Exactly. Because you know why? For me at least, it's always been because the 'no' or 'you can't' is arbitrary. In some cases, it's punitive. Other times, it's because the person saying those words is just repeating a mantra and hasn't actually tried.
But then it turns out it is possible. Sometimes it isn't. But most times it is. And then you discover just what a house of cards or arbitrary decision 'no' or 'you can't' is based on. The reason then becomes, "just because".
And that is infuriating!
Before I wiped it and gave it away to a family in need, I really should have snapped more pics of my earlier classic Intel Mac gaming rig, a cleaned up Core Duo MacBook with a 500 GB drive stuffed to the gills with games I ported myself using F/OSS source ports, Wineskin/DOSBox, or played using CrossOver and PortingKit. It was the Mac that would shut up anyone who would say, "You can't game on a Mac!" or "You can't game on a GMA 950."
They are still great at what they do and some of the designs are timeless. I’m personally a sucker for the white polycarbonate designs of the 2000s and my 5th gen iPod and 2010 MacBook represent the latest and greatest iterations of that era. I sometimes wish Apple would reintroduce premium plastics to their product lineup again. I never had one but the iPhone 5c was a real looker in my eyes.
I too miss the old days of polycarbonate plastic, but comparing my 2008 A1278 MacBook and my 2010 MacBook Air to my 2009 A1181 and 2010 A1342 MacBooks, the aluminum unibody cases have aged far, far better in my eyes. Especially with the A1342's flappy bottoms (for that I'd prefer the chipped case plastics of the A1181s - it's easier to ignore or cover up). Still, nothing beats that wonderful glossy shine of the 2010 MacBook.
I can't afford new stuff. Which is why I am purposely about 15 years behind the curve. Because I can buy the old stuff that was really expensive for cheap and make it work.
I'm not a video editor, or someone who needs serious CPU/GPU power. My MacPro is primarily used for web browsing, graphic design and word processing. I'm sure though, that if I got a second job where I had to use my own equipment, it could keep up. I mean, I'm running InDesign CC24, Photoshop CC23 and Illustrator CC25. And the latest version of Microsoft Office. That's pretty dang current.
Next, I don't use all of Apple's ecosystem features. But what I do use, my MP on Sonoma (via OCLP) can handle it. For other things, there are third party options that work fine.
I do have a 2023 M2 MacBook Pro in the house. But that's work issued and used specifically for job-related tasks.
What I object to is just being told that I can't do 'X' with what I have, just because I have an old Mac. Could I do it better, faster or easier on a new Mac? Probably. But that doesn't mean I can't do it on my old Mac.
1000% this. If you're not actually a professional whose livelihood fully depends on maximizing the amount of computing power you have, do you
really need the latest and greatest hardware? Especially if Mac performance is more incremental than revolutionary with Apple Silicon post-M1 (because honestly, were people seriously expecting massive orders-of-magnitude performance leaps with
every new SoC after the M1?). I've seen people on other MR subforms talk about how they changed out their months-old maxed-out M3 MacBook Pros for M4 Macs for no other apparent reason than anxiety over getting the latest and greatest.
And given the state of the economy today, for low-income folks in need, why can't an older used Mac be an option, if it fulfills their basic computing needs? Why can't we do something to keep almost perfectly working, totally useable computer hardware out of landfills or eWaste?
And beyond that, why can't we just have fun with our old hardware? I hardly see people looking down on auto enthusiasts for restoring and driving old cars.
