Wondering how long until Apple stops supporting El Capitan?

[GARoss]

We'd love to upgrade our Mac's but money is tight in retirement.

Both my wife & I have early 2009 Mac's; one mini & one iMac. Of course we are unable to upgrade to Sierra & now concerned how long Apple will provide security updates for OS X 10.10.5, El Capitan. I have found some vague info on the net that said Apple always provides updates up to two OS X back. Assuming there is an update next year above Sierra would that mean the end for El Capitan up dates in 2018?

Anyone know? Thanks, much appreciated!
George

 

[IWT]

Hi and welcome.

This is anyone's guess; but if Apple follows the current trend, when MacOS High Sierra appears in late Autumn this year, it will support:

High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan and Yosemite into 2018.

There isn't a strict rule as to when El Capitan (EC) will lose its support because if Apple was made aware of some vulnerability in the future, it might well continue supporting EC and even Yosemite for longer than planned. It would do Apple no favours to risk an OS platform if there was any easy fix.

EC remains one of the most stable operating systems and provided you practise "safe computing", keep your Browser safe even if that means moving to, say, Chrome or Opera, then you should be go-to-go for some considerable time yet.

One advantage of considering Opera in the future (or now, even) is that has a free Virtual Private Network (VPN) built into it which adds another layer of protection.

Bear in mind that there and thousands upon thousands of people still running Snow Leopard (10.6.8), totally unsupported, but happy with an OS that is rock-stable and does all they want of it.

So, my message would be, don't worry too much. I completely understand your fiscal constraints. My guess is that your 2009 Macs may give up the ghost before your OS becomes obsolete.

These are just my personal thoughts.

Ian

PS EC is 10.11 not 10.10

 

[GARoss]

Thanks. This helps a great deal!