heavily considering upgrading from a 2011MBP to a 2012 MBP. How worried should i be about OS updates?

[StarSMASH]

I am a music producers and occassionally dabble in video editing so i use a lot of cpu. I'm looking to buy a desktop at a later date, but i need a laptop in the meantime as well. My 2011 failed due to the GPU issue and i reflowed it multiple times, but i overdid it the last time and need to get a new computer.


MI can't buy the more recent model MBP's because they are not in my $800 budget. I also have a 4TB SATA SSD and know anything after early 2013 uses PCIE which is another jump. I can buy a 2012 15" i7 MBP, but how worried should I be about not being able to update my OS? I currently use High Sierra and that was only until a few months ago. All of my music software (Maschine + Logic Pro) operates fine on it, but i want to be able to hold onto a 2012 for a few years without having to worry about the OS not being able to update and being left behind. I don't even know the consequences of that happening besides not being "up on" the newest things and possibly some compatibility issues (but i don't know concerning what though)???

Should i be concerned about this? How long will i be able to realistically keep the latest OS with a 2012?

 

[Jack Neill]

The 2012 non retinas always have a special place in my heart. They are supported on .15 for now. I’m sure dosdude will get 16, 17 and 18 running on it down the road.

 

[StarSMASH]

The 2012 non retinas always have a special place in my heart. They are supported on .15 for now. I’m sure dosdude will get 16, 17 and 18 running on it down the road.

sounds like you've had great experiences with them

 

[lixuelai]

You should try to get at least a 2013. Should be within your budget.

 

[StarSMASH]

You should try to get at least a 2013. Should be within your budget.

1. no, it's not within my budget.
2. why? what information do you know that leads you to believe that i should "at least" get a 2013?

 

[Jack Neill]

sounds like you've had great experiences with them

I love them, still work great on .15. Its awesome to have a mac that you can throw a SSD and ram into very easily.

 

[alter_ohm]

... but i want to be able to hold onto a 2012 for a few years without having to worry about the OS not being able to update and being left behind. I don't even know the consequences of that happening besides not being "up on" the newest things and possibly some compatibility issues (but i don't know concerning what though)???

Should i be concerned about this? How long will i be able to realistically keep the latest OS with a 2012?

don't buy a 2012 mbp ! it's too old if you want support for some years to come.

see the history of official support for the macbook pro (info from wikipedia):
10.8 mountain lion, rel. 2012-07-25
sys.req.: mbp mid 2007 or newer
-> max. 5 years support

10.9 mavericks, rel. 2013-10-22
sys.req.: mbp15 mid 2007 or newer
-> max. 6 years support

10.10 yosemite, rel. 2014-10-16
sys.req.: mbp15 mid 2007 or newer
-> max. 7 years support

10.11 el capitan, rel. 2015-09-30
sys.req.: mbp mid 2007 or newer
-> max. 8 years support

10.12 sierra, rel. 2016-09-20
sys.req.: mbp mid 2010 or newer
-> max. 6 years support

10.13 high sierra, rel. 2017-09-25
sys.req.: mbp mid 2010 or newer
-> max. 7 years support

10.14 mojave, rel. 2018-09-24
sys.reg.: mbp mid 2012 or newer
-> max. 6 years support

10.15 catalina, rel. 2019-10-07
sys.req.: mbp mid 2012 or newer
-> max. 7 years support

it's very likely that the mbp 2012 won't be supported anymore in the next macos 10.16 in 2020.
of course you can always use macos without official support. that means there a no more bug fixes and security fixes. safari won't be updated anymore, but you could switch to firefox or chrome.

i wouldn't buy the mbp from 2012 for 800$ because that's already 1/3 the price of a new mbp16. i would stay with the 2011 and save money for a new one. extended support for high sierra ends in sept 2020.

 

[Jack Neill]

I picked up another Mid 2012 MBP on eBay for 200$.