macOS 27 Golden Gate is coming Sept 14th — and we’re excited about it!
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The new Macintosh operating system, macOS 27 Golden Gate, will be released on Monday, September 14th. I’ve been running the beta version for several weeks now, and I have to say, I’m more encouraged and excited about this release than I have been about a new macOS in several years.
There’s a popular belief in the Mac community that Apple’s 2009 release of Snow Leopard was the pinnacle of operating-system development. Rather than piling on new features, Apple concentrated on making the Mac faster, more stable and more refined. After spending several weeks with Golden Gate, I’m getting some of that same feeling. Apple isn’t trying to reinvent the Mac. It feels like they are just making it better.
The headline feature is, of course, Siri AI, which will take time to fully mature. There’s some genuinely cool stuff available on day one that gives you a glimpse of where Apple Intelligence is headed, but you don’t have to use it and it doesn’t get in the way. There are also lots of smaller improvements. Visually, everything feels more polished and refined, with more control over Liquid Glass. Performance has received some attention too, with apps like Mail, Photos, and Safari feeling snappier and more responsive. Overall, the operating system has felt remarkably stable and solid in my testing.
There is, however, a new line in the sand that is important for anyone with an older Mac to understand. Historically, when a new macOS was released, people with older computers could install it and often discover that their older Mac actually ran worse. That’s not going to happen with Golden Gate because Apple has raised the minimum hardware requirements. macOS 27 requires an Apple silicon Mac. All Intel Macs are now outside the compatibility window for macOS 27 and future versions of macOS.
This will affect quite a few of our customers. We know there are a lot of you who have gotten remarkably long lives out of your Intel Macs, and we’ve helped many of you keep those machines going. Unfortunately, this is the point where the writing is on the wall: if you’re still using an Intel Mac, it’s time to start thinking about what comes next.
For customers with compatible Macs, we will most likely recommend installing Golden Gate sooner rather than later. That said, here are three pieces of advice that can make the process go much more smoothly:
1.) Backup — You should always have a complete, current Time Machine backup before upgrading your operating system. While going back to an older version of macOS isn’t easy, a good backup gives you options. Without one, you’re essentially going for a deep-space walk without a tether. Time Machine is easy and automatic; all you need is a backup drive. Make sure you have one, and check that it’s actually working before you start the upgrade. If you need one, we have plenty in stock.
2.) Approach — Customers often ask how much a new version of macOS costs. Like Apple’s done for years, the operating system itself is free. But that doesn’t mean an upgrade has no cost. There’s time involved in learning new features and changes, and third-party software may need to be upgraded as well. Those updates can sometimes cost money, particularly if you’re running older versions. And if you need help from us or another technician, there will be a cost for that support. Go into the upgrade with the right expectations and you’re much less likely to encounter unpleasant surprises.
3.) Wait — This may be the hardest advice to follow because we live in a world of instant gratification. But waiting a little while is often the smartest thing you can do. Within days of a major release, millions of people will install it and uncover the bugs that didn’t show up during beta testing. I recommend that most customers wait for Apple to release an update or two before upgrading. That gives Apple a chance to fix the inevitable early bugs and gives third-party developers time to test and update their software as well.
At Visionary Computer, we’re very excited about macOS 27 and the other “27” releases from Apple. I think of operating-system upgrades a lot like changing the oil in your car. Some people do it themselves, but there’s something to be said for having an expert handle it. A macOS upgrade is easy enough that you can certainly do it yourself, but sometimes it just makes sense to have our skilled technicians take care of it for you.
We’ve all got our strengths in this world. Let us handle the technology while you do what you do best.
Whenever you’re ready, Golden Gate is a very worthwhile upgrade — and one that I think makes the Mac experience better without getting in your way. I’m looking forward to seeing it officially arrive on September 14th.
David Maffucci Visionary Computer
