FYI, Apple Support For Catalina OS Ended After Oct 30th

[jazzazz]

Oct 30th was the last day of support for its' "Catalina," OS, and I have this EX HDD in my Amazon wish list to get, for backing it up to the built in, TIME MACHINE APP."

But an AppleFanBoy friend of mine insists not to worry about it, that he has never had an issue. I had upgraded it not too long after I got it, from its' then, "Yosemite OS," to "Catalina," not even thinking that one should even back up a MAC, LOL, and went smoothly, although unlike a MAJOR CB Uodate, even a MAC Security update, takes a long time, this one possibly HOURS.

So I am awake early, for my Tuesday morning Vac & Mop chore. But before I begin that, will take the MAC out of sleep and begin that upgrade. Wish me luck. If something goes wrong, it is no where as easy taking a MAC back to Day one, Factory condition, LOL.

By the way, this LATE Model (8G RAM, 1 TB HD) MacMini Upgrade to, Monterey OS, is the last one it will be able to take. There is a brand new one out now, that my MacMini can not support.

IMO, DANG Apple comes out with new OSs way too often :-)

[mikkh]

It's pretty poor to only get 3 years support and Linux does a similar thing but it's a lot easier to get a new version on and the hardware requirements aren't a massive jump either.

Much as it pains me to say, Microsoft (historically) have been way more generous with supporting older computers with XP being used for a decade or more and a similar story for Windows 7 too. Windows 10 is already in it's 7th year and will get at least 3 more years of support. Windows 11 is a bit naughty though with a huge jump in minimal requirements and officially supported hardware.

Apple have got you by the balls though with Safari (the web browser) being virtually a system file - so no newer OS, no latest Safari and possible security issues.

Upgrade as high as you can go and get saving for your new mac mini in two years time. They do fetch a better price than an old Windows PC though.