Mac users - have you downloaded OS X Yosemite? How's it working for you?

[IBrakeforPastry]

I've been hesitating to download Yosemite because of all the negative reviews. I don't use my computer for work, just personal stuff, and while I think I can use it reasonably well, I don't know enough to troubleshoot and therefore I didn't want to get stuck with this new update if it didn't work.

Yesterday I took the plunge and downloaded Yosemite. It took a while, but it seems to be working...intermittently. Sometimes it's fast, and other times I get a blank screen. And that spinning beach ball has been showing up a lot. I can't even look at my photos now until I download the new iPhoto software.

I'm not sure if I'm asking a specific question. Maybe just to hear other people's experiences. Maybe some suggestions or advice? I wonder if it settles down after a while. Thanks.

[rebeccaC]

Make sure you’ve done the updates! I’ve heard it can be slower on older mac’s but it works very well on my 2014 mac book pro. A 3+ year old mac also won’t be able to use some of the new features. The continuity features that let your iphone/ipad work as an extension of your computer are seamless with mine and being able to use your iphone as an internet hotspot is a good feature. For those that use a lot of social media and/or icloud the integration is better. For specific problems I'd look through the apple forums for, hopefully, good feedback.

[zoom-zoom]

I'm trying to download it right now...and it's taking FOREVER!! My machine is 5 years old and already slow as molasses. I cleaned a LOT of stuff off the HD and deleted tons of old emails, but it didn't really help. It's definitely time to upgrade to a new machine (I'm on my 2nd Mini and will probably go that route again, as they've worked well for my needs).

[IBrakeforPastry]

I think my mini is 5 years old, also. I bought it right around Thanksgiving, but not sure what year. The download took just about an hour (as expected) then the install took about another hour. I was concerned when the status bar said "22 minutes remaining", so I went and did some stuff, came back, and then it was "21 minutes remaining". It stayed like that for a while, then it caught up to itself.

I think I have all the updates. I was thinking of getting a new computer this year. I wonder if this is their way of encouraging me to make a new purchase? I also need a new camera, tv, and some work done on the house ;)

[Crankin]

I have it. It did take overnight to load/install (or some portion of), but it seems OK. I don't do anything weird on my MacBook Air, which is about 5 years old, maybe 4, so perhaps I am not the best judge. I have about 2,000 emails in my trash folder, but no media stuff, except about 100 photos. I don't watch videos or TV shows on line, either, or listen to music. So, basically, my computer is for what I consider to be computer stuff: email, web sites, Outlook, and I do receive texts on my computer if I get one while I am on it.

[zoom-zoom]

I may give up on it. It keeps stalling-out. I have 65mb of available space on my HD, so it shouldn't have issues with that. But I keep checking my ISP speed and it's intermittently terrible. Charter guarantees "up to" 30mbps, which gives them an out when it frequently falls <1mbps. Really irritating. We never had issues before we dropped cable TV. They clearly are throttling us, because of it. That BS should be illegal.

[Crankin]

It sounds like it's your provider, then.

[zoom-zoom]

It sounds like it's your provider, then.

Yup. A LOT of people in this area have issues with Charter, but they're still the best option for broadband...which is sad. They pretty much have a monopoly.

[OakLeaf]

I just got a new MB Air with Yosemite pre-installed.

Whatever you do, do NOT turn on encryption (FileVault). There is a bug that causes encryption to hang, leaving half the hard drive encrypted and impossible to turn off or even erase.

After all was said and done, I wound up having to re-install the OS TWICE, including downloading a fresh copy once. I've got decent internet here and it "only" took about four hours. If I'd had to do it in the sticks though, I would've had to drive it up to the Apple Store and swipe their bandwidth. In the country, we have Windstream which the FCC has documented as being the slowest least reliable internet company in the USA. :rolleyes: We can't even watch video clips or stream music. Probably going to switch to Exede next spring ... but that's another thread ... (but Kirsten, you might look into Exede also if your options are limited - the only trouble with satellite service is latency on the uplink can be long, pretty much rules out most realtime gaming, but if your internet is slow anyway you're not losing anything, and at least you'd get GREAT downlink bandwidth).

