Where's my Big Sur?

One question we've been hearing in the Technology Department the last couple of months is, "Why can't I upgrade my Mac to macOS Big Sur?" "Big Sur" is the name Apple gave to the most recent version of the Mac operating system, macOS 11.

At this time, we are delaying our upgrade. We've also delayed previous macOS upgrades in the past, but only for a short time. However, this upgrade is a bit different.

This new operating system is the biggest change to the macOS in years. There are many cosmetic changes you'll notice right away. The overall design has been changed—windows now have more translucency and round corners, the Dock is more translucent, app icons have a uniform shape, and menu bars in apps have been redesigned to be less obtrusive and blend better with your content. Safari, Maps, Messages, and Notifications all look different and perform better as well.

But with all of the changes you see come some changes that are more invisible. System-level changes have greatly improved security and privacy, and some long-time subsystems have been greatly affected. All of this means that we have been extensively testing Barrington 220 software to make sure everything we do works on the new macOS before we release it here in the district.

As I type this, we have Tech Team and other staff members testing Big Sur to make sure it's ready and problem-free before we release it to you. So please be patient and be confident that we're taking all necessary steps to make sure the rollout of the newest macOS will be an easy transition for everyone in Barrington 220.