Does Mac OS force updates like iOS?

[Mr West]

I don't have any experience with Mac OS, but I do own an iPad for a couple of years.
It's a good device but I'm having trouble with constant iOS updates that are forced downed my throat.
It is slowing down my device year by year and it's nearly impossible not to accept the updates.

Since now I'm looking to buy a Mac (Air 11'), I'm scared it will be phased out in a couple of months and I will start facing the same problem with the updates.

So now I'm wondering, does Mac OS have a similar update system like iOS, where you are nearly forced to accept them and will slow down older machines over time? Or can you survive on an older OS?

Thanks in advance!

 

[bubbleboil]

Those major OS updates are optional.

However, in rare cases applications might update to support only latest OS.
EG. Snow leopard not compatible with several apps. Though this doesn't seemed to be the case with yosemite, we never know what will happen in future.

 

[davegoody]

Nothing is forced.... always up to you when (if) to upgrade. However with iOS it is often one-way, you cant' then downgrade again as the older OS is no longer signed by Apple after a while. With OSX this is not the case.

 

[Mr West]

Nothing is forced.... always up to you when (if) to upgrade. However with iOS it is often one-way, you cant' then downgrade again as the older OS is no longer signed by Apple after a while. With OSX this is not the case.

I know you have the 'choice' but this is an illusion.
Support for most apps and features drops fast and downgrading again is, like you said, impossible.

 

[h9826790]

OSX is totally reversible. In fact, for the new Mac, there is a function called internet recovery, which can bring your machine back to the factory setting (of course, including the OS).

In terms of software. It's on the other side. Usually the apps is too slow to upgrade themselves. So the apps may not work well in the new OSX, and occasionally may force you to stay at the current OSX.