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bayportbob

macrumors regular
Oct 27, 2003
150
124
somewhere under the rainbow.
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 If they can afford a new iPhone they can afford to update there out of date, insecure laptop.
define out of date... if it does the job for you it makes no difference... phones are different...
 

Queen6

macrumors G4
Why do you care?
How does their choice of hardware affect you in any way?
Seems like a very snobbish and highly judgmental attitude to adopt over something which has zero impact on your life.

You’d positively hate it if you met me -

Mac Pro (2013)
iPad 5 (2017)
Apple Watch Series 5 (2019)
iPhone 13 Pro (2021)
Plus iPad 2 (2011) and iPad Air (2013) as backup devices for some applications.
My MacBook Pro (2013) I no longer use, but my other half uses it as their main machine.

I suppose you are going to condemn me for not having the latest and greatest but I don’t care - they all do what I need without holding me up, so why spend money on upgrading just because some random online thinks I should.

So again I ask - why does what others do bother you so much?
Simple this is the type of consumer companies such as Apple want and foster. Don't critically think or question simply follow their rhetoric and purchase over & over regardless of need. I'd far rather companies returned to the customer model and design products accordingly. If that requires regulation so be it, as sadly it seems the only way to reign in the likes of Apple...

Q-6
 
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Dylan33x

macrumors regular
May 21, 2021
192
210
Because my 2013 MacBook Pro refuses to die. And it is still fast enough for basic email web surfing and writing in word. And to be honest I like the keyboard more than my new M2 air. Yeah.
I use a 2012 Pro Retina as my daily, and I was just comparing the keyboards on all the new models at Best Buy yesterday. The 14 +16 pro’s had the worst ones (compared to the 2012) , with the M1 air bein the middle and the M2 air being the closest to the 2012 keyboard.

I know I will adapt regardless, but the sound and the feeling of typing on the newest pros was pretty disappointing. It further dissuaded me from them.

And as a complete aside, the placement of the speaker on all the new models (inside the hinge) create this odd, Spatial Audio hollow kind of sound. Will probably end up going with an M1 air to hold me off until I make the leap to a new pro.
 

Lift Bar

macrumors 6502
Nov 1, 2023
250
522
In my case, its because I dont want to pay Apple's ludicrous RAM/SSD upgrade prices. My old computer still works fine for daily web browsing, which makes this a "want," not a "need," so I can delay my purchase. I expect this will be the last year I delay however, as the computer will soon be ten years old.
The benefits of increased RAM and SSD space are extraordinarily significant, especially for applications that demand updated CPUs and GPUs. But the cost of a new Mac that meets these specs is prohibitively expensive. If your activities don’t extend beyond the capabilities of an old MacBook, sticking with it makes more sense.

The pivotal shift in laptop performance wasn't the M1 chip. The real game-changer was the integration of internal SSDs and along with significant RAM. As long as a computer possesses these features, it's generally adequate for any typical office tasks.
 
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Lift Bar

macrumors 6502
Nov 1, 2023
250
522
The benefits of increased RAM and SSD space are extraordinarily significant, especially for applications that demand updated CPUs and GPUs. But the cost of a new Mac that meets these specs is prohibitively expensive. If your activities don’t extend beyond the capabilities of an old MacBook, sticking with it makes more sense.

The pivotal shift in laptop performance wasn't the M1 chip. The real game-changer was the integration of internal SSDs and along with significant RAM. As long as a computer possesses these features, it's generally adequate for any typical office tasks.
Furthermore, there's an emotional aspect to this decision. It feels wrong to spend a significant amount of money on something that costs Apple so little to upgrade. The vast difference between the cost for them and the price for us can be hard to justify, especially when it's for components that are so inexpensive.

Of course, this contributes significantly to Apple's profits, and it's a practice they've maintained for a long time. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like they're planning to change this approach anytime soon.
 

LogicalApex

macrumors 65816
Nov 13, 2015
1,460
2,314
PA, USA
Isn’t it Apple’s job to give these people compelling reasons to upgrade? If they are met enough with their current device than Apple hasn’t yet convinced them.

