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Confirmed: Apple restricts some 64-bit Macs from running OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 · 12:08 pm · 53 Comments

“Apple has now confirmed via its Mountain Lion upgrade page that previously published limitations on some 64-bit Macs will extend to the final release,” Chris Foresman reports for Ars Technica. “This means that several otherwise 64-bit capable MacBook Pros, iMacs, and Mac Pros will indeed be restricted from upgrading to OS X 10.8 when it goes public later this month.”

“And according to information found in the recently released golden master (GM), the limitation appears to be related to graphics, as we originally suspected,” Foresman reports. “When the first developer preview of Mountain Lion was seeded to developers earlier this year, the release notes listed hardware requirements showing that some early 64-bit Mac models were not compatible. (Lion is likewise 64-bit, and can run on any Core2 or newer 64-bit Intel processor.) As such, Mountain Lion developer previews would not run on the earliest Mac Pros, MacBook Pros, iMacs, and other hardware.”

Read more in the full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: Time marches on and with every major OS X release the déjà vu multiplies. This is what happens. Every single time. If you want to run the latest OS X and your Mac won’t run it, get a new Mac.

In order to run OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, your Mac must be one of the following models:

• iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
• MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
• MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
• MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
• Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
• Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
• Xserve (Early 2009)

Today, there are plenty of places to sell Macs for good money. For those on the outside looking in, it’s now time to decide whether to upgrade or to stick with what you have.

Recent converts: You’re not in Windows PC Land anymore. Mac users do not stagnate. We’d rather have Apple err on the side of pushing the envelope (they’re not erring here) than the alternative.

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

Categories: News

Tags: Mountain Lion, OS X, OS X 10.8, OS X Mountain Lion

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Comment Feed

53 Comments

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Mac Plus

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 12:14 pm · Reply

Phooey. I had planned to run it on my Mac Plus. It has 4Mb of RAM, and an 8 MHz processor. Why won’t it work?
- iQuack
  
  Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 12:43 pm · Reply
  
  Bahahahaha! Funny!
- Canada Mark
  
  Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 1:05 pm · Reply
  
  That is the problem with the “closed” Apple approach. I’m sure that the Google Chrome OS or Linux will install just fine. I’m running Debian Linux on my Timex watch with a virtual machine of Android. The only problem I have is the second hand runs counter clockwise so I am always 12 hours behind.
- Dev
  
  Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 2:49 pm · Reply
  
  the same crap jokes every time
  - Mac Plus
    
    Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 2:55 pm · Reply
    
    Thank you very little!!
    - Dev
      
      Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 3:04 pm · Reply
      
      It’s not a terrible joke – its just that the same type is made every time.
- FTB
  
  Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 5:45 pm · Reply
  
  i almost bought a Mac se/30 the other day… Fully working for $50….
  Your gravatar reminded me.
  
  Glad I didn’t though… No mountain lion support.
M

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 12:17 pm · Reply

They have worked hard on supporting graphics. ML had a lot of graphics bugs on my 24 inch iMac with the first two builds. Screen recording with QuickTime was a real problem for them. I’m sure they tried to support as many “older” Macs as possible without delaying ML.
- MacFreek
  
  Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 11:52 pm · Reply
  
  Five years. That’s old, real old, freaking prehistoric. Apple want users to buy a new machine every half a decade just to be able to use the latest software. Better save your nickels and dimes, Apple has to fill its coffers with loot.
HTML5 Gordon

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 12:17 pm · Reply

“the limitation appears to be related to graphics”

Well, then it makes perfect sense for Apple to restrict them from running it. Apple likes to protect the user experience. Just because the computer has a 64-bit processor doesn’t mean it would run it well. If Apple allowed it and then the performance suffered because of the lack of graphics horsepower on these models, then people would complain.

