How many people still use old MacBook Pro?

[Aoligei]

Last year, I purchased a 15" 2009 MacBook Pro with Intel Core 2 Duo, 8GB RAM, non-functional HDD, non-functional optical drive. The seller sold this for little bit over $50 dollars and I know all I need is get a new SSD.

Fast forward today, I am still using this machine. Using OCLP, I can still load macOS Ventura and it runs absolutely fine. I have use it to read online class material, completing essays via Office online, watching videos, video conferencing with my co-workers etc. All I need from a computer, it still functioning decently.

Granted, that I have Mac mini M1 for video editing purpose and Microsoft Surface Pro 10 for some Windows tasks. However, this gives me thinking, if all I need to do is basic computing tasks, then what is the reason to get new computer? It isn't like these cheap plastic Windows alternative or Chromebook will do these tasks significantly faster?

How many of you guys still rocking an old computer? I am typing this with an 15 years old MacBook Pro and I am happy with it.

Here are my collection of old MacBooks

2009- 2012 Unibody MacBook Pro 13 inch
2009 and 2011 MacBook Pro 15 inch (2011 is coming)
2012, 2013, 2015 Retina MacBook Pro 13 inch
2015, 2016 MacBook 12 inch
2019 and 2020 MacBook Airs
Mac mini 2011 and Mac mini M1

 

[Adora]

Sadly my 17" Late 2011 MBP that I bought used in 2014 got the famous GPU damage in February 2023. I used it again because my 2017 15" got several damages. It only works on power and with external display now.

There was also a 2010 white plastic MacBook that I loved very much, but I gave it to my brother in a time I didn't need it. But he destroyed it. I upgraded it with an SSD and 16GB RAM. Maybe I would have used it for a while again and didn't rush into buying a 16" M2 Pro that just came out and is now just lying around because I only use my M3 iMac that I bought a year later.

There is also a 2008 plastic MacBook that I upgraded still in use in my family.

And my brother must have a 2009 17" MBP from me somewhere. Every time I ask he will look for it, but I never hear back. A 2007 17" had been there too. I think I just threw it away, because even with SSD and max. RAM the fans got always too loud to do anything and I removed too much screws to get it closed again.

I bought all those (advertised as damaged) and some others in a short time frame on eBay in 2014 when I got my iFixit toolkit, that I only needed for iPhone battery replacement. Some weren't repairable, some were upgraded and sold and sold or given to family and friends. But the 2011 17" I was the first I bought, and it already had two SSDs in it and I think also akreday 16GB of RAM.

There were even two Titanium PowerBooks, that looked great but had been too slow for anything. Sadly they are gone now with many other stuff when I moved the last two times. The last move couldn't be organized by myself because I was too sick and a family member did everything for me.

In 2016 I left many things behind in a hotel, because I had to leave as soon as possible and a family member promised to get my things in her holidays. But that was just a trick to make me come home earlier. Without that promise I just stayed a few days or even weeks longer and could make everything ready to be collected by DHL or UPS.

I wonder what they did with all those things. There was even a 2015 5K iMac and some MacBook Pros and Airs the newest ones even from 2012 and 2013. I think also a second white MacBook 2010.

But also some very private things. I hope some day I'll get all this back and they didn't just throw it away.

 

[Aoligei]

Sadly my 17" Late 2011 MBP that I bought used in 2014 got the famous GPU damage in February 2023. I used it again because my 2017 15" got several damages. It only works on power and with external display now.

There was also a 2010 white plastic MacBook that I loved very much, but I gave it to my brother in a time I didn't need it. But he destroyed it. I upgraded it with an SSD and 16GB RAM. Maybe I would have used it for a while again and didn't rush into buying a 16" M2 Pro that just came out and is now just lying around because I only use my M3 iMac that I bought a year later.

There is also a 2008 plastic MacBook that I upgraded still in use in my family.

And my brother must have a 2009 17" MBP from me somewhere. Every time I ask he will look for it, but I never hear back. A 2007 17" had been there too. I think I just threw it away, because even with SSD and max. RAM the fans got always too loud to do anything and I removed too much screws to get it closed again.

I bought all those and some others in a short time frame on eBay in 2014 when I got my iFixit toolkit. Some weren't repairable, some were upgraded and sold and sold or given to family and friends.

