How many more years should my 27" 2017 Imac get updates?

[Jacoblee23]

I have the fusion drive but I run everything off of an external. It is still really fast. I am concerned though because Apple just cut off the 2015 iMac and the 2016 MBP. I could see Apple stopping support next year. Since they no longer make a 27" iMac I am just going to get a 24" m1 iMac. Should I upgrade now or hope they support it for one more software update after this?

 

[redheeler]

Wait for the M2 iMac. I'd expect it to be out before next year's MacOS announcement.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Wait for the M2 iMac. I'd expect it to be out before next year's MacOS announcement.

I totally agree with that. Apple has shown they are willing to quit supporting hardware at a faster pace. I have a 2018 Mac mini and I am not updating until it no longer gets security updates. And when I do upgrade it will be the Mac with hardware that was just released.

 

[alien3dx]

About 3 years more .For now just save your money get mac studio m2 if available.

 

[Jim Lahey]

It won’t stop working just because it can’t use the very latest macOS. It should still receive security updates for some time after it’s ‘dropped’. If you want a new one anyway then obviously that’s your business but the question you should be asking yourself is are you willing to spend thousands of dollars just for a new system preferences pane and some redesigned icons?

 

[Jacoblee23]

About 3 years more .For now just save your money get mac studio m2 if available.

Normally, I would think so but with the 2016 MBP getting dropped so quickly it makes me wonder.

 

[Bodhitree]

I suspect Ventura will be the last big update, after that two years of security updates for Ventura and that will be it.

 

[theluggage]

Since they no longer make a 27" iMac I am just going to get a 24" m1 iMac. Should I upgrade now or hope they support it for one more software update after this?

I think it's completely unpredictable whether the 2023 MacOS release will drop support for the 2017 iMac.

It depends how worried you are about having the latest and greatest bugs features - otherwise, if Ventura is the last version and the 2023 MacOS doesn't run, you'll probably have at least 2 years of security updates. After that, it's down to whether any "deal breaker" security issues appear (which isn't that common - esp. if you're talking about a desktop that doesn't talk to any strange wifi networks - and it doesn't mean you won't be able to keep third-party anti-malware stuff, web browsers etc. up to date).

Problem is, Apple doesn't commit to any fixed support period so everything is based on looking at their past behaviour. They probably know how many of these old machines are out there and still running software updates & how much wailing and gnashing of teeth there will be if they drop a particular model.

I don't think that's a great situation - OTOH part of the difference between Mac and (say) Windows is that Apple can take a more "move fast and break things" attitude than Windows, which has to cater for the ultra-conservative (small 'c') corporate sector.