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12 Inch Macbook in 2024

aespana said:
Yeah, I would love to have a i5-i7 with 16GB of RAM. These m3 intel are just too underpowered.

But at time moment it not worth for me to invest in another Macbook with better specs. I think I'm fine with my current Macbook and the OS.
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Take your time and check out the eBay auctions from time to time. One of these i7/i5 w/ 16GB RAM MacBooks will pop up within decent pricing and you can pick up one to set up and use like I did with my i5 MacBook. I have a space grey grade-A 2017 MacBook that is currently non-functional that I'm about to transfer the contents from my grade-C silver 2017 i5 MacBook to make a perfect grade-A i5/16GB/500GB MacBook. I will be very pleased since I spent less than $200 for all of this by shopping on eBay.

If you know what to look for when looking at eBay auctions you can save tons of money getting the right laptop. I have done this many times over the years.
 
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aespana said:
Yeah, I would love to have a i5-i7 with 16GB of RAM. These m3 intel are just too underpowered.

But at time moment it not worth for me to invest in another Macbook with better specs. I think I'm fine with my current Macbook and the OS.
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I am in the same boat. Have a 2015 8GB RAM 512 SSD and bought it for just "fun" and to check it out as I got it for cheap and had some extra funds at the time.

To my surprise, it became my daily driver for general stuff. When I first got it a year or so ago, I got the battery changed out at Apple before the price hike. Currently it runs like a champ, but "DEFINITELY" underpowered, but good for just general usage.

I thought to get a 16GB 2017 the other day...but I thought. "WHY"? this 2015 does the job. If I get a i5 with 16GB, what REALLY would be the difference? Would I use this for other programs when I have also a maxed out M3 MacBook Air? No... If I didn't already have this 12" MacBook, then "YES", but when I went in for Apple to replace the battery, Apple actually fixed the issue with the port (very loose), and this Mac is now in good condition (looks new, with little wear), so "Why?".

IF I bought another used one that has an i7 or i5 with 16GB RAM and someone is selling it this late in the game, chances are...it is beaten up or something does not work (as 16GB RAM is hard to come by now) and the battery is probably terrible...AND the CPU will DEFINITELY" need new thermal paste. These Macs are difficult to change things out (even for me).

STILL..I am tempted (as on occasion I find a 2017 model with 16GB for sale)...BUT..I will settle with the 2015 beauty that I have.
 
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throAU said:
unless it was 1/3 the price of a 13" m1 air or less, I would not, its just way, way off the performance level.
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I agree the performance is way off. Definitely not the main computer, for me not even a 2nd. I only use it when I walk or bike somewhere but still want to write a bit.

The biggest benefit is that it is a different level of portability. So tiny but big enough to work on!
 
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I finally snatched a 2017 i5, 16gb RAM on eBay for $204 total auction. Battery has 86% life and 101 cycles. The body looks in almost new condition. The only issue is the ENTER key doesnt respond well when hit in the middle but works on the left and right. Maybe dust issue? I already have a 14" Max but wanted a beater laptop for travel as I dont like to take the iPads but want the most compact but need to do documents and watch some stuff.
 
If you can pick up one of these MacBooks with i5/i7, 16GB RAM and at least 250GB storage or 500GB storage I think they would make for a nice "travel laptop" that you can use to surf the internet and do emails. I like that they are very light and have the Retina display. Definite upgrade from the 11-inch MacBook Air I have been using as my travel laptop.
 
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I cant get the OpenCore Patcher working on it. It gives error when trying to write OS to external SSD. I tried 3 different ones. Dont have a thumb drive. Is Sequoia obviously faster than Ventura on the 2017 12" i5 16gb ram?
 
Lucas Curious said:
I cant get the OpenCore Patcher working on it. It gives error when trying to write OS to external SSD. I tried 3 different ones. Dont have a thumb drive. Is Sequoia obviously faster than Ventura on the 2017 12" i5 16gb ram?
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What size flash drive are you using? Make sure it’s over around 20GB. I use a 32 to be safe, Sequoia won’t fit on a 16GB.

EDIT: Never mind, I can’t read when it’s this early lol. What error is it giving you?
 
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MultiFinder17 said:
What size flash drive are you using? Make sure it’s over around 20GB. I use a 32 to be safe, Sequoia won’t fit on a 16GB.

EDIT: Never mind, I can’t read when it’s this early lol. What error is it giving you?
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I attached the message I get. I even got a new thumb drive today and still same thing. it starts writing and then this. I even tried this on my m3 Max Mac and same issue. MacBook im trying to update OS on is MacBook 12" 2017

UPDATE: I learned I had to check permission in Settings security to get this to go through
 

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I tried to install both Sonoma and Sequoia on the 2017 12" 16gb ram and during installation it always comes back to the install option screen where you can install Sequoia, Disk utility, Time Machine, safari. I even went to Disk Utility and erased the drive before installing OS but same issue. All I can do is install the OS over and over and over again. Then I have ot boot up and reinstall Ventura to try it again. 2 days lost on this.
 
