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Should an old guy like me update from Catalina to Sequoia?

if you're going to get serious about backing up, an online solution should accompany a local one (fwiw, i use carbon copy cloner, and online, idrive).

if my house burns down, i have a backup i can download. if the internet went down, i can retrieve files from my physical backup drive. good to have both solutions...
 
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heycal said:
It's been so long since I've updated I've forgotten what it is like. My big fears are that everything looks radically different, and behaves differently, and certain things I didn't realized I like about Catalina are no longer available.
Click to expand...
One change in macOS you should know about is that System Preferences is now called System Settings and it is similar to the Settings app in your iPhone/iPad in appearance. Things got moved around which lots of people didn't appreciate. They moved Time Machine to be under "General" which I found kind of odd.

This happened in 2024, see:
www.macrumors.com

macOS 15 System Settings to Get Design Overhaul

With the macOS 15 update that is set to debut at WWDC in June, Apple plans to rearrange "menus and app UIs," according to a report from...
www.macrumors.com www.macrumors.com

If you have trouble finding some setting, use the top left panel in System Settings and search for what you're looking for.
 
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OP wrote:
"But it appears that Super Duper and Carbon Copy Cloner are both paid apps for backing up. Or is CCC free for a month, and I won't need it that long?"

CCC works free for 30 days. Then you have to register.

SD will create a FULL cloned backup FOREVER without having to register it.
If you want to do "incremental" backups, however, you have to register.

So...
You could use either one to create the cloned backup.
I'd recommend SD -- very easy to understand and use.
CCC has more features, but has gotten more complicated over the years.
 
Fishrrman said:
OP wrote:
"But it appears that Super Duper and Carbon Copy Cloner are both paid apps for backing up. Or is CCC free for a month, and I won't need it that long?"

CCC works free for 30 days. Then you have to register.

SD will create a FULL cloned backup FOREVER without having to register it.
If you want to do "incremental" backups, however, you have to register.

So...
You could use either one to create the cloned backup.
I'd recommend SD -- very easy to understand and use.
CCC has more features, but has gotten more complicated over the years.
Click to expand...
Super Duper doesn't seem to have a free/trial version though, but would cost 27 bucks it appears. But if it's better, and easier to use, perhaps it worth it?
 
"Super Duper doesn't seem to have a free/trial version though, but would cost 27 bucks it appears. But if it's better, and easier to use, perhaps it worth it?"

It does have a "sort of" "free trial".
At least it USED TO.
You can download it for free.
And then, use it to create a FULL cloned backup (entire drive) for free.

BUT... if you want to use more features -- such as doing an "incremental" backup, then you have to register.

Download it by clicking the link below and try it:
 
Fishrrman said:
"Super Duper doesn't seem to have a free/trial version though, but would cost 27 bucks it appears. But if it's better, and easier to use, perhaps it worth it?"

It does have a "sort of" "free trial".
At least it USED TO.
You can download it for free.
And then, use it to create a FULL cloned backup (entire drive) for free.

BUT... if you want to use more features -- such as doing an "incremental" backup, then you have to register.

Download it by clicking the link below and try it:
Click to expand...
What ever you use, SD, CCC, TM ... please use something: there's so many people who NEVER make backups ...
It might be your last resort when hackers strike.
;JOOP!
P.S.: you would be amazed to know how many (big) companies don't have their backups or up-to-date ....
 
Sciuriware said:
What ever you use, SD, CCC, TM ... please use something: there's so many people who NEVER make backups ...
It might be your last resort when hackers strike.
;JOOP!
P.S.: you would be amazed to know how many (big) companies don't have their backups or up-to-date ....
Click to expand...
Thanks for the link. Think it works.
 
Yeah you should be fine.
Everything is in the same spot, just has a new look and all thats really changed layout wise is Settings.

Also ignore all WWDC comments. They are just referring to Apple actively working on a different OS and encourage people. For average consumers like yourself, you should be fine.
 
I see that in order to use the free version of Super Duper, I'd have to erase everything in my time machine, which currently houses a backup of my mac. Scary.
 
Time for another drive. Storage is cheap (and fast) these days unless you buy it from Cupertino.
 
Sciuriware said:
What ever you use, SD, CCC, TM ... please use something: there's so many people who NEVER make backups ...
Click to expand...
I stopped backing up my operating systems and only save just files and programs
since we can't revert our Macs via time machine to say Monterey 12.6.1 as  will plant 12.7.6 because they can.
and I also save 30-50GB or space eon the back ups drive.

them s are not going to develop any os that has major differences like Mt Lion - mavericks anymore
since this platform is similar from Monterey to Sequoia and portably the new one which will be titled SaltonSea!
 
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MBAir2010 said:
I stopped backing up my operating systems and only save just files and programs
since we can't revert our Macs via time machine to say Monterey 12.6.1 as  will plant 12.7.6 because they can.
and I also save 30-50GB or space eon the back ups drive.

them s are not going to develop any os that has major differences like Mt Lion - mavericks anymore
since this platform is similar from Monterey to Sequoia and portably the new one which will be titled SaltonSea!
Click to expand...
So, you're still making backups. Good for you.
;JOOP!
 
