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| Everyday Tips from the ComputerMom |
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Happy Independence Day! I hope you all have fun vacation plans to take advantage of this beautiful weather! I won't be traveling much this summer - I have a few short trips planned, but will mostly be around, so don't hesitate to call me if you have any technology issues.
Last month Apple announced a new version of its Mac operating system, called MacOS Sierra. Apple has offered OSX upgrades free for a few years, but this particular version has new minimum system requirements. There are some pretty serious ramifications if your Mac is too old to run Sierra, so please read on for more details.
In Windows news, it's finally upon us - the free Windows 10 upgrade program is ending this month, on July 29th. The list price for Windows 10 will be $119.00. If you haven't upgraded to Windows 10 yet, you only have a few weeks to do it without paying for the operating system.
Have a great 4th!
Regards,
Julie Marto
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 New MacOS Sierra Drops Older Model Support
Apple releases new operating system versions every year, and this year is no exception.
The latest version of the Mac operating system, called MacOS Sierra, is expected in the fall, and will be a free upgrade available through the Mac App Store. Unlike the previous free upgrades, which could be installed on models manufactured as far back as 2007, Apple is dropping support for older Macs. In order to run MacOS Sierra, your system will have to be one of the following models:
- MacBook Pro (2010 and later)
- MacBook Air (2010 and later)
- Mac Mini (2010 and later)
- Mac Pro (2010 and later)
- MacBook (Late 2009 and later)
- iMac (Late 2009 and later)
As you can see, most 2009 and older Macs will no longer be supported. Why is this important and what should you do if you have an older Mac? Let me explain:
- Just like Microsoft, Apple issues frequent OS updates to patch security vulnerabilities. Additionally, Apple provides a type of built-in antivirus protection through those updates. However, Apple only updates the newest versions of its operating system. In order to be adequately protected, you should always keep your Mac on one of the latest versions of OSX.
- Although new Mac OSX versions are free to download, they only offer the latest version in the App Store. The current product, El Capitan, will no longer be available after Sierra is released. If your Mac can't run Sierra, it will be too late to get El Capitan.
- You can easily find out your current version of OSX by clicking on the Apple menu in the upper left, and choosing "About this Mac". Newer versions of OSX will also show you the model name and year of your Mac. You should be on version 10.11.x. If you are not, plan to upgrade your Mac to El Capitan ASAP!
- If "About this Mac" doesn't have the model information, determining the year of an older Mac can be difficult. Follow the instructions here to identify your model by serial number. Feel free to give me a call if you can't figure out your model year. If your system is not on the compatibility list above, you will want to upgrade to El Capitan prior to the release of Sierra.
Mac OS upgrades take several hours, and can be a bit tricky, especially if you are starting from several generations back. If you want me to upgrade your Mac to the latest version of OSX, I do that as a
drop off service. The upgrade process includes a backup, a thorough system check, and a system optimization. Just give me a call if you need some help!
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 Last Chance for Free Windows 10
Microsoft's free offer for Windows 10 ends on July 29th, and they have been clear that they will not extend the offer. Although Microsoft has been very aggressive about the upgrade, there are still many of you out there who haven't upgraded. Here's my recommendation for the last few weeks of the upgrade offer.
- If you have Windows 8 - you really MUST upgrade. Windows 8 was a disaster for Microsoft, and they would prefer to forget it ever existed. Your computer is relatively new, and running a dead end operating system. If you don't move to 10 while it's free you will probably end up paying for it later.
- If you have Windows 7, Microsoft will continue issuing security updates for it until 2020. That may sound like a date well into the future, but it's 3 1/2 years away. Think about the age and performance of your system - do you still plan to be using it in 3 1/2 years? If so, you should upgrade. If not, you can just stick with Windows 7 and plan to replace your system in a few years, or pay for the upgrade later.
- If you have Windows Vista, Microsoft is ending extended support on April 11, 2017. You are not eligible for the free upgrade, and your system may be too old and out of date to upgrade even if you wish to pay for it. It's probably time to think about replacing your system.
- Experts only - if you want to "reserve" your free copy of Windows 10 but continue to use the version of Windows you have now, follow the instructions here to upgrade and then roll back your operating system!
If you don't know how to determine your version of Windows, please
give me a call and I will help you find it. And d
on't forget, I am still offering my
Windows 10 Upgrade Special
. Drop your system off with me, and for a flat rate of $100.00, I will back it up, install Windows 10, make sure everything works properly, and customize and tweak it to ensure your Windows 10 experience is a good one.
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