Lucas Curious said:
I tried to install both Sonoma and Sequoia on the 2017 12" 16gb ram and during installation it always comes back to the install option screen where you can install Sequoia, Disk utility, Time Machine, safari. I even went to Disk Utility and erased the drive before installing OS but same issue. All I can do is install the OS over and over and over again. Then I have ot boot up and reinstall Ventura to try it again. 2 days lost on this.
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During installation, when it reboots and the screen shows the boot screen options (what drive to select), make sure you select the USB drive to continue installation. If not, it will go back to the install option. Happen to me a few times.
 
loby said:
During installation, when it reboots and the screen shows the boot screen options (what drive to select), make sure you select the USB drive to continue installation. If not, it will go back to the install option. Happen to me a few times.
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you are saying that when I see the Macintosh HD and USB stick drives, I should select the USB stick drive? I thought it's asking which drive to install Sequoia to. Youtube videos show to select the SSD drive

Look at 6:40 in this VIDEO

 
Lucas Curious said:
you are saying that when I see the Macintosh HD and USB stick drives, I should select the USB stick drive? I thought it's asking which drive to install Sequoia to. Youtube videos show to select the SSD drive

Look at 6:40 in
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After you select the drive you want to install too, the installation begins. Then once it installs the installation files in memory to begin the installation process your laptop will reboot to begin. When it reboots, watch to make sure that when the screen appears and you see icons of all the drives, make sure the usb drive is selected to boot from. Then it should start to install correctly.
 
loby said:
After you select the drive you want to install too, the installation begins. Then once it installs the installation files in memory to begin the installation process your laptop will reboot to begin. When it reboots, watch to make sure that when the screen appears and you see icons of all the drives, make sure the usb drive is selected to boot from. Then it should start to install correctly.
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any video you can show me for reference? I set this Mac and apps up again and am on Ventura
 
Lucas Curious said:
any video you can show me for reference? I set this Mac and apps up again and am on Ventura
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I do not know if there is any video's about this, but I just noticed it when I was installing.

I can try to describe it again from memory and hope it might help.

1. Once you first boot from the USB drive, it opens to a screen that allows you to select the OS to install again.
2. Select your drive and start installing.
3. Then it will load some installation files into memory in order to install the OS
4. After this occurs, the laptop will automatically reboot.
5. When it gets to the boot option screen -EFI screen (to select which drive to boot from) you will see some options. Move your arrow key to select the icon for the USB drive if it is not already selected.
6. Then click that drive and it will continue to install.
7. Make sure to watch whenever the laptop reboots. the correct drive is selected that shows an installer is installing on a drive icon.
 
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How I got Sequoia 15.4 Beta (24E5222f) to install on my 2017 MacBook was to download the latest version of OCLP to the computer and then ran it and applied OCLP to the hard drive then booted off the EFI partition. Once this was done I went to software update and selected Sequoia and was able to download and install the updated OS onto my MacBook as shown below.

54373286663_bd3de9f6f6_c.jpg
 
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I think I need to give OCLP a go on my 2015 rMacBook, it is just the base model, but for occasional browsing I’m running into a lot of software issues.

The other option would be a Linux build.
 
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I was thinking to move my Mac to Windows.

I think you get a good performance from it but man.. that trackpad.. that beautiful trackpad of the Mac works horrible on Windows and the keyboard layout don't work 100% fine.

I'm ok with the keyboard but I just can't stand the trackpad working like sh.t.
 
Macdctr said:
How I got Sequoia 15.4 Beta (24E5222f) to install on my 2017 MacBook was to download the latest version of OCLP to the computer and then run it and apply OCLP to the hard drive then boot off the EFI partition. Once this was done I went to software update and selected Sequoia and was able to download and install the updated OS onto my MacBook as shown below.

54373286663_bd3de9f6f6_c.jpg
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What's your experience been with OCLP?
 
Scrooge MacDuck said:
What's your experience been with OCLP?
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I have been using OCLP for a few years now. I started with my 2015 MacBook Pro and 2015 MacBook Air and had good results so when I got my 2017 MacBook, I had no reservations installing the latest version of OCLP and installing Sequoia 15.4 beta on it.

boot up times take longer, which I expected, but once running I have only one gripe and that is occasionally the wifi connection drops and I have to turn off wifi and then turn it back on to regain wifi on my laptop. I never experienced this issue with any of my 2015 laptops so not sure what is going on here but other than that, no issues running OCLP and Sequoia 15.4 on my MacBook.
 
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Macdctr said:
I have been using OCLP for a few years now. I started with my 2015 MacBook Pro and 2015 MacBook Air and had good results so when I got my 2017 MacBook, I had no reservations installing the latest version of OCLP and installing Sequoia 15.4 beta on it.

boot up times take longer, which I expected, but once running I have only one gripe and that is occasionally the wifi connection drops and I have to turn off wifi and then turn it back on to regain wifi on my laptop. I never experienced this issue with any of my 2015 laptops so not sure what is going on here but other than that, no issues running OCLP and Sequoia 15.4 on my MacBook.
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Ok. Mine's from 2017.
 
Scrooge MacDuck said:
Ok. Mine's from 2017.
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The wifi issues I am experiencing with my 2017 MacBook is not a deal breaker where installing and running OCLP is concerned. To me the advantages of running Apple's newest OS and updated Safari browser outweighs the minor inconvenience of having to cycle wifi on my laptop. I have all the updated security patches and app updates to keep this laptop useful for many years to come.

In fact, I'm typing this response using my 2017 MacBook with MacOS 15.4 Beta (24E5238a) installed and running. Everything else has been running on my MacBook without issue so far :apple:
 
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Macdctr said:
The wifi issues I am experiencing with my 2017 MacBook is not a deal breaker where installing and running OCLP is concerned. To me the advantages of running Apple's newest OS and updated Safari browser outweighs the minor inconvenience of having to cycle wifi on my laptop. I have all the updated security patches and app updates to keep this laptop useful for many years to come.

In fact, I'm typing this response using my 2017 MacBook with MacOS 15.4 Beta (24E5238a) installed and running. Everything else has been running on my MacBook without issue so far :apple:
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Good to know. No overheatin'? SIP status (not that it really matters)?
 
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