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Thinking About Upgrading to Big Sur? Here's What You Need to Know.

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Apple’s Big Sur update to Mac OS has been released, and if you listen to the company’s press team, upgrading seems like a no-brainer, as it promises “Unparalleled power. Legendary ease of use. Limitless creativity.”

Practically speaking, we at Nodal think it’s wise to hold off upgrading, at least in the short term.

Big Sur has several features that are pretty exciting. First and foremost, it cements Apple’s role as an industry leader in privacy -- it boasts a level of transparency for app purchases that is miles from Google / Android’s often problematic practices. It also features a much-needed overhaul for the Safari browser and Messages, and several minor user interface improvements that promise to enhance productivity and efficiency both for personal and business use.

While we welcome these improvements, there are several compatibility issues that can and should qualify as a show-stopper for any business. According to forums from Mac users who have upgraded the following applications at a minimum don’t work as expected:

  • 3Dconnexion/3DxWare

  • 4th Dimension (4D)

  • Abstract

  • Adobe Bridge 2020

  • Adobe Libraries

  • Arduino ESP32 compiler

  • Bit Defender Antivirus

  • Bluebeam Revu PDF Markup Tool

  • Box Drive and Box Sync

  • Chronosync 4.9.10

  • CrossOver 19.0.2

  • CylancePROTECT 2.1.1570

  • DaisyDisk 

  • Daz Studio Pro 4.14 

  • Day-O

  • Default Folder X 

  • Deliveries 3.2.3 

  • Deluge 2.0.3

  • DigiKam 7.1.0

  • Docker

  • Drobo Dashboard

  • EazyDraw (does not launch)

  • eqMac

  • Epson Printer Utility 4

  • EyeTV

… and that’s just through “E.” Included among these issues is a compatibility issue with Google Drive File Stream, which could represent a major disruption to the workflow for businesses.

Operating systems can and should continue to improve, and MacOS remains a versatile, efficient, and user-friendly option for businesses and individuals alike, but now is simply not the time to upgrade. Wait a little longer to make sure that any of your mission-critical software is compatible and that any initial kinks are ironed out and you’ll have significantly less frustration entering into 2021.

Have questions about when you should upgrade? Contact us at Nodal today!

Nodal Blog