Please advise which is the best Community/Section for me to post the question below.

Report · Jul 19, 2023

Currently using Adobe CC v 5.11.0.522.1, with PS, LrC, Illustrator, & InDesign

on 27" iMac; 16GB; 2.12 TB Fusion (50% plus capacity vacant - no issues) Mostly photography.

macOS Catalina v 10.15.7.

I must update the OS in order to update all (or any) of the Adobe applications I use typically.

However, today Apple offers macOS Ventura 13.4.1 and the reviews are poor for most Adobe software applications, with this Ventura update. This makes me extremely reluctant to take on many days of disappointment and hours trying to resolve issues between the Apple OS and all of my much-loved Adobe applications. I have a lot "on my plate" so-to-speak, these days (like a lot of us) so am not sure I am better off, for the sake of all the Adobe applications, in holding off with Ventura, for awhile. Less stress?

Many reviewers, that I would trust, recommend upgrading to the previous OS Monterey 12.6.3, instead. What do you recommend?

Which is the best Adobe forum/community area for me to post this question?

Thank-you for your help!

Report · Jul 19, 2023

in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post if it helps you get responses.

<"moved from using the community">

Report · Jul 19, 2023

Thank-you! Well, I guess I will try the Photoshop community - kinda where it all starts, for me.

Report · Jul 22, 2023

Yes, I would stick with macOS Monterey 12.6.7 instead of macOS Ventura 13.4.1.

Visit How to download and install macOS and scroll down to "Use the App Store" and click "Monterey 12". This should take you to the installer for macOS Monterey 12 in the macOS App Store.

MacSales.com maintains an easy-to-view Mac OS Compatibility Guide if you need to double-check which versions of macOS your model iMac supports.

Report · Jul 23, 2023

Thank-you for the recommendation. As it happens, I did not go ahead yet, due to time constraints, and a bit more 'housekeeping' , back-ups, etc., to make it all ready. Funny, I don't really care about the Apple system stuff - it is what it is. My main concern and focus is the integrity and maintenance of the Adobe applications and my image-files/catalogues/work.

Since my initial post, here, I did re-post in the Photoshop Ecosystem and received an Expert's reply encouraging going to Ventura. I agreed, and was convinced that because Ventura is inevitable that I might as well install that update (it's loaded and ready to install, now).

My iMac-system will easily support the updates - no issues. It's the user (me) that has issues! 🙂

From reading other users posts (here and other communities/blogs) seems that Ventura has little-to-no productivity value for Adobe's Applications (PS, LrC, InDesign, or Illustrator). And the inter-operablity (fluff) of iOS devices/applications with my desktop system has absolutely no interest, or no use, to me, at this time. Also, the repeated complaints appear to be mostly users' systems with the M1 chip (?) - which I currently do not have.

Clearly, I need to update the desktop OS to at least Monterey, in order to gain all of the updated versions of those amazing Adobe applications. Got another busy week ahead - so I might sit on the fence, for a few more days. I kind of have cold-feet, so-to-speak, about this system update but I am eager and excited to get the Adobe updates!

Report · Jul 24, 2023

It never hurts to be cautious about upgrading the operating system.

One approach with Intel based Macs is to use Carbon Copy Cloner to create a bootable backup of the Macintosh HD prior to running the update.

With iMacs from about 2012 and up (when Apple switched to USB3), an external 2.5-inch SSD or 2.5-inch hybrid drive in a USB3 enclosure works well. USB2 works, it's just noticeably slower. FireWire/Thunderbolt works about as well as the internal boot drive, but it's harder to find enclosures for it or is more expensive than USB3.

If anything unexpected happens with the OS update, you can immediately reboot to the prior configuration.