What is your longest lasting Apple product?

[MacBH928]

I did 'upgrade' it with more RAM and a much larger HDD (80Gb for the original 20Gb). Compared to modern flat screen AIOs, it's huuuuge! Loved it though. Iconic.


If you use it with older audio production software, it'll work fine, as it doesn't need the graphics processing power. You can still run multiple displays off it, you just don't get super high resolution. It has more than ample power for audio stuff. It's still a viable computer, I just don't have need for it any longer.

I may be wrong but I think if you install linux on it it can be repurposed as a server for some school, Non-profit, or even for home. But I wonder about the lifespan of the components, everything dies with time. I wonder if a modern Pi4 is more powerful than that machine 😆😆

 

[Boidem]

I wonder if a modern Pi4 is more powerful than that machine 😆😆

Unlikely, but it is a big old lump. There hasn't been such the pace of advancement in the last 16 years as there was between say 1990-2006. The MacPro zipped though tasks I've seen much younger machines struggling a bit with. Remember; it was state of the art when it first came out, the most powerful off the shelf 'home computer' you could buy really. I bought it for longevity, which turned out to be quite a good move all things considered. Others I know have replaced computers several times in that time, and spent more money overall. I'm pretty sure it could handle most of what more recent OS' can do tbh. I do want it to go to a good home and be useful to someone. I'm sure it will.

 

[rjalda100]

Oldest device I still have in daily use is my 2015 13" Macbook Pro, it still works so well that I'll probably hang onto it until it starts really showing its age, which at the moment it isn't really apart from not being supported by Ventura.

I have several older iPods and iPhones that still work perfectly (the oldest being a 2005 1st gen iPod Nano), but they aren't in frequent use like my Macbook is.

 

[MacBH928]

Oldest device I still have in daily use is my 2015 13" Macbook Pro, it still works so well that I'll probably hang onto it until it starts really showing its age, which at the moment it isn't really apart from not being supported by Ventura.

I have several older iPods and iPhones that still work perfectly (the oldest being a 2005 1st gen iPod Nano), but they aren't in frequent use like my Macbook is.

I too have the MBP, if Apple is going to abandon it I guess we can always install Windows or Linux on it.

 

[MacBH928]

Unlikely, but it is a big old lump. There hasn't been such the pace of advancement in the last 16 years as there was between say 1990-2006. The MacPro zipped though tasks I've seen much younger machines struggling a bit with. Remember; it was state of the art when it first came out, the most powerful off the shelf 'home computer' you could buy really. I bought it for longevity, which turned out to be quite a good move all things considered. Others I know have replaced computers several times in that time, and spent more money overall. I'm pretty sure it could handle most of what more recent OS' can do tbh. I do want it to go to a good home and be useful to someone. I'm sure it will.

Is the £3000 upgrades for it or is that initial price + upgrades over its lifetime? because if its both thats a crazy price for 14 years of use because I paid like £2000 for my current MBP(2015) in 2017(time of purchase)

 

[headlessmike]

I think it might have to do with the transition to ARM chips and they no longer want to maintain an OS for x86 chips. It would be faboulus for them if every x86 user buys a new ARM one. Either way, the upgrade pattern seems just the same even if if there was no ARM transition.

Yeah, no way Apple is going to be any where in the educational market (which was huge for them) as they deprecate hardware on purpose this fast. Its closer to status symbol now.

I guess I can always install Windows 11 on it or some Linux variant.

It’s not only that. Intel has been very quick in dropping support for older chips in recent years. In the past, Apple has usually supported all of the Macs with CPUs still supported by Intel and Ventura is no different in that regard. The macs that lost support with the release of Ventura are all models that have CPUs that were dropped by Intel in 2022 (i.e. since Monterey was released). This sometimes also occurs if other pieces of hardware lose support from the manufacturer, such as GPUs. Vendors like Apple may still choose to support them in software, but will not receive updates from Intel once they decide to discontinue support. Microsoft too has officially dropped support for CPUs from before 2017 in Windows 11.

 

[Queen6]

My stock late 2011 15" MBP. Was used in engineering roles for the early part of it's life, replaced it with a Retina MBP's as the 2011's dGPU issue increasingly blew up. It then went to my backup Mac. Few more years on went to my daughter, who used it basically as a PlayStation until it quit running (SW). The MBP then sat unused in a box for a couple of years.

Having time on the hands (COVID) I rescued it Cleaned up the software image with a few tools. Installed High Sierra and it's been pretty much in constant use ever since. Ironically it's seen off multiple Retina's and very likely another in the near to mid term. Barring the battery it seems to be in great shape, last it was clean installed was at the factory LOL.

I don't do too much with it these days, yet it remains to be capable and tuns 24/7. It doesn't overheat, throttle or exhibit any issues even under full load. It just hit's the power cap...

