Should New Mac user wait for Tahoe to come out or begin learning on Sequoia?

[proveritas]

My friend just bought a Mac Mini. He was encouraged to do so after learning that I had begun the switch over from Windows earlier.

He asked me whether he should wait to begin the transition to Macs from Windows until after the next MacOS comes out (Tahoe?) in September. He didn’t want to start learning Sequoia if Tahoe was to be fundamentally different.

I didn’t know what to tell him.

Any ideas?

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

It's more a UI change than anything else so I wouldn't wait. If anything, have him install the Tahoe public beta which is pretty stable.

 

[proveritas]

Thank you. How does that work? if you install Beta and full Tahoe comes out does it upgrade from the Beta? Or do you have to uninstall Beta and install fresh Tahoe ?

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

No need to fresh install. Before the full release of Tahoe comes out turn off the beta option and it will update+no more betas will be downloaded.

 

[frou]

The fact that he brought the idea up suggests just waiting wouldn't be that much of an imposition.

Starting a brand new MacOS user out on a half-baked version of the OS sounds like a terrible idea to me. It's also possible that buggy beta code can taint/corrupt data in iCloud.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

He asked me whether he should wait to begin the transition to Macs from Windows until after the next MacOS comes out (Tahoe?) in September. He didn’t want to start learning Sequoia if Tahoe was to be fundamentally different.

I don’t know that I’d call Tahoe “fundamentally” different. There are differences, sure, but most of them are cosmetic. The functional changes, well… just depends if you use those features or not ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[bogdanw]

If anything, have him install the Tahoe public beta which is pretty stable.

That is a terrible advice for a new macOS user.
@proveritas Don’t install beta macOS versions on your Mac or advise your friend to do so. Apple doesn’t pay you to be their software tester. Use the released, stable Sequoia. The difference between Tahoe and Sequoia are irrelevant to the fundamental way you interact with macOS.

 

[Starfia]

Agreed that I would not advise a new Mac user – especially one with the self-awareness to know they're a beginner – to install a beta version of the operating system.

The Mac's operating system changes every year, but the Mac's fundamentals remain the same over the long term. If they're ready and somewhat excited, go ahead with Sequoia. Learn how to transfer data from Windows if desired. Read ahead a little, learn how to use the file system, learn the commonest key commands, take note of the built-in apps and start using whichever seem useful – all that knowledge will remain usable for years.

 

[Fishrrman]

DON'T install Tahoe yet. It's too early.

Tell your friend to just set up the new Mini, turn it on, and start using it.
(and start learning)

Everything else will come... in time.

 

[adrianlondon]

On the one hand, Tahoe is running very well on my MBP so it shouldn't be an issue to install it.

On the other hand, there's really very little difference in operation between Sequoia and Tahoe, so for simplicity I'd stick with general release software.

There may be many more Tahoe betas, all of which at best take ages to install and at worst might break things. Stick with Sequoia. Tahoe will be out soon enough.

 

[bogdanw]

Apple:
"Beta software may contain errors or inaccuracies and may not function as well as commercially released software. We encourage you to submit feedback when you encounter these issues. If you need further assistance, please note that you must restore to previously-released software prior to contacting AppleCare."
https://beta.apple.com/faq

 

[Allen_Wentz]

My friend just bought a Mac Mini. He was encouraged to do so after learning that I had begun the switch over from Windows earlier.

He asked me whether he should wait to begin the transition to Macs from Windows until after the next MacOS comes out (Tahoe?) in September. He didn’t want to start learning Sequoia if Tahoe was to be fundamentally different.

I didn’t know what to tell him.

Any ideas?

1) Suggesting that a new user start with a beta anything would be absolutely nuts. No new user should constantly need to wonder "is it me, or is it a beta bug?"

2) IMO the X.1 OS versions are still beta. I have dealt with every Mac OS, and most new versions I wait for at least X.3 before upgrading because my time is too valuable to waste time wondering "is it me, or is it a bug?" Some OS versions I have skipped altogether; one does not know if a new OS version provides enough value add to be worth the upgrade headaches until after listening to early adopters' comments through v.X.1 and v.X.2. Sequoia I waited for version X.5 before upgrading.

3) Just because Apple releases a new version does not mean that it is better for any given individual user. Plus waiting gives app and plug-in devs some extra time to [maybe] make their apps fully up to date.

So my recommendation is to use Software Update to bring the new user's Mac to OS-current for that Mac and not go to Tahoe until version X.2 at a minimum. IMO one always makes the value add decison before deciding to change software.

Just my $0.02, YMMV.

 

[Sami13496]

No normal users should install Betas! Especially your buddy who is coming to Mac from Windows. Just use the current OS on Mac Mini and then update when the official release it out.

 

[proveritas]

Thank you all. I have shown him all your comments. And at this point I believe he will just begin using it with the installed Sequoia and wait to upgrade to Tahoe as it matures. This is especially true now that you have assured him (and me) that there will be no fundamental operational differences between Sequoia and Tahoe.

Otherwise he was willing to wait to start fresh with Tahoe as he is somewhat fearing the transition from Windows to begin with. But if waiting for Tahoe means also waiting for a few updates and patches for it to be truly ready stable, then he might as well just start with Sequoia.

Thanks again to all.

 

[TechnoMonk]

Glad you are not installing beta as a new user. I almost always wait for .2 release of mac osx. I run beta on my iPad Pro and usually update my iPhone immediately after release but not on mac.

 

[Starfia]

Thanks again to all.

Good luck to both of you! It's a happy occasion to encounter genuinely new Mac users so deep into the Mac's (now very long-established) history. For longer-time users, recent years have seemed more packed with controversy and political issues and less filled with just chatting about what's fun and interesting about just setting up and using the machines, so it's always good to have the opportunity to do that. I hope either of you feel free to let us know how it's going if you ever feel like it.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

That is a terrible advice for a new macOS user.
@proveritas Don’t install beta macOS versions on your Mac or advise your friend to do so. Apple doesn’t pay you to be their software tester. Use the released, stable Sequoia. The difference between Tahoe and Sequoia are irrelevant to the fundamental way you interact with macOS.

Calm down, just like you said yourself the differences are irrelevant so if the user wants to install Tahoe then no big deal. Acting like the sky is falling if you install a public beta, even as a new user, and saying "Apple doesn't pay you to be their software tester" a little on the paranoid side.

 

[CooperBox]

That is a terrible advice for a new macOS user.
@proveritas Don’t install beta macOS versions on your Mac or advise your friend to do so. Apple doesn’t pay you to be their software tester. Use the released, stable Sequoia. The difference between Tahoe and Sequoia are irrelevant to the fundamental way you interact with macOS.

Agreed. I'd never advise a new user to install a beta OS version. As Fishrrman wisely advised, "Tell your friend to just set up the new Mini, turn it on, and start using it, and start learning."