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Bkdodger

macrumors 68040
Jun 6, 2019
3,622
6,045
I'm still rocking my 2011 Mac Pro with a disabled graphics card and a Samsung SSD but going strong as a backup..
 
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Matt Leaf

macrumors 6502
Feb 5, 2012
453
450
2012 MBA 11”. Still use daily. Replaced the battery at one point- get about 2 hours these days. Lots of dents. Brightness lowering button no longer works (spilt a cup of tea on the keyboard) - now I use brightness slider in the menu bar - and now can’t live without it on all my Mac’s. Also roll TurboBoost switcher.

It’s great for the web, tunes, and writing, which is mainly what I use it for. Driving it too hard and charging at the same time makes it switch off, otherwise if fully charged and on power it can handle demanding tasks nicely.

Looking at the new M2 Airs but until this thing fully dies I don’t think I can give it up. What a buy. 10 years strong
 
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nickdalzell1

macrumors 68030
Dec 8, 2019
2,787
1,670
Gonna say that the longest lasting Apple device I'm still using is my 2010 Apple TV 2nd Generation. Everything still works on it. The UI is far more premium to me than the modern ones, and it doesn't suffer all the random internet issues the modern ones did. I haven't had it that long; bought it second hand, but it's 12 years old.
 

MarkC426

macrumors 68040
May 14, 2008
3,690
2,093
UK
Still in use nightly....2005 iPod on a clock radio dock....😄
Battery probably wouldn't last long unplugged, but it never moves off the dock.
 

MacBH928

macrumors G3
Original poster
May 17, 2008
8,727
3,892
2009 mac mini can still use browsers that support modern websites. It has nothing to do with the hardware, but the OS. 2009 mac mini natively can run OS’ from Snow Leopard to El Capitan. With patches it runs Catalina well.

I am surprised at how well it still works, still decent in speed for general applications. Arctic fox browser is still good for Snow Leopard.

huh...I thought my 2014 mac mini was slow and needed change. Installed SSD in it, works for its purpose but I wouldn't be happy as a daily driver but works as HTPC

Then I don't have a single long-lasting Apple product - essentially I have all of them with me daily on my commute, iPod, iPad, iPhone, Watch, Macbook,... thus I broke all of these multiple times over the last decade and a half. For example: Smashed the iPod on the ground during a bike ride, then broke off the notoriously bad battery connector during the fix, so ended up just buying the same one used.

But even when I took good care of devices they still failed on me. With my 2007 and 2008 MBPs the Nvidia defect broke each Mac thrice during the warranty period and then right after again at which point I had to throw them out. Apple apparently did not have defect-free replacement parts. The next Macbook had constant Intel-display-driver caused kernel panics when video editing (and when you took it off the table it sometimes randomly lost power), and the replacement Mac after that had 3 swollen batteries each after less than 3 years where in the end Apple declared my Mac vintage and refused to replace the battery, forcing me to go through the tedious removal of the glued-in battery myself. It's still in a drawer now with no battery installed.. The 2017 Macbook I got after that I sold off immediately once the keyboard and flexgate issues came to light.

And then when I got the 2020 Intel MBP, shortly after they released the M1 series and I sold the Intel one off immediately as well since it ran hot, noisy and out of battery nonstop.

The new 2021 Macbooks are the first ones I am truly happy with, the quality is way better than any of the previous defect-ridden butterfly/flexgate/solder-comes-loose devices I had in the past decade. Part of it is that these are also the first Macbooks with a 64GiB option that are finally fast enough, with the previous ones I always ran out of memory.

Unfortunately I am not convinced that those will last me much longer since the warranty is limited to 3 years on mine, and both the display assembly and logic board are so expensive that literally any defect after the warranty period will make repairs financially unviable.

I had people say their Macs are so long-lasting, yet what I've seen anecdotally isn't great. A friend's Macbook from 2009 is still alive today and is being used, but all the USB ports are dead. That is not a working machine in my eyes - but they're happy with it. Another colleague has a 2016 one they are unhappy with because one of the two USB-C ports is dead and the last one for charging is also starting to give out (they were "lucky" they got a free display assembly replacement out of warranty when the display died previously, otherwise the Mac would have been a brick way before 2020).

And I haven't even mentioned the 12" Macbook yet, where I read many horror stories about them failing constantly, keyboards, logic boards, you name it. Thankfully I never owned any of these.

