When installing a major software update like macOS Catalina, you have the choice to start over from scratch with a fresh copy – as if you've purchased a brand new computer for the first time – or to simply install as usual, allowing you to continue working with the same settings and apps you've always had. Deciding which step to take is a personal one, but there are definitely benefits to both.
Why a clean install of macOS Catalina is good
It's like moving to a new house, with a fresh coat of paint and new flooring. Everything is new and you get to decide where to put the furniture. You can make your new home similar to your old one or completely redesign your living space.
It gives you the opportunity to rid your Mac of unnecessary bloat. All of those apps you tried once but decided you don't like? Gone. All of those downloads you never did anything with? Erased. Everything is clean and fresh and ready for a new start.
Thanks to services like Dropbox and iCloud, you can easily track down files and documents that you've kept backed up in the cloud. Any apps you previously downloaded on Mac can be redownloaded right from the Mac App Store. Even third-party, non-Mac App Store apps usually have a method to confirm a previous purchase (like a license download code). So, even though your apps may not be on your cleanly-installed Mac, you can usually get them back without much effort.
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You'll need a level of patience and some extra time if you do a clean install of macOS Catalina. At first, you'll have to reenter passwords in Mail, sign back into iCloud and readjust your settings, redownload pictures in the Photos app (or redownload iCloud versions of them if you store the originals somewhere else), and a lot of other small, but time-consuming things. Remember, when you do a clean install, you are starting from scratch.
If you have the patience and some free time, a clean installation of macOS Catalina can be somewhat cathartic in its own right. It feels good to have a fresh start.
Why a standard installation of macOS Catalina is good
A clean install also means you lose everything. Similar to moving to a new house, there may have been a box in the garage that you never opened, but once you move, if you didn't take it with you, it's gone. Trying to figure out what happened to it could take a long time.
All of the tweaks and adjustments you've made over the years to your computer will be gone. Sound alerts, display options, keyboard settings – all of it will be reset to factory settings.
That's why restoring from a backup might be the best choice for you.
When you download and install macOS Catalina without starting from scratch, all of your apps, settings, files, and documents will be in the exact same spot that they were before. You will already be signed in to all of your apps and you won't have to redownload pictures from iCloud.
It is much faster to go from installation to being productive again when all of your apps and files are right where you left them.
It's like coming home late at night, in the dark. If you know where your bed is, your head will hit the pillow without you even having to think about it. If your furniture was all rearranged, you'd have to turn on the lights to see where you are going.
If you are too busy to spend time re-downloading apps and retweaking your system settings, a standard installation makes more sense than starting from scratch.
Which one is better?
I've done both. I usually install macOS updates from scratch on my MacBook Pro and install from a backup on my iMac. While I like that my MBP is clean (it feels like running a brand new computer), I don't like that I have to download every app that I need for work. Missing apps like 1Password and Dropbox immediately take me out of the game and drag my productivity to a crawl until I have what I need again.
It really is nice to have a clean installation on your computer, but if you are like me, it isn't worth the hassle.
That being said, if you mainly use your computer for browsing the internet, checking mail, or other non-work heavy activities, you might want to try a clean install.
What do you think?
What have you done previously? Do you usually do a clean install or standard installation? What are your plans for macOS Catalina?
Updated September 2019: Updated for macOS Catalina.
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The first question any friend or family member asks me after I recommend getting a Mac is, „But is it really worth the price?“
As Mac power user for the last 10 years, I always say it is. That said, I completely understand the sticker shock people get when comparing a Mac computer to a PC. So instead of focusing on the price itself, I’d like to explain why the Mac is a worthwhile investment.
The Mac is part of Apple’s ecosystem of products, and it works seamlessly with the iPhone and iPad.Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider
Apple’s biggest strength is that it designs its own hardware and software. This gives the company the power to make an operating system and suite of apps that are tailor-made and optimized for the Mac. Apple can also plan out new Mac hardware based on the software it’s currently developing. In fact, Apple has designed all of the hardware and software it makes to work seamlessly.
For example, if I take a photo on my iPhone, it’s automatically synced through iCloud to my iPad Pro and iMac without any external software. I can also send text messages and iMessages to my contacts through my iPhone, iPad, and Mac — starting a conversation on one device and continuing it on another.
Other vendors have tried to replicate this experience, but it remains Apple’s biggest selling point. If you already own other Apple hardware, a Mac will start working with it seamlessly right out of the box in a way that no PC currently can. This integration is getting tighter and more expansive over time, so this is a benefit that will actually get better the longer you have your Mac.
Apple can update software patches and make improvements quicker than PC makers.
One of the biggest problems with issuing software updates to Windows machines is having to account for the fact that they have to run on systems with wildly different components. Microsoft has minimum system requirements to run the latest version of Windows, but beyond that hardware makers (or individuals) are free to build their own machines.
Apple doesn’t have that issue; there are only a small number of Macs (tens, instead of thousands) that need to be supported, so bugs can be squashed quickly. MacOS, the Mac operating system, is also constantly being updated, with a new major version released each fall. New versions of MacOS aren’t without their flaws, but it’s a lot easier to keep your system up to date with the latest fixes as soon as they’re ready.
Your Mac will last for a long time, and if it breaks, you know exactly where to take it.
I’ve owned several Macs, but the first one I got to use at home was an iMac my mom bought for our home in late 2008. The machine has worked without any major issues for 10 years, and it’s currently still set up in my room at her condo. Apple supported it with new versions of MacOS through 2015 and issued software fixes to it through the end of last year.
My experiences with Macs haven’t always been rosy, but when any Apple has hardware failed me, I’ve always known where to go: the Apple Store. It’s always possible to get a reservation to sort out my problems within a couple of days. Having a place to go when you experience computer problems is another big selling point for the Mac, and one I appreciate even as someone who prefers to troubleshoot problems myself if at all possible.
Macs have a high-end look and feel.
Function will always be more important than form, but it is nice that Apple takes the time to carefully design its computers. I’m not saying I agree with every decision the company has made, or that there aren’t nicely designed PCs out there, but it’s hard to argue that Macs don’t look and feel great.
This is the strongest material case in the „you get what you pay for“ argument, so it shouldn’t be overlooked. After using a Mac, most PCs feel a little clunky, or at the very least not as well put together.
Knowing what you’re getting makes the price of a Mac easier to justify.
There’s no getting around the fact that buying a Mac is expensive, but it’s easier to justify the price of one when you think about what you’re getting. Great-looking and -feeling hardware, consistently updated software, free in-person tech support, and inter-device connectivity all come at a cost.
I don’t think that most people will keep their Mac for a decade, but the fact that my vintage iMac still runs without any hitches is enough of a reason for me to continually recommend people seriously consider the platform.
13″ MacBook Air (Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB SSD), $1,099, available at Best Buy13″ MacBook Pro (Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB SSD), $1,299 available at Best Buy15″ MacBook Pro (Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, 256GB SSD), $2,049, available at Best Buy21.5″ iMac (Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, 1TB hard drive ) $1,099, available at Best BuyComments are closed.
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