There were even two Titanium PowerBooks, that looked great but had been too slow for anything. Sadly they are gone now with many other stuff when I moved the last two times. The last movement couldn't be organized by myself because I was too sick and a family member did everything for me.

In 2016 I left many things behind in a hotel, because I had to leave as soon as possible and a family member promised to get my things in her holidays. But that was just a trick to make me come earlier home. Without that promise I just stayed a few days or even weeks longer and could make everything ready to be collected by DHL or UPS.

I wonder what they did with all those things. There was even a 2015 5K iMac and some MacBook Pros and Airs the newest ones even from 2012 and 2013. I think also a second white MacBook 2010.

But also some very private things. I hope some day I'll get all this back and they didn't just throw it away.

Wow.. These are some nice collection of old MacBooks.

The first computer that I brought with my own money was Acer one, which I still keep until today. This was the Core Duo time, which around 2006 period. I worked at MacDonald's back then while I was in high school.

Just before I am heading to university and last few months that I worked at MacDonald, I brought myself a white plastic 2008 MacBook. I was so excited about this one, I even showed my parents that computer. I still remember I was so amazed by the Leopard's introduction video.

Two years into university, I was working at a computer store part time. I got some money and I purchased an 2011 MacBook Pro, which I still have it today. In the meantime, I also brought an 2011 Mac mini.

After graduating from university and start working full time, I then purchased the 2013 MacBook Air with top specification. Used it until I replaced it with the 2019 MacBook Air. When the 2020 MacBook Air came out with the new keyboard, I brought it as well. During COVID, where I had my first child, I brought the M1 Mac mini.

After came back from 7 months of parental leave (with Employment Insurance payment), I started to collecting old MacBooks. Including 2009-2012 MacBook Pro 13 inch, 2009 15 inch, 2013 MacBook Air, 2012-2015 Retina MacBook Pros. They are all used and can be brought very cheaply.

I found old MacBook or old laptops in general are very fun. They all have upgradable components and they tends to last very long. Unlike modern laptops, which everything is soldered on the motherboard.

 

[throAU]

Granted, that I have Mac mini M1 for video editing purpose and Microsoft Surface Pro 10 for some Windows tasks. However, this gives me thinking, if all I need to do is basic computing tasks, then what is the reason to get new computer?

If it works for what you need it for - great!

However, there's things that most people expect of a modern machine that are much faster or not available on the older machines.

Things like

• intelligent image processing enabling things like copy/paste text out of images or videos (I literally cut and pasted some text out of a YouTube video yesterday).
• improved IO performance
• updated security features: intel no longer provides microcode updates for the intel CPU in that MacBook and it is inherently exploitable by things running on the internet via hyper threading bugs.
• better/faster WIFI with better WIFI range
• better/faster bluetooth for better audio quality/pairing/range/low latency
• usb type C charging and connectivity - every other new device you buy these days will either be type C by default or include a type C cable option.
• inbuilt hardware support (in the CPU) for more advanced audio/video codecs providing better quality at lower bit-rate with no fan noise (as the CPU isn't trying to decode them in software).
• far better battery life. like 4x even new vs. new.
• far better displays (both built in, and external support for higher resolution/colour depth/refresh rate).

etc.

None of those features can be added to the old machine with memory or storage upgrades.

 

[BotchQue]

As @throAU mentioned, I keep using my hardware until OS security updates stop coming and I can no longer do any banking/investment stuff safely. Seems that's usually about 8 years; I kept my original macbook Air going for 10, but I could no longer bank on it (or even log into Wikipedia!) and it was physically falling apart, replaced with a MBP.

 

[Adora]

If it works for what you need it for - great!

However, there's things that most people expect of a modern machine that are much faster or not available on the older machines.

