to boot to your Mavericks USB, erase the hard drive, and back grade to Mavericks.

 

[simonsi]

I thought that if you buy an OSX running a NEW version OSX you can NEVER install an older version only go forward.. I do have a copy of Mavericks installer on a USB drive but I know for a fact the NEWER machines won't install on it the logic board won't take an older version. Is this correct?

I have a CCC of my system running Mavericks.. I used Migration ass and it all on Yosemite … IS THERE any way to get Mavericks on a Machine that came with Yosemite? Thats the BIG question here! Thanks Guys!

Seperate "Will it run" from "What will Apple Internet Recovery install".

Providing the hardware you are running EVER shipped with a particular OS version then it is likely you can install that version on it. The caveat is if the firmware has been upgraded, that <may> then prevent the earlier OS version from running.

Apple deal with this by ONLY allowing the shipped OS to be able to be reinstalled by Internet Recovery but that doesn't prevent you trying the above.

As you only want to go back to Mavericks I would: simply create a Mavericks bootable installer USB (using Diskmaker), and install using that. OR just connect the two machines via a (Thunderbolt cable) with the Yosemite machine in Target Disk mode and use CCC to clone across over Yosemite.

 

[harleymhs]

The big answer: If your Mac model previously shipped with Mavericks, but now comes with Yosemite (which is how you received it), then you SHOULD be able to boot to your Mavericks USB, erase the hard drive, and back grade to Mavericks.

The new one I bought today has a different hard drive in it compared to the older mbpr that I have , I was going to just install my transcend jet drive in it but the new Mac hd was smaller, so did the mid 2014 mbpr originally come with mavericks? Anyone know? Thanks

 

[DeltaMac]

... did the mid 2014 mbpr originally come with mavericks? Anyone know?...

Yes, the mid 2014 MBPr first shipped with Mavericks 10.9.4

 

[harleymhs]

Yes, the mid 2014 MBPr first shipped with Mavericks 10.9.4

Thanks!! Appreciate all your help! Returned it today before I realized I could of installed mavericks from my USB installer! Always thought if it came with Yosemite u couldn't go backwards with osx because of the logic board And firmware.. Maybe it's just worth the wait for the new retina air with all new tech and deal with Yosemite ...

 

[yjchua95]

Yosemite Sucks.. LOL

Then you're screwed over on security.

Only Yosemite has all the latest security updates.

Security Update 2015-001 didn't include some fixes for Mavericks, but were included for Yosemite. An example is Thunderstrike (a very critical security hole). It was patched for only computers running Yosemite. Mavericks and ML are left with this loophole wide open.

 

[Intell]

The Thunderstrike exploit is only exploitable through physical means. If one never connects a Thunderbolt device or only connects trusted devices, the machine cannot be exploited.

 

[alex0002]

Then you're screwed over on security.

Only Yosemite has all the latest security updates.

Security Update 2015-001 didn't include some fixes for Mavericks, but were included for Yosemite. An example is Thunderstrike (a very critical security hole). It was patched for only computers running Yosemite. Mavericks and ML are left with this loophole wide open.

Thunderstrike is a firmware issue where the Mac is vulnerable at boot time, so if he has Yosemite and gets Security Update 2015-001 doesn't he get the new firmware?

Then he can install Mavericks.

 

[Intell]

There is no new Thunderbolt firmware provided with Mac OS X 10.10.2.