What to do with old MacBook Air?

[jedimasterkyle]

I recently dug out my old MacBook Air just to see if it would boot up. It booted up just fine but then I was bombarded with pop ups from Settings saying that I could not log into my Apple ID because of connection issues. After doing some digging, I determined that it's because I have Advanced Data Protection enabled on my other Apple devices. After going through the hassle of setting up ADP in the first place, I opted not to disable it just for an outdated laptop.

This MacBook Air is a 2012 model with the dual core I5. By today's standards, it's older than dirt and can't really do much that's worth a damn. Looking at the trade in value on Apple.com, Apple will just recycle the whole thing because it's so obsolete.

So at this point, I'm not really sure what to do with it. My wife detests, despises and outright hates Apple with every fiber of her being so giving it to her is not going to happen lol. I would give it to my wife's technology illiterate parents but they think their current laptop running Windows XP is just fine for them so that's a hard pass as well. My parents have their Apple products so they're set and I dont travel nearly enough to justify having it for Airplane trips or anything like that.

Any ideas on what I could do with it? I have no problem resetting it back to factory and wiping my data off of it but for the time being, I'm hoping to get some sort of use out of it if I can.

 

[coffeemilktea]

You could hook it up to some speakers and use it to play any music files on the laptop's hard drive... that's the first thing that comes to mind.

It might not be able to log into Apple Music, but Spotify might be possible on that machine? Either way, you'll have a decent music playing machine.

 

[xboxbml]

I recently dug out my old MacBook Air just to see if it would boot up. It booted up just fine but then I was bombarded with pop ups from Settings saying that I could not log into my Apple ID because of connection issues. After doing some digging, I determined that it's because I have Advanced Data Protection enabled on my other Apple devices. After going through the hassle of setting up ADP in the first place, I opted not to disable it just for an outdated laptop.

This MacBook Air is a 2012 model with the dual core I5. By today's standards, it's older than dirt and can't really do much that's worth a damn. Looking at the trade in value on Apple.com, Apple will just recycle the whole thing because it's so obsolete.

So at this point, I'm not really sure what to do with it. My wife detests, despises and outright hates Apple with every fiber of her being so giving it to her is not going to happen lol. I would give it to my wife's technology illiterate parents but they think their current laptop running Windows XP is just fine for them so that's a hard pass as well. My parents have their Apple products so they're set and I dont travel nearly enough to justify having it for Airplane trips or anything like that.

Any ideas on what I could do with it? I have no problem resetting it back to factory and wiping my data off of it but for the time being, I'm hoping to get some sort of use out of it if I can.

You could play with it.. look into loading OCLP and maybe put Monterey or Sonoma on it.. if it has 8gb ram it should do decent. If 4gb might be a bit slow.. or list it on FB Marketplace or somewhere..

 

[jedimasterkyle]

You could play with it.. look into loading OCLP and maybe put Monterey or Sonoma on it.. if it has 8gb ram it should do decent. If 4gb might be a bit slow.. or list it on FB Marketplace or somewhere..

I'm toying with putting VMWare on it and running Windows. I recall that was made free at some point but I can't find the articles outlining how to do it.

 

[MBAir2010]

what early Intel chip?
i might be interested in that....

my 2010 MBA runs OSX Mountain lion as i get 5 hour battery, full internet access,
i can watch movies as the sound projects to a homepod mini speaker,
Since I abhor icloud and everything  from 2013 im more comfortable using what i have now.

i'm typing this now on that and will resume building my website on that MBA
as i watch for a neighborhood bear roaming our property,
i guess Yogi like mountains....

 

[ChrisA]

This MacBook Air is a 2012 model with the dual core I5. By today's standards, it's older than dirt and can't really do much that's worth a damn. Looking at the trade in value on Apple.com, Apple will just recycle the whole thing because it's so obsolete.

The 2012 Macbook can run an up-to-date, modern version of Linux just fine. Performance would be quite good for everyday tasks like web browsing, email and such.

 

[oasantos1]

I'm toying with putting VMWare on it and running Windows. I recall that was made free at some point but I can't find the articles outlining how to do it.

Might be better off using BootCamp.

 

[ChrisA]

Might be better off using BootCamp.

I agree a virtual machine is not so efficient with limited resources. But if there is no intention to run macOS then why bother with Boot Camp? Wipe the disk and install the new OS. Windows is a poor choice unless you like gaming or if your boss is paying you to run Windows. Any version of MS Windows will run poorly in a dual-core machine with low RAM. That is why I suggested Linux. It does just fine on dual-core with 4GB RAM.

 

[Bigwaff]

Any ideas on what I could do with it?