But anyway ... it hasn't even been 24 hours since the reinstall, but all seems good so far. Prior to the crash it was not doing anything weird like you describe. Sounds like you've got some system extension conflicts. That's one thing that Apple Support is usually good at helping troubleshoot. (Unlike mine, which was just annoying until Apple Support gave me instructions on how to brick it and DH had to bring it back to life because all they wanted was for me to shelve it for two weeks until there was an appointment available at the Apple Store!)

Were you coming from Mavericks, or from an earlier OS? I skipped right over a whole bunch, my old computer still has Snow Leopard (and once I get everything squared away with the new one, I'm thinking I might update the old box to Yosemite). Anyway, DH took two of his computers from, I think Lion, or maybe Mountain Lion, to Mavericks, with no trouble at all, and with a noticeable performance improvement even on older hardware (though he did also replace the HD in one of them with a SSD, which obviously gives a HUGE performance improvement).

[OakLeaf]

It keeps stalling-out. I have 65mb of available space on my HD, so it shouldn't have issues with that. .


I thought you needed like 5 GB???


Anyway ... if you are running Snow Leopard or earlier, for security reasons you really need to update your OS. Drag your computer along the next time you go someplace that has an Apple Store and you can use their bandwidth for free.

[zoom-zoom]

I thought you needed like 5 GB???


Anyway ... if you are running Snow Leopard or earlier, for security reasons you really need to update your OS. Drag your computer along the next time you go someplace that has an Apple Store and you can use their bandwidth for free.

Oops, fingers and brain weren't playing well together. I meant GB. So ample room. Running Mavericks right now. May give up on trying to "upgrade" to Yosemite. It keeps timing-out or something if I leave my computer for more than 15 min.

[rebeccaC]

I wonder if this is their way of encouraging me to make a new purchase?

well it is apple :)

kirsten.....performance with 65gb left can depend on how large a hd you have. even with a 1tb ssd i'm using
external hd's to keep my processed photos on to keep my macbook running quickly.

[zoom-zoom]

After >12 hours of downloading and countless restarts (I suspect our ISP is to blame) I finally was able to get Yosemite installed. So far, so good. This is the fastest my computer has run in probably 6 months. Hopefully I can massage at least another 3-4 months out of this >5 year old machine. Our checkbook has been hit REALLY hard in recent months.

[IBrakeforPastry]

After >12 hours of downloading and countless restarts (I suspect our ISP is to blame) I finally was able to get Yosemite installed. So far, so good. This is the fastest my computer has run in probably 6 months. Hopefully I can massage at least another 3-4 months out of this >5 year old machine. Our checkbook has been hit REALLY hard in recent months.

Good! Mine's running better today. I'm playing around with the settings until I get used to the new look.

[OakLeaf]

I'm just curious what new look/what bad reviews?

Aside from the brand new hardware and the very aggravating bug that is now HOPEFULLY dealt with ...

the only real difference I've noticed between Yosemite and Snow Leopard is trackpad dragging, where in Snow Leopard I could tap once and then drag, in Yosemite I have to three-finger drag, and to bring up the drop-down menu on an alarm I haven't figured out how to do that without physically clicking on the button vs tap to click (which just snoozes for the default five minutes in Yosemite).

Other than that (okay, that and the backwards scrolling that was introduced several OS versions ago, and I knew right away how to turn that off), I have not seen any difference at all.

What am I missing?! :p

[IBrakeforPastry]

You know how sometimes something looks different, but you can't tell what? That's it.
The favorites bar and the other bars, basically everything up top - they're hard to distinguish. Nothing stands out. No bold lines, everything the same color and intensity. And the mail is completely different. It's set up like the iPad, with the received mail in a column on the left, rather than listed at the top, with just the subjects line showing. I found some settings in the "view" tab that allow for some changes.

