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macOS Big Sur Update Bricking Some Older MacBook Pro Models

bosozoku said:
2015 13" here
update was flawless, restarting normal, but animations are slower than Catalina, and system is a bit laggy overall
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Could be a few reasons.

1. Drivers that are not performing as well for a newer device, such as video rendering or disk IO.

2. It also be that you're system is doing a lot of work, either re-indexing, resyncing with iCloud, etc..

3. Could be a third party application is in a really bad loop via an unexpected condition in the newer APIs and libraries.

I would check activity monitor for any user or system process that might be using a lot of IO or CPU. This
 
cmaier said:
You’re complaining because if a thing had happened that didn’t happen, and if you didn’t want to drive 45 minutes, you’d have to wait a week?

Must be nice to have nothing else to worry about than potential outcomes in other branches of the multiverse.
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The point I was making apparently went right over your head. 🙄 I'm not in the habit of upgrading my operating system on my computer on day 1 since I was screwed over when upgrading from Leopard to Snow Leopard. But that doesn't mean everyone else is aware or should have to be cautious. People expect their equipment to work when they pay the Apple tax on Apple products. Had I done what my friends do to my 2014 MBP and bricked it, I would be w/o a functional machine for over a week.

On another note, I work 40+ hours a week and can't just drive into Boston during rush hour during the week to fix a problem that Apple's poor QC didn't catch. Must be nice to live your life though.

I do update my iOS devices on day 1 because Apple accounts the release date and hypes it up. Is it wrong of me to upgrade to software releases that are NOT beta versions?
 
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Zeus65 said:
For the those tech savy maybe, for the regular person the OS tells you there is an update and many would just go and do it. Specially with many believing OS updates fix security issues. Stop blaming the regular user!
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You might not use iOS and have to deal with annoying prompts badgering you to upgrade daily. 😂
 
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xWhiplash said:
This is very similar to the arguments about Microsoft dropping Windows XP after a 12 year lifecycle. Stating businesses cannot afford to upgrade their computers often enough and support needed to be extended passed 2014. 12 years and a business cannot afford to upgrade AT ALL in 12 years? Something is wrong.

That is fine if you cannot afford a new computer every two years. But at 8 years you cannot expect perfect support. Use the older operating system
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If something is in the supported list it’s supported full stop. And should not have issues.
 
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pshufd said:
Zeus65 said:
For the those tech savy maybe, for the regular person the OS tells you there is an update and many would just go and do it. Specially with many believing OS updates fix security issues. Stop blaming the regular user!
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Agreed these full OS upgrades should come with a better warning system. To the end user they don't look much different than a big patch. Apple should be a bit more direct about the major security and library changes that could cause issues for end users. Also the new OS should require an active request mechanism before it is installed. Once you have the first patch out then you can start pushing a message to end users suggesting they upgrade. Or one better use AI to determine the risk level to the end user based on their specific machine, configuration, drivers and installed software. Then recommend the update once that risk level is very small.
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Zeus65 said:
If something is in the supported list it’s supported full stop. And should not have issues.
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That is completely false. Windows 10 has some hardware that is supported, but it can certainly cause issues if you use the minimum specs.
 
CarlJ said:
It has nothing to do with entitlement. Apple either says the OS upgrade covers these machines, or it says they can’t be upgraded. And its not a suggestion, the update app makes that determination. If the update app says the machine can be upgraded, and then proceeds to brick it, that’s entirely Apple’s fault. Your opinion that they’re not entitled to that upgrade is complete ********.
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Nicely said man
 
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xWhiplash said:
That is completely false. Windows 10 has some hardware that is supported, but it can certainly cause issues if you use the minimum specs.
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True but just saying apple does specifically mention the models and the software updates says hey here is an update. With all the betas a regular user waiting for the release should expect minimal issues.
 
Zeus65 said:
True but just saying apple does specifically mention the models and the software updates says hey here is an update. With all the betas a regular user waiting for the release should expect minimal issues.
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That still doesn't mean you are safe to upgrade without any problems. When Windows 10 was first released, my $2,000 gaming computer was able to support it. But I still had problems day 1.
 
Zeus65 said:
True but just saying apple does specifically mention the models and the software updates says hey here is an update. With all the betas a regular user waiting for the release should expect minimal issues.
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Correct. Part of the apple premium and philosophy is better stability via standardized hardware. To be quite honest its amazing how well windows 10 does run on the likely millions of different hardware builds it's installed on. Take an intel gigabit ethernet chip for instance. There are probably 100+ different version of this one chip. Probably 4 or 5 major categories and then 20+ varieties of each. Expand that to every Ethernet controller, then every Network controller and then every PCIe device, etc ... Apple avoids this. They know exactly what every system support shipped with and can QA and Test these configuration.
 
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xWhiplash said:
That still doesn't mean you are safe to upgrade without any problems. When Windows 10 was first released, my $2,000 gaming computer was able to support it. But I still had problems day 1.
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Unlike regular users I expect to maybe have problems if I choose to upgrade early on. As the M1 keynote does mention adoption of macs is getting higher and they are no longer just for developers or those working in the photography or video editing space. Students, parents and dare i say probably some grandparents are starting to use them. Most of these type of users don’t know or should be expected to know to wait when the OS says hey there is a software update. If things are in doubt older models could be added later but that is not case currently.

I certainly learnt a hard lesson at some point in iOS 10 where my phone had to be restored from backup after an update went badly. My phone habits had changed because of Spotify and my latest backup was 6 months old.
 
Trouble with OS installs seems to be common. The Apple watch series 4 doesn't want to update past WatchOS7 for many users. Now we see BigSur bricking macs. Apples QA has been a bit dodgy for a long time now.
 
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drumcat said:
Except it isn't. A "brick" means the software has so thoroughly rendered the hardware unrecoverable, it is as valuable as a brick.

There are no reports where hardware is unrecoverable. Just failed OS installs. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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I said “may” because it isn’t reported yet that the hardware is indeed recoverable.
 
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