Why are so many people using out of date Macbooks?

[seek3r]

I’m sure I’m just repeating ideas that have been done to death over the past nine pages, but you have to understand that for most people the computer is a tool, not a hobby.

I am 100% certain that you have something in your house (coffee grinder? toilet cistern? can opener? shower head?) that for you, is perfectly fine, but if an enthusiast came to your house, they would be thinking "Dude...this guy is still running an XB-250? In 2023? Umm..."

Had my coffee maker for about 25 years, literally since HS (my mom never liked having an electric coffee maker so I bought my own) cousin gave me crap about it recently, so can confirm lol

 

[JustAnExpat]

I feel like those of us who came of age in the 80s/90s saw machines really did have much shorter life spans, not necessarily because they broke down but because upgraded software and functions slowed down the machines or the machines really couldn’t run them. It felt like back then, a machine saw about 4 years of useful life generally and then it really couldn’t keep up with more modern software.

100% This! A computer upgrade cycle used to be two years, then three years, then five years, then 7 years, and now I feel comfortable saying 10 years - for most purposes (NOT anything fancy like graphical work, music work, or other extensive processor intensive tasks). I can give an example of how the amount of time was extended, and why, if anyone needs a trip through memory lane.

 

[kc9hzn]

I think I’m the only person I know that cares a great deal about having some sort of desktop/laptop solution within my ecosystem as a means of backing up important files. Seems like almost everyone else just has a phone and tends to rely on iCloud as a “backup” when it’s actually not. (Or don’t even think about or consider backups for that matter!)

Well, iCloud does offer cloud backup (and restore) features on iOS and iPadOS, so it actually IS a backup solution on iDevices even if not for Macs.

 

[msackey]

100% This! A computer upgrade cycle used to be two years, then three years, then five years, then 7 years, and now I feel comfortable saying 10 years - for most purposes (NOT anything fancy like graphical work, music work, or other extensive processor intensive tasks). I can give an example of how the amount of time was extended, and why, if anyone needs a trip through memory lane.

YES! Isn't it incredible how the upgrade cycle has continued to expand?

I am really amazed. I'm also guessing that millennials who have not experienced this dramatic change won't really understand how it feels. Macs back then (90s, etc.) were even more expensive than now. It always felt a bit painful to have to upgrade so soon because Macs were really expensive (at least to me), but I stuck with Macs because overall it had the best seamless experience across software and devices. There was a period when I had some doubts and that was during the messy era of Centris/Peforma/Quadra and so forth!

 

[kc9hzn]

I hear ya. Desktops are generally the better value. For me, I've owned only laptops since 1999 because I do need the mobility. In the earlier years, I needed the mobility all the time. In these later years, my laptop mostly sits docked, but every now and then I do need that mobility, so I'm still "stuck" with a laptop which admittedly is overall not as good a deal as a desktop and probably has more delicate components.

Personally, I prefer desktops at home and tablets for mobility. Generally speaking, if I can access my files on the go and can type or mark them up, that’s all I really need. And even the iPad Pro 12.9” and Magic Keyboard would be lighter weight and easier to transport than my current laptop (and I’d honestly be more likely to use the folio keyboard cover over the Magic Keyboard, for further weight savings).

 

[seek3r]

YES! Isn't it incredible how the upgrade cycle has continued to expand?

I am really amazed. I'm also guessing that millennials who have not experienced this dramatic change won't really understand how it feels. Macs back then (90s, etc.) were even more expensive than now. It always felt a bit painful to have to upgrade so soon because Macs were really expensive (at least to me), but I stuck with Macs because overall it had the best seamless experience across software and devices. There was a period when I had some doubts and that was during the messy era of Centris/Peforma/Quadra and so forth!

you mean genz at least, us millennials are on the upper end pushing 40 now (woke up today and my back hurt btw, getting old sucks)

 

[Queen6]

Lol. I wonder what would happen if I went to your cafe and sat down with my “old” 2017 MBP with touch bar and replaced battery.

Do I immediately get sent to leprosy island?

Nah Tim just dials 666 then...