Things like

• intelligent image processing enabling things like copy/paste text out of images or videos (I literally cut and pasted some text out of a YouTube video yesterday).
• improved IO performance
• updated security features: intel no longer provides microcode updates for the intel CPU in that MacBook and it is inherently exploitable by things running on the internet via hyper threading bugs.
• better/faster WIFI with better WIFI range
• better/faster bluetooth for better audio quality/pairing/range/low latency
• usb type C charging and connectivity - every other new device you buy these days will either be type C by default or include a type C cable option.
• inbuilt hardware support (in the CPU) for more advanced audio/video codecs providing better quality at lower bit-rate with no fan noise (as the CPU isn't trying to decode them in software).
• far better battery life. like 4x even new vs. new.
• far better displays (both built in, and external support for higher resolution/colour depth/refresh rate).

etc.

None of those features can be added to the old machine with memory or storage upgrades.

I bought external WIFI and Bluetooth for my old MacBooks in 2018. But never came to testing it because I mostly use Ethernet anyway and Bluetooth is rarely switched on.

I was able to buy a new and cheap good and still working third-party battery for the 2008 white MacBook in 2018.

The MBP from 2011 had an extension Slot where I could put in a card with two USB 3.0 ports and those worked good. I could also upgrade the RAM from 1.333 or 1.600 MHz to 2.133 MHz. I could also use a Thunderbolt 2 Dock with several ports with it. And I think it even my TB3 Dock worked with an adapter. I think the MBP only had Thunderbolt 1.

It also had two external backup HDDs in an enclosure that looked like a small Mac Pro (2010/2012). Those had firewire ports and I am just confused for what Mac I used them... Maybe the 2010 MacBook and one of the older 17" MBP.

 

[Adora]

As @throAU mentioned, I keep using my hardware until OS security updates stop coming and I can no longer do any banking/investment stuff safely. Seems that's usually about 8 years; I kept my original macbook Air going for 10, but I could no longer bank on it (or even log into Wikipedia!) and it was physically falling apart, replaced with a MBP.

I don't even care about those security updates. In iOS I get forced because the banks mostly or even always release new apps that are not supported if you are more than two versions behind. But sometimes it's hard to find a working recent browser, that still works with every website.

But now it is also even possible to run newer OS version on unsupported Macs for a while. I never tried that with my 2011 17" because I liked High Sierra.

 

[Aoligei]

If it works for what you need it for - great!

However, there's things that most people expect of a modern machine that are much faster or not available on the older machines.

Things like

• intelligent image processing enabling things like copy/paste text out of images or videos (I literally cut and pasted some text out of a YouTube video yesterday).

This can be done with older machine as well, but it is more complicated. You will need to screenshot the video, using software to do this.

• improved IO performance

Some old laptops have card extension slot, which you can insert extension card. But yes, laptops aren’t generally upgradable in terms of I/O performance.

• updated security features: intel no longer provides microcode updates for the intel CPU in that MacBook and it is inherently exploitable by things running on the internet via hyper threading bugs.

This is true.

• better/faster WIFI with better WIFI range

I don’t know about MacBooks, Apple seems to like to put proprietary staff on their laptops. For standard PC, it is standard PCI-E wifi card, which means WiFi and Bluetooth card can be upgraded.

• better/faster bluetooth for better audio quality/pairing/range/low latency

Audio quality can be improved with USB based audio cards.

• usb type C charging and connectivity - every other new device you buy these days will either be type C by default or include a type C cable option.

This is true. However, there are solution that turns USB-A to USB-C. But speeds are still being limited whatever USB protocol that older machine comes with.

• inbuilt hardware support (in the CPU) for more advanced audio/video codecs providing better quality at lower bit-rate with no fan noise (as the CPU isn't trying to decode them in software).

It is true for transcoding things, this is why I also have M1 Mac mini and Microsoft Surface for whatever video editing needs.

However, generally machines with Intel Core processors or AMD processor within last decades is capable to streaming 1080P with no problem. In my honest opinion, 1080P is good enough for streaming wise.

• far better battery life. like 4x even new vs. new.
• far better displays (both built in, and external support for higher resolution/colour depth/refresh rate).

etc.

None of those features can be added to the old machine with memory or storage upgrades.

Older laptops comes with removable batteries. Older unibody MacBook Pro have battery screwed on the motherboard. Which means you can changed battery on older laptops.

Newer MacBooks have battery glued on the casing, which can be pain in the a** to remove, but it is still possible.

The reason that I like older machines, is that they were fun to worn with. I can upgrade these machines with modern technology or work with the limitations. Newer laptops are build as disposable devices, everything are either glued in or soldered. A broken SSD means you loss all your data and kiss goodbye to your laptop.

