

(But it wasn’t all just marketing: Mac OS 8 also got the new interface design that had been created for Copland.) Marketing and legal matters decided the versioning here. The “System 7.7” update was then re-named “Mac OS 8” to get Apple out of some third party licensing deals, which were set to expire on version 8. A brief history of the Mac operating system versionsīefore the “Mac OS” label, the Macintosh operating system was called “System 7.” “Mac OS 8”, code-named “ Copland,” was supposed to be the new operating system with all the new features, but the project kept slipping and then was cancelled. But for developers and MacAdmins, the version number has to be as granular as possible, ideally with a different number for each build made.īecause of these, sometimes opposing, interests, it is no wonder that versioning is often a problem for MacAdmins.

The version number conveys technical information: how much change can you expect and might it break existing workflows and data? Users will be more willing to pay for a major upgrade with new features, so the version number is used as a marketing tool. macOS Big Sur actually launched as 11.0.1 (after 11.0.Versioning software is a surprisingly difficult task.TL DR: if you have any concerns about app stability, performance issues, and other bugs, hold out at least for the next bug fix update ( macOS 11.1 now available) before upgrading (but maybe even a later update depending on your stability tolerance).The full list of Macs with macOS Big Sur compatibility.macOS Big Sur 11 top features – the Mac gets a new UI, Control Center, 4K YouTube, & more.

So there are a few things to consider when wondering “should I upgrade to Big Sur?”

Stability has improved over the course of the beta period and Apple had longer this year with macOS Big Sur launching in November instead of September or October, but bugs and performance issues aren’t totally resolved yet. MacOS 11 Big Sur has been widely seen as the least stable of the major new Apple software releases this year during the beta period from June until this fall.Ĭommon issues have included graphical issues like problems with external display support, apps freezing, and random reboots. Read more about everything new with macOS 11.1 here. If you’ve been waiting to install this major OS update and your critical apps are all supported, this should be a safe time to jump in. Update 12/14: macOS Big Sur 11.1 now available…Īpple has released macOS 11.1 Big Sur with a number of bug fixes, performance improvements, and new features. But you may be wondering, should I upgrade to macOS Big Sur on my Mac? Read on for what the best option is for you. MacOS 11 Big Sur is now available to the public and it comes with a slew of exciting new features and changes.
