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Obsolete: how much old tech do you have

eyoungren said:
So, you may want to drill holes when you're done with a drive.
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As I said, neither appropriate tools nor space are available for that.

eyoungren said:
As to your iPhone not being able to boot because it can't hold a charge long enough…you don't have it plugged in? I've got a 6s I just erased a couple days ago. It's got 66% battery health. I did that with it sitting on charger.
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It's absolutely ancient, and it died because (at least according to the repair shop) its power management hardware went kaput. I can leave it plugged in all week, and it won't charge to 1%.
 
splitpea said:
It's absolutely ancient, and it died because (at least according to the repair shop) its power management hardware went kaput. I can leave it plugged in all week, and it won't charge to 1%.
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OK yeah, that makes quite a bit of difference then.
 
It still bothers me that my 2015 15" is so functional and yet I have no role for it now that I have my 15" MBA M5.

Ultimately, it not being able to do 4k/120hz external monitor was the deal breaker for me.

I still prefer some the ergonomics on the 2015 over this 2026 MBA, but it is what it is.
 
turbineseaplane said:
It still bothers me that my 2015 15" is so functional and yet I have no role for it now that I have my 15" MBA M5.
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Let someone else get use out of it! Sell it for a small sum, or donate it -- there are a lot of people out there for whom a 2015 MBP would be a major upgrade from a geriatric chromebook or not having a computer at all!

Last year I managed to find a local place that was thrilled to receive 2011 and 2013 laptops that were perfectly functional but I hadn't used in 5 years. They would have been a giant PITA to sell and wouldn't have brought in much. The people at the charity install a lightweight Linux distro (since ancient MacOS versions no longer get security patches) and distribute them to people who are starting from nothing and can use a laptop to take classes or start small businesses to get back on their feet.
 
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splitpea said:
Let someone else get use out of it! Sell it for a small sum, or donate it -- there are a lot of people out there for whom a 2015 MBP would be a major upgrade from a geriatric chromebook or not having a computer at all!

Last year I managed to find a local place that was thrilled to receive 2011 and 2013 laptops that were perfectly functional but I hadn't used in 5 years. They would have been a giant PITA to sell and wouldn't have brought in much. The people at the charity install a lightweight Linux distro (since ancient MacOS versions no longer get security patches) and distribute them to people who are starting from nothing and can use a laptop to take classes or start small businesses to get back on their feet.
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I've thought about it, but I think I'll keep it for extra usage on my desk (as an extra screen) for video content when my main MBA is docked ... and also for random needed Windows usage as I've installed Win10 LTSC on it with Bootcamp.

It's only really worth about $150-ish in my local market anyhow, just based upon what I've observed on FB Marketplace.
 
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turbineseaplane said:
I've thought about it, but I think I'll keep it for extra usage on my desk (as an extra screen) for video content when my main MBA is docked ... and also for random needed Windows usage as I've installed Win10 LTSC on it with Bootcamp.

It's only really worth about $150-ish in my local market anyhow, just based upon what I've observed on FB Marketplace.
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Sounds like you do indeed have a use for it, then!
 
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splitpea said:
Sounds like you do indeed have a use for it, then!
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I would truly still be using the 2015 MBP as my main if eGPU support with Thunderbolt 2 had been supported/possible past Monterey, as it would allow me to get 4k/120hz on an external setup when docked.

I love being able to pop in my own NVMe stick in the 2015 and not pay the massive Apple tax on SSD upgrades.
 
Do film cameras count?

Leicawp2.jpg
 
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I don't have too much old tech. I tend to pass along my old Apple products. My 2015 MBA went to my partner which then went to my MIL, she also got my old iPhone 14 Plus, and my mother got my old iPad (6th) gen and iPhone 12 mini. What I still have, or have collected over the years, are:
  • iPod Photo
  • iPod (4 gen mono)
  • iPod Video (5.5 gen)
  • iPod nano (4 gen)
  • iPod nano (3 gen)
  • iPod Touch (4 gen)
  • Time Capsule (1st or 2nd gen - dead - power supply)
  • Mac mini (2011 - dead - motherboard?)
  • a smattering of wireless earbuds from 2013-2017 before I got AirPods
  • PlayStation 2 slim x2
  • PlayStation 2
  • Wii
  • PlayStation Vita
  • New Nintendo 3DS XL
  • PlayStation 3 slim
  • Raspberry Pi 3 model b+
  • hard drives
    • HDD from my YOLD PS3 circa 2009
    • HDD from my Destiny bundle PS4 (has P.T. on it)
    • a handful of 1-2TB external drives picked up over the years
    • 1TB x2 WD Green (circa 2008 - currently in RAID1 serving a public share)
With the exception of the Wii and New 3DS none of the consoles are my originals. Those were sold, went to other family members, or stopped working one way or another. I've picked these up over the years from flea markets, eBay, and pawn shops. The Time Capsule worked for maybe 8 months after picking it up from FB Marketplace, I'll be repurposing the HDD in it since it's a new-ish 4TB WD Red and HDD prices are insane right now. The mini I had originally planned on using as a server but the board is likely fried, apparently that was common with that particular 2011 model. Thought it was the power supply but replacing it changed nothing.
 