I'm not using the Apple mouse, so it's the same left and right click functions for me.

I'm getting used to the scroll, but just in case, how do I turn it off? Something under Systems Preferences? (okay - found it. Took about 5 seconds ;))

[OakLeaf]

Huh. So, I haven't migrated my mailboxes yet, that's the last thing, but in the interim I'm getting all my mail on the iPad so hopefully it won't be too big of an adjustment. As far as the rest ... maybe it's just your wallpaper? It all looks identical to 10.6 to me. Or were you on an even earlier version? I don't even remember what 10.4 looked like, pretty sure I skipped 10.5 ...

[IBrakeforPastry]

I don't know what older version I had. I think it was a leopard.

I know! The favorites bar: The graphics made each "favorite" look like an individual little button. Now it's just text, no graphics. Nothing to really separate them. I'm sorry - it's just really hard for me to explain.

And you know how websites have little icons that show up on the left side of the address bar/box? That's missing, too. It's all just black, grey and white.

[OakLeaf]

I don't know what older version I had. I think it was a leopard.

I know! The favorites bar: The graphics made each "favorite" look like an individual little button. Now it's just text, no graphics. Nothing to really separate them. I'm sorry - it's just really hard for me to explain.

And you know how websites have little icons that show up on the left side of the address bar/box? That's missing, too. It's all just black, grey and white.

I wonder if you haven't yet installed, or created a path to, the apps in your Dock. Do you see a big question mark icon, and then if you hover your cursor over it you get the text name of the app that's supposed to be there? Click on it and it will either find the path automatically, or ask you to show the path, and then you should have the icon. The icons are on by default. If that isn't it, there's something else weird going on - I looked to see whether the icons could be switched on or off, and I don't see that option in System Preferences.

If you haven't updated your OS since Leopard, many of your apps are probably incompatible with Yosemite. You'll need to either update them too, or if you have a favorite game like I do that hasn't been updated, keep your old box around to play it ...

Same with the website icons. Once you visit those, they will fill in. You just don't have them cached in your new browser yet.


Oh, and I just found that User Libraries are hidden by default in Yosemite. If you need access to any of yours, it's super easy to turn them back to visible (no messing around with the Terminal or anything scary like that [I'm not trying to be condescending, I'm terrified of Terminal myself :p]). I just did it and immediately forgot the exact steps, but if you can't find it on a quick search I'll look it up again.

[IBrakeforPastry]

It's really driving me nuts, and I'm very disappointed.
I clicked on the big question mark. Nothing happened.
The website icons haven't returned, they're just generic.
There is often a delayed reaction when I click on something. Not that it's slow to respond, it just doesn't indicate that it's doing anything. The cursor doesn't change from the arrow to Mickey's glove, the virtual button doesn't look selected, and then the beachball shows up.

Thank you for your information. I'm not afraid of Terminal. I don't know what it is ;)

[OakLeaf]

Which app(s) have the question mark(s) in the Dock? Are you sure you have the latest version of each of those apps installed ... and that you had the latest version BEFORE the OS upgrade?

Can you launch the apps by clicking on them directly in your Applications folder? If that's the case, then the simplest thing will be to drag the old placeholder question mark out of the Dock and drag the current, working one in. You can either drag it directly from the Applications folder (it won't move the actual path to the app, just create a path from the Dock), or else when the app is running, click and hold its icon in the Dock until a pop-up menu comes up above it (again, something that as far as I can tell you have to physically click the button), then from the Options submenu, check "Keep in Dock." Then you can drag the icon to wherever you want it in the Dock.

If you can't launch the apps from their icons in your Applications folder, if you restored from a backup, it's possible that you excluded your apps from the backup protocol when you set it up, so you will have to download and re-install fresh copies. That's really best practice anyway.

What browser are you using?

[IBrakeforPastry]

The question mark is standing all by itself. When I hover the cursor over it, a bubble shows above it saying "install OS X Yosemite". Does that mean it's not completely installed? Nothing happens when I click on the question mark. If I right click, I get the option of removing it from the dock. I think I'll do that. Just make it disappear.

