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Simon Templar
Known Participant
February 12, 2023
Question

Best version of Illustrator for your Mac

  • February 12, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 1295 views

I have a mid-2015 MacBook Pro and keep software up-to-date, but I am finding Illustrator to be increasingly sluggish to the point of being unusable now. I cannot be sure when precisely it started to go downhill but I wondered if other users had a clue as to what would be the best-optimised version for my laptop. I also don't know whether the OS is causing the problem, that too is the latest (Monterrey 12.6.2). Is anyone able to offer some insight? I am happy to revert to an older version but do not know which one to choose.

 

My many thanks in advance!

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2 replies

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Community Expert
Bobby HendersonCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 12, 2023

Mid 2015? That would make the notebook computer nearly 8 years old. I don't know how well equipped your MacBook Pro was when it was first purchased (amount of RAM, CPU type, graphics board, etc). But even a high end notebook will probably start struggling to run current software at the 9-10 year mark (assuming the notebook even survives that long).

    S
    Simon TemplarAuthor
    Known Participant
    February 13, 2023

    16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 & Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB.

     

    'This ain't my first rodeo' … been buying Macs since mid/late 90s, so it's not a case of not understanding what is necessary for realistic performance or what the limitations are for the software. 20 years ago I could work with 100 layers and have a pretty complex file open and pop into PS if necessary. The problem always comes to the mismatch with software and hardware. I simply want to know if people are familiar with what version is best optimised for a mid 2015 PowerBook Pro. I have the first Intel Mac Pro over in the corner which I haven't run for over 11 years—not used it since forgetting login details nor have a screen that will connect, but I know damn well that if I were to use it without upgarding anything, it would work just fine. The OS and software updates are what make hardware obsolete. I'd like to continue using my perfectly fine MacBook Pro without the headaches of slow performance but need to assess what software and/or OS are the best for it. That's all I'm interested in really.

     

    General note to all: I always appreciate any and all responses (I really do) but sometimes I can't help but feel the younger users are the ones who answer and in doing so, fail to understand how things were 20-30 years ago. Yes, things advance all the time, but Illustrator has not really changed much. Doing lineowork, for example, is largely the same; the changes that are made usually centre on bells and whistles or modifying the workflow. It's important not to get too lost in the weeds and forget that guys in their 50s (!) are more than familiar with Adobe and Apple—we may not have our finger on the pulse insofaras updates go (there's more to life as you get older) but it's helpful to check in every once in a while and see if people know what is what.

    My thanks to all who have responded and all who may still.

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 13, 2023
    quote

    General note to all: I always appreciate any and all responses (I really do) but sometimes I can't help but feel the younger users are the ones who answer and in doing so, fail to understand how things were 20-30 years ago.


    By @Simon Templar

     

    Please don't make assumptions about other people's experience. Please.

     

    So your computer is 8 years old and you want to use it with a somewhat current OS. That doesn't sound like a good idea, because the computer wasn't made for that and the OS might already be too demanding for your machine. In 2015 there was Illustrator CC2015 which is about the version that should run well on your system. I'm still using an early 2008 MacPro with Mac OS 10.10 and CC 2017, which works fine on that ancient hardware.

     

    But then: I know what I can do with it and what would be too much. And here comes my first question again: what are you doing with it and which are the file sizes?

     

    Been using Macs since 1990. I think that fits into the range of experience you consider appropriate?

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 12, 2023

    How much RAM is installed in your Macbook?

    Which graphic card?

     

    What kind of artworks are you creating? How many objects, which effects etc.?

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      Simon TemplarAuthor
      Known Participant
      February 13, 2023

      With the greatest respect, that's not really relevant to what I'm asking, although I perfectly understand why you think it would be.

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