Can I upgrade Snow Leopard to Mavericks on late 2009 iMac? Instead of El Capitan?

[paul_77]

I am currently running Snow Leopard 10.6.8 on a late 2009 iMac, Quad core 2.66Ghz, 12Gb RAM / 1 Tb HD.

I run Adobe Creative Suite CS6 Master Collection which cost me >$2000 in 2013.

Not long after I purchased CS6, Adobe announced it would only be renting software through Creative Cloud rather than selling perpetual licenses.

The software I use is predominantly:
Indesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Media Encoder, Audition and Bridge.

All of these Adobe CS6 programs run fault free under Snow Leopard 10.6.8.
It's a very stable OS.

I realize I am going to need to upgrade the system OS at some point.

I also realize I will eventually need to be dragged (kicking and screaming!) to the Adobe CC software rental model.
However I am delaying that for as long as possible!

I also run the same Adobe CS6 software packages at my workplace where they are using 2013 model iMacs running Mavericks OS.
Mavs runs all of the same Adobe CS6 programs that I use pretty much without issue.

So my question is:

Is it possible for me to upgrade my 10.6.8 OS to Mavericks? (which I'm reasonably confident will run Adobe CS6 without too many issues)

Or am I stuck with only an upgrade path to El Capitan?
From what I can discern from internet reports El Capitan does not do a good job of running even Adobe CC 2015 – let alone the CS6 Master Collection.

thanks

 

[MacInWin]

I'm not sure what you want to do with the CS6 suite, but I have Photoshop from CS6 and it runs fine under El Capitan. So does Bridge CS6. I don't do anything too complex with it, but I have worked with .psd files with up to 50 layers just fine.

As for Mavericks, it's no longer available from Apple unless you had already downloaded the installer. The only installer available is El Capitan. El Cap should run fine on your iMac.

 

[pm-r]

If everything is working as you want, what's going to happen if you just stay where you are and keep using your Adobe Creative Suite CS6 Master Collection???
(PS: Disregard all the Chas_M OS doomsday rants no doubt stirring in the background and getting ready to erupt for now…)

Will your Adobe stuff suddenly stop working???

Is there something you really need with Mavericks OS or later???

 

[paul_77]

If everything is working as you want, what's going to happen if you just stay where you are and keep using your Adobe Creative Suite CS6 Master Collection???
(PS: Disregard all the Chas_M OS doomsday rants no doubt stirring in the background and getting ready to erupt for now…)

Will your Adobe stuff suddenly stop working???

Is there something you really need with Mavericks OS or later???

Hi,
Thanks for your reply.

Yes I can just keep doing what I'm doing, but SL no longer gets security updates.
(I just noticed that Mavs is no longer supported with security updates either).

So, I do wonder if running an OS that's not supported will make my Mac less secure / more vulnerable to hacks?
Having said that I'm not sure how much of a problem that actually is.

thanks again for your reply

 

[paul_77]

I'm not sure what you want to do with the CS6 suite, but I have Photoshop from CS6 and it runs fine under El Capitan. So does Bridge CS6.


Thanks for your reply.

I'd be interested to hear if El Capitan users can successfully run CS6 Indesign, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Media Encoder, Audition.

cheers

 

[pm-r]

Hi,
Thanks for your reply.

Yes I can just keep doing what I'm doing, but SL no longer gets security updates.
(I just noticed that Mavs is no longer supported with security updates either).

So, I do wonder if running an OS that's not supported will make my Mac less secure / more vulnerable to hacks?
Having said that I'm not sure how much of a problem that actually is.

thanks again for your reply

I don't know where you're getting your info and what you want or expect to be protected with any "security updates" but two of our SL 10.6.8 Macs got their "XProtect" files updated today, and if I dare mention, SL flew right under the radar of nearly all if not all of the latest "security" attacks. They were intended for later OS versions.

