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Ask HN: What do you do with your old Intel MacBooks?

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Ask HN: What do you do with your old Intel MacBooks?

#1
Now that my MacBook Pro no longer receives the latest OS updates I was wondering what to do with it. Should I keep the 'aged' but working macOS or try Linux?

It would be great if there was something like Asahi Linux but for Intel macs. When I tried distros in the past I had limited success as there was always at least one component that was not supported (like Wifi or sound).

Re: Ask HN: What do you do with your old Intel MacBooks?

#2
Linux should work well on it, so, if that's your thing, go for it.

You can, however, keep the machine running unsupported newer version of macOS. That's what OpenCore Legacy Patcher does - it patches a newer macOS to recognise and run on an older Mac. YMMV, of course, and there will be a point when there are no Intel versions of macOS whatsoever.

Re: Ask HN: What do you do with your old Intel MacBooks?

#3
post #2

Linux should work well on it, so, if that's your thing, go for it. You can, however, keep the machine running unsupported newer version of macOS. That's what OpenCore Legacy Patcher does - it patches a newer macOS to recognise and run on an older Mac. YMMV, of course, and there will be a point when there are no Intel versions of macOS whatsoever.

> should work

Do you have any links on what's the best way to get all drivers? I have a 2015/2017 MacbookPro. I've tried this a few times but there was always something missing and most of the "How to" sites appear to be abandoned after a few years.

Re: Ask HN: What do you do with your old Intel MacBooks?

#4
Going linux on older machines is a great way to revive them. Totally agreed with rbanffy up with his comment.

If you want to play around, learn linux or try your hand at distro swapping, old machines make a superb tool.

there is a yt channel called action retro that had posted a video tutorial on installing ubuntu to intel macs that you should check out imo

Re: Ask HN: What do you do with your old Intel MacBooks?

#8
I'm using this example project from Apple to create and run linux virtual machines on macOS:

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/virtualization/run...

(Download the example project, build it in Xcode and run it. Point it to a linux .iso and you're good.)

I can stay in macOS for the stuff macOS is good at, and I can use linux for the stuff it's good at.

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