My corp desktop is an iMac Pro (2018). For a long time, it was the best way to get a Retina-quality desktop without getting into VFX budgets. It was also in that weird period in Apple's product calendar when the one-and-done trash can was obsolete, but its replacement hadn't been released. Work usually issues whatever panels they can buy in bulk from overseas, but for a magical window, we could get a nice screen with no shenanigans by ordering an iMac Pro.
My heart dropped for a second when I saw Sequoia only supports iMacs from 2019, until I saw it supports iMac Pros from 2017. I wonder how much longer I have before Apple stops releasing updates, and corp IT decides the iMac Pro is now e-waste.
It's really unfortunate that they don't do Target Display Mode anymore. These iMacs have panels that are still top-of-the-line 6 years later. (A Studio Display is basically an iMac Pro with Apple Silicon in Target Display Mode.) I wonder if there will be a Linux distribution to convert these things into monitors when they go obsolete.
A few different people have figured out how to convert these panels into stand-alone displays. It's a pity that it would be impractical to make a small business out of this.
I've done this and it's amazing-it's the only monitor that I can use for my workstation (Linux/Windows) and my laptop (macOS) because even the (relatively) cheap LG UltraFine monitors don't work with the Nvidia GPU on my workstation.
I've got so much perfectly-working e-waste from Apple. It's so sad. I'm on a Late 2014 Mac mini that's stuck on Monterey macOS 12 and a Late 2014 retina iMac that's stuck on Big Sur macOS 11(!!) An iPhone7 that's stuck on iOS15. The display on that iMac is still IMO second to none. These computers do everything I need, yet their software support is stuck back in time. And 3rd party developers are terrible about supporting previous version of macOS. They alway seem to assume you are running the latest and greatest, and deliberately remove support for earlier OSs.
Hell, I have an O.G. iPad 1 that still works perfectly as it did the day I bought it, but most of the built-in software no longer works, and the App Store is basically empty. What a sad state of affairs.
I am using open core on several Apple devices from 2008-2010. A Metal capable GPU makes a huge difference in performance. After upgrading my 2010 iMac to a Firepro M4000, it runs the current version of macOS Sonoma better than the 2018-2019 MacBook airs do.
I have a 2012 Mac mini server running Monterey right now thanks to Open Core. Still getting security updates (for now at least). Too many reported issues with Ventura and Sonoma to bother trying them.
One thing I can tell you though is that Intel has EOL’ed the chip in the iMac Pro. Meaning no more security support for the chip.
So I’m not sure the iMac Pro will get the next update. Though possible Apple has found a way to mitigate any security issues.
This is the best article I found on the topic. Note also that once the iMac Pro is out of support, it’s os will still get security updates for two years past that.
So with this announcement today we are guaranteed security support until Oct 2027 or so.
I own an iMac Pro and was pleasantly surprised today. Had been concerned the Intel EOL might end things.
Unfortunately, I don't think our IT dept will support an old OS if a newer one is available; even if the old one gets security patches and the new one doesn't work on some machines.
Apple never advertised how long they would support updates, but recently published a 5 years policy [1]. It’s still bad since the device is well made and would easily outlast 5 years with battery replacement.
You shouldn't measure by the release date of the hardware, but by the last sale date of the hardware. In Apple's list of supported Macs, the "iMac Pro (2017)" is the oldest year. But that computer was sold until 2021! Makes Apple look more generous putting 2017 in that list instead of 2021!
One crucial difference is that with Android, lots of people are using those old phones with ancient Android versions, and so software tends to target them. So even if the phone no longer receives updates, the software on top can be up-to-date.
In the Apple ecosystem, app developers are much more aggressive about dropping support for older versions of iOS.
> Being better doesn't even mean being good (6 is small)
So far, it's 6 years (2018-2024), and probably it'll end at 7 years (assuming they drop its support next summer). That's the same number of years as Google and Samsung are currently supporting their flagship models, and it's many years more than e.g. my previous (unrootable) Huawei phone was supported. Compared to the competition, I'd say that number is good.
If we want to push up that number across all players in the market, then we need legislation as a forcing function. I'm all for that – especially legislation that would require manufacturers to allow easy rooting/jailbreaking when the official support ends so that third parties can provide unofficial support. (Like how you can install Linux on old MacBooks when they're not supported.)
> and it had no relation to the original point
I'm not sure how you interpreted the "iOS obsolescence program" then.
> Also you dates are wrong, measure from the last device sale, not the first
It's not wrong, it's a different measure.
If you choose to buy a 3 year old phone, you know that it will be officially supported for 3 less years, and should factor that into your (price)/(lifetime) calculation. I choose to only buy new electronics models (not necessarily the flagship) so that I can replace them less often, and then my measure is the relevant one.
> choose to buy a 3 year old phone, you know that it will be officially supported for 3 less years, and should factor that into your (price)/(lifetime) calculation. I
You don't know that since neither the period is known nor is its starting date. Also that's your own expectation, I don't buy that later customers should suffer more
> I'm not sure how you interpreted the "iOS obsolescence program" then
I interpret it as force-obsoleting well functioning devices via software limits. This interpretation does not depend on what Huawei is doing (by the way, another mistake in your comparison is that Apple sells premium devices and also has full control of both the software and hardware, which make it relatively easier to do better)
you don't need any legislation to stop justifying it with faulty comparisons
My heart dropped for a second when I saw Sequoia only supports iMacs from 2019, until I saw it supports iMac Pros from 2017. I wonder how much longer I have before Apple stops releasing updates, and corp IT decides the iMac Pro is now e-waste.
It's really unfortunate that they don't do Target Display Mode anymore. These iMacs have panels that are still top-of-the-line 6 years later. (A Studio Display is basically an iMac Pro with Apple Silicon in Target Display Mode.) I wonder if there will be a Linux distribution to convert these things into monitors when they go obsolete.