Unlike Microsoft, that would allow you to install it and suffer, Apple wants users to have a good experience.
tbone

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 12:18 pm · Reply

The lie that Apple promulgates on its users is their: in the case of why 10.8 won’t run on these machines, the graphics subsystem is 32 bit. Apple promised all Intel machines would be 64 bit clean. This was a lie. These subsystems require 32 bit drivers that Apple apparently isn’t interested in supporting. And while it is okay to drop support for certain legacy devices, it is not ok to cavalierly decide that they’ve changed their minds midstream to disallow support for machines that in many cases are not 5 years old. And don’t tell me to update a 56 year old machine because it’s time. These are “modern” Macs we’re talking about. Not PPC machines. And while my machine will run just fine without “Billy Goat”, not having that ability was done under false pretenses.
- Top Genius
  
  Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 12:49 pm · Reply
  
  A. Prove your statement that “Apple promised all Intel machines would be 64 bit clean.”
  
  B. Sans proof, your argument ceases to exist, so STFU, Mac newbie.
  
  C. As MDN wrote so well, “There are plenty of places to sell Macs for good money. For those on the outside looking in, it’s now time to decide whether to upgrade or to stick with what you have. Recent converts: You’re not in Windows PC Land anymore. Mac users do not stagnate.”
  - Dev
    
    Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 2:52 pm · Reply
    
    no you stfu. No you. No you. No you.
    
    We don’t live in a courtroom to produce “proof” every time you say something.
    
    Idiot.
    - Lawyer
      
      Friday, July 13, 2012 - 1:23 pm · Reply
      
      .
      
      Wow!
      
      I’m sexually aroused!
      
      .
- Michael
  
  Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 1:36 pm · Reply
  
  What are you talking about?
  
  Mountain Lion is deprecating 32-bit kernel extensions support, which includes extensions (drivers) for certain older GPUs. Second, Apple did not “promise all Intel Macs would be 64-bit clean”, the first Intel CPUs, Core Single and Core-Duo, were only 32-bit CPUs.
  
  Furthermore, please tell us where (anywhere) Apple has ever said this computer is guaranteed an OS upgrade. (Except when a new OS is about to be released and you buy a new Mac.)
- Bandit Bill
  
  Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 3:00 pm · Reply
  
  ” don’t tell me to update a 56 year old machine because it’s time.”
  
  If it’s 56 years old, it’s time
ytseman3

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 12:24 pm · Reply

Damn, I wanted to upgrade my PM G5 from Leopard… guess not!!! On the bright side, to me this hints at retina iMacs and so on because of the graphics horsepower needed.
peterblood71

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 12:41 pm · Reply

Sure hope my 2009 iMac (2.66 Intel Core 2 Duo & NVIDIA GeForce 9400 256 MB) is not excluded, its the only Mac I have that was officially upgradeable to ML, incl. two other Mac Pro’s (circa 2005 and 2007). Ah well. Such a shame if I have to buy new Macs…
- Advance or Decline
  
  Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 12:51 pm · Reply
  
  Why do you consider upgrading to new Macs a “shame?”
  
  Most of us Mac users would consider it a shame not to do so.
  
  I love getting a new Mac! Mountain Lion gives you the perfect excuse to get a new Mac!
  - Jim
    
    Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 1:08 pm · Reply
    
    Indeed we do! Wouldn’t it be great if Apple would publish the officially supported models and then a severely restricted list called the “Supported List To Show To Spousal Finance Minister” ?!
- M
  
  Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 1:33 pm · Reply
  
  Your iMac is fine. It will be snappier too;)
Jim

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 1:06 pm · Reply

Hey, complainers, what part of “integrated hardware and software” doesn’t make sense to you? Apple builds computers to be the best they can be… right then when you buy them. Supporting them into the future is nice when possible, but not guaranteed. You’re thinking that because it’s software it should just work, but Apple pushes the software forward in concert with the hardware moving forward. That’s the Apple way!
Really

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 1:25 pm · Reply

I don’t see it as a problem. Looking at the list I see machines going back to 2007 so most systems are seeing 5 years of mainstream OS support.

If they were cutting off machines at the 2 year mark I’d be raising hell. Once you get past the 3 year mark its really just a bonus if the latest OS works in my opinion.
- Alex in Toronto
  
  Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 8:25 pm · Reply
  
  I agree. Five years is a long time and is probably the upper limit when it comes to having enough value to depreciate for tax purposes (of which I do not pretend to understand a whit).
whatever4real

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 1:42 pm · Reply

All makes should be upgradable up to 4 years. If you’re spending a grand or more on a computer it better go the long haul. First run MacBook Air is excluded. I am sure the first run Retina Display MacBook Pros will suffer the same fate on future OS releases. I’ll just scrap MacBooks in favor of the iPad and spend my grand updating my desktop. My MacBook Air is out, My iMac is in, My iPad 2 still functions well. Air will have to settle for lion, it’s a shaft and doesn’t make me comfortable when purchasing new Macs. The question becomes “when will my Mac be outdated?” I’m at the 4 year mark. Not good considering the MacBook Air was around 1500 dollars.
Hint

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 1:51 pm · Reply

The Mac lifespan has plummeted recently. With the PowerPC a computer could install the latest OS 5-years after it was born. And in some cases even more. Since the switch to Intel Apple has been raising the bar after 3-4 years.