No need to do Tim’s work for him looking down upon these people.
 

bousozoku

Moderator emeritus
Jun 25, 2002
16,120
2,399
Lard
Until April 2022, I was still using a mid-2012 quad-core i7 with discrete graphics running Catalina and a 2020 iPhone SE. Capture One Pro and the Affinity suite of graphics design applications were working just fine.

The only thing that was really wrong with it was the same problem it had when it was new: running hot.

I switched to an M1 MacBook Air (loaded, since you can't upgrade it later) and a 2022 iPhone SE. I'll probably have these a while. I used to switch computers every couple of years but there isn't much to be gained as these performance levels, unless I'm processing 4K video.
 
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TMRJIJ

macrumors 68040
Dec 12, 2011
3,530
6,713
South Carolina, United States
The average college student doesn’t care enough about the latest MacBook. They know nothing of the model, the processor, RAM, or anything of that nature. Most of the time, they don't even bother to update their Macs...or they think they updated, but the macOS installer window is actually minimized in the background unable to move forward since there's only 12 GB of available storage space left. It's really just used for web browsing, emails, and word documents.

They do, however, want the latest iPhone to take better pictures and jump on the latest version of iOS to get their fresh dosage of emojis :);)o_O😃😍
 

Season of Light

macrumors newbie
Apr 23, 2023
9
13
Because their appliance still works for everything they care to do with it.

Most computer users just use them, there’s no reason to upgrade until it doesn’t work anymore.
I‘m still wearing a North Face down vest that I purchased in the mid-70s. It still fits and looks as good as when I bought it. I stopped using my 2009 MBPro last April when I got my 2021 MacBook pro. The old MBP was acting up. I just upgraded to a 2015 iPhone because my iPhone 7 was really acting badly.
 
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gimarbazat

macrumors regular
Nov 18, 2013
119
47
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 my MacBook pros from 2013 and 2014 work just fine, running Ventura btw.
 
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TheSynchronizer

macrumors 6502
Dec 2, 2014
443
729
If it works, it works!

Phones tend to be updated more by people as their batteries get consumed much faster due to daily use.. and due to major changes like design or camera hardware.

Meanwhile the 2012 Macbook Pro’s design still holds up very well today other than it’s bezels. Unless you need better battery or performance there isn’t much to complain about in those models even today, especially if they have the latest macOS installed with the various patches that are available theses days.
 

Joniz

macrumors 6502a
Sep 21, 2017
676
1,646
I don’t understand the folks who say “I’m gonna get the latest, maxed out model of MacBook Pro because I want it to be ‘future proof’.”…

…then buy the next new model that comes out.
 
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histeachn81

macrumors member
Sep 30, 2015
39
48
I suspect if they did as you say and upgraded to the M1 MBA, +10 years from now you’d be saying, “Why do I see so many people using the M1 MBA when they could just upgrade to the M20?” I suspect the Goldilocks zone the M1 struck will just give you more of the same thing you’re already seeing.
 
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Clix Pix

macrumors Core
I'm someone coming at this from a different angle. For me it is more important to have a fairly current up-to-date and reasonably powerful Mac that will do everything I require of it than it is to have the latest iPhone. I spend more time at home than I did in the (pre-pandemic) past. In general I don't spend a lot of time on the phone, it is not glued to my hand and/or always in my pocket. Some of the time I go out somewhere and realize belatedly that, oh, gee, I forgot the phone and left it at home. Too bad.....no harm done.

My preference is to spend my time and money on having a current Mac which works well in all of the ways I need and want to use a computer. I do appreciate the synchronicity of the Apple system, which is why I use it.

I don't care what other people are using or the possible age of such products when I see them out-and-about. Whatever works for them, well, that's what matters. Everyone has his or her own lifestyle and tools which are their choices for enhancing that lifestyle.
 

histeachn81

macrumors member
Sep 30, 2015
39
48
Until April 2022, I was still using a mid-2012 quad-core i7 with discrete graphics running Catalina and a 2020 iPhone SE. Capture One Pro and the Affinity suite of graphics design applications were working just fine.

The only thing that was really wrong with it was the same problem it had when it was new: running hot.

I switched to an M1 MacBook Air (loaded, since you can't upgrade it later) and a 2022 iPhone SE. I'll probably have these a while. I used to switch computers every couple of years but there isn't much to be gained as these performance levels, unless I'm processing 4K video.
We made strangely the same purchases. I had a 2012 i7 Mac Mini that just became too unstable to use last year and upgraded to a pretty well loaded refurbished M1 MBA for the same reasons. The only difference is I’m still using an SE2.
 