I'm using Safari.

[OakLeaf]

Ah ... The way I understand it, once the installer has run, it deletes itself from the hard drive. Sounds like the cleanup routine didn't finish somehow. Yeah, I would just delete that if it were me. If you still have the disk image on your hard drive, copy that to an external drive just in case you need it in the future. But if you don't, there's no reason to save the icon.

But I thought you were saying the icons for the other apps were also appearing as question marks?

[IBrakeforPastry]

But I thought you were saying the icons for the other apps were also appearing as question marks?

No, the apps are fine. There was a question mark over iPhoto, but that went away after a re-start (after the update).
My two biggest problems now are the cursor and the freezing. It seems to work fine on this message board, but on another one that I've been visiting often, it freezes, or doesn't download the page completely.
Oak, I really appreciate your help, but I don't want you to waste your time on my problems. If you do think of something, though, I'll be here. Thanks!

[OakLeaf]

You're not wasting my time, you're giving me incentive to work harder on figuring it out for myself! :D

Okay, I finally imported my mailboxes, and here's what I was able to do.

Supposedly you should be able to drag the message pane closed (using the sizing bar in the top bar), but I wasn't able to do that. It would only go so narrow and then stopped. But when I switched to Classic layout (Mail>Preferences>Viewing), which has the message pane on the bottom rather than on the right, I was able to drag it completely closed (which now IIRC is the same thing I had to do when I originally set it up in Snow Leopard, it's just been so long I'd forgotten). Then once it's completely closed, it stays closed even if I switch the view back to modern layout (or whatever they call it if I un-check Classic).

With all Apple's vaunted security, it's kinda dumb to not only let it open messages by default, but make it so convoluted to turn that off ...

[zoom-zoom]

Well, dammit...I spoke too soon. I've run hard into the wi-fi connectivity issues that have plagued a lot of people with Yosemite upgrades, if reading around is any measure. I've always had Airport problems, even when my computer was brand new 5ish years ago. For years I wired directly to the modem, but now that's 2 rooms away (our downstairs is one big room, so no walls between computer and router and I have no issues with my phone connecting to our wi-fi from anywhere in the house). Now things are positively horrid. I can forget streaming Spotify or watching any streaming video. Pages can take a minute or more to load, my connection randomly drops completely. Ugh!!! There are no less than 10 possible solutions being presented, but I have no idea where to even start. I may just go the PRAM route. Or toss my damned machine out the window next to me!

[Dubz]

@zoom-zoom: I feel your pain. Computer issues suck. Especially when Macs are normally very reliable. I hate PCs now. I could never go back to them since going Mac.

After my Yosemite upgrade, when logging onto my MacBook Pro (mid 2012 version) it takes much longer for the password box to appear. Sometimes it won't allow me to enter my password for a few seconds. Before, it was like lightening. It's a little thing, but very annoying.

I've also got Microsoft Office 2011 installed and have had some lagging issues with that as well since I upgraded. Don't know if it's related, but I presume it is. I'm up-to-date with all my software downloads and patches.

[zoom-zoom]

@zoom-zoom: I feel your pain. Computer issues suck. Especially when Macs are normally very reliable. I hate PCs now. I could never go back to them since going Mac.

I still wouldn't go PC, either...not after I HAD to take a programming class in college that used PCs...and the room had to be evacuated when one started on fire!!

I think I found the fix to my issue. I tried a few other things before trying this (fix #2) (http://osxdaily.com/2014/10/25/fix-wi-fi-problems-os-x-yosemite/)...so far it seems to have completely cured my issue.

[Dubz]

@zoom-zoom

That's brilliant! Did it just suddenly burst into flames? I hope it didn't cause too much damage. Good thing you got your Mac sorted.

