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Downgrading back to Snow Leopard

Baklava

Baklava

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 1, 2010
573
56
Germany
Hello folks,

does it make sense to downgrade Yosemite back to Snow Leopard?

I own a 17" MacBook Pro (2009). I am absolutely happy with the machine and don't think to upgrade my hardware anytime soon. The evolution of the OS however is in my opinion an absolute disaster and the last OS wich didn't cause any headaches was IMO Snow Leopard. I'm using my machine mainly for graphic design work. Should I downgrade Yosemite back to SL? Or use SL on a 2nd partition? Is there anyone still using SL?

Thanks for any advice and hope for an interesting discussion.
 
Baklava said:
Hello folks,

does it make sense to downgrade Yosemite back to Snow Leopard?

I own a 17" MacBook Pro (2009). I am absolutely happy with the machine and don't think to upgrade my hardware anytime soon. The evolution of the OS however is in my opinion an absolute disaster and the last OS wich didn't cause any headaches was IMO Snow Leopard. I'm using my machine mainly for graphic design work. Should I downgrade Yosemite back to SL? Or use SL on a 2nd partition? Is there anyone still using SL?

Thanks for any advice and hope for an interesting discussion.
Click to expand...

I still use Snow Leopard as my main OSX. I have Mavericks & Yosemite on a separate partition for the odd occasion. Everything feels so snappy and fast. If the software you use is compatible with SL and you prefer it.... then it is up to you. I'm hoping the next OSX will be about refining and improving on previous versions rather than lots of new features.

Assuming you have plenty of space on your drive you could create a second partition - that way you have Yosemite incase you need it in the future or decide to change back.
 
Using SL as primary OS here on primary partition... Yosemite for testing purposes on a secondary partition...
 
I have a 2009 MBP and Yosemite runs somewhat worse than any previous os (with the possible exception of Lion). However, there are features I like and use so I'm willing to take a hit on performance.

But why not go back to Mavericks which in my case was fast, smooth, stable and issue free? Snow Leopard seems so old these days. I think it's no longer supported not even for the security updates.
 
thekayman said:
Snow Leopard seems so old these days. I think it's no longer supported not even for the security updates.
Click to expand...

Yup, due to the lack of app support and security updates I can't recommend anyone go back to Snow Leopard on their primary partition. It's a good OS, but its time has passed.
 
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You can certainly go back to SL, but this might be a very bad idea if you are also use your computer to browse in internet. If it has no internet connection — sure. Otherwise, SL's security is hopelessly outdated.
 
leman said:
You can certainly go back to SL, but this might be a very bad idea if you are also use your computer to browse in internet. If it has no internet connection — sure. Otherwise, SL's security is hopelessly outdated.
Click to expand...

Or just download a different browser such as Firefox, Opera, Chrome etc...
 
The version of Safari that comes with Snow Leopard is no longer supported by YouTube. You'll get a warning, and pre-video adverts look really odd.
 
maybe i didn't use SL long enough, but why people like SL better, besides the look of it.
 
dxmac99 said:
maybe i didn't use SL long enough, but why people like SL better, besides the look of it.
Click to expand...

For me it is snappy, fast and reliable. It boots up faster, runs faster and stays cooler. It also doesn't drain the battery on macbook. It doesn't bog the system down with unnecessary (for me) extras. Plus lots of little things that make a big difference - switching users is instant, spaces/expose, front row, rosetta etc...
Also Time machine is far easier to navigate in SL than Yosemite. Flat UI does not work well for Time machine.

I like many aspects of Yosemite - but I find Snow Leopard performs much better for me.
 
I'm still on Snow Leopard too - likewise no problems surfing Internet, Youtube etc
Security touch wood is ok .... get the occasional message but easy to work around any probs with compatibility.

Join the Snow Leopard Appreciation Society Hub (SLASH) and watch your machine 'piss all over' Yosemite/Mavericks users performance wise!
 
Baklava said:
Hello folks,

does it make sense to downgrade Yosemite back to Snow Leopard?

I own a 17" MacBook Pro (2009). I am absolutely happy with the machine and don't think to upgrade my hardware anytime soon. The evolution of the OS however is in my opinion an absolute disaster and the last OS wich didn't cause any headaches was IMO Snow Leopard. I'm using my machine mainly for graphic design work. Should I downgrade Yosemite back to SL? Or use SL on a 2nd partition? Is there anyone still using SL?

Thanks for any advice and hope for an interesting discussion.
Click to expand...

I must say I have noticed a major slowdown since leaving Snow Leopard on my iMac 2.4GHz 2GB Ram 1.5 TB HD 2007 and Browsing can roll to a stall. seems many of the patches do for the Mac what they used to do for the PC. Time someone in Cupertino realised that they have started giving people a reason to Leave Apple and go back to buying a new PC every 6 months to keep speed. My 2006 MBP 2Ghz 2G Ram got a speed injection with the addition of a 256Gig SSD HD but they have now capped what OS I can run, fortunately it is still running 10.6.8 so there are few quibbles. Just the Battery life, No HiDef Screen and SD Slot and in Summer the heat off the bottom of the Shell is annoying... The iMac needs 6GB which is its Max but they don't sell 3's and so it's either 4 or 8 Gig. with two redundant...
 
I run 10.8.5 on a 2009 MBP (with an SSD I've added in). I have 8 gigs of RAM.

I find performance and stability to be quite good, and thinking back I'd say the last three years have been the most stable computing experience I've had.

If you don't have an SSD I highly recommend it.

I find the look of 10.8 to be great, and labels are how they should be.

Certainly there are loads of features from el cappu I'd love but labels, stability, and speed keep me on 10.8.5.

Recently I've been using a 2015 rMPB provided to me for a contract I'm working and using el cappu is glitchier and not a whole lot faster overall than my 2009.
 
I found the desktop manager (spaces?) better in snow leopard, and also the screen zoom (command + 2 finger scroll) that seems to have disappeared in new versions .
 
It really depends on whether you have any iDevice which need integration. In my case, iCloud is one of reason I could not going back to SL.

Baklava said:
Hello folks,

does it make sense to downgrade Yosemite back to Snow Leopard?

I own a 17" MacBook Pro (2009). I am absolutely happy with the machine and don't think to upgrade my hardware anytime soon. The evolution of the OS however is in my opinion an absolute disaster and the last OS wich didn't cause any headaches was IMO Snow Leopard. I'm using my machine mainly for graphic design work. Should I downgrade Yosemite back to SL? Or use SL on a 2nd partition? Is there anyone still using SL?

Thanks for any advice and hope for an interesting discussion.
Click to expand...
 
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