You can donate the hardware to the Open Core Legacy Patcher project. Ask on the Discord...

Supporting the patcher | OpenCore Legacy Patcher

 

[TechRunner]

The 2012 Macbook can run an up-to-date, modern version of Linux just fine. Performance would be quite good for everyday tasks like web browsing, email and such.

This is my go-to solution for older hardware that still works fine. I've used Ubuntu and dabbled in Mint, but there are LOTS of distros to choose from.

 

[NoBoMac]

Links for VMware.

VMware Fusion Pro: Now Available Free for Personal Use

VMware Desktop Hypervisor products Fusion and Workstation are used by millions of people every day to run virtual machines on their Windows, Linux and Mac computers. They give users the ability to quickly and easily build “local virtual” environments to install other operating systems, learn...

blogs.vmware.com

Good luck with this: I can't download as my account is still pending verification three months later.

ADD: though guessing this won't work on that old of a Mac. VMware, in my experience, works only on current and maybe a couple versions forward/back. So whatever version MacOS you can get the Air to will probably still be too old to load VMware on

 

[Biro]

Another vote for Linux here. I have found that Light Ubuntu can add a few years use to aging hardware.

 

[kyte]

My 2010 Macbook runs Linux Mint but I have only installed XFCE because I think once we get to gfx intensive it will all fall over. The MB (white) has a 250GB SSD and 8GB RAM… so not the bog standard fr those times.

 

[MBAir2010]

Guys, mountain loin still works great today
and much better than linux since that is nice but not as fun as ML
and both MtLION and linux cant run icloud anyways so why install linux?

 

[jedimasterkyle]

I guess I was wrong about the model of my MacBook Air...

It is a 13-in, Early 2015 MBA with a 1.6GHz Dual-Core i5 with 8GB of ram, currently running MacOS Monterey 12.7.6 (last OS version that Apple will push to it).

As for some of the suggestions earlier about running Linux...I appreciate but I despise Linux with a passion. I know I'm in the minority when it comes to that opinion but I hated my Linux classes in school and I haven't had a reason or desire to touch it since lol. And after thinking it over, as far as installing Windows via VMWare or Bootcamp, I decided against it. I just wouldn't use it enough to justify it.

Storage isn't big enough to use as a NAS and I dont have any open Ethernet ports on my switch to connect it to anyways.

Battery life is OK but not great.

Thought about running Homebridge on it but I just got my HomeKit setup dialed in and it's purring like a kitten right now so I dont want to mess with it unnecessarily.

I already have Plex running in the background of my M2 Mac Mini.

I dont really game on computers.

If I was still into coding and making websites, it would be ok for WordPress but I dont do that anymore either lol.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

I recently dug out my old MacBook Air just to see if it would boot up. It booted up just fine but then I was bombarded with pop ups from Settings saying that I could not log into my Apple ID because of connection issues. After doing some digging, I determined that it's because I have Advanced Data Protection enabled on my other Apple devices. After going through the hassle of setting up ADP in the first place, I opted not to disable it just for an outdated laptop.

This MacBook Air is a 2012 model with the dual core I5. By today's standards, it's older than dirt and can't really do much that's worth a damn. Looking at the trade in value on Apple.com, Apple will just recycle the whole thing because it's so obsolete.

So at this point, I'm not really sure what to do with it. My wife detests, despises and outright hates Apple with every fiber of her being so giving it to her is not going to happen lol. I would give it to my wife's technology illiterate parents but they think their current laptop running Windows XP is just fine for them so that's a hard pass as well. My parents have their Apple products so they're set and I dont travel nearly enough to justify having it for Airplane trips or anything like that.

Any ideas on what I could do with it? I have no problem resetting it back to factory and wiping my data off of it but for the time being, I'm hoping to get some sort of use out of it if I can.

Stop wasting time on it. Wipe it and give it away, or relegate it to music delivery.

 

[Howard2k]

List it on your local classifieds for $150 and take the wife to dinner.


Afterwards, tell her how it was Apple funded.

 

[JamesMay82]

I'd just use it for general web browsing on the couch. create new Apple ID that's free from social media and spam email and have uninterupted browsing!

I keep my Macs for a long time till they aren't worth selling and my plan is they will become worth hundreds of thousands in another 20 years time and Christies will be ringing me!

All my iMacs are still usable but the MacBooks have had hard lives and don't really boot up!

 

[Matsamoto]

I guess I was wrong about the model of my MacBook Air...

It is a 13-in, Early 2015 MBA with a 1.6GHz Dual-Core i5 with 8GB of ram, currently running MacOS Monterey 12.7.6 (last OS version that Apple will push to it).

