Which is your preferred macOS?

[Ambrosia7177]

It seems that Ventura is the latest macOS, but that doesn't mean it is the best.

Out of the more modern Mac operating systems, which is your favorite, and why?

I am asking this because I am probably going to have to get a newer (or new) MacBook Pro soon, and I want to get a sense of which OS is the most hassle-free.

 

[Hrududu]

"More modern" probably needs a more defined cutoff. If you're talking about the 3 that still get security patches and updates, I'd have to vote Big Sur. If you aren't tied to updates/support from Apple, but still want them from the major browsers, Mojave has been a very stable and high performing OS for me, and the 32 bit support keeps me using it on several machines. Catalina was fine too, but didn't really offer anything vs Mojave and came with the loss of 32 bit apps and I felt a performance hit.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

"More modern" probably needs a more defined cutoff. If you're talking about the 3 that still get security patches and updates, I'd have to vote Big Sur. If you aren't tied to updates/support from Apple, but still want them from the major browsers, Mojave has been a very stable and high performing OS for me, and the 32 bit support keeps me using it on several machines. Catalina was fine too, but didn't really offer anything vs Mojave and came with the loss of 32 bit apps and I felt a performance hit.

I guess "more modern" means OS's that will be around and usable for the next 3-5 years - so I suppose that would include getting OS updates and security updates.

What do people think about macOS Ventura?

How about macOS Monterey?

I am using macOS Big Sur and it seems okay to me.

 

[rm5]

Mojave was by far my favorite release, but since it's basically unusable now due to the lack of software support, Monterey is by far my favorite. Still running 12.6.4 on my MacPro5,1!

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Mojave was by far my favorite release, but since it's basically unusable now due to the lack of software support, Monterey is by far my favorite. Still running 12.6.4 on my MacPro5,1!

What did you like about Mojave?

What do you like about Monterey?

Have you used Ventura?


Since this thread is based on me getting a new MacBook Pro, presumably I will be stuck with Ventura. However if Ventura is horrible, I guess I could install an older OS. But the assumption is I would use "more modern" OS so i can get the full benefits out of my new laptop, and have it be secure.

I also decided to post here, because someone told me that macOS is heading toward iOS, and I don't like that idea at all. So I figured I would see if Ventura is now like using an iPhone or if it still feels like a traditional computer operating system.

 

[unrigestered]

no macOS will be updated for more than 3 years.
they all get one year of full updates when they are new, and two additional years of more or less lackluster additional support, where Apple decides which of the security holes will still become fixed, and how timely.
so even for Ventura, which came out in October 2022, this means full support will end by the end of 2023, additional support which might not fix everything security related anymore (and/or will be issued later than on the then current succeding macOS) will end by the end of 2025.

luckily, they're nowadays at least providing Safari updates separately from the OS, so you might get lucky on the default browser front.

also, malware definitions might be updated for a bit longer too.

 

[iStorm]

Since this thread is based on me getting a new MacBook Pro, presumably I will be stuck with Ventura. However if Ventura is horrible, I guess I could install an older OS.

If you get a new MacBook (late 2022 or newer) that ships with Ventura, you won't be able to downgrade it to an older OS. Macs made/shipped between late 2022 and late 2021 would be limited to Monterey or newer...and so on. Basically, you can't install an older version than what it originally shipped with, unlike PCs/Windows.

Honestly, I really can't tell the difference between Big Sur, Monterey, and Ventura. Sure, there are a few differences, but for the most part they look and feel the same. So for that, Ventura or Monterey would be my favorite. I love the new Universal Control feature that came with Monterey.

 

[padams35]

Monterey. Best part was the 6600XT drivers which I needed for a 2018 mac mini eGPU upgrade. I suppose with WWDC announced it is finally time to upgrade again just to stay current, but Ventura isn't promising any cool new features or drivers I actually want. Ventura would be strictly a future compatibility update.

Mojave was a great OS I still run on my 2015 MBA. I hate to say goodby to my 32-bit mac gaming collection, but Mojave is starting to run into software compatibility issues with new software and is starting to have trouble with some iOS file types. It looks like I'll soon have to choose if I want to keep Mojave for dedicated legacy software or to upgrade the OS to buy myself more time against needing to buy a new laptop.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

If you get a new MacBook (late 2022 or newer) that ships with Ventura, you won't be able to downgrade it to an older OS. Macs made/shipped between late 2022 and late 2021 would be limited to Monterey or newer...and so on. Basically, you can't install an older version than what it originally shipped with, unlike PCs/Windows.

Is that because of something Apple did with its hardware, or is it because they won't let you download and install older OS's?

Honestly, I really can't tell the difference between Big Sur, Monterey, and Ventura. Sure, there are a few differences, but for the most part they look and feel the same. So for that, Ventura or Monterey would be my favorite.

So if I get a new MBP, then it shouldn't be jarring swiching from Big Sur to Ventura?

I love the new Universal Control feature that came with Monterey.

What is that?

 

[StellarVixen]

Is that because of something Apple did with its hardware, or is it because they won't let you download and install older OS's?

It's been that way ever since I remember. The oldest OS version Macs could run is the one they came with.

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

I only started using macOS with Catalina. So that evokes almost nostalgic feelings.
But I like Big Sur better. Also like it better than Monterey and Ventura. I actually stayed on Big Sur with most of my Macs until long after Monterey had been released. Universal Control made me update in the end because that is an awesome feature and I use it most days.

 

[Choco Taco]

Ventura.

 

[iStorm]

Is that because of something Apple did with its hardware, or is it because they won't let you download and install older OS's?

The installer won't run on newer machines it's not designed for. It has always been this way. Probably Apple's way to keep everyone on a newer OS. They also probably don't want to take the time to update older OSes to work with new hardware.