 

[chown33]

There's an entire MacRumors forum dedicated to early Intel Macs:

Early Intel Macs

Core 2 Duo, Core Duo, Core Solo machines

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Last year, I purchased a 15" 2009 MacBook Pro with Intel Core 2 Duo, 8GB RAM, non-functional HDD, non-functional optical drive. The seller sold this for little bit over $50 dollars and I know all I need is get a new SSD.

Fast forward today, I am still using this machine. Using OCLP, I can still load macOS Ventura and it runs absolutely fine. I have use it to read online class material, completing essays via Office online, watching videos, video conferencing with my co-workers etc. All I need from a computer, it still functioning decently.

Granted, that I have Mac mini M1 for video editing purpose and Microsoft Surface Pro 10 for some Windows tasks. However, this gives me thinking, if all I need to do is basic computing tasks, then what is the reason to get new computer? It isn't like these cheap plastic Windows alternative or Chromebook will do these tasks significantly faster?

How many of you guys still rocking an old computer? I am typing this with an 15 years old MacBook Pro and I am happy with it.

I upgraded from 2016 MBP with its max available 16 GB RAM to M2 MBP with 96 GB RAM because the 16 GB RAM became inadequate for my multi-tasking workflow. I still use the 2016 MBP and it works just fine as long as I do not multi-task and as long as I can tolerate the slower internet performance (~40-50% of the M2 MBP, dozens of tests).

 

[JojimWizzer]

I am currently on Pro from 2014 and it is still a good machine for Youtube

 

[throAU]

This can be done with older machine as well, but it is more complicated. You will need to screenshot the video, using software to do this.

You asked for reasons somebody would upgrade - I mentioned a heap. Some of those things, sure you can add or upgrade with add ons via USB or SD card.

But the experience vs. having the machine have this inbuilt is trash. With your "fixes" listed above you'll be limited to lower speed USB, wired headphones, still 1/2 - 1/3 battery life even with a brand new replacement battery for the old machine, etc.

Again, if an older machine will do the job for you - awesome, great it isn't in landfill. But don't pretend there hasn't been real tech advance in the past 15 years. And yes, a modern Chromebook will likely slaughter a MacBook processor from 2009 expecially on any modern video codec.

 

[Ctrlos]

I have a Macbook Air 4,1 11" 2011 Model with 4gb RAM on High Sierra. I bought it for £50 earlier this year and discovered the previous owner had fitted a new battery with only 30 cycles. The only thing wrong with it is a RH Cmd key that keeps triggering itself, alleviated by turning this off and using Caps Lock as Cmd.

Admittedly it only lasts about 2-3 hours off the mains but this was about average at its time of launch. I find it a brilliant machine for Aperture edits, blog writing, Pixelmator and taking to the library. Whilst the portability is nice, I rarely take it outside the house. It still plugs into iCloud ok. I still have fond nostalgia for a lot of depreciated Apple apps. I use Bean for writing blog copy, Growl as a replacement for the Apple notifications and I still keep Adium knocking around for no reason whatsoever.

 

[TechnoMonk]

I just retired my 2014 MBP which was being used as file/utility server with M4 mini base model. I don’t connect or use Mac’s which don’t receive upgrades/security updates. I usually get 8 years(5 professional use and 3 more as backup/utility). My schedule gif messed up with terrible 2019 MBp, which I got rid of when M1 was released. M1 Max 64 GB MBP 16 inch is still going strong for me. I will probably upgrade to M6, unless Apple starts supporting 256 GB RAM with M5.

 

[sparkie7]

I have three old MacBook Pro classics (Intel, all aluminium). 15 MBP, and 2x 17" MBP's. All still working except the Batteries. All of them started to talk (expanding battery) so could no longer fit, took them out otherwise the motherboard/internals would be damaged. All need to run off power. Connect via ethernet, one of them the wifi is buggy. But the big issue is all the browsers are out of date as Apple will not allow system updates for older Macs. So one of them is my arcade machine, hooked up to a two player stick arcade control and my 23" Cinema Display.....

