Mac OS X 10.11 (El Capitan) discussion thread

[bpdougd]

Time to talk about the next version of OS X, 10.11 or El Capitan.

As I have noted in other threads dealing with Mac OS upgrades, my policy is to run one version back from the current version unless there is some compelling feature in the current version and until the replacement for the current version is imminent. I recently deviated from that policy and upgraded my 2008 vintage MB Pro to Yosemite (without incident). My primary system, a Mac Mini, is still running Mavericks.

Regarding El Capitan (availability early fall AFAIK), there is nothing in the list of official improvements that appears “must have” for me. The promised performance improvements might tempt me but appear to be mostly graphics performance improvements via the Metal framework (from iOS) and so far seem to be limited to 2012 and later Macs. I will wait for the official release to document my opinion on this one.

There is, however, one rumored, under-the-radar change that might prove very compelling to those of us with non-Apple SSD’s: it appears that Apple has opened up the ability to add TRIM support for non-Apple SSD’s. If this proves to be true and the various vendors and/or 3rd party developers add TRIM utilities then I will probably violate my policy and upgrade (after waiting for the pioneers to take all the arrows ;=))

List of main changes/improvements in El Capitan (10.11):

• Split view.
• Spotlight enhancements.
• Lots of mail tweaks.
• Maps tweaks, primarily the addition of transit info for urban users.
• Photos finally enables extensions. Should be interesting to see which vendors step up and create extensions.
• Performance. As noted, mostly graphics focused via the new Metal framework.

Links:
http://www.apple.com/osx/elcapitan-preview/?cid=wwa-us-kwg-mac-com

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2015/0...st-beta-is-a-promising-heap-of-refinements/4/

http://www.imore.com/here-are-macs-work-os-x-el-capitans-metal

http://techcrunch.com/2015/06/15/mac-os-x-10-11-el-capitan-preview/#.nizudw:89xR

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/the-pogue-review-18-new-mac-el-capitan-features-121597016169.html

http://www.macrumors.com/2015/06/12/os-x-el-capitan-trim-support/

 

[rick_reno]

Hoping we get some of those new emojis.

 

[crazy]

Time to talk about the next version of OS X, 10.11 or El Capitan.


There is, however, one rumored, under-the-radar change that might prove very compelling to those of us with non-Apple SSD’s: it appears that Apple has opened up the ability to add TRIM support for non-Apple SSD’s. If this proves to be true and the various vendors and/or 3rd party developers add TRIM utilities then I will probably violate my policy and upgrade (after waiting for the pioneers to take all the arrows ;=))

TRIM support for non-Apple SSD's is the only enticing thing for me, too. And I will definitely wait for the early adapters' "El Capitan broke my computer" chatter to diminish to a dull roar before upgrading from Mavericks.

 

[Pa]

I see nothing compelling in this upgrade just like I still see nothing interesting in Yosemite, but I will upgrade just to stay current. I'm not quite a Luddite; my position is if it ain't broke, why "fix" it?

 

[bpdougd]

I see nothing compelling in this upgrade just like I still see nothing interesting in Yosemite, but I will upgrade just to stay current. I'm not quite a Luddite; my position is if it ain't broke, why "fix" it?

Hey, us Luddites are people too.

 

[Growltiger]

What is split view?

 

[bpdougd]

What is split view?

It is the Mac version of the 2-up view in Windows 8.1 (two apps pinned side by side full screen).

 

[Growltiger]

It is the Mac version of the 2-up view in Windows 8.1 (two apps pinned side by side full screen).

Thanks.
Another little bit of convergence.

 

[bpdougd]

Thanks.
Another little bit of convergence.

Life is getting so complicated for the OS bigots

 

[Deleted member 4116]

I see nothing compelling in this upgrade just like I still see nothing interesting in Yosemite, but I will upgrade just to stay current. I'm not quite a Luddite; my position is if it ain't broke, why "fix" it?

Don't think of it as "fixing it", think of it as improving it.

I'll upgrade my mac mini first to see what happens then i'll upgrade my main MBP. Other manufacturers, i'm weary about. OSX/iOS? Not at all...upgrade the day it is available.

 

[Pa]

Don't think of it as "fixing it", think of it as improving it.

But that's just the point. I don't see any claimed "improvements" that matter to me. But I know I'm in the minority, so it's just my choice.

 

[Deleted member 4116]

Many of the "improvements" aren't things you'd see right in front of you. Most OS upgrades come with better, more efficient coding and not to mention, futureproofing the machine. A more current version will have less issues with outdated programs, plugins, add-ons, etc.

I work in the digital space, so having the most current is vital for me.

 

[andygmoore]

Here's a story from Jason Snell on the Macworld website if anyone is interested.

http://www.macworld.com/article/2939753/6-reasons-to-get-excited-about-os-x-el-capitan.html

 

[rick_reno]

Here's a story from Jason Snell on the Macworld website if anyone is interested.

http://www.macworld.com/article/2939753/6-reasons-to-get-excited-about-os-x-el-capitan.html

I read his 6 reasons to get excited. I'm not excited. The only one I care about is "speed and stability" - I don't use Mail, Safari, Notes or Spotlight and Photos doesn't look a step forward to me (yet).

 

[Rich Gibson]

For those Mac users who don't use Apple Mail, what do you use?

Rich

 

[rick_reno]

For those Mac users who don't use Apple Mail, what do you use?

Rich

I use Google's Gmail and Inbox. Which is dependent on what system I'm on.

 

[Deleted member 4116]

For those Mac users who don't use Apple Mail, what do you use?

Rich

I use Outlook for the emails that require a program. In general, I prefer web-based applications. Less issues.

 

[Pa]

For those Mac users who don't use Apple Mail, what do you use?

Rich

I have three e-mail accounts. I use Gmail for two of them, and Thunderbird for the other. I think Thunderbird is a pretty good alternative to MacMail. When I moved my wife to a Mac I set her up with MacMail, replacing Eudora on the PC she was using. We had too many problems with MacMail (I forget now what they were), so moved her to Thunderbird. She is pretty satisfied with it, but still wishes she could go back to Eudora.

 

[socrreferee]

For me the issue will be is Aperture still compatible with it. Since Apple has stopped support for Aperture, I haven't found anything I like enough yet to switch to. So my intention was to keep running Aperture as long as I can. It has the functionality I need, is fast, and has been surprisingly bug free. I just don't want to update an OS to stay current (although I know I will have to eventually), and suddenly find that my photo managing/editing application no longer works. Don't want to derail the discussion onto an Aperture replacement solution. Just stating that my main concern will be how long before I am forced to go to a new photo application.

 

[crazy]

Yosemite 10.10.4 released yesterday, allowing 3rd party SSD trim.

http://forums.macrumors.com/threads...trim-for-third-party-ssd-hard-drives.1896572/