Yosemite vs El Cap: for business/networking use, stability - which is more stable?

[katewes]

I use my Mac for business, meaning I need really rock solid stability, not fancy features. There is nothing in the El Cap feature set that I need for business. The single and only reason I would upgrade is to keep the Mac current with software apps that I will need in the future.

Question: which do you find is more stable -- Yosemite 10.10.5 or the current El Capitan 10.11.3 ?

With Yosemite, I note a "bug" where it can take ages for the Mac to connect to our server via networking. Sometimes it does not connect, so I have to stop using the Mac and revert to a Windows computer to connect to our server. I read that this "bug" has existed for quite a while, and that Apple have never adequately addressed the problem.

I'm deciding whether to upgrade from Yosemite to El Capitan, hence the question.

 

[Gochugogi]

I mainly do audio and video production and didn't have much luck with 10.10x--broke many of my apps so reverted back to 10.9.5. When 10.11 debuted I auditioned it on an external SSD for a couple months. 10.11 was pretty terrible but, amazingly, 10.11.2 is extremely stable and plays well with my legacy apps. 10.11x is very picky about USB hubs and I worked through 5 hubs before finding one that didn't suffer dropouts with external HD and flash drives. 10.11.2 is working so well for me I actually bit the bullet and cloned the audition SSD to my internal drive. I decided not to update to 10.11.3 for fear of something breaking...

 

[leman]

It is really not possible to answer this question. Every OS X (in fact, every OS) I have used so for had bugs. You'll need to try it out for yourself and see what fits the bill. If the OS you use right now works for you - then why change.

If you want anecdotal evidence: I run an OS X server that offers a number of high-availability services. I had some issues with stability with 10.10, but so far 10.11 is running like a charm. But I think this has more to do with the server software version than anything.

 

[Eduardot]

I switched to Apple because of all the interaction in between all my Apple hardware. Yosemite, was the most stable OSX for me. EL Capitan is plugged with problems with the USB bus, that has rendered me an unstable, not fun to work with and totally undependable desktop, all my problems are USB related, and through a hub or directly connected to the iMac. Stay put don't upgrade.

 

[poematik13]

10.11 introduces a lot of issues with USB devices, so if that's crucial to your workflow then definitely stay on Yosemite.

 

[campyguy]

The current version of OS X 10.11 is very stable, with the caveat that I've had more success with clean installs of the OS. I run a small business with 25-35 employees, and I take cues from a couple of companies - Autodesk and Nemetchek, as we own and use products from both companies. For months after the OS releases of Win 10 and OS X 10.11, neither company "certified" either OS. Personally, I like the toys and added features. Professionally, I won't move any of my workflow to a new OS until they're certified by the app designers of products that we use.

Over the weekend, I wiped a Mini Server that had been upgraded from 10.9 to 10.10 to 10.11. Several weeks ago, my main Mac had issues and needed a RAM replacement. Both got clean installs of 10.11.3 - they both work great, better than before and I can't explain why (my Mini is still on 5400 RPM spinners and I almost wouldn't know that).

Autodesk and Nemetchek have blessed 10.11.3 and the latest Win 10 update, and my company's productivity is great. Just do it...