I find this disheartening. Apple can either build a closed system (ie, don’t let us upgrade our graphics card, etc) OR, provide more backward compatibility. but do deny us both, MAY come back to bite them…as soon as there’s an alternative…or Mac knockoff…
- macrick
  
  Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 2:02 pm · Reply
  
  The earliest iMac listed is mid 2007. It’s mid 2012 now, so that’s a 5 yo mac capable of supporting ML. Once installed, you can run it for as long as you want: 6, 7, 8+ years. Assuming another major version in 3 years (SL was released almost 3 years ago), that gives you 8 years of life including the latest and greatest OS. Sounds pretty darn good to me.
  - macrick
    
    Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 2:04 pm · Reply
    
    Correction. Lion was the latest and released last July. At least 6 years. My point still stands.
    - whatever4real
      
      Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 5:06 pm · Reply
      
      Some 2007 iMacs true but the first 2008 MacBook Airs are in the cold. Not cool at all. That gives you 4 years until Apple orphans you.
      - smyhre
        
        Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 6:21 pm · Reply
        
        I’m sorry but I don’t see anywhere that it says that your computer will cease to function as soon as ML comes out if you can’t upgrade to ML. Why is Lion or SL or Leopard so bad that you can’t live with using them? I mean seriously those making this out to be doomsday just because you can’t update to ML are crazy. No company is obligated to make their oldest machines operate the latest software that was never meant for those old machines in the first place unless they NEVER want to progress further than where they are.
      - kingmel
        
        Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 8:47 pm · Reply
        
        If you don’t like the Mac way, then get a PC and run Win XP for a decade or more. Your MBA will run fine on 10.7 for years to come. If that isn’t good enough for you, then sell it and buy a new Mac (or a PC, if that is what you choose).
        
        I don’t push people to buy Macs. If they ask, then I will gladly tell them why I have used Macs since the 1980s and plan to continue buying Macs in the future.
LordRobin

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 1:53 pm · Reply

I guess I’d be more upset if this affected me. My Mac is five years old and running Lion. I consider myself to have gotten my money’s worth. I plan to upgrade to a new Mac mini as soon as they come out with Mountain Lion pre-installed.

——RM
- whatever4real
  
  Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 2:00 pm · Reply
  
  It affects me, and I am not real upset about it, it just sends a subtle message. I wanted to get the new MacBook Pro Retina, but I am going to wait until next year when they will probably make subtle changes or get EPEAT compliant or whatever to stay off the eco-hate list. This will impact early adopters. It’s a sign, that first on the awesome boat as equals first to be isolated on an older OS. First my Macbook (White) doesn’t run Lion, now my Air won’t run Mountain Lion. So my wife has a mini that is on Snow Leopard, My white Macbook is on Snow Leopard, My Air is on Lion and then my iMac will be on Mountain Lion. Seems a bit fragmented in my household now.
- whatever4real
  
  Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 2:06 pm · Reply
  
  Correction it appears that my wife’s mini is Macmini3,1 so it should be able to run Mountain Lion.
Ray The Video Guy

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 1:54 pm · Reply

Wy is it that we don’t hear much about this when a new version of Windows comes out? (besides the obvious fact that most just don’t care to upgrade past XP)? When Vista came out, most existing computers wouldn’t run it and there wasn’t any outrage
- Really
  
  Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 2:29 pm · Reply
  
  People raised hell when Vista shipped. It was all over the web.
  
  The big stink was that machines which were tagged as “Vista Capable” were sold which were not vista capable. They were capable of running Vista ‘Basic’ but not the premium versions so a brand new machine that said “vista capable” on the case could not in fact run the Aero graphics interface.
  
  There was a class action lawsuit over it. I don’t remember the outcome, probably coupons for $25 off a new machine or some ridiculous crap like that. lol.
  