When you pick "the right" device then the quality of Apple products great but obviously you can't know in advance what series defects will come to light later. I just hope these new miniLED displays and M1 chips are free of manufacturing flaws as I could see myself using that for a long time.

Given the horrible experience you had with Apple I am surprised you still buy their products. Breaking them by dropping them is on you not on Apple.

When I pick a device I usually go for something that has technology that has been tested and not first time to market. Usually a year or two into the product lifetime. Same method works for car models. New models usually always have issues.
 

MacBH928

macrumors G3
Original poster
May 17, 2008
8,727
3,892
I still got a trash-picked iPhone 4 that can still power on and play the stored MP3s on one of those thrift store iHome 30-pin docks, even though the carrier decided to screw over every 3G customer this year. It's now only an iPod but it works otherwise on Wifi. Too bad it's on iOS 7 (I'd love if it could be downgraded)

I think there is a jial break for that.

I still use two 2010 MacBook Airs in the office.

The first no longer has a battery, so it only runs on AC power and is primarily used as a print server.

The other machine is used for whatever tasks I can throw at it, and is connected to a 2004 Cinema HD Display.

Open Office, mail and specific Terminal-Emulator behind firewall on
2007 iMac 7,1 24" ugraded with CPU Penryn T9300, patched with MacOS 10.14, 6GB and SSD.
Fast enough for these low CPU usage applications and (hopefully) safe enough due to secure connection to intranet.
Testing it with OCLP Monterey made it slow due probably lack of RAM.
Under Mojave this is a sustainable solution and works fine and the lack of Bluetooth makes it even more sustainable using wired mouse and keyboard.


2012 MBA 11”. Still use daily. Replaced the battery at one point- get about 2 hours these days. Lots of dents. Brightness lowering button no longer works (spilt a cup of tea on the keyboard) - now I use brightness slider in the menu bar - and now can’t live without it on all my Mac’s. Also roll TurboBoost switcher.

It’s great for the web, tunes, and writing, which is mainly what I use it for. Driving it too hard and charging at the same time makes it switch off, otherwise if fully charged and on power it can handle demanding tasks nicely.

Looking at the new M2 Airs but until this thing fully dies I don’t think I can give it up. What a buy. 10 years strong

You guys seriously squeezed the last bit of use out of those machines 🤣
I love that especially in office environment. i used to have this mentality but honestly I came to a point in my life where I rather enjoy the newer stuff while I am still alive. Its all a balance between your budget and use case.


I'm still rocking my 2011 Mac Pro with a disabled graphics card and a Samsung SSD but going strong as a backup..

Mac Pro's should last longer as they are much more expensive, should be built to last unlike finicky laptops, and come packed with so much power. No battery, internal speakers, or displays to deal with. theoretically upgradable.
 
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okkibs

macrumors 65816
Sep 17, 2022
1,069
1,004
Given the horrible experience you had with Apple I am surprised you still buy their products.
Overall I am happy with Apple and I prefer MacOS. It is funny you quoted my post now because my relatively new Mac I paid 5k for (M1 Max etc) just broke this week and needs a warranty repair. I have another Mac I can use in the meantime so it's actually funny to me how Apple manages to screw up so badly, but I am due for a vacation anyways so I don't care about it. And the issue is probably a manufacturing defect, nothing that would worry me about long-term durability of the machine.

If there was anything better out there than a Mac with macOS, I'd switch in a heartbeat. I don't care about the brand, only the product.

Breaking them by dropping them is on you not on Apple.
That is true, however the iPod Classic has a bad design where the battery connector will break off if you just look at it the wrong way. This is on Apple. The connector literally sits loose on the iPod's logic board by default. Just unplugging it has a 50:50 chance of breaking off. It's a flaw in the design and every single iPod Classic has the issue, maybe even other older iPods as well. There was no technical need to design it like this and many logic boards must have been killed due to this that would otherwise be in perfect condition.

When I pick a device I usually go for something that has technology that has been tested and not first time to market.
That is not viable. It takes at least 2-3 years for design flaws to come to light (see butterfly keyboard, staingate, flexgate....), at which point Apple is already introducing a new design... the last Unibody MBP of 2015 had staingate just like the models before. It was not a first generation device. The 2017 and even still the 2018 models had the butterfly keyboard issue just like the first generation 2016 model. Waiting for "tested technology" doesn't help with Apple.
 

