Using an older iMac

Do you agree with me?

Sure. If your Mac is working for you, why change anything.

Or would you have done this differently?

I suppose it depends on how much of your work requires the latest version of Adobe's bloatware, and the value you derive from using it.

I don't particularly like the business model of having to continually pay fees for the privilege of using software, but that's the way things are going. If software is going to improve, someone has to pay for it. That someone can be you or it can be somebody else, but if no one cares for those improvements enough to pay for them, then the software becomes moribund and dies as it should. Other, generally better software gets developed to fill the void. That's been happening with Adobe, Microsoft and other established lazy behemoths.

If you have an early to mid 2009 24" iMac El Capitan is the newest system you can run.

If it's a late 2009 21.5" or 27" iMac you can run High Sierra. You won't gain anything by upgrading to High Sierra as both El Capitan and High Sierra is not being supported any more.

So, I'd stay where you are as it's meeting all of your requirements. Remember the old adage: if it ain't broke don't fix it.

However, I would start saving up for a new iMac as the 2009 model is considered obsolete and isn't supported by Apple anymore. If you do upgrade your iMac consider alternative to the Adobe software, i.e. Infinity Photo, Affinity Designer and Affinity Publisher. They are excellent replacements and are a one time purchase (currently around $50 apiece).

What is th right thing is what works for you. Incidentally, you may be able to install a newer browser such as Firefox that works with the older OS. If so, it will open more web pages for you.The same applies to using an alternative email app. I am very pleased with Thunderbird which I've used for years. What you want to look for are versions that are identified as compatible with your older OS.

I might have bought a cheap used 2013-2015 iMac and upgraded to High Sierra (for CS5) or Mojave (for CS6). That would provide a nice performance boost, keep the old software, and allow installing the latest Firefox ESR (Extended Service Release, MacOS 10.12 or newer required) to fix web page compatibility.

However that is more of a short term fix that would buy you maybe 2-3 years before loosing internet compatibility once more. Try not to second guess yourself. You were going to need a new computer sooner than later anyway.

fusherkathleen wrote:

I understand this 2009 iMac will not ever again be compatible with Email

If you are using Google as your e-mail provider, you might be able to use a Google "app password" to get the Mail application on your Mac connected to your Google account again.

I believe you have to turn on two-factor authentication for Google (some prefer not to do this) … and then you can generate an "app password" for use by a "less secure" application (like your old version of Mail).

Or you could access e-mail through your provider's Web interface (if you can get a new enough browser installed).