Now coming close to passing 11.3 years old, certainly turned out to be good value for money I'll update the screen cap in time.

OG Snow Leopard wallpaper, not the replaced online smiley cat. Apple only released this one on disk think this going in the M1 V-Soon, bored of the included wallpaper.

Q-6

 

[MacBH928]

It’s not only that. Intel has been very quick in dropping support for older chips in recent years. In the past, Apple has usually supported all of the Macs with CPUs still supported by Intel and Ventura is no different in that regard. The macs that lost support with the release of Ventura are all models that have CPUs that were dropped by Intel in 2022 (i.e. since Monterey was released). This sometimes also occurs if other pieces of hardware lose support from the manufacturer, such as GPUs. Vendors like Apple may still choose to support them in software, but will not receive updates from Intel once they decide to discontinue support. Microsoft too has officially dropped support for CPUs from before 2017 in Windows 11.

I do not understand the dropped support from Intel. Windows and Linux run on computers mega old in hardware.

 

[headlessmike]

I do not understand the dropped support from Intel. Windows and Linux run on computers mega old in hardware.

The dropped support means that Intel no longer offers patches for vulnerabilities found in the hardware. These may still be patched in whatever OS is running on the system, but that is the responsibility of the vendor that produces the software. Apple patches OSs for a few years after a new one is released. Microsoft has been more passive when it comes to dropping support, but this is not without issues either as security holes in old hardware can remain unpatched. This is the main reason why Microsoft dropped support for chips more than 5 years old with Windows 11 (according to them). But it’s not like this is entirely new either. Microsoft has quietly stopped supporting relatively modern hardware in Windows 10 with certain updates.

Linux is a different story as anyone can contribute to the code and make it run on ancient hardware.

 

[AJK13K]

Ipod

 

[MarkC426]

Ipod

Which model....?

 

[bradl]

I do not understand the dropped support from Intel. Windows and Linux run on computers mega old in hardware.

If I remember right, with Windows 10, Microsoft dropped all 32bit support, meaning everything 386 up to Pentium IV was dropped. Linux dropped 386 support in 2012, and is planning on dropping 486 support probably within the next year. The reason for this is all of the vulnerabilities in the CPUs, from stepping to all of the architecture. Those are all still vulnerable to the FDIV bug, the f00f bug, Nimda, Code Red, myDoom, Floating Point bug, the entire lot. The prevention of all of that carried extra bloat into the kernel builds that are shipped out for production, and while those CPUs should be more than phased out by this time (save a few places, like Hubble, Mir, etc.), the need for that bloat in the kernel has faded to where they can safely be dropped.

BL.

 

[Boidem]

Is the £3000 upgrades for it or is that initial price + upgrades over its lifetime? because if its both thats a crazy price for 14 years of use because I paid like £2000 for my current MBP(2015) in 2017(time of purchase)

That's about £3000 over its lifetime. Initial price was about £2250 (included a VERY good 'student' discount ); 3GHz Quad core version + X1900XT graphics card (which was crap and had a free replacement service which I missed😭), 512Mb RAM. Upgrades included at least 2 DVD drives, 32Gb RAM, and SSD and a new graphics card that I paid £200 to a local Mac specialist to fit what they probs got off Ebay for£50. Hey ho. Should have done that myself and saved a chunk of money. So call it another £600 worth of bits on top really. I don't think that's bad over such a timespan. I read on here and elsewhere about people replacing much more expensive machines after just 2 years or even less. I like value for money. My current iMac cost £1790 (again including a student discount ), and if I get at least 5-6 more years of good use out of it I'll be pretty happy. I know people who would spend more than that on trainers (footwear) in just two years, and that's daft. Computer tech is my biggest expenditure after photography, I'd say. It's a shame that modern tech doesn't last very long though. Still; we can build sea walls out of the dead tech, to stop the rising sea levels from drowning us all, I spose.

 

[3xBoom]

2008 Mac mini (sporadic use as a CD/DVD player hooked up to the TV) and 2008 MacBook Pro 15 inch (daily use as a streaming device in the kitchen). Both patched to run Catalina and have upgraded hard and CD drives and RAM. Not fastest, but good enough for intended tasks.

 

[scott Lashville]

how is the battery?

The battery is not good bt the Watch works perfectly! It runs out of battery in less than a day.

 

[Plymouthbreezer]

2009 MBP and a 2009 MacPro both see regular use, at least weekly for both. I've also have a 6th gen iPod Classic (purchased around 2007) that was seeing regular use in one of my older cars until about two years ago.

 

[Quake1028]

Not crazy in here, but I got over 4 years from my XS Max on the stock battery and it still worked great.