Q-6

 

[JustAnExpat]

YES! Isn't it incredible how the upgrade cycle has continued to expand?

I am really amazed. I'm also guessing that millennials who have not experienced this dramatic change won't really understand how it feels. Macs back then (90s, etc.) were even more expensive than now. It always felt a bit painful to have to upgrade so soon because Macs were really expensive (at least to me), but I stuck with Macs because overall it had the best seamless experience across software and devices. There was a period when I had some doubts and that was during the messy era of Centris/Peforma/Quadra and so forth!

I agree. Don't forget, it wasn't a case of "I want to upgrade", but it was a "I need to upgrade, otherwise the software wouldn't run/ install/ can't connect to the internet".

For example, let's say someone purchased a Mac 128K in 1984. When 1986 rolled around, and the Macintosh Plus was released, you had to upgrade (or get an upgrade kit?). The RAM increased from 128K to 1MB. The disk size increase from 400K to 800K. And then when the Macintosh Classic was released in 1990, you had to get a new computer because the floppy drive increased to 1.44MB, and it included a 40MB Hard Drive.

Nowadays, a 10 year old computer works just fine in most cases.

 

[Miha_v]

Many just don't care, as long as the current machine works. And it's not even the question of money (at least for some people I know).

Just got a good deal and upgraded to a base M1 Air from a 8 year old reliable Air and was still in doubts (if it's worth upgrading), cause I mainly use iMac and iPad for everything anyway. Well... super happy with the upgrade and I'm much more inclined to use a laptop now 😎. It's a bit of a chicken / egg scenario 😄 (you don't know what you're missing until you upgrade).

 

[msackey]

I agree. Don't forget, it wasn't a case of "I want to upgrade", but it was a "I need to upgrade, otherwise the software wouldn't run/ install/ can't connect to the internet".

For sure!!

For example, let's say someone purchased a Mac 128K in 1984. When 1986 rolled around, and the Macintosh Plus was released, you had to upgrade (or get an upgrade kit?). The RAM increased from 128K to 1MB. The disk size increase from 400K to 800K. And then when the Macintosh Classic was released in 1990, you had to get a new computer because the floppy drive increased to 1.44MB, and it included a 40MB Hard Drive.

Yes! My first Mac was an SE/30. My friend had a Mac Plus. I recall that some functions (maybe it was some functions in Excel??) needed an FPU which the SE/30 had but the regular Mac SE (and I think the Mac Plus) didn't and so couldn't run those functions. It was something like that, but full details are fading away.

My SE/30 had a 40mb hard drive and back then it was pretty good! My next machine was a Centris 650 about 3.5 years later and I know its hard drive wasn't 40mb. Maybe it was 250mb or was it 80mb? Can't remember. Imagine...just megabytes! Now, I have a 512GB SSD and that is barely enough. The next time I upgrade it will have to be at least 1TB!

I remember the days when software came on floppy disks. And, I remember the excitement of getting software that had many installation disks (was it like 6 floppy disks for MS Word?) because you "know" that the more software disks required, the more exciting (complex) the program was and the more fun to tinker around with. At least that was true for me ;-) Six floppy disks are just about 4.8mb (assuming the floppy disks are 800k each which I think they were for MS Word).

Ok, enough story telling. I feel like I need to get back on my rocker!! LOL. And I'm not THAT old!

 

[NovaNation07]

I walk the streets and see them in cafe's and the parks. I see so many people with MacBooks from 2012 that have the light in the back with a out of day OS yet they are using an iPhone 14 or newer. I just don't understand why they don't at least upgrade to a M1 MacBook Air for $800. If they can afford a new iPhone they can afford to update there out of date, insecure laptop.

Bc their machine still works. Or because they don't have $800 to spend on a new computer every 18 months. Probably both.

 

[uffenman]

I walk the streets and see them in cafe's and the parks. I see so many people with MacBooks from 2012 that have the light in the back with a out of day OS yet they are using an iPhone 14 or newer. I just don't understand why they don't at least upgrade to a M1 MacBook Air for $800. If they can afford a new iPhone they can afford to update there out of date, insecure laptop.

