OS compatibility - please include build number

[Marcel Risberg]

I love you Avid for being old school, in a good way, by constantly testing, quality assuring and publishing info on Pro Tools operating system compatibility. I mean it from my heart, I think it's a wonderful thing. Thank you.



(chart snipped from http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/e...tibility-Chart)


Now, running the risk of sounding like a numberphile, here’s an idea on how you can further improve this work. This should positively affect both the macOS and Windows users who wish to go the extra mile. The idea plain and simple is please include the OS build number that you tested Pro Tools on.

As the QA department certainly know about and as is seen in the charts included below both macOS and Windows come in a variety of builds - though on the surface marketed as the same version. Please help us Pro Tools fans around the world to know better what OS version to use for most probable Pro Tools compatibility. However minor the OS build differences might sound like, they might just be big enough to turn our Avid studios into go or no go zones.

macOS: Mac users generally know about updates like 10.13.1, 10.13.2, 10.13.3u etc. But, Apple sometimes need to supplement a given update. Those updates sometimes further the build number of the OS and risk of breaking compatibility with our beloved Pro Tools. Not even ONE version or update of High Sierra came in only one build version. See the chart below.



(chart snipped from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacOS_High_Sierra)


Windows: While Mac users are privileged to at least receive info on the minor version OS compatibility (as seen in the first chart), for Windows users the story is completely different. You specify "Windows 10" compatibility. But there are many Windows 10 versions; anniversary updates and various builds. First, see this chart for Windows 10 major differences, an overview:



(chart snipped from http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/itpro...se-information)


(It's kind of laughable to see how Microsoft recommends a specific version. For whom? Running the latest OS build might break important compatibility with third party software we depend on first needing to catch up. Yeah, we all know about that.) Then there are the minor updates to every specific Windows build. See this quite extensive chart detailing various releases:



(chart snipped from http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/itpro...se-information)


And the build built before:
Doh! I am not able to upload more than five attachments to this post. Please DUC admins, can we be allowed to upload a few more?
Anyway, I was going to show the even longer chart of Windows 10 1703 15063 also found here:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/itpro...se-information


Back to the Mac, showing an overview of the many "subminor" releases of the last few years:


(chart snipped here https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201260)


Avid, if you're listening, please consider it.

Have a nice weekend.
Keep up the good work!
Love from Sweden.

[Southsidemusic]

Yayyy More numbers and caca to keep track of

[Marcel Risberg]

Well, yes, more numbers. But numbers can be your friend. Would this be to much you think?

[Southsidemusic]

Looks a lot better. I would definitely endorse this

[Marcel Risberg]

Proof that Pro Tools on Windows isn't immune to problems with new / specific builds and why there is a need for a table, like the one above, that includes compatibility information about specific Windows builds:

Source as of 16 November 2018: http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/c...m-Requirements:

ALERT: for Pro Tools users on Windows 10
Pro Tools 2018 is not yet qualified with Windows 10 October 2018 Update (1809), which Microsoft released on October 2, 2018. We are working to qualify this new OS update, and we will update this article once the testing has been completed.

Information in this other document "Pro Tools Operating System Compatibility Chart" http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/e...tibility-Chart is actually misleading at this time:



Not that I am a Pro Tools on Windows user, but who says we can't be friends ... =)

[Marcel Risberg]

Looks like someone at Avid likes the idea. Slowly getting there ...