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spcopsmac21

Cancelled
Nov 9, 2009
1,097
1,274
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.
Why do people still use windows laptops from 2012 that have quad core cpus , ssds and 16GB of ram a that’s still work on windows 11? whole eleven years later?
Cause they work. They are cheap. And the economy isn’t great.
Only people who REQUIRE new Apple silicon or the latest and greatest for actual niche work spaces and upgrade regularly. And even then a lot of those people don’t.
Apples computer shipments have fallen 40% year over year for the last two years because people have less money and most workspace requirements haven’t changed much.
If it works for you, why replace it?
Contrary to what most Apple diehards think you don’t need Apple silicon to get things done. UNLESS you specifically require it. Or have the money.
If you think you NEED Apple silicon while they are still supporting intel machines with new updates. And the existence of Opencore. You’ve been successfully sucked in by apples billion dollar marketing strategy.
 

spcopsmac21

Cancelled
Nov 9, 2009
1,097
1,274
for basic workloads an 11 year old laptop still works relatively decently

ironically this post kinda validates Apple starting current machines with 8GB of RAM as enough for the largest swath of casual users, however much it irritates me and everyone else here
When a machine in 2012 MacBook Pro came with 8GB of ram and a 2023 STILL comes with 8GB of ram it makes no sense. And no amount of marketing on apples part can justify it. Apple choosing to keep the base model pro device locked in FORVER. At 8GB without a special pre built upgrade it’s made a lot of people mad.
We’re starting to see those 11 year old devices with 8GB of ram and event 16GB FINALLY meet end of life.
But all of those devices had something the new devices don’t.
EXPANDABILITY. They were expandable for a decade to meet the needs of the user over time.
Where as these 8GB device will NOT have the same longevity.
It ate into apples profit margins. People were not upgrading after their apple care ended.
Now they are kinda forced as these newer devices have significantly more points of failure.
 

spcopsmac21

Cancelled
Nov 9, 2009
1,097
1,274
Still rocking my maxed out early 2011 MBP. It literally does everything I need it to and have no reason to replace it until software vendors decide to no longer support High Sierra. Which is happening faster by the month. They force you to upgrade and replace. Makes their quarterly revenue look appealing to investors. The M3 Max looks appealing, but ima wait until I absolutely have no choice. Mind you, I used to upgrade every year when I was younger, now I care it it serves my purpose and lasts for as long as possible.
You need to look into OpenCore. Get some more life out of that machine. Get a newer OS on it
 
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spcopsmac21

Cancelled
Nov 9, 2009
1,097
1,274
I walk the streets and see them in cafe's and parks; 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. Did their butler go missing with their upgrade? Did their crack dealer get locked up? I just don't understand why they don't at least upgrade to a M1 MacBook Air for $800, because everyone must be a shallow, fake and broke Apple show pony, no? If they can afford a new iPhone they can afford to update there out of date, insecure laptop, surely? Or maybe they should hire a private tutor to learn punk-tuation. What's wrong with these savages? 😄
I’m just thinking this post was market research for Apple and they are figuring out not letting people upgrade their devices is keeping used hooked to older hardware longer out of fear the new MUCH MORE expensive Apple silicon devices will die much faster than their sturdy 12 year old MacBook pros.
 
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mjs916

macrumors 6502a
Apr 1, 2018
823
1,000
Sacramento, CA
Because they still work for their uses.

I think we should applaud people who keep using the tool that works for them instead of buying new for new's sake.

I've got an iPad Mini 4 kicking around here for playing cartoons for the kid. Is it slow? Absolutely. Does it matter, really? Not enough to spend several hundred dollars on a new one.
Just wait till your kids find out that you deprived them of cartoons on Mini LED…

But what doesn’t an older iPhone do that a newer one can do, in a similar comparison?

Lots of bank applications stop working on older versions of iOS or even just older versions of the app itself on current iOS versions. They require that you update to sign in. Email providers do the same. So older devices lose some functionality that many consider basic, simply because they cannot install a more recent OS.
 
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