Bill Miller dijo [Sun, Aug 06, 2023 at 08:42:21AM -0400]: > Just like that; > > When Apple makes a new OS or IOS I do not need to download anything. I go > to update, it will ask me if i am sure i want to install a new OS. it warns > me that all my stuff will be lost if i change my OS. It will then ask me > for my password. Once i put in my password, up comes a box reading "wait" > and in about 20 to 90 minutes later the device resets and comes back on and > the new OS is on, up and, running. No downloading, no cd, no usb drive. I > dont need to know anything about tech or computers to go from one old OS to > another new OS.
Besides what others have answered to your question, let me point something out here: I had a couple of Apple computers about 15 years ago. I remember that when we bought one of them, the system was installed, but we got a set of CDs with the update to the new version. It had just been released a week or so ago, and Apple was _so much better_ than Windows because the newer OS release was included for free! But yes, you had to manually start the install process. And I don't remember it, but as you say, it will probably wipe your data, or something might not work afterwards. Debian basically *invented* the worryless, over-the-network updates. My current desktop computer was originally installed in 2005, when I started working at my university. I have upgraded the OS since then. I have even moved the data from one computer to the next. Debian achieves what MacOS and Windows (and many Linux are incapable of dreaming: We can ask the system to update itself _and keep working_. We don't have to worry. It basically just works™.