Past upgrades found the company hedging closer to iOS and had many wondering if this was all leading to a convergence of the company’s two operating systems. High Sierra is a sort of recommitment to macOS. There are a few surface level enhancements, most notably to Safari and Photos, but the fundamental updates to the operating system are almost entirely below the surface.

But more than that, this latest version of macOS is about rebuilding the software’s foundation.

That’s partially a result of a yearly upgrade cycle - Apple can’t reinvent the wheel each time out. You know it’s necessary and you’ll be happier six months from now when you don’t have to walk around with your toes poking out of holes, but for now, you wish there were a few more video games and action figures mixed in with the bunch. It’s a bit like getting socks and underwear for Christmas. With all of the new features packed into iOS 11, High Sierra is something of a disappointment.