[rdevnull]

going strong? you don't have security updates since..a decade. The browsers (I have such a machine too, for museum purposes and occasional fun) won't load most of the sites and will be super slow. I absolutely accept and respect whomever wishes to live in the past but technology is in the now. I do not understand people talking about "saving money". New hardware allows you to be faster and more efficiently. That is worth so much more than the machine cost.

Advocating obsolte hardware is just wrong.

[michaelmcdonald]

You may want to spend some time researching the "hackintosh" community. I, too, have a 2012 Mac Pro that's running strong (hexacore, 48GB memory, 1TB NVME drive, 8GB video card). Courtesy of OpenCore (https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Install-Guide/) you can install new(er) versions of macOS on older hardware. I have all the security updates and don't need to update to newer hardware (albeit I did update the GPU and NVME drive, which for my purposes further extended the life of the machine).

[rdevnull]

Thanks for the hint. I am aware of this afecionados community. More power to them but none of this will make your old Mac grow an M1 processor.

My previous laptoop was an Macbook pro intel 64gb ram full specs. The M processor is much faster, even with just 16GB ram. Now if going strong means use the terminal, Vim etc. all is good.

If you use a laptop professionally you do want the latest updates from apple, not a Github repository.

[wodenokoto]

I had a 2009 model until 17, and had security updates all the way, so I'm sure a 2008 model had security updates through 2012.

And even so, you you should be able to install chrome and firefox, so you can enjoy at least a modern browser.

> Advocating obsolte hardware is just wrong.

Strictly speaking it must be the software that is obsolete.

[jollyllama]

Valid points but:

>I absolutely accept and respect whomever wishes to live in the past but technology is in the now.

>Advocating obsolte hardware is just wrong.

I disagree; technology is simply a means to an end. If the user, being informed of alternatives, is satisfied with the experience, it's the right tool for the job.

[rdevnull]

I understand your point but I can't see a decade old laptop to be the right tool for the job unless you really don't use photos, videos, imag editing of any sort (adobe suite), office, etc. and your job is just on the terminal.

Of course there are (obsolete) alternatives to all these commercial "ecosystem" sofwares. I feel that some people don't upgrade (latops, phones) under the excuse that "it works for me, is the right tool for the job". Or worse: are simply afraid of learning new things and using new software.

I have a feeling that many reader feel like not updating the hardware is a sort of protest against big companies. It isn't as Apple is continuously selling more phones and laptops. My guess is that the younger audience wants to be updated, the older not so much.

This is entirely fine for a subset of people but not fine if you want to be competitive in the IT business.

If you do commercial work you need to be up to date and in line with your team and company demands. If time is important, a faster processor and software optimised for it, can save you many hours. This to me is worth fare more than the price of the hardware.

Of course there will be exceptions of coders being as efficient or more efficient with basic software and older hardware but why limit yourself?

[goosedragons]

On macOS. Linux/BSDs are available with security updates, modern software, etc. Might not be the fastest but if it meets their needs, why upgrade?

[rdevnull]

Sure, if it meets their needs all is fine. But why limit knowledge but what you need/ed a decade ago when there is so much more in the new processors, software etc.? to save money? For what ?

My point is that the article seems to suggest that is a good idea to stop buying new laptops. It isn't.