XboxEvolved

macrumors 6502a
Aug 22, 2004
870
1,117
A PowerMac G4 Digital Audio 533Mhz I bought used off of someone in 2003 for $300 and kept using it although it got more sparingly as time went on until around 2011. That's a machine that lasted at least 10-11 years between two owners.

I've had three other Macs since then, my current one and the others lasted 5 years used, had another for a year new until I gave it to my daughter so it's been going for 3, but likely will go for 7 years total. I've had my M1 MBP for over a year now and I expect to be using it at least until 2026 so that will last at least almost as long as the G4 did.

My iPhone 11 even when I get a new phone I expect to keep using my for at least until 2025 for Pokemon Go so 6 years for a phone is pretty decent. My Apple Watch Series 6 I bought the month it came out and I really can't see myself upgrading it for at least 7-8 years unless it breaks. I do feel like Apple stuff is starting to last a lot longer again like it did back in the early 2000s.
 

uller6

macrumors 65816
May 14, 2010
1,072
1,776
I'm still running my late 2013 15" MacBook Pro, now with a brand-new battery after 9 years on the original battery. The original battery still held charge for 2+ hours, but swelled up like a balloon and made the trackpad stop working. This is the best machine Apple has ever made in my opinion.
 

MacBH928

macrumors G3
Original poster
May 17, 2008
8,727
3,892
Overall I am happy with Apple and I prefer MacOS. It is funny you quoted my post now because my relatively new Mac I paid 5k for (M1 Max etc) just broke this week and needs a warranty repair. I have another Mac I can use in the meantime so it's actually funny to me how Apple manages to screw up so badly, but I am due for a vacation anyways so I don't care about it. And the issue is probably a manufacturing defect, nothing that would worry me about long-term durability of the machine.

If there was anything better out there than a Mac with macOS, I'd switch in a heartbeat. I don't care about the brand, only the product.


That is true, however the iPod Classic has a bad design where the battery connector will break off if you just look at it the wrong way. This is on Apple. The connector literally sits loose on the iPod's logic board by default. Just unplugging it has a 50:50 chance of breaking off. It's a flaw in the design and every single iPod Classic has the issue, maybe even other older iPods as well. There was no technical need to design it like this and many logic boards must have been killed due to this that would otherwise be in perfect condition.


That is not viable. It takes at least 2-3 years for design flaws to come to light (see butterfly keyboard, staingate, flexgate....), at which point Apple is already introducing a new design... the last Unibody MBP of 2015 had staingate just like the models before. It was not a first generation device. The 2017 and even still the 2018 models had the butterfly keyboard issue just like the first generation 2016 model. Waiting for "tested technology" doesn't help with Apple.

-As for the ipod connector, I do not understand how some phd engineers design such great and complex machines then they have some stupid flaw like this. I do not think they "missed" it.

-As for design flaws, its still a better bet to buy something that has been on the market for sometime than a new model just hit the market. I am not up for a recall program. Many people do not understand that there are a lot of people who pay lots of money in Peru , Nepal, and Nigeria for their products but there is not recall programs there and they paid just as much money for the products.

A PowerMac G4 Digital Audio 533Mhz I bought used off of someone in 2003 for $300 and kept using it although it got more sparingly as time went on until around 2011. That's a machine that lasted at least 10-11 years between two owners.

I've had three other Macs since then, my current one and the others lasted 5 years used, had another for a year new until I gave it to my daughter so it's been going for 3, but likely will go for 7 years total. I've had my M1 MBP for over a year now and I expect to be using it at least until 2026 so that will last at least almost as long as the G4 did.

My iPhone 11 even when I get a new phone I expect to keep using my for at least until 2025 for Pokemon Go so 6 years for a phone is pretty decent. My Apple Watch Series 6 I bought the month it came out and I really can't see myself upgrading it for at least 7-8 years unless it breaks. I do feel like Apple stuff is starting to last a lot longer again like it did back in the early 2000s.

I do not think the watch will last that long. I just do not think the internal components are made to last. maybe i am wrong. Especially the battery.

I'm still running my late 2013 15" MacBook Pro, now with a brand-new battery after 9 years on the original battery. The original battery still held charge for 2+ hours, but swelled up like a balloon and made the trackpad stop working. This is the best machine Apple has ever made in my opinion.

Aren't the original white ibooks sturdier?

Apple II rev 7 non-RFI manufactured in 1980 so 42 years.

If you still use it you will be awarded the greatest contributor in this thread. Do you actually use it or just have it in your collection? What do you use it for?
 

