Why are so many people using out of date Macbooks?

[Basic75]

I see so many people with MacBooks from 2012 that have the light in the back

There's your reason!

 

[lm57400]

Isn't it just a good sign that these old machines still somehow do their job and people are happy with that? I like that this happens besides the update crazyness and yearly demand generating marketing run by Apple.

 

[Houpla]

Upgraded my 2012 MBP to 16 GB RAM and 4 TB SSD for $300. Apple wants around $1500 for that on top of $1600-2000 for a new MBP.

 

[Isamilis]

They probably don't realise the selfie cam (I know it's actually "webcam") has vastly improved.

It’s not really true actually. MacBook Air 2020 camera is still significantly worse than MacBook Pro 2014. I knew, it’s comparing Air vs Pro, but I am wondering it’s still true after 6 years.

 

[JamesMay82]

I can't even tell a difference between my 2015 MacBook Pro and my m1 air for work. they both seem exactly the same for the basic task of browsing, email, MS office and you tube/netflix etc.

My reason for upgrading will be purely to get the latest OS but since I have the M1 I can't see a reason as that feels the same as 2015 as well.

 

[Denzo]

This is a funny post.

 

[robertosh]

Because there have to be smart people in the world.

 

[tweaknmod]

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.

I’m putting this on a t-shirt. ❤️

 

[lenningj]

May be that they aren't so attached to the tech products they use daily to get the task done. Spending time/money on things they prefer to do beyond screen time.

 

[iHorseHead]

I'm guessing, unlike the average MacRumors forum member, these people view a computer as simply an appliance and as long as it still gets the job done for them, they see no reason to update.

As many people have said, you can put Linux on their computer and change it to look like Windows / macOS and it'd take them for awhile to release that something is different.
I personally used out of date High Sierra for awhile on my MacBook Pro mid 2010 because I couldn't afford a new computer. Now after the RAM etc discussions I've had thoughts about going for a Windows PC. I have released that Windows is supported for longer than Macs. But then I came to my senses and realised that the 8GB MBA works fine for me. I'm still able to use Xcode, which is one of my main applications and surf the web just fine. I currently have 6 tabs opened, YouTube video playing and Xcode opened with my project and it uses 6,54GB of RAM. It still works fine for me and it shouldn't matter what MacRumors users think and whenever you get in discussion with them they show their computer with many tabs opened and Photoshop and other stuff at the same time, but I'd never use my computer like that.
Even my work Windows PC has only 8GB of RAM, yet I can do my job efficiently.I have 17 Chrome tabs opened, Outlook, Remote Connection and N-central and Kaseya opened with Teams etc yet it uses only 88% of my memory. I mean it still works for what I do with no issues.

 

[iHorseHead]

I use my 2011 MBA 11” as a music and video iPod. It runs Mountain Lion and Front Row. I put a 2tb SSD in it. I love it.

Out of curiosity what kind of a web browser are you using?

 

[aevan]

Because they don’t know how to live their best life.

 

[aevan]

Why does it matter?

I’m assuming OP was curious.

What has it got to do with you?

You only ask questions that specifically have something to do with you?

Why not let people do what they want to do?

I wasn’t aware that OP was preventing these people from doing anything.

 

[Queen6]

Why dump perfectly serviceable hardware if you have use and it performs adequately well?

This Mac has it use's as does it's newer Mac & PC counterparts which in turn wont be replaced unless there's reason.
should I have the need for the newest hardware I'd purchase it...

Q-6

 

[spamabyss]

Most people don't need more than a chromebook. Their laptops are basically glorified typewriters. The most demanding app most of my colleagues use is Zoom. I see many 5-10 year old Macbooks being used in my circle of friends. I know one who even edits video for youtube on their 2012 Macbook Pro. It somehow still works. Generally the same can't be said about windows laptops. Though in all fairness I have to say that my 2017 Dell XPS 13 still works absolutely fine. And it has smaller bezels / generally more modern look than my M1 Macbook Air.