 

[mrfunnypenguin]

I have a mid-2012 Pro 13" (non-retina) with Mojave on it. I am currently using it to control a musical lighting display. It works pretty well for that purpose, the built-in ethernet port really gives it an advantage for that purpose because latency is pretty important.

 

[bzgnyc2]

I worked on a family member's MacBook Pro 2016 over TG holiday and despite its age it still performs better than my MacBook Air 2020 (Intel). Granted the 2016 was configured top-of-the-line when new while I intentionally bought the most entry-level MacBook Air (plus 16GB RAM because that need was pretty obvious to predict). There's nothing that 2016 laptop can't do that 2020 Intel systems can other than run Ventura+ (without OCLP...okay I guess my laptop also supports AVX-512 as if any software uses that...)

There are obvious things that a MacBook Pro M4 can do that the 2016 can't but for all office, web browsing, iLife, etc use cases, the 2016 is still overkill. That it still holds up 8 years later is a testament to it as a classic. Great machine.

 

[Furka]

I am working with a MBP 15 Retina with 16Gb of Ram, from 2015, and it's a good machine to manage office apps, web browsing, video or Netflix, and not to bad with amateur video editing (iMovie and actually learning Davinci) in HD. It could render 4K or 8K with a certain amount of time, but we can not compare with the Silicon cpus performances. I have tested all the MacOSes on my MBP with OCLP and I do not recommend to go farther than Monterey, because it feels less responsive and runs hotter. It could run Sonoma ? Yes, I have had it for a week for testing purposes, but I think it's not the way. In this 'old' machine, Monterey is the most recent version of MacOS that could runs flawlessly.

This macbook has good speakers, 1 HDMI/2 USB ports/SD card reader (useful for photographers) and can manage 2 monitors (not my case because I do not need them) with his 2 thunderbolt ports. The user experience working with it is so pleasant that if you do not need the ultimate MacOS features, or very big performance on graphics (4K or 8K renders for example) there is no point to switch over a M1/M2/M3. I can scan documents with my iPhone, insert photos in Notes/Numbers/Pages/Keynote etc. Highly recommended if you are not a Professional Video Editor. A similar MBP of the current range from Apple could costs 3.000€ (16Gb Ram + 1Tb HD).

 

[Aoligei]

I am working with a MBP 15 Retina with 16Gb of Ram, from 2015, and it's a good machine to manage office apps, web browsing, video or Netflix, and not to bad with amateur video editing (iMovie and actually learning Davinci) in HD. It could render 4K or 8K with a certain amount of time, but we can not compare with the Silicon cpus performances. I have tested all the MacOSes on my MBP with OCLP and I do not recommend to go farther than Monterey, because it feels less responsive and runs hotter. It could run Sonoma ? Yes, I have had it for a week for testing purposes, but I think it's not the way. In this 'old' machine, Monterey is the most recent version of MacOS that could runs flawlessly.

Maybe I am not so sensitive to lag or I am more tolerant with old machine. I have Ventura installed on 09 MacBook Pro and I found it is okay. I can see visible lag when I am typing this messages, but it isn't something that I cannot tolerate.

The only reason I am on Ventura is I want the most up to date Safari browser.

This macbook has good speakers, 1 HDMI/2 USB ports/SD card reader (useful for photographers) and can manage 2 monitors (not my case because I do not need them) with his 2 thunderbolt ports. The user experience working with it is so pleasant that if you do not need the ultimate MacOS features, or very big performance on graphics (4K or 8K renders for example) there is no point to switch over a M1/M2/M3. I can scan documents with my iPhone, insert photos in Notes/Numbers/Pages/Keynote etc. Highly recommended if you are not a Professional Video Editor. A similar MBP of the current range from Apple could costs 3.000€ (16Gb Ram + 1Tb HD).

I have the 2015 13 inch MacBook Pro and I like it, it has macOS Ventura also. Even though I have 512GB iPhone 12 Pro, I have never actually record video in 4K. When I do some light video editing for family event, the 2015 MacBook Pro does the trick.

 

[familychoice]

I'm using my Intel 16" right now - it's great for general work stuff, though I've just bought an M4 Pro for more intensive music making related stuff.

 

[savagewatts]

I’m still using my MBP 2014 15”. It’s still going strong.