As for some of the suggestions earlier about running Linux...I appreciate but I despise Linux with a passion. I know I'm in the minority when it comes to that opinion but I hated my Linux classes in school and I haven't had a reason or desire to touch it since lol. And after thinking it over, as far as installing Windows via VMWare or Bootcamp, I decided against it. I just wouldn't use it enough to justify it.

Storage isn't big enough to use as a NAS and I dont have any open Ethernet ports on my switch to connect it to anyways.

Battery life is OK but not great.

Thought about running Homebridge on it but I just got my HomeKit setup dialed in and it's purring like a kitten right now so I dont want to mess with it unnecessarily.

I already have Plex running in the background of my M2 Mac Mini.

I dont really game on computers.

If I was still into coding and making websites, it would be ok for WordPress but I dont do that anymore either lol.

I have the exact model and I have the exact same dilemma🙂
Think our Mac’s get the last security update this fall and then it’s done.

I’m planning to hang onto it for a couple more years and maybe install Linux.
Or maybe just use it like it is.

But I have a noob question.
If I’m using my iPhone 15 P as a hotspot and connect my old Mac to it, is it safe to go online with the Mac?
(Just thinking of security reasons)

 

[MBAir2010]

I guess I was wrong about the model of my MacBook Air...

It is a 13-in, Early 2015 MBA with a 1.6GHz Dual-Core i5 with 8GB of ram, currently running MacOS Monterey 12.7.6 (last OS version that Apple will push to it).

the graphic card is another feather in that mac book air's cap.
If that MBA was from 2013 i would be interested..... Tho Mojave would rock on that MBA!

 

[ignatius345]

I've gone down this road myself -- hanging onto some old piece of hardware "in case it's useful". My 2¢: if you have to rack your brain this hard to think of a use for an old MacBook Air, just wipe it and donate it to a charity or something. Someone out there with very little money might have a real need for it. I'd even throw in an old charger if you have it lying around, just to make a a complete little package for someone.

 

[Saturn007]

I have that same 2015 13” model and until a month ago it was my daily driver — and worked wonderfully.

It was responsive, handled Microsoft Office with aplomb — book manuscripts, large financial spreadsheets, statistical analysis, astronomy simulations — Safari was speedy even with a score of tabs opens, etc.

I finally switched over to 15” M2 MBA that I have had for nearly 8 months — primarily for the better battery life and larger screen — and to have more than one functioning USB port. However, I gave up the SD card slot and Office 2016, which I used regularly, daily even.

The 13” is sticking around as my backup device if there ever is an issue with the 15” or downtime.

I think the advice of connecting yours to a new Apple ID is the smart one. The 13” makes a great couch and vacation Mac — and no worries about damage, loss, or theft of a newer one.

Or, donating it to people who could use a computer, but can't afford to buy one. It's a great laptop and many people could get a lot of use out of it!

 

[xboxbml]

I have the exact model and I have the exact same dilemma🙂
Think our Mac’s get the last security update this fall and then it’s done.

I’m planning to hang onto it for a couple more years and maybe install Linux.
Or maybe just use it like it is.

But I have a noob question.
If I’m using my iPhone 15 P as a hotspot and connect my old Mac to it, is it safe to go online with the Mac?
(Just thinking of security reasons)

I do it.. I have same 2015 MBA and NOW a mid 2015 MBP!!

 

[Eric_WVGG]

This MacBook Air is a 2012 model with the dual core I5. By today's standards, it's older than dirt and can't really do much that's worth a damn.

I actually just refurbished that same model for one of my poor-as-dirt relatives last month. It was a pain in the ass.

The key problem is that a computer that old doesn't support the necessary certificates and whatnot to get an SSL connection going. Without that, you can't connect to any page that starts with `https`, which includes even a simple Google search. And that goes for all browsers, even Chrome.

I was able to get things rolling thusly…
1. first, after a great deal of effort, I was able to find a Lion USB key and do a fresh install
2. then I created USB keys for a series of operating system upgrades — I think Mountain Lion and High Sierra were on the list — until I finally got Monterey installed using "OpenCore legacy patcher".
2a. I think there were four total OS upgrades in order to get there.

So now it's on a moderately modern operating system, a mere two years out of date. After enabling "reduced motion" and a couple other settings, it runs great! Contrary to popular opinion, newer OS's really don't add a lot of overhead… I think that's why Apple persists in shipping 8gb machines.

Anyway, all of this is do-able, I've given you the basic path.

Is it worth it? Probably not. I'd take it to an Apple Store and ask them to recycle it.

 

[kagharaht]

Can it be used for Home Sharing? Like loading up an external drive and have it stream Movies or Music with Home Sharing?