This version of macOS 10.12 cannot be installed on this computer.

Phil0124,

If you buy a good quality car it should last you longer than 7 years. After 7 years you car does not suddenly display a message on your dashboard saying sorry your car will not work properly unless you buy a new one. That is essentially what Apple is saying.

The answer to your question - Would you prefer to have gotten a stripped down version of Sierra too instead without most of the new features? YES! because every version of software includes updates and bug fixes to previous versions, and therefore is inherently better then the latter.

Is it really unreasonable to think after 7 years it may be time to update to a newer computer? No. However, Is it really unreasonable for a business to provide support for their products through updates past 7 years? No. If you market a great product and promote the longevity and reliability of it, you should stand behind your customers, not just buying now, but the ones who bought years ago. I find it bad that I had to search google, and webpages, to find out why I couldn't download the update vs. apple coming out openly about this matter. It just seems slightly precarious to me.

Just because you cannot update to Sierra does not mean the computer's life is at an end. -Agreed, it just means If I want updates or new versions, for software on my computer, I will have to update soon, which means spending over $1000 when I already have a working computer..

My computer still works great but Apple is saying no, because they ultimately want more money - a company that is expected to make 100 billion dollars this year alone.

You must have had one heck of a time when they did away with dial phones, buggy whips, lead gas, typewriter ribbons, vacuum tubes, etc. I know I felt the same way when compact disks replaced tapes and vinyl records. My old audio equipment would not play these new technologies. But it was not the fault of the equipment manufacturers that the technology moved forward. At some point you have to let go of older technology and move on. It is unreasonable to expect current technology to continue working on old technology.

AdamS69 wrote:

Phil0124,

If you buy a good quality car it should last you longer than 7 years. After 7 years you car does not suddenly display a message on your dashboard saying sorry your car will not work properly unless you buy a new one. That is essentially what Apple is saying.

No, that is what you are saying. Your computer has not suddenly stopped doing what it has been doing because it cannot get a new update. Apps still work on your computer. It still browses the web. it still does all the things it has been doing since you bought it 7 years ago, and will continue to do so for several more years.

Continuing the car analogy, do you go back to your car dealer because your 7 year old car cannot use the current GPS navigation? Or does not have the current generation gas economizing engine software and demand it be added to your car even though there is no conceivable way it can handle it?

AdamS69 wrote:

Phil0124,

Is it really unreasonable to think after 7 years it may be time to update to a newer computer? No. However, Is it really unreasonable for a business to provide support for their products through updates past 7 years? No.

And who says they'll stop? Again Apple has been known to provide security updates to older OSes if required. If there's a security breach that requires their attention El Capitan will likely get an update for that, while still remaining at el Capitan.

Again, the lack of an update to sierra, does not in any way imply your computer is left in the wind. But at some point the hardware is simply not up to par to handle the requirements of the newest OS.

Basically you are just whining because you cannot get the newest OS. Regardless of the technical and functionality reasons of why that may be so.

AdamS69 wrote:

Phil0124,

Is it really unreasonable to think after 7 years it may be time to update to a newer computer? No. However, Is it really unreasonable for a business to provide support for their products through updates past 7 years?

Again I ask how long should Apple have provided OS updates for that Mac and made you happy?

Again, your computer still works, It will still work and be secure for the next couple of years. There just comes a time when change is inevitable. for a 7 year old computer that is still a few years away.

You cannot expect eternal updates for your computer. The fact you did not get an update at year 7 is just the technical requirements of the new OS. At some point it needs to stop. Why is 7 years not good enough? How long should it have been? This is just your arbitrary sense that they should continue to provide updates but no real reason to justify that your Mac is capable of getting that update?

There is really no reasonable time frame is there? You just want it to be updated for ever, regardless of technical capacity, and requirements.

