Apple to Mark Several iMac Models as Obsolete Later This Month

[meson]

I use a late '13 21.5" at work as a secondary machine/extra display. Those old machines booting off of an external SSD over USB3 are fantastic for basic office work. It ran Monterey just fine once patched with OCLP, and currently runs Ventura just fine as well. While not quite perfect, Universal Control is a great feature to interact with both machines, and AirPlay works well enough when I want to use a more traditional extended desktop.

I'm of the opinion that any machine since Apple started including USB3 should be given a far longer useful life cycle than Apple wants to give them. Had my 2012 non-retina 13" MBP not had liquid damage, it would likely still be my daily driver. I loved that machine.

 

[Dr Kevorkian94]

I have the same iMac. How did you get Ventura running on it? Also - what is the "sleep/wake issue" ?

Open Core Legacy Patcher! The 5.1 version is dead simple to use and there are already some goof YT videos walking you though the process. I followed MrMacintosh‘s video I believe, the docs for the application are pretty good but it’s nice to have a walkthrough.

When my mac goes into deep sleep, I cant wake it. Peripherals aren’t connected and the power button wont wake it either. I have to shut it down totally with the power button then boot it back up. I saw another post about this related to ventura so I'm not sure if its just an OS issue or the OCLP.

 

[IllinoisCorn]

Original 5K retina users being obsoleted, and no suitable replacement in the lineup.
Huh.

4K M1.

 

[Smartuser]

Awesome thanks! I thought i maxed it out when I bought it in 2015 but I guess not! Thankfully 32 go has served me well with no issues, its nice to know I can double it if I ever need to.

I don’t disagree but nice to hold out hope I guess….I’d rather not have to spend the $ on a Studio and a display or a MacBook Pro and a display if I don’t have to. That being said I do have a fund going for when my iMac dies.

Yeah, I only learned about the 64 GB later on, I also bought it with 32.

 

[azentropy]

Sure seems like the "replacement" is being considered to be a Mac Studio + Mac Studio Display.

That's what I went for and love it.

You are right though, not suitable for some people.

Yeah for the higher end sure, even though some like the clean factor of having an all in one design. There is no getting around JUST the base Studio Display ($1599) is basically the price as what the 27“ iMac base was when discounted. Even adding a base Mac mini it quickly becomes much more expensive than that previous offering.

The needs of people who bought base models of the 27" iMac or upgrade few features are covered by the 24-inch model.

Hardly anyone wants to go DOWN in size of their computer screen or even go to a lower resolution display, so that is unrealistic to think of any 24" model or even a 3rd party 27" 4K display as being a good replacement for those who had a 27" 5K iMac previously.

 

[jennyp]

Open Core Legacy Patcher! The 5.1 version is dead simple to use and there are already some goof YT videos walking you though the process. I followed MrMacintosh‘s video I believe, the docs for the application are pretty good but it’s nice to have a walkthrough.

Thanks !

 

[tomscott1988]

I just installed Ventura on my Late 2013 iMac and I agree it runs flawlessly. I even made it bootable on an external Samsung T7 SSD because I did not want to open my iMac to replace the drive which is on its last legs. Ventura runs beautifully on the external SSD.

I would swap it for something like an X5. The T7 doesn't support trim, will be fine for the short term but I wouldn't want to run it long term. TB3 devices support trim.

 

[Dan From Canada]

They don't mark autos as obsolete.
Why iMacs?

 

[Imperial926]

That one isn't obsolete. Look it up.

He's probably thinking about the removal of MacOS upgrades. No Ventura for us decrepit 2016 MacBook Pro users who maxed out at the time etc etc

 

[rpmurray]

I guess Ventura will be the last year of support for my 2017 iMac ? Should still get security updates for a few more years though.

About software updates for Apple devices

Note: Because of dependency on architecture and system changes to any current version of macOS (for example, macOS 13), not all known security issues are addressed in previous versions (for example, macOS 12).