M.Brane said:
Time for another drive. Storage is cheap (and fast) these days unless you buy it from Cupertino.
Click to expand...
If I don't buy another one, is it best not to risk erasing my exisiting time machine backup on my seagate drive in order to do a Super Duper one?
 
heycal said:
I'm no longer young, not very tech savvy, and usually hate change. I'm currently using Catalina 10.15.7 on a 2020 Macbrook Pro. For some time now, certain websites and things don't display like they used to, and I occcasionally get prompts saying I should upgrade. The thought of that has been so traumatizing I've been resisting, but perhaps I just need to take the plunge. After all, I presumably survived previous upgrades to have made it up to Catalina, and will likely survive this one after initial panic and dismay if/when things look different.

So my questions for you fine folks are:

A) Should I bite the bullet and go ahead and do this?
B) If so, what should I do beforehand, if anything, before I start the process beyond a Time Machine upgrade?
C) Is there anything else I should know?
Click to expand...
A) Yes, definitely at least upgrade to a more modern release of macOS, if only because of improved security.
B) Get a new external SSD drive and clone your Mac’s drive onto it.
C) If you play World of Warcraft or Starcraft II, upgrade to macOS Ventura. Later versions of macOS (such as Sonoma and Sequoia) cause frequent game crashes or freezes (on Intel Macs). Ventura also happens to be the first version of macOS that allows you to enable Advanced Data Protection.
 
heycal said:
I'm no longer young, not very tech savvy, and usually hate change. I'm currently using Catalina 10.15.7 on a 2020 Macbrook Pro. For some time now, certain websites and things don't display like they used to, and I occcasionally get prompts saying I should upgrade. The thought of that has been so traumatizing I've been resisting, but perhaps I just need to take the plunge. After all, I presumably survived previous upgrades to have made it up to Catalina, and will likely survive this one after initial panic and dismay if/when things look different.

So my questions for you fine folks are:

A) Should I bite the bullet and go ahead and do this?
B) If so, what should I do beforehand, if anything, before I start the process beyond a Time Machine upgrade?
C) Is there anything else I should know
Click to expand...
I presume we're about the same age - late 80s. It's important to remember that the literature says we should take on changes and challenges in order to keep our minds active, young, and fertile. The older I get the more I abhor new Apple updates. But I do get them and trudge through them, using Google to answer all those questions that come up (note: Google now uses AI in a manner that works pretty well). I was technical many long years ago, but what I learned and did then doesn't mean a whit in today's world. Anyhow, whatever you decide to do, good luck to you.

As for 'change', I remember long ago a beatnik poet standing on the podium at the Venice West Cafe, where, in typical beatnik manner he droned out these words: "Everybody loves change - as long as it's to something they're used to".
 
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KennyJr said:
I presume we're about the same age - late 80s. It's important to remember that the literature says we should take on changes and challenges in order to keep our minds active, young, and fertile. The older I get the more I abhor new Apple updates. But I do get them and trudge through them, using Google to answer all those questions that come up (note: Google now uses AI in a manner that works pretty well). I was technical many long years ago, but what I learned and did then doesn't mean a whit in today's world. Anyhow, whatever you decide to do, good luck to you.

As for 'change', I remember long ago a beatnik poet standing on the podium at the Venice West Cafe, where, in typical beatnik manner he droned out these words: "Everybody loves change - as long as it's to something they're used to".
Click to expand...
I'm actually 62, not late 80's. I just assume everyone around here is much younger and I'm the old guy, but I guess that's not entirely true.

What is the Venice West Cafe? I lived in Venice Beach, CA in the early 90's (after the beatnik era).
 
CuteBaby said:
B) Get a new external SSD drive and clone your Mac’s drive onto it.
Click to expand...
What is an "external SSD drive" and what does it cost? Is that same as my Segate 2TB thing that my time machine back up is on?

Someone suggested above that I get more external storage and that it was cheap to buy these days. I think I'm using about 350 gb on my Mac now, so would 500 GB do it? Is there a very cheap recommendation anyone can give me for this?
 
heycal said:
I'm actually 62, not late 80's. I just assume everyone around here is much younger and I'm the old guy, but I guess that's not entirely true.

What is the Venice West Cafe? I lived in Venice Beach, CA in the early 90's (after the beatnik era).
Venic Wesrt Cafe.png
Click to expand...
This site won't accept a .org extension so here's a screenshot of the Google link (good article):
 
heycal said:
What is an "external SSD drive" and what does it cost? Is that same as my Segate 2TB thing that my time machine back up is on?

Someone suggested above that I get more external storage and that it was cheap to buy these days. I think I'm using about 350 gb on my Mac now, so would 500 GB do it? Is there a very cheap recommendation anyone can give me for this?
Click to expand...
Some good info here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/thunderbolt-3-m-2-nvme-ssd-enclosures.2027925/
 
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