Because I use a 2017 12" MacBook and Apple's lame product release cycle is making me wait SIX PLUS YEARS to still not have anything remotely close to a TWO POUND NOTEBOOK. NO a MBA is not the same. NO an iPad won't suffice. They've got their heads stuck up their asses so far that they can't make any products (except the iPhone) on a halfway decent normal product release cycle. END OF RANT.

 

[mjs916]

Oh god, not another of these threads. We've had "why do people use Office?" and "why do people use Safari"? What's next: "Why do people use iPod socks?"

Why does it matter?
What has it got to do with you?
Why not let people do what they want to do?

Do you see someone driving in an F150 and wonder why they're not driving a Ferrari?
Do you see someone who owns a 3-bedroom house and wonder why they don't live in a 2-bedroom house?
Do you see someone with blonde hair and wonder why they don't have purple hair?

Perhaps they got the new iPhone as a gift. Perhaps they're living hand to mouth and paying for it on instalments. Perhaps they get it through work. Perhaps they've been saving for years. Perhaps they're using their unexpected tax refund. Perhaps they stole it. Perhaps it's a fake phone and they're just trying to freak you out.

There's a strange contingent on this forum who are very judgemental of others who don't conform to their narrow view of the world and see the need to question it (usually in a borderline incoherent, confused way). I dont understand why you'd want to do this. You're just showing the rest of us how ignorant and intolerant you are.

Live your own life, and let others lead their own.

Sometimes we just need to hear from others living life differently than we are to learn how we can improve our own lives.

Because OP asked this question I learned that I may be able to extend the life of my 2011 iMac even through OpenCore.

 

[Queen6]

Sorry I offended anyone.
I just thought with the cost of an iPhone I thought an $800 MacBook would be a drop in a bucket. Then I forgot about how people usually get there phones through their carriers.

Don't sweat it look on the bright side you've created one of the top trending threads on MR. Every cloud has a silver lining

Q-6

 

[Hopscotcher]

Money and the fact that Apple products can last a long time. My mom is still using her 2011 MacBook Pro. I had to fudge some things with the unsupported Mac tools floating around, and I upgraded her RAM and swapped her HDD to an SSD, but that was infinitely cheaper than her getting a new computer.

 

[AlanMarron]

Is there an award for the oldest MBP still in use? I have a 2009 upgraded to SSD that I use nearly every day for secondary tasks. And I limp along daily with an original M1 MBA.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Diorama]

My dad used his Powerbook 145 for work and writing until 2004, lol.

edit: that thing had a viewing angle of like 5°

 

[generdude]

I walk the streets and see them in cafe's and the parks. I see so many people with MacBooks from 2012 that have the light in the back with a out of day OS yet they are using an iPhone 14 or newer. I just don't understand why they don't at least upgrade to a M1 MacBook Air for $800. If they can afford a new iPhone they can afford to update there out of date, insecure laptop.

Because it just works. My 2013 is just fine.

 

[xDeadTechx]

I walk the streets and see them in cafe's and the parks. I see so many people with MacBooks from 2012 that have the light in the back with a out of day OS yet they are using an iPhone 14 or newer. I just don't understand why they don't at least upgrade to a M1 MacBook Air for $800. If they can afford a new iPhone they can afford to update there out of date, insecure laptop.

Also look at the current financial environment, not everyone can upgrade their laptops IF their laptops are working for them. The common person doesn't care about the M1!, M2! or M3!.. They don't want to spend the money if it's working without any issues.

Inflation is high, Gas is High, Food prices are high. The last thing a person should worry about is if their laptop is old.

Now, with that being said.. let me put on my CyberSecurity hat.

Using an out of date OS on an out of date Intel processor accessing banking of financial sites is dangerous if your putting your Debit Card/credit card on sites. The M1 MacBook Air is a fantastic device which is coming down in price depending on where you find it.

 

[jillpygok]

Lol. I wonder what would happen if I went to your cafe and sat down with my “old” 2017 MBP with touch bar and replaced battery.

Do I immediately get sent to leprosy island?

