Does a new iMac mean no OS updates for Intel based computers

[TimJohn]

Just wondering when Apple goes to their new ARM chipsets does that mean operating system updates will not work with the Intel based iMacs???

 

[chscag]

Updates will likely work for both Intel and ARM based machines - at least for awhile until everything gets changed over - software and hardware. We have been through this before when Apple switched platforms from PPC to Intel. Updates to Tiger and Leopard worked for both the PPC and Intel machines. It wasn't until Snow Leopard was released that macOS was only for Intel machines.

 

[TimJohn]

Thats would be good because I would hate to think my 3 year old iMac obsolete so soon. The last iMac I owned made it about 9 years before they no longer supported it with updates.

 

[Ethosik]

They made a massive mistake with the 2013 Mac Pro and they spent quite a bit of time apologizing for it. I would doubt they would immediately make the 2019 Mac Pro not work for future releases.

 

[Plutonius]

I would assume five years of updates before MacOS (and iOS) are retired and replaced by a new OS that runs on both iOS devices and ARM based computers.

I feel sorry for the people who sunk a lot of money into the new Mac Pro with the assumption that they would use it for many years.

 

[mmomega]

A Mac doesn’t stop operating because Apple doesn’t allow it the most recent emoji update.
It will be fine.
Go check the listing of users still using 10+ yr old Mac Pros.
I still have 2 dozen almost 10 yr old machines working 4 days a week, 12 hrs a day.
Practically any Mac with a ‘core’ CPU will give you several years tp pay for itself.

 

[endlessike]

A Mac doesn’t stop operating because Apple doesn’t allow it the most recent emoji update.
It will be fine.
Go check the listing of users still using 10+ yr old Mac Pros.
I still have 2 dozen almost 10 yr old machines working 4 days a week, 12 hrs a day.
Practically any Mac with a ‘core’ CPU will give you several years tp pay for itself.

A Mac doesn’t stop operating, but if the software you use stops getting necessary updates it’s not exactly great either. Are all software vendors going to continue providing updates for both architectures for several years? Almost certainly not.

 

[mmomega]

A Mac doesn’t stop operating, but if the software you use stops getting necessary updates it’s not exactly great either. Are all software vendors going to continue providing updates for both architectures for several years? Almost certainly not.

I wouldn’t have that answer anyway. I just know my little world and in the healthcare field, at least mine. Technology moves extremely, extremely slow and then markup on computer hardware is ridiculous. Most vendors will not sell their software without being bundled to a piece of hardware. So a machine I can build or buy from a store for $500 is going to cost somewhere in the realm of $1500-2000 each.
Our digital X-ray system is Windows 7 based and the storage server is as well and this is a fairly new system. With most of the business or practice management software, there is no trial, the software is roughly 20k Upfront and you get to see it through either an online demo or a representative coming out to show you.
Some of my system is Mac based but the majority is Windows.
So in my world, it costs more to be bleeding edge so you have to figure out the break even point for what you just purchased and hope you get 7-10 years out of it before you have to do it all over again.
I am fortunate enough to be able to “play” with that bleeding edge at home but the thing that allows that to happen is much more stressful.
Just my personal experience and opinion, no one else has to share it.

 

[Grohowiak]

They said today that intel Macs will be supported for years and they are going to release another intel Macs.
I’m fairly certain In at least 5 years support.