XboxEvolved

macrumors 6502a
Aug 22, 2004
870
1,117
Considering I know people that are still using the watch from 2016 and the performance increase in the watches since series 6 has slowed down, 7 years is definitely realistic, but I do also plan on getting the battery replaced within that time as well. The fact that Apple just hasn't had anything in the watches since the 6 that even looks like it is worth an upgrade unless maybe you had a series 3 or older, I just don't see myself upgrading for awhile.
 
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BeatCrazy

macrumors 603
Jul 20, 2011
5,106
4,461
Late 2014 Mac mini has been running 24/7 for 8+ years.

2009 iMac is still in regular use, although I'm not the original owner. It got a new logic board and SSD + RAM, but is otherwise chugging along splendidly on Monterey courtesy of OCLP.
 

uller6

macrumors 65816
May 14, 2010
1,072
1,776
Aren't the original white ibooks sturdier?
I can't say for sure which model is sturdier, but the old white iBooks (and most Apple laptops up until ~2009) STINK like nasty BO after a decade due to the adhesive under the keyboard. They're really gross.
 
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MacBH928

macrumors G3
Original poster
May 17, 2008
8,727
3,892
Late 2014 Mac mini has been running 24/7 for 8+ years.

2009 iMac is still in regular use, although I'm not the original owner. It got a new logic board and SSD + RAM, but is otherwise chugging along splendidly on Monterey courtesy of OCLP.

what do you use the mac mini for?
 

BeatCrazy

macrumors 603
Jul 20, 2011
5,106
4,461
what do you use the mac mini for?
Server. I stream some iTunes "Home Videos" and Plex music/movies. Also Logitech Media Server for music. Some of these functions overlap with one another. Some of them work better with different end-point devices both inside and outside of the home.
 

Cheffy Dave

macrumors 68030
Just for fun, name the Apple product that lasted you longest. Give the name of the product and how many years it has been working for you. If you can add a picture of it.

Rules:
1-It should be in constant use, not forgotten for 5 years and fired up again for use.
2-Its ok to make it last with replaceable parts like ram, batteries, and hard-drives but going into extreme measures where most the device is not its original parts can't be included.(ex..Mac Pro with a replaced HDD, Motherboard, CPU, Power Supply, fans...etc, you get the idea)
The very FIRST i POD, still in use,had zero repairs
 
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lostPod

macrumors 6502
May 9, 2022
349
262
Gonna say that the longest lasting Apple device I'm still using is my 2010 Apple TV 2nd Generation. Everything still works on it. The UI is far more premium to me than the modern ones, and it doesn't suffer all the random internet issues the modern ones did. I haven't had it that long; bought it second hand, but it's 12 years old.
Do you have issues using Airplay to cast to it? It works great but when I have an app that isnt on the tv I use Airplay but it fails sometimes.
 

BaggieBoy

macrumors 6502a
May 29, 2012
664
368
UK
I still have my 2012 Retina MacBook Pro, which works just fine. However in its life it has had a logic board replacement, top chassis (battery and keyboard), another keyboard and a new screen. So apart from the bottom cover there isn't much original MBP left!

I also have a 2015 12.9" iPad Pro, but that was a replaced under AppleCare due to a screen issue in the first 2 years.
 
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nickdalzell1

macrumors 68030
Dec 8, 2019
2,787
1,670
Do you have issues using Airplay to cast to it? It works great but when I have an app that isnt on the tv I use Airplay but it fails sometimes.
I never used AirPlay (never understood what problem it tried to solve) so I have no clue. For me it's just the most reliable means of watching purchased content from Apple as well as Netflix (and has the best UI design IMO compared to 'modern' streaming boxes which is why I bought it--that and it no longer gets updates)

Under the settings there's an 'activation:failed' but I never figured out what that meant. It works fine.
 

lostPod

macrumors 6502
May 9, 2022
349
262
I never used AirPlay (never understood what problem it tried to solve) so I have no clue. For me it's just the most reliable means of watching purchased content from Apple as well as Netflix (and has the best UI design IMO compared to 'modern' streaming boxes which is why I bought it--that and it no longer gets updates)

Under the settings there's an 'activation:failed' but I never figured out what that meant. It works fine.
I use AirPlay on an apple tv 2 to cast apps that are not on the device. Unlike current AppleTVs there is no app store to download new streaming apps. But yeah, other than that the TV still works great!
 
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