Classic/Retired Intel Mac Section

[Gamer9430]

wow, this spurred a lot more conversation than i expected... Basically, i think it should be for macs that are 2009 and older, because while some may still run Yosemite/El Cap like the 09 MacBooks, iMacs, MBPs, and Mac Pros, the majority of users who are still using those systems are probably planning to hold out if they still work, and if not, they are seeking advice on which is a good new mac to buy, when they can then use the buying tips and advice section. It is extremely rare that someone comes into the powerPC section and tells us that our computers are old and useless and we should immediately toss them and get a refurb 2013 rMBP or refurb riMac.

I have a late 2011 MacBook Pro. It still works great, but every so often I will encounter a problem. While my MacBook is still old and outdated compared to a 2013 rMBP, I'm perfectly happy with using it and it's still pretty powerful. If i were to ask a question in the MacBook Pro forums, I'm sure i would be told to upgrade. However, at the same time, I'm sure someone will be able to help me out because it is a very popular model and lots of people still own one. Now comparing my MacBook Pro to a mid 2009 MacBook Pro, it's still supported, but my MacBook is heads above it because it has an i5 compared to a Core2Duo. If an owner of that 2009 MacBook Pro were to ask for tech support in the MacBook Pro section, he'd probably be ignored or be told to upgrade. If that person isn't financially able to afford a brand new macbook, he may have to keep going with what he has. If no one has made any attempt to help him, then that person is at a loss because he has an issue that no one helped him to solve. With a 2009 and down Intel Mac section, he would be able to ask for help, and actually receive it being that users who are active in that section will be willing to help out fellow 2009 and below Intel Mac owners. Its the same thing that would happen in the PowerPC forums, we would help out fellow PowerPC mac owners.

 

[bunnspecial]

I can understand where Gamer9430 is coming from. Not too long ago, I asked in the Macbook Pro section about GPU temperatures in my early '08. I did-fortunately-get some very useful answers but a lot of scorn, ridicule and other comments over using such an old system. I'll also add that this computer will officially run 10.10, as well as 10.11 from what I understand.

I use to really enjoy the Macbook subforum before the rMB, but posts about plastic Macbook seem scarce now. I still like these computers, and the newest of them is really just a little over 3 years old. Even my pre-Unibody Whitebook officially supports 10.10(I just wish that I could go beyond 10.7 with my Blackbook)

I have found the folks in the Mac Pro forum very helpful in regard to my 2006 1,1, but that's the exception rather than the rule in my experience with the various Intel fora.

 

[grahamperrin]

… confusing for new members to get bounced around between Intel Mac subforums due to not knowing …

Knowing

Stick the knowledge, the concise knowledge, in a post. Literally – stick it, pin it in the required area. That'll reduce the risk of newcomers being without orientation, or (as I was, years ago) actively disoriented by the evident lack of separation/order in many places.

Orientation

A direction.

It needn't be bouncing around.

 

[throAU]

A fact: 'unsupported' is amongst the useful, non-contentious things in things such as Mactracker; and in the resources from which developers of Mactracker draw information.

So what if a Mac is unsupported? Whether or not it is useful depends on what you're trying to do with it, how broken it is, and availability of spare parts.

Eventually, it becomes more trouble than it's worth (typically when you can buy a newer machine for less money than fixing it, or when spares are hard to get). However, that has very little to do with the supported/unsupported flag in Mactracker.

 

[chrfr]

I have a late 2011 MacBook Pro. ... If i were to ask a question in the MacBook Pro forums, I'm sure i would be told to upgrade.

This is not the case whatsoever.

 

[grahamperrin]

I ran a few highlights over page one. https://diigo.com/07rsnd or https://diigo.com/07umr1 for anyone who's interested; it may help to regain some focus on the essence, the sentiment of the opening post.

 

[bunnspecial]

I know this idea has been brought up and shot down a couple of times before, but I'm humbly making the request again.

This was brought on by a recent foray into the Macbook forum-one of the former classic Intel "safe havens" but a place where the dynamic has changed dramatically with a new product being brought out under that name.

One of the issues has always been "where do we draw the line?" I think that WWDC this year gave us a nice, clear one in the form of Macs that are not supported by Sierra. Apple has not changed the system requirements since Mountain Lion was introduced, and even at that everything with a 64 bit processor(C2D and Core i-series) was "hackable"(to varying degrees) to run OSs past Lion.

With Sierra, we have a clear demarcation with the list of "hackable" computers being relatively short this time around. Thus, I'd suggest the cut of be set at the Macs that can't run Sierra.

The PPC sub-forum has turned into a great place where those of us who enjoy tinkering with PPC Macs can discuss ideas, work-arounds, and ways to keep the computers relevant. Although a good majority of those of us who frequent the forum have newer Macs(my main computer is a 15" 2012 non-Retina) we still enjoy tinkering with PPCs.

The same is true of many older Intel computers-although past their prime many of us enjoy maintaining and using them. Plus, Black Macbooks rock . We field a small but steady number of questions on early Intel machines in the PPC subforum-I'd like to see these sort of questions find their true, appropriate place.

I would appreciate-again-any consideration from the moderators and administrators on this.

 

[Gamer9430]

I second this! I'd love to have another subforum that I can frequent that is as tightly knit as the PPC Macs subforum. We all know our machines are old and past their prime, but we don't care. We enjoy using them, fixing them, learning more about them, tweaking them...

Intel Macs are even easier to modify, but due to several members in the main forums for the Intel Macs, asking questions that are easy to get answers to in the PPC section go unanswered or answered with something along the lines of "anything older than 3 years old is ancient and needs to be replaced, with your old one being tossed into the trash regardless of its expensive price tag and the fact that a new one costs a lot of money too. But who cares, if I can afford one, so should you."

Personally, I don't have enough money to afford a new top of the line MBP every 2 years. I can only afford a new one every 5+ years if even that. Meanwhile, older Intel Macs are more affordable and with a little love still work great regardless of how old they are. When I actually have a problem that I don't know how to solve using my own resources, it would be nice to ask someone on here and get an actual helpful answer.

 

[LightBulbFun]

Figured ill give my input on this. I have been wanting a separate forum for Older intel macs for a while since, if say someone with a 2006 MacBook Pro wants to ask a question regarding it most of the time the response you get is "Get a new mac" etc and this is not very helpful at all. there could be many reasons why he still has the 06 MacBook Pro. and i feel like the only place to ask a question regarding a vintage intel machine is in the PowerPC section as (apart from the Mac Pro forum) there the only "group" who handle vintage machines like this. the MacBook forum used to be good because everyone there was dealing with older machines so they understood why you want help fixing the 06 MacBook pro instead of upgrading. the same could be said with the Mac Pro forum. sadly with the MacBook forum with the rMB all the Normal people who are like "why are you using that 5 year old computer" come over and ruin the forum for people with older macs.

I think a good place to draw a line for a vintage intell forum would be any mac not supported by Sierra should go into that forum. i feel like thats good line as most of the macs dropped are classed as vintage/obsolete.

hope this makes sense

 

[bunnspecial]

I'm guessing that with the lack of response from the administrators, the answer is still "no."

Even so, I wish it would be given some consideration. The PPC forum gets along quite well-it would be nice, once again, for those of us who have/use older Intel Macs to have a place to talk about them.