Apple clarifies security update policy: Only the latest OSes are fully patched

 

[Smartuser]

He's probably thinking about the removal of MacOS upgrades. No Ventura for us decrepit 2016 MacBook Pro users who maxed out at the time etc etc

Yeah of course, but it's incorrect as posted.

 

[Smartuser]

They don't mark autos as obsolete.
Why iMacs?

Okay, at what Ford dealership can I get parts for my Model T?

It's not feasible for any company to fully support any product they ever made. Apple just can't catch a break with some people: When they clearly state exactly when something becomes obsolete, as they do on their site, then that's bad, and when they don't, as in the case of OS support, that's also bad.

 

[rpmurray]

Would it work on my mid 2011 iMac?

Up through Monterey. They don't have Ventura working on the 2011 yet because of the non-Metal graphics card, but are working on it.

 

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

Welcome to OCLP.

2013 iMac 14,2 is well supported.

There’s also some vids on YouTube on how to install Ventura on 2012s. Before that, things aren’t as well running.

 

[David1964]

My 2017 iMac is still running great. I have been wondering what its replacement will be since there is not another current 27”.

It’s replacement is the 24” iMac launched last year.Can’t see Apple making another 27” iMac now that there is the Mac Studio and 27” Studio Display.

 

[WiiDSmoker]

Up through Monterey. They don't have Ventura working on the 2011 yet because of the non-Metal graphics card, but are working on it.

Very cool!!!

 

[rpmurray]

They don't mark autos as obsolete.
Why iMacs?

That's because you can buy replacement parts for autos from thousands of suppliers. For the Macs you only have Apple, and they like to screw over their customers.

 

[Smartuser]

About software updates for Apple devices


Apple clarifies security update policy: Only the latest OSes are fully patched

From the ars technica article: "Most people running an up-to-date Big Sur or Monterey installation with an up-to-date Safari browser should be safe from most high-priority threats, especially if you also keep the other apps on your Mac updated. And Apple's documentation doesn't change anything about how it updates older software; it merely confirms something that had already been observed."

I'd be interested to learn about some examples where users of old versions that were in the two-year maintenance to mode suffered any damages because of those differences.

 

[orbital~debris]

Whither large iMac variant, Apple?

Drop a morsel for Gurman, so he can say something like "I'm told Apple plan to introduce the larger variant of iMac in March…" in one of his Bloomberg emails.

 

[djinn]

I guess Ventura will be the last year of support for my 2017 iMac ? Should still get security updates for a few more years though.

So sad.....

 

[architect1337]

I managed to buy a late 2013 IMac on ebay for less than $100 (no keyboard / mouse. Turns out the internal HD was severely slow, so plugged in an external 1TB USB3 drive, used Open Core Legacy Patcher to install Ventura onto the 1TB drive and all back running great (of course just for email, calendar stuff - I'm not talking heavy loading here). Great looking machine still - perfect for a second family mac for a non-power user.

 

[DotCom2]

I wouldn't say that with this generality.

The needs of people who bought base models of the 27" iMac or upgrade few features are covered by the 24-inch model. The needs of people who got the top of the line are covered by the Mac Studio. There is at most a segment somewhere in the middle that could be a little awkward, maybe people who need 32 GB of RAM but not much performance.

Exactly me. I'm stuck in the middle. I know I wouldn't be happy and regret it if I went to a 24" after having a beautiful 27". Studio and ASD is over kill for me. But if I have to, then I have to. sigh

 

[ImAlwaysRight]

Not sure why some people run dinosaurs and like it. I've always come out ahead financially selling the old model while it was still worth something, and buying the new model (sometimes "recently discontinued") at a discount. That way I'm running either the latest or perhaps one generation behind for less money than others spend maxing out RAM and putting in an SSD in their dinosaur that still has a sub-par processor and less video capability.

 

[Macintosh Quadra 840av]

They had a good run.

 

[Gudi]

Original 5K retina users being obsoleted, and no suitable replacement in the lineup.
Huh.

There is a suitable replacement, the 4.5K iMac is absolutely capable of doing everything the 5K did. It's just a little smaller and the next 5.5K iMac will be just a little bigger.