Maybe it's better that it isn't being "supported". Just a thought or two one might want to consider as far as "security" goes… and where a user actually goes that should be considered and how they actually protect themselves…

 

[chas_m]

Yes, CS3 and higher (actually) still run -- but I have zero interest in them because the CC suite is so much better!

I understand that some people don't like the "subscription" model, but for me it's very cheap (needing only Photoshop -- and frankly, if the alternatives to PS keep improving I'm not sure how long I'll need it) which costs me $10/month. However, it can be argued that the full CC suite ($50/month) is still a pittance for what you get and how much it costs, particularly when you consider how much even a semi-competent Adobe suite user would typically make using it.

Never-ending updates and support for as long as I pay $10 a month for Photoshop? Compared to the $800 pricetag of ONE version of standalone Photoshop CS? To me that is a complete no-brainer. Of course, you can't get away that cheap if you need the full suite, but it's still something to consider -- because at some point, you're going to have to switch. Maybe not this year or next, but at some point: other than alternative programs, Adobe's not offering any alternatives (and given how well they are doing on both the revenues and the updates, I can't muster any argument why they should go back, either).

 

[IWT]

I'm not sure where you heard or read that Mavericks is no longer getting security support. For complicated reasons, I have 2 iMacs, the older running Mavericks and it is still very much supported and should be for some time if Apple follows past practice.

I have zero authority about your Adobe products. My only comment is the general and uncontroversial one: you are currently 5 operating systems behind the current. If I found the jump from Mavericks to El Capitan a steep learning curve, you can imagine the jump from SL. Of course, by the sounds of things, you are much more computer literate than I. Nevertheless, if not now, then some day, you are going to meet a big challenge and whenever that is, perhaps that is also the time to get a new(er) Mac?

Ian

 

[paul_77]

Yes, CS3 and higher (actually) still run -- but I have zero interest in them because the CC suite is so much better!

I understand that some people don't like the "subscription" model, but for me it's very cheap (needing only Photoshop -- and frankly, if the alternatives to PS keep improving I'm not sure how long I'll need it) which costs me $10/month. However, it can be argued that the full CC suite ($50/month) is still a pittance for what you get and how much it costs, particularly when you consider how much even a semi-competent Adobe suite user would typically make using it.

Never-ending updates and support for as long as I pay $10 a month for Photoshop? Compared to the $800 pricetag of ONE version of standalone Photoshop CS? To me that is a complete no-brainer. Of course, you can't get away that cheap if you need the full suite, but it's still something to consider -- because at some point, you're going to have to switch. Maybe not this year or next, but at some point: other than alternative programs, Adobe's not offering any alternatives (and given how well they are doing on both the revenues and the updates, I can't muster any argument why they should go back, either).

Thanks for your reply.

However, my question was about the feasibility of upgrading from SL to Mavs, not a cost / benefit analysis of an Adobe CC subscription.

I have already acknowledged that yes, there will come a time that I will have to move to the CC subscription model.
And yes I have already worked through the Adobe CC software rental scenario and accept the impending reality of that.
As I said in my post I am delaying that for as long as possible, for reasons that relate to my personal circumstances.

cheers

 

[paul_77]

Hi IWT,
thanks for your reply.

I was wrong about the security updates on Mavs, seems they will probably continue for another year or so.
http://www.computerworld.com/article/2685324/apple-delivers-final-non-security-mavericks-update.html

I don't see going from SL to El Capitan as being a steep learning curve in learning how to use it, as I have used EC on a Mac laptop at work without issue.

The challenge will be to keep my software on my home based setup running smoothly without breaking the software and my budget!

Yes I will definitely have to go down the path of a new computer and new OS at some point, it's just a matter of time... and money.

thanks

 

[paul_77]

Hi pm-r,
Yes you make a good point there about SL flying under the radar.

thanks for your comments

 

[MacInWin]

"Flying under the radar" will only work until your browser is no longer accepted at websites because it lacks security features that are increasingly coming into play. That's the real risk in staying that far behind the current version. You become increasingly vulnerable to hijackers, ransomware, spoofers and malware in general. And it's not always the website owner, but the adverts that are on the website that can cause the problems. A lot of URL owners cannot control what ads show up on the website.