 

[Abdichoudxyz]

We already consume far too much as a species, yet here is someone criticising a lack of consumption...

I like to ride bikes, particulalry MTBs. I have 3. They have 26" wheels. The 'industry' decided to move to larger, 27.5" and 29"/700c wheels, largely I suspect because larger wheels suit proportionately larger Westerners, and, well, fashion. Larger wheels offer some advantages, but make for longer, larger, heavier and less agile bicycles. But if you visit some bike forums, there will be people on there who just cannot comprehend that anyone could still be using the smaller wheels, and truly beleive that the newer bikes are better in every regard. As someone with extensive experience of riding and building/servicing all manner of different bikes, I know this to be absolute bunkum. Having tried the larger wheeled bikes on quite a few occasions, I prefer my smaller wheels thank you. Everyone's different eh? But some people just cannot get their heads round this, so brainwashed by consumerism as they are. How can anyone possibly enjoy the older products, right? This is how Consumerism and Marketing works....

 

[avz]

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.

There are no bad questions, only bad answers.

This person might own factories that will have to slow down because people are not buying new devices.

 

[Zdigital2015]

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 an 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.

My 2015 15” MacBook Pro runs Monterey just fine and is still getting Security Updates, and I have the option to move to Sonoma with OCLP if I so desire. I can use that for most of the main computing tasks I need to do at this point. If I need more horsepower I have an M1 13” MBP and a 2019 Core i9 27” iMac to do the heavy lifting. There comes a point when the tool at hand needs to be replaced, but I’ve learned that you can get a lot of mileage from the tools you already have at hand.

Worry less about other people’s choices and more about your own.

 

[k95dl01]

I still use my 2003 snow white G4 eMac for some things. Yes, it's a limited set of applications, to be sure, but it works remarkably well.

 

[marzer]

Because I have the last Boot Camp capable MacBook Pro, 2019 Core i9, that lets me run my plethora of AAA Steam games on the go…

“I’ll give up my Intel MacBook when you pry it from my cold, dead hands.” — Charlton Heston

 

[floral]

Honestly, my question goes a step further and asks why people use MacBooks, period...

I've seen Windows laptops with around the same performance and more RAM (Core i7, 16GB RAM) for 300 dollars less than the bare minimum MacBook with M1

If your issue is using Windows as an OS, you could just install a new operating system like Linux.

 

[MarkNewton2023]

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 an 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 still works 😊 Mine has been 8 years. No need to upgrade it as long as there are supports. I do not use my Mac much as I have been using iPhone most of the time and sometimes iPad. Work provides a laptop. iPhone Pro Max is my main consumption device so it is upgraded yearly as my annual Apple upgrade tradition😊

 

[BeerDrinkerDan]

I walk the streets

It's a living, I guess.

-dan

 

[DigitalAR]

I have a 2015 MBP, 2017 MB, and a 2012 iMac and they all work great.

Why spend money when I can buy other gadgets?

I also have like 3 iPads in the house, all older generations but capable enough.

I really want the Vision goggles but not at that price.

 

[TSteffen]

If you’re one person or one person, plus a partner, you can probably figure it out on some sort of upgrade schedule if you care about it. I run a startup company, I have to prioritize employees, three teenagers, and my wife, who also works in technology.

I probably have at least 3 Mac minis, 4 MacBook pros, 5 iPhones, 3 iPad pros, and 5 Apple Watches in our house, at any given moment, I’ve got to support 10+ “computers.” If we upgrade one every other year, which is incredibly expensive, someone would always be using a 5+ year-old device.

If you’re buying your own tech, and you upgrade everybody every two years between phone and MacBook, I’d be looking at $6K-10K+ each year. That is why I roll with an M1 Mac mini and a 2017 broken a$$ butterfly keyboard, touch bar MacBook Pro I can’t upgrade to Sonoma. It’s not because I don’t like tech.