 

[conmee]

iPod Classic 160GB and Mac Pro 2013 regular use. My 2013 S550 has the iPod integration kit which still uses the older 30-pin connector, so I keep lossless music on the iPod Classic which is much better quality than satellite audio or Bluetooth streaming.

 

[WriteNow]

I got nearly 10 years of use out of my first computer system (Macintosh SE with an ImageWriter II). Although it was in daily service only part of that time--but it was the only computer equipment I had during that time, and so it wasn't sitting in a closet the whole time. After the SE acted up, I went with some slightly newer Macs partnered with the printer, the keyboard, and the mouse I'd used with the Mac. The printer probably was my only printer for at least a couple of extra years (although, again, it was occasional use). The keyboard might have been used for 15 years. I can't remember for certain.

Then, I have a Quadra 650 that I got used in probably 2003 and used with older software for several years--at some points fairly heavy daily use. I had to replace the power supply--but as far as I know, the rest was original. And who knows how heavily it was used before me? Based on some sense I got at the time I got it--and the fact that now I can't imagine anyone buying an expensive Quadra new to just use a couple of times a year--so I'd guess it had seen plenty of use before me.

 

[MacBH928]

I got nearly 10 years of use out of my first computer system (Macintosh SE with an ImageWriter II). Although it was in daily service only part of that time--but it was the only computer equipment I had during that time, and so it wasn't sitting in a closet the whole time. After the SE acted up, I went with some slightly newer Macs partnered with the printer, the keyboard, and the mouse I'd used with the Mac. The printer probably was my only printer for at least a couple of extra years (although, again, it was occasional use). The keyboard might have been used for 15 years. I can't remember for certain.

Then, I have a Quadra 650 that I got used in probably 2003 and used with older software for several years--at some points fairly heavy daily use. I had to replace the power supply--but as far as I know, the rest was original. And who knows how heavily it was used before me? Based on some sense I got at the time I got it--and the fact that now I can't imagine anyone buying an expensive Quadra new to just use a couple of times a year--so I'd guess it had seen plenty of use before me.

its surprising and SE lasted that long with you since in that era about every 2 years the computer would be obsolete next to the new technology that comes out

 

[Matz]

An iPod 6 that I use exclusively for playing music in my car, through USB. I have to reset it occasionally, but it keeps on working.

 

[WriteNow]

its surprising and SE lasted that long with you since in that era about every 2 years the computer would be obsolete next to the new technology that comes out

The reason it lasted was simply that I didn't bother to keep up with the times. I never even upgraded it to System 7--there was no compelling reason when System 7 shipped to pay for more memory, and then at some point I started hearing about how slow System 7 was. Some Mac magazine article actually suggested downgrading to System 6 as one possible way to improve Mac performance.

The SE, using appropriate software, did what I asked it to do, like word processing.

 

[MacBH928]

The reason it lasted was simply that I didn't bother to keep up with the times. I never even upgraded it to System 7--there was no compelling reason when System 7 shipped to pay for more memory, and then at some point I started hearing about how slow System 7 was. Some Mac magazine article actually suggested downgrading to System 6 as one possible way to improve Mac performance.

The SE, using appropriate software, did what I asked it to do, like word processing.

I really like people who are like you that makes maximum use of the device as long as it does what they need it to do. My only scare with electronics is that it malfunctions or stops working especially if you need the data on it and especially if that data is not transferable depending on whatever current OS is used and whatever modern software that can handle your files.

related:
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme...y-be-serviced-with-this-ancient-compaq-laptop

 

[Queen6]

I really like people who are like you that makes maximum use of the device as long as it does what they need it to do. My only scare with electronics is that it malfunctions or stops working especially if you need the data on it and especially if that data is not transferable depending on whatever current OS is used and whatever modern software that can handle your files.

related:
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme...y-be-serviced-with-this-ancient-compaq-laptop

Back up is the only solution and it works...

Q-6

 

[WriteNow]

I really like people who are like you that makes maximum use of the device as long as it does what they need it to do. My only scare with electronics is that it malfunctions or stops working

To a degree, during the time I had the SE, there was no/little choice, due to cash flow issues. If something happened the SE, I'd have been using a typewriter again... That lean period probably is one reason why I later would purposely keep using something until it was pretty much run into the earth.

data is not transferable depending on whatever current OS is used and whatever modern software that can handle your files.

That is a real problem and worry. My big concern are word processor documents--and I have documents going back to the 1980s that were created by long forgotten products. At one time, I thought I'd probably have vintage Macs around in semi-regular use forever for archival purposes. Fortunately, LibreOffice does a pretty good job now of opening old files.

I now heavily use plain text editors. One selling point: the thought that the files are more likely to be something that can be easily opened forever than any word processor format.