Have you asked at the Adobe support sites if your suite runs well under El Cap? You are much more likely to find someone there running El Cap than to find someone here running all of that Adobe suite, IMHO.

 

[pm-r]

There are also the sites like the Application compatibility table available to check:
http://roaringapps.com/apps?index=a

 

[chas_m]

Thanks for your reply.

However, my question was about the feasibility of upgrading from SL to Mavs, not a cost / benefit analysis of an Adobe CC subscription.

Actually, your original post makes it pretty clear that your main concern was regarding the compatibility of your principle software, so inasmuch as post #2 had directly addressed the system question, I thought I'd address that part.

But if you need a direct answer to your question above, the answer is no, you can't upgrade to Mavericks -- unless you previously "purchased" the Mavericks upgrade. Apple has made it unavailable, so your option is to upgrade directly to El Capitan. This will be better in some ways, but as with an upgrade to Mavericks it will likely "break" a certain amount of older software that couldn't previously be updated. Probably not a big hassle, but you may find that you need to reinstall your existing Adobe software, so be sure to have your discs and license info handy.

 

[dtravis7]

I 2nd MacInWin's suggestion to check with Adobe. If Photoshop and other apps work it probably all does. I have not tried it yet here on my El Cap systems, but have a feeling your CS6 suite will work. Check Adobe .

Read all this thread carefully. Some had issues some did not but they showed a fix for the issues!!!


https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1967270?tstart=0

 

[paul_77]

dtravis7
thanks for that. Yes I have read that particular thread previously, but it seems to raise as many questions as it answers.
Some users are having no issues and others are having a lot of issues running CS6 apps.

thanks

 

[MacInWin]

Well, you COULD invest in an external drive, install El Cap there and then see how the Adobe stuff runs in your environment booted from that external. Then if it's all good, go ahead and update your internal and repurpose the external to storage or backup. Drives are getting crazy cheap these days, so it shouldn't be a back-breaking investment.

 

[pm-r]

Well, you COULD invest in an external drive, install El Cap there and then see how the Adobe stuff runs in your environment booted from that external. Then if it's all good, go ahead and update your internal and repurpose the external to storage or backup. Drives are getting crazy cheap these days, so it shouldn't be a back-breaking investment.

I can't imagine or suggest ANY user not having at least a current backup, preferably a clone, and then a separate volume/drive to install and run any OS X upgrade, and that would even be for just going up one version, and the OP is considering skipping several versions. WOW!!! Just not worth NOT having various OS bootable drives and volumes PLUS current backups.

All the related topic threads here should be enough to reinforce that!!!

 

[paul_77]

Well, you COULD invest in an external drive, install El Cap there and then see how the Adobe stuff runs in your environment booted from that external. Then if it's all good, go ahead and update your internal and repurpose the external to storage or backup. Drives are getting crazy cheap these days, so it shouldn't be a back-breaking investment.

thanks

I have two externals I use for backing up all my data, one at home and one remote.

Great idea, I have to confess I have been quite ignorant of the concept of an external bootable drive, but it sounds like the way to go.

Would I have to also install the Adobe software on the same bootable ext. drive or can it run from the Mac internal HD?

thanks again

 

[MacInWin]

I would first try just running it from the internal after booting from the external. IF that doesn't work, you may have to reinstall. Another approach could be to install to the external then use Migration Assistant when prompted in the install process and point to the internal drive as source. It should then copy over all your apps and files to the external and you can run it from there. That process could take a while to copy over all the data, particularly if the drive is using a slower interface like USB2 or even Firewire. If you Mac has thunderbolt, you could get a TB drive, although they are a bit pricey. But if all you want to check is that the software functions, even a slow interface will let you check that, even with really slow performance.