ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

Keep it and make sure that you back it up regularly using Time Machine. A redundant backup is also advisable since backup drives can and will eventually fail. When your internal drive fails get the latest M chip Mac and use Time Machine to set it up.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I second that opinion. However, the same M1 processor and options are available in the Late 2020 M1 Mac mini, the Late 2020 M1 13" MacBook Pro, and the Spring 2021 24" iMacs. Performance is nearly identical. Choose the form factor that makes sense for you.

The new M2 MacBook Air and 13" MacBook Pro were added recently. They are considerably more expensive. I'd avoid the 256GB storage option, the I/O speed of which is restricted, by comparison with all units having 512GB storage and more. Personally, I'd avoid all the M1/M2 13" MacBook Pro models and get one of the Airs. The 14" and 16" MacBook Pros with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips are far more powerful. Most people don't need that much power. Those who do, know who they are.

neillaubenthal

Long time Mac consultant here…I would get a new one before retiring. Yeah…it works but it can only go up to Mojave and will get increasingly left behind on macOS and/or security updates. Plus…the new ones are so much quicker even for everyday stuff you'll not want to ever go back once you try one.

Depending on whether you want a desktop or laptop…the M1 iMac or the M2 Air will do just fine for all the everyday stuff plus both will run LR and/or PS or your PP apps of choice. I have both laptop and desktop…but if I wanted only one it would be a laptop and an external monitor for those times I wanted a bigger screen.

At this point…I would not spend any money upgrading the old machine simply because of the issues with software updates…and this from a guy who still has a 2013 Mac mini running in his entertainment center. It was the 'house file server' for the 8 years we lived in the RV full-time from 2013 to 2019 and when we moved into the house I kept it just as a second Time Machine network destination for our daily driver laptops and replaced it with a 2019 iMac for the fileserver and LR duties…but then I replaced that with a Mac Studio because I could and didn't want my desktop PP machine to be slower than my laptop which is an M1 Pro MBP 14.

And like several others have noted…Intel is gone from the Apple universe and will eventually be abandoned so I would not buy anything with Intel chip either new or used at this point and would not spend anything upgrading an Intel based Mac either. When the 2013 mini gets orphaned on macOS updates it will get retired as well. Like a lot of us…I keep things as long as I can and was running a 2015 MBP until it was replaced with the M1 Pro MBP.

Effjayess Loc: NE,Pennsylvania

To all who took the time to respond, I thank you all for the info. I have suffered most of my adult life at work in a PC windows world. For the past 10 years that I have had my iMac I have not had one problem, and except for the occasional restart message still no problems. I want to get a new machine while I am still working before I retire in April. I guess I’ll do the air with a larger monitor. Again thank you all. You were a great help.

Just Ducky Loc: Ohio/Florida

Do be careful about which chip you get and the programs you want to use…

Laramie Loc: Tempe

Two words. Linux Mint. Keep it forever.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Said Tim Cook.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I have a 27" iMac from about 2010 or so. Though it is not running the latest OS it still has its use. It's networked with my 2021 27" iMac. I had hoped to use it as a second monitor but that isn't possible. I can remote desktop into the older one to run programs that will not run on my new iMac.

All of my photographs are stored on external G-Tech drives, along with being backed up on two networked Windoze systems.
--Bob

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

If you must ... do both. Keep this one, look for the next.
If you can run Mojave you can run Big Sur.
Need more room? WD Passports are reasonable. And portable.
Wait a year, but keep track of the Mac M2 progress.

My wife is using a 2011 MacPro, 6 core W3680, Windows10
I have a 2011 mac mini, 16gb ram, SSD running Linux Mint.
And THIS is a 2012 MacPro I bought for $50- because a fan went bad,
2x x5675 w/32gb ECC Ram, also running Windows10.

What CAN'T you do on this "pld" machine?

Effjayess Loc: NE,Pennsylvania

I can do all I need to do now. I guess I was asking if I need to be concerned about being able to update security patches in the future if I can’t update OS systems. Apple website says I can update to Catalina 10.15.7 but that’s it. Just wanted opinion from the experience out there if I should update to Catalina or leave well enough alone and plan on a new machine in while I’m still working to carry me through most of my retirement?

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Update to Catalina if your software will run on Catalina. But it is not supported with security updates, so be careful! If you can find an anti-virus/anti-malware app that runs on Catalina, get one. (You get what you pay for...)

DO plan to get a new Mac soon. As Apple has ditched Intel, updates and upgrades to Intel versions of the operating system won't last forever.

The second generation of Apple 'M' series processors is in the pipeline now, and except for the Intel Mac Pro, all other Macs use Apple Silicon.

Nearly all popular software is updated for the new architecture. But MOST 64-bit software written for Intel Macs will run on the M1/M2 family. Software written for both Intel and Apple Silicon processors can be run natively, OR via the Rosetta 2 emulator for Intel. That's helpful if your software vendor hasn't updated/upgraded, or if you have plug-ins that are Intel only.

Effjayess Loc: NE,Pennsylvania

Thank you for your reply.
One last question:
I have a terabyte drive that has always been managed by “time machine “
If I get a new machine and connect the drive, do I need t manually put photos in photos and documents in documents or will the drive automatically populate its contents to the new machine. Or does it just act as an archive that I need to go to when I need something that I know to be to be on my old machine. Thanks for your reply.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

You can restore to the new machine, but if your old machine works, it is better to use Mac Migration Assistant. It is in the Utilities Folder in the Applications Folder.

Effjayess Loc: NE,Pennsylvania

Thank you for you knowledge.
PS I’m headed to Fort Lawn SC in a few weeks for a work assignment. I have never been there before. Looking for to it.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

That's about half an hour South of Fort Mill, where I was briefly a radio announcer in the late 1970s. It's around 50 minutes South of Charlotte, NC.

Know that that region of SC is among the most sparsely populated areas. Charlotte is THE most populated in all the Carolinas. The cultural differences are quite stark.