My funny PC story in college involves being in the middle of a a very boring class while the tutor was in full flow discussing something quite serious. Suddenly, we heard the voice of the Drill Instructor from Full Metal Jacket screaming abuse at us. Naturally, we were all a bit taken aback. There was an awkward silence while everyone looked around the room going WTF? But we couldn't stop laughing when we realised that some of the guys had programmed the PC to make this happen. Perfect timing! Just thinking about it makes me laugh even now.

[zoom-zoom]

@zoom-zoom

That's brilliant! Did it just suddenly burst into flames? I hope it didn't cause too much damage. Good thing you got your Mac sorted.

My funny PC story in college involves being in the middle of a a very boring class while the tutor was in full flow discussing something quite serious. Suddenly, we heard the voice of the Drill Instructor from Full Metal Jacket screaming abuse at us. Naturally, we were all a bit taken aback. There was an awkward silence while everyone looked around the room going WTF? But we couldn't stop laughing when we realised that some of the guys had programmed the PC to make this happen. Perfect timing! Just thinking about it makes me laugh even now.

That is awesome! I used to have an app called "Cat in the Dock" that had a funny cartoon cat that would make random noises and spout lines from movies. He would do Darth Vader and crack me up.

IIRC that computer started smoking before the flames. We were making our way out of the room by the time the flames started. Class was cancelled for the rest of the day.

[zoom-zoom]

Spoke too soon...wi-fi is back to running slow and intermittently dropping and then reconnecting. *sigh* This seems to be a fairly widespread problem, but apparently Apple has repeatedly feigned ignorance. Dammit, I miss Steve Jobs. Hardware, software, and customer support all seemed so much better when he was still actively the face of Apple.

[Dubz]

@zoom-zoom

Good thing you were all ok and got a bonus day off to boot.

That's a pity about your Wi-Fi. Are you sure it's definitely a Yosemite issue and not an issue with your broadband provider / other hardware? I had a very similar issue recently. The provider sent out an engineer and it turned out that I just needed a new router. They swapped it out and that was it - problem solved.

I agree about Steve Jobs. Though maybe Apple employees prefer to have lunch with their current CEO...

http://www.businessinsider.com/what-its-like-to-work-at-apple-2014-6

[OakLeaf]

That's true, I would check the router before definitively blaming your OS. They don't last forever.

Jobs ... maybe, maybe not. I've seen the same kind of things happen with Garmin, which never had a cult of personality the way Apple did. I think any company that enjoys that kind of success will eventually get to the point where they don't feel their product has to live up to their reputation any more. I think it just took Apple a little longer to get to that point, because it was the iPod and not the computer that really got them there.

[zoom-zoom]

That's true, I would check the router before definitively blaming your OS. They don't last forever.

Jobs ... maybe, maybe not. I've seen the same kind of things happen with Garmin, which never had a cult of personality the way Apple did. I think any company that enjoys that kind of success will eventually get to the point where they don't feel their product has to live up to their reputation any more. I think it just took Apple a little longer to get to that point, because it was the iPod and not the computer that really got them there.

And then the iPhone...I believe that has been deemed the device that really turned things around for Apple more than any other. I sure do love mine most of the time (though iOS7 was garbage and had me rethinking that. Thankfully 8 seems just as reliable as 5 and 6 were).

I wondered about the router, but wouldn't all of our other wireless devices have issues, too, if the router were failing? 2 laptops, 2 phones, and iPad are all connecting and staying connected fine...as is the TV (which may be directly connected to the modem, I forget) and the basement TV's Chromecast. And the router's <2 years old. We replaced it when we moved, so it's relatively new. Plus, I had similar issues to what I'm having now when my computer was brand new. At our old house I had to cable connect directly to the modem in the same room. Now that I'm 2 rooms away I don't have that option without drilling holes and running cable under the floor.

[Dubz]

@zoom-zoom

Good point. If every other device is working ok, then maybe it isn't the router.

Have the Mac forums been any help?