Right now, my 2015 has a replaced battery. So you’re cool. Next week though, you’ll get heavy sighs, rolled eyes and tsks. What a difference a week makes.

 

[cyberdocwi2]

I have several Macs in my orchard.

Relevant to the discussion, I do most of my work with the MacBook Pro 2013, as I can still run Mojave as I have a couple software pieces that still live in the 32 bit world. My wife uses a MacBook Pro from 2012, the last with the DVD Drive in it, and the keyboard is starting to fail, and I will replace the keyboard.

I am resisting anything newer than 2015, because then you had the era of bad keyboards, and the inability to remove the hard drive. I think it is utter Bull**** that one cannot remove a hard drive from a computer. Head on over to Ric Ford's MacInTouch site and read the recent battle he suffered with Apple and his malfunctioning MacBook Pro system. I don't want that to happen to me.

I think Apple Leadership lives on Mt. Olympus and fails to recognize common sense here. We don't need the thinnest lightest laptop that needs to be disposed of if some part fails. I can accept glued in RAM. But the hard drive needs to be removable. I am considering Hackintosh as my next machine, and will keep a Mojave system running. Or maybe it is time to go completely Linux.

I also keep Sheepsaver running for those rare excursions into OS 9, and MacWrite Pro.

 

[cyberdocwi2]

Is there an award for the oldest MBP still in use? I have a 2009 upgraded to SSD that I use nearly every day for secondary tasks. And I limp along daily with an original M1 MBA.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I have some PowerBooks that still work. Not daily, but they rebooted and worked when I tested them earlier this year.

I also showed my kid the other day the Apple //c that I have. No, I am not running a museum. I had an LC that I gave away to a needy family, and the PowerMac 7100 died about 15 years ago.

The kids use my MacBook Pro 17 from 2007 to watch movies on... changed that rotational hard drive to SSD, and replaced the battery. Boy, I wish current models had the easy battery replace that the older series had.

 

[cyberdocwi2]

For sure!!


Yes! My first Mac was an SE/30. My friend had a Mac Plus. I recall that some functions (maybe it was some functions in Excel??) needed an FPU which the SE/30 had but the regular Mac SE (and I think the Mac Plus) didn't and so couldn't run those functions. It was something like that, but full details are fading away.

My SE/30 had a 40mb hard drive and back then it was pretty good! My next machine was a Centris 650 about 3.5 years later and I know its hard drive wasn't 40mb. Maybe it was 250mb or was it 80mb? Can't remember. Imagine...just megabytes! Now, I have a 512GB SSD and that is barely enough. The next time I upgrade it will have to be at least 1TB!

I remember the days when software came on floppy disks. And, I remember the excitement of getting software that had many installation disks (was it like 6 floppy disks for MS Word?) because you "know" that the more software disks required, the more exciting (complex) the program was and the more fun to tinker around with. At least that was true for me ;-) Six floppy disks are just about 4.8mb (assuming the floppy disks are 800k each which I think they were for MS Word).

Ok, enough story telling. I feel like I need to get back on my rocker!! LOL. And I'm not THAT old!

Thank you for the run down memory road.

My first owned Mac was an LC that I purchased in college. Before, I had an Apple //e and the battleship worthy Imagewriter printer.

Those hard drives were SCSI, and yes that "small", but then again, software was smaller and less capable. We also didn't have Siri and other fluff running. But OS 6, I believe, the Mac could speak text from a dialog box.

MS Office around 1995 came on 31 floppy disks. I remember this clearly, because we had 16 computers in the lab, and I put 2 disks in each to copy them to the Novell server, so that I could install office from the server over the network. By the time I started the copy on Mac #16, the copy on Mac #1 was done, and I could put the second disk inside. Worked great!

 

[tonie walker]

Nice try Timmy, first world problem huh!

 

[seek3r]

Is there an award for the oldest MBP still in use? I have a 2009 upgraded to SSD that I use nearly every day for secondary tasks. And I limp along daily with an original M1 MBA.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

MBP or just apple gear in regular use? I have a 250mhz 8600 running in my garage, SSDs for disks, that acts as a fileserver for working on other classic machines and as a localtalk<-->regular network bridge