  People complain with every Windows release, I think the only difference is that Microsoft has not (until Windows 8 ARM) changed processor achs so the forced changes did not seem as bumpy to most Windows users vs. say Mac users who went through the PowerPC to Intel transition.
  
  Application wise Microsoft has tried to maintain compatibility. Windows 7 is capable of running many old DOS apps in addition to pretty much anything written for Windows 98 or higher.
  
  Vista and windows 7 did create problems for hardware though, the driver changed and a lot of hardware was dropped as a result. I had a 3 year old printer that never got an updated driver for Windows 7. My fix was to plug it into an old XP machine and just share the printer out.
  
  Its not all roses on the windows side. Just different challenges.
progressiveagentprovocateur

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 2:05 pm · Reply

Of course, if Apple made HW with an upgrade path you wouldn’t have to drop your hard earned $ to buy an overpriced laptop marketed as a desktop (iMac) or overpriced laptop (MacBook Air/Pro).
- Shock Me
  
  Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 2:18 pm · Reply
  
  The upgrade path leads through the Apple Store, silly!
  - progressiveagentprovocateur
    
    Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 6:21 pm · Reply
    
    Planned obsolescence is what destroyed the US auto industry. In a planet with finite resources and an ever increasing demand, Apple’s policy is despicable.
- M
  
  Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 10:51 pm · Reply
  
  Such a drama queen. I TESTED ML on my early 2009 24 inch iMac.. a mac with a totally out of date core2duo. It’s faster.
  
  My 12 inch PowerBook (G4) and 14 inch iBook (G3)..and blue iMac DV.. all run just fine without the latest OS. They are all used daily.
  
  You dont see Macs in the trash for a reason. My 12 inch powerbook (2003) was beat to hell in grad school and still looks brand new. Show my another OEM that can do that. The only thing that brings it to its knees is Flash. Go figure.
  - progressiveagentprovocateur
    
    Thursday, July 12, 2012 - 1:02 am · Reply
    
    You must have never tried Virtual PC.
Roberto

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 2:13 pm · Reply

This year I helped upgrade 2 people who were still using original PowerMac G4 towers to new iMacs, and even a lady using a sapphire iMac G3 few chrissakes! All were running Tiger. Lifespan? Longevity? Oh yeah.
Dev

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 3:03 pm · Reply

Time does march on and apple should push forward. That doesn’t mean not sympathising with those who don’t have the cash to upgrade their older machines.
- amy2776
  
  Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 3:54 pm · Reply
  
  I agree. The money I would get for my MacBook would not even begin to help me purchase a new one. MDN’s comment makes it seem as if I can just sell my laptop almost be able to purchase a new one with that money. Not so.
  - whatever4real
    
    Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 5:02 pm · Reply
    
    Orphaned Macs don’t draw much money.
    - Shock Me
      
      Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 5:06 pm · Reply
      
      That’s why i keep them until they die or become antiques.
Slamm

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 3:43 pm · Reply

Would be cool if I could run it on my G5 tower… The G5 is a 64 Bit chip running in 32 Bit mode.
Thomas

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 7:15 pm · Reply

Graphics holding back a 64bit mac pro. BS!!

Wouldn’t that mean by upgrading the graphics card it would be ok then.

Just another way for Apple to get more cash from all of you and they get to here why you all love it! wow.
leodavinci1

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 7:33 pm · Reply

We have five Macs in our household and are in no position (at any time in the foreseeable future) to upgrade to new hardware. When ML info first came out, I had figured none of them would run ML, then info came out that made me think they all would, and now I think one, maybe two, of them may run ML, but I’m really confused.

The info I’ve read online at various sites has become contradictory about the specific Macs that will run ML. The info at the Apple ML upgrade page is rather non-specific.

Anyone know how to find out when your Mac was manufactured? I have no records about when I bought any of them. It would have been nice if Apple had included something (say in About This Mac) that would tell a person when their Mac was made.
Mzungu

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 8:53 pm · Reply

You mean it won’t work on my Newton?
Bummer/
Mark

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 9:56 pm · Reply

“With the affected machines now being a number of years old, Apple apparently decided that it was not worth investing the resources to upgrade those drivers to 64-bit in order to support OS X Mountain Lion.”

Not worth investing the resources to update drivers?

If true, it’s a truly sad statement to consumers from the richest company in the world.