Catalina is dead

Sadly, it is that time again. Another MacOS has been forced to lay its head on the chopping block.

This time around it is Catalina, the one they named after the island.

Released in 2019 this operating system offered features such as only allowing 64 bit applications so all those old copies of Klondike no longer worked. It also, oddly, permitted wireless game controls to work… as if we needed that? It also included better versions of FindMy and Notes and it moved the operating system to a different volume so we ended up with the “Macintosh” and “Macintosh-Data” labels which made restoring your data a  little confusing… at least for us techs.

Anyway, so much for the history lesson. 

If you are reading this and you are running Catalina then I am afraid you are no longer receiving security updates from Apple. 

Before you rush out and buy a new Mac you might get away with simply updating your MacOS. Sadly though, in the case of macs older 2014…only a new Mac will get those security updates going again.

Firstly let us see if you are running Catalina and if you are, can you update the software.

Click on the Apple menu and choose About this Mac

This will tell you if you are running Mojave or something older. If you are then we need to talk. If you aren’t and the OS on display is Big Sur, Monterey Then you are still supported and all is well.

Now that we know what you are currently running… can you run anything better?

If your Mac is is 2014 or older then chances are… no, and you should be looking at a new Mac.

However, if you are running Catalina and your Mac is 2014 or better then we could look at upgrading the OS.

If you don’t feel confident with this then this is where we come in… just give us a call and we can arrange pick up or drop off and we can apply the update and mop up any of the issues that might occur along the way… such as sat aforementioned copy of Klondike.

If you want to have a go… here’s how.

Open the Utilities folder and open Disk Utility.

Highlight Macintosh HD and then click on First Aid. This will check out the hard disk.

If all is well, open up System Preferences

Click on Software Update.

Apply any updates on offer.

Remember this is all in order to remain current (or as current as possible) to stay safe.It may come with some headaches and costs in the form of upgraded software (Office, Indesign an so on) but it is worth it in the end and a unavoidable price of computers connected to the cesspool that is the internet.