Apple upDate vs upGrade

The Rice IT Service Desk has received more than a few questions and requests for assistance regarding implementation of Apple Macintosh updates and upgrades.

While Apple may not clearly distinguish when presenting these options, there's a difference in upDate and upGrade. Updates are smaller software improvements to the existing OS or application. Normally they involve fixes and minor improvements to existing features. Upgrades are larger software improvements involving major changes and new features.

Apple isn't particularly forceful about pushing updates at first, but they do push upgrades heavily.

With Rice-owned Macintosh computers, Rice opts to wait until upGrades have been in use for a bit to confirm that the major changes don't adversely affect the behavior of the Rice computing environment or create issues for those using the new versions in the Rice computing environment. For that reason, Rice defers the advertisement of new Apple upGrades in managed systems - for up to 90 days to give both Rice and Apple time to sort out any issues.

When a Mac shows the update/upgrade reminder, go to System Settings and click on the Updates link. Below where you see the large Tahoe icon with the "Upgrade Now" button, find the "more info..." link. That will take you to the upDates section and will allow you update the current installed version of macOS, Safari or any other standard Mac software that may need updating. 

Rice recommends checking for updates and upgrades monthly and installing (when the Rice deferral is lifted and the upgrade is allowed) to maintain your Mac in the safest mode compatible with Rice. However, as long you're using one of the 3 latest major macOS versions, Apple will continue to release updates for them and you are welcome to use any of the 3 at Rice while keeping your macOS properly updated.