I used to have a Samsung Galaxy S3. I loved it until the day it stopped working. Apparently, it's a memory issue which loads of people have been affected by. Your phone just dies suddenly. There was no point in trying to get it fixed by Samsung because apparently they'll say that your screen is damaged when it's only a little bit scratched like everyone's is and they charge you for that. I mean, what has that got to do with a memory issue anyway?

I'm more and more convinced that a lot of these tech companies are happy when these kind of things occur, so as to force you into buying new products. After that, no more Samsung for me. I got an iPhone 5S because I didn't think the iPhone 6 was worth the extra money. So far the iPhone 5S has been great. And I can sync it to my Macbook Pro and iPad Mini, which is very handy for me.

[zoom-zoom]

@zoom-zoom

Good point. If every other device is working ok, then maybe it isn't the router.

Have the Mac forums been any help?

The various Apple-related forums have only been sorta helpful...so many people are battling this issue, but what works for one person doesn't work for another. I think I've tried at least 3 things, to no avail. And there are at least 2 dozen different "fixes" I've read -- some requiring skills I don't possesses. Ugh. Of course, Apple is remaining mum about things, like every other tech company. I'm sure they'd love it if I simply bought a new computer, but we are short on cash from Christmas.

[zoom-zoom]

Phew, Apple finally rolled-out the 10.10.2 update and it *seems* to have resolved the slow/disconnecting wi-fi issue, at least for me. I've read some reports that it didn't help some and actually caused issues for others who had no previous issues. Weird.

[zoom-zoom]

Dammit, spoke too soon. It's just as bad as ever, now. *sigh* Buying a new computer wouldn't even help, as they're all going to be equipped with the same OS that's causing the issues. Meh.

[IBrakeforPastry]

Phew, Apple finally rolled-out the 10.10.2 update and it *seems* to have resolved the slow/disconnecting wi-fi issue, at least for me. I've read some reports that it didn't help some and actually caused issues for others who had no previous issues. Weird.

This sounded encouraging.


Dammit, spoke too soon. It's just as bad as ever, now. *sigh* Buying a new computer wouldn't even help, as they're all going to be equipped with the same OS that's causing the issues. Meh.

And now I'm scared again. I don't like the way my computer has been working since the update, I don't like the way Yosemite looks, and even though I was thinking about getting a new computer, I don't want to be forced into it.

I also seem to be getting loads of ads. Did I lose a filter with the update, or is it just coincidence?

[OakLeaf]

I also seem to be getting loads of ads. Did I lose a filter with the update, or is it just coincidence?


You might have to check your ad blocker settings if you installed a new/several steps updated browser - doesn't hurt to check them periodically anyway. Which browser and which plug-ins are you using?

[IBrakeforPastry]

You might have to check your ad blocker settings if you installed a new/several steps updated browser - doesn't hurt to check them periodically anyway. Which browser and which plug-ins are you using?

How do I check them? I'm using Safari (that's my browser, right?) and I don't know which plug-in. Thanks :)

[OakLeaf]

In the "Help" menu, the last choice is "Installed Plug-Ins." That will show you what you have now.

I'm not terribly well versed in Safari (I use it solely as my "wide open" browser in private browsing mode, when I have a burning desire to look at some unsanitary website that I just can't get completely whitelisted in Firefox ... which these days more and more e-commerce sites have so many scripts and cross-scripting that that's my only alternative for shopping, but anyway ...)

What adblocker(s) and/or script blocker(s) did you used to use? Adblock Plus, NoScript and Ghostery are the three most popular (though I don't think NoScript has a Safari compatible version)? I'm far from a power user but I can probably give you some pointers on setting up whichever one(s) of those you're used to using?

You can download new extensions at https://extensions.apple.com . I notice there that there's a "Click to Flash" plug-in there, which I'm not familiar with.

[IBrakeforPastry]

Well that's weird. I was sure I answered you earlier this evening.

I checked the plug-ins just like you directed, and there are LOTS of them. What am I looking for?

I'm going away for a week starting tomorrow, so if I don't get back here, it'll have to wait until the end of next week. I'm not ignoring you. Thanks for the info.