So if I get a new MBP, then it shouldn't be jarring swiching from Big Sur to Ventura?

I don't think you'll notice much. The biggest change you'll probably notice is the revamped System Settings.

What is that?

Universal Control lets you use/control another iPad or Mac from a single Mac. I use it with my iPad. Here's a demo.

 

[rm5]

What did you like about Mojave?

What do you like about Monterey?

Have you used Ventura?


Since this thread is based on me getting a new MacBook Pro, presumably I will be stuck with Ventura. However if Ventura is horrible, I guess I could install an older OS. But the assumption is I would use "more modern" OS so i can get the full benefits out of my new laptop, and have it be secure.

I also decided to post here, because someone told me that macOS is heading toward iOS, and I don't like that idea at all. So I figured I would see if Ventura is now like using an iPhone or if it still feels like a traditional computer operating system.

1. Mojave was just very stable, and it still supported 32-bit apps
2. Monterey is also very stable (with the exception of a few VERY MINOR bugs)
3. That depends on which MacBook Pro you get. You can not install anything older than Ventura on ANY of the 2023 Macs
4. macOS is sort of "becoming iOS" in my opinion, because of System Settings and M1/M2 Macs being able to run iOS/iPadOS apps.

 

[robbietop]

Favorite was Tiger/Leopard. After that, don't care as long as its the most current the machine will allow.

 

[rm5]

Favorite was Tiger/Leopard. After that, don't care as long as its the most current the machine will allow.

I'm probably too young to properly remember Tiger/Leopard, although I remember my dad's old MacBook way back in the day was running Snow Leopard, and the older computers at my elementary school (the PPC ones) were running either Tiger or Leopard, I can't remember honestly. The newer Macs in elementary school were running Mavericks.

Anyway, I also liked High Sierra, for the same reason as Mojave—and it ran on a lot of older Macs, too.

 

[ssmed]

OS 9.2.1 was obviously the best 😉
If you buy a new computer you are unlikely to be able to choose and it will come with Ventura. Backward compatibility of newer Mac computers with older OS would be great for application compatibility, but although very useful for businesses Apple have never done this!

I tend to think of what the applications are doing rather than the OS which I update for security.

 

[mrkapqa]

1. Mac OS X Tiger 10.4.x
2. Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.x
3. Mac OS X Mavericks (unbelievable, but tru)

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

It seems that Ventura is the latest macOS, but that doesn't mean it is the best.

Out of the more modern Mac operating systems, which is your favorite, and why?

I am asking this because I am probably going to have to get a newer (or new) MacBook Pro soon, and I want to get a sense of which OS is the most hassle-free.

All time macOS Snow Leopard as it was the first time I ever used macOS (though I was a Mac hater at the time)

My first proper usage was Big Sur so because of that it's got a special place in my heart

 

[Mac Hammer Fan]

Snow Leopard (most stable), Tiger (stable and can run OS9), High Sierra and Mojave (HFS+) were my favorites.
Ventura and Monterey are just OK.

 

[Populus]

They aren’t operating systems that I’d use today because of security and compatibility issues and because, let’s face it, they look old, but I loved some OS X releases because of their stability and performance. This were Mavericks and Sierra.

This two operating systems didn’t have new breakthrough features but they focused in performance and, in the case of Mavericks (10.9), the shift towards simplicity in the UI, leaving skeuomorphic design behind. On my old MacBook Pro, Lion was a disaster performance wise, and even tho Mountain Lion was better, it didn’t have that fresh feeling that I felt with Snow Leopard. Until Mavericks. Mavericks was pretty flawless and very stable, I really liked it.

The story repeated itself with Sierra. Yosemite was a burning garbage on my machine, and El Capitan was better, but not on the same level than previous releases. But with Sierra (10.12), the machine was again as smooth as with Mavericks. Then High Sierra came, and while it wasn’t a step backwards -and APFS was one of the biggest additions-, I never felt the system as smooth and responsive as with the above mentioned versions of macOS. And that was the last version my old MacBook Pro supported.

On my 2014 Mac mini Monterey is quite good, but when it comes to stability and performance on still supported versions of macOS, I would choose Big Sur. The last updates of Big Sur were quite good and the system felt pretty good performance wise.

 

[AppleComputer]

Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger was so clean and dependable probably my all time favorite, next would be 10.7 Lion for the eye candy.
What I use now on my main iMac is still Mac OS Big Sur, but i have ventura running on my work Mac..

 

[ssmed]

Snow Leopard and High Sierra were the most stable OSs I've ever used.

HIgh Sierra was definitely a good one!

 

[ricketysquire]

My top ones

• Tiger - Clean, Simple, Light, the first Mac OS release I got to experience when I installed OSx86 in 2006. Caused me to fall in love with Apple software and hardware
• Leopard/Snow Leopard - Leopard was the first OS release I experienced on actual Apple hardware. First release with Time Machine, 3D Dock, Stacks, etc. I loved how Snow Leopard was a refinement, performance and stability focused release.
• Mavericks - Wasn't too bloated, had skewmorphism but not too much. It was the right balance in terms of UI experience, as it wasn't insanely flat like Yosemite. It also ran great on all supported hardware.
• Catalina - Last release that (officially) ran on the 2012 MacBook Pro im typing on. Pretty polished release, that was a nice send off. But it runs Monetary pretty well.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Thanks for all of the comments and sharing your perspetives!

It sounds like I am stuck with Ventura if I get a new Mac. Hopefully that won't be a big deal.

My understanding is that Apple has really locked down what you can do on the Silicon chips, and so the days and tinkering with your computer are probably long gone. That's a shame if you ask me.

have been having lots of issues lately with my old MBP, so it looks like I will be forced to switch sooner than later. (And expect lots more questions on that whole topic!)