This is my last reply. It is clear there is no way to to get through to you. As you want the update and no reasonable explanations matter. Apple is evil, simply because your computer did not get an update. Regardless of the fact your computer is still functional, will still work, and is not in any less secure than it was 3 weeks ago before the update.

You just want the update. Well to that I tell you good luck finding a company that will support their computers that long.

This is where Apple forces people to replace a perfectly good computer in order to keep up to date.

So environmentally (and wallet) friendly. 😠

Scottc1978 wrote:

This is where Apple forces people to replace a perfectly good computer in order to keep up to date.

So environmentally (and wallet) friendly. 😠

Apple are not forcing you to upgrade your version of OS X, El Capitan still works on a MacBook Pro 2009 and Apple are not going to send a kill signal to it to stop this. Similarly all your existing apps still run on your 2009 model and the authors of those apps generally will not send a kill signal either.

Referring back to the car analogy again, I have a 2007 model BMW car, yes it still runs but I cannot upgrade it to BMW's new CarPlay compatible spec much as I would like to.

birdmanpip wrote:

The cynic in me wonders if this is at all related to the imminent release of the new MacBook range!!

Cynics often wonder, that's why they are cynics.

It doesn't 'meet the requirements'

it's too old.

AdamS69 wrote:

Phil0124,

If you buy a good quality car it should last you longer than 7 years. After 7 years you car does not suddenly display a message on your dashboard saying sorry your car will not work properly unless you buy a new one. That is essentially what Apple is saying.

Nowhere is that being said, has your Mac exploded, or faded away since the new ones were released. I doubt it has, in fact I will bet your Mac is very similar to the way it was a few days ago.

And in case you had not noticed, it's not a car.

Scottc1978 wrote:

This is where Apple forces people to replace a perfectly good computer in order to keep up to date.

So environmentally (and wallet) friendly. 😠

Dont be absurd.

i am currently stuck at macOS 10.9, yeah my machine too old to upgrade to 10.12 (sierra).

but could i at least upgrade to 10.10 (Yosemite) or 10.11 (El Captain)?...

Basically i need to upgrade my Xcode in order to continue app creation 😟

using the older version of xcode will not work anymore

Weilies wrote:

i am currently stuck at macOS 10.9, yeah my machine too old to upgrade to 10.12 (sierra).

but could i at least upgrade to 10.10 (Yosemite) or 10.11 (El Captain)?...

Check here: Get El Capitan from the App Store.

Hi Weilies

I am in exactly same boat - up creek with my apps and in identical predicament. On 10.10.5 and need to et El Capitan.

Did you find a work around please? Desperate to continue working on my idea and resent continual issues with what appear to be Apple's seemingly endless unwritten contracts.

Tried the work around with terminal but no thing ending with 'agent'?

Best Regards

The link John Galt provided allows you to get El Capitan free of charge even if you have not previously 'purchased' it.

If you click on 'Get' it should download and after downloading you should be able to run it and upgrade from Yosemite to El Capitan. Optionally you can use the downloaded installer and DiskMakerX to create a bootable USB installer which will make it easier to erase your current disk and then install El Capitan.

Note: Erase means exactly that you will lose any files on that disk. It will however let you reuse a disk that may have Sierra on it and 'downgrade' to El Capitan.

Hi John, Thanks, Sounds good. Only problem remains is the issue of downloading. I know I am on 10.10.5 but link returns: 'To use the Mac App Store, you need Mac OS 10.6.6 or greater.' Bit odd. Anyway, will keep trying things. Cheers

The link works for me but I have already previously 'bought' El Capitan anyway. Try launching Mac App Store by itself as normal, logging in to an AppleID and buying any free app as a test. This will at least establish the Mac App Store is working for you. Then if it works try the link again.

If you still have problems you may need to contact Apple via the AppleCare phone number even if you don't have AppleCare once you explain the issue I believe they will still help. Another option is to book a Genius bar appointment and get them to download it for you. You could copy it on to a USB drive - you will need at least an 8GB drive.