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I've got lots and lots of old stuff kicking around, although I do the hand me down with lots of it.

One fun thing I still have is a fully functional PB 1400cs/166 from 1998. The battery died years ago, but it still runs perfectly when plugged in.
 
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If we are talking notebooks and computers, in the high double digits. Maybe touching on three. With peripherals, maybe double that. This is just a guess as I have never counted them but they do take up a lot of space. I am thinking of downsizing because I have so little time these days.
 
I have
  • about 8 boxes with about 10 pieces of 3.5" floppy disks each
  • Dell Optiplex tower with intel 6th generation
  • MacBook Pro 2015 that I installed OS X El Capitan in the past [but its original version is macOS High Sierra]
  • iPad (2010) running iOS 5.1.1 stored for a long time and needing repair
  • iPad (2011) running iOS 9.3.5 which makes me not want to use it
  • iPod touch 4 running iOS 6.1.6 with a damaged LCD
  • iPod touch 5 running iOS 9.3.5 with a seemingly bloated battery, or spicy pillow
  • iPod touch 6 running iOS 12.4 that needs a battery replacement
  • iPhone 4 16GB running iOS 7.1.2
  • iPhone 4s 32GB running iOS 9.3.5
  • iPhone 4s needing display replacement
  • iPhone 5c 32GB running iOS 10.3.3
  • iPhone 6s 64GB running iOS 15.8.8
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max 512GB running iOS 18.7
  • Huawei P30 Pro 256GB
  • Galaxy Note 3 Snapdragon
  • Galaxy Note 4 Exynos
  • Galaxy S10 needing repair
  • Galaxy S10+ needing display replacement
  • Galaxy J7 Pro needing display replacement
  • Xiaomi Mi A1 needing display replacement
  • several IDE hard disks which I don't know if there is any possibility of data recovery
  • microSD card with varying storage capacity, the lowest being 512MB
  • several flash drives with varying storage capacity, one is 2GB
  • Nokia 150 (2016) bought brand new but currently not charging
  • Nikon D5500 DSLR camera
The MacBook and the iPhone, iPod touch, other smartphones are all bought pre-owned and bought several years after their launch. Only the DSLR camera is bought good as new or in almost new condition.

I have other devices no longer with me which were needing repair or parts replacement but I can't be bothered back then so away they went.

The items in my list are fairly new compared to what others in this forum have.
 
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IMG_4767.jpeg

Actually, behind this HDMI (1024x768 / 4:3) screen inside a Macintosh SE 1/40
case is an old Alienware X51 (Core i5 1150, 8GB, 256GB SSD + WIN10)​

IMG_4770.jpeg
​
I like to upcycle 😄 from old to super-cool gadgets ! But of course you can use any Mac, PC or Raspberry Pi with HDMI.​
 
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The oldest Mac still in routine use is the 2002 Dual G4. I recently used that to retrieve my Master's degree files which were originally done on an SE-30. That took a few steps, but eventually Ancient Word went to Less Ancient Word to LibreOffice. The pict graphics went through Graphic Converter and then to PNGs.

I also bought a 4th generation iPod Nano for general use, mowing the lawn for instance. Cell phones are way too big to be convenient and too expensive to risk dropping. The click wheel is easier to use than the mini-touch screen of the 6th generation that Apple sent rather than replace the battery in first generation Nano I sent in for the recall.
 
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Siliconguy said:
Cell phones are way too big to be convenient and too expensive to risk dropping.
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This is one of the primary reasons I keep my old phones. They often serve the same purpose you put your iPod Nano to. If I crack the screen on my 6s+ while out walking, it's not going to be tragic. The last time that phone was a primary phone for me was in 2020. The phone I got after that is also retired.

But, if I crack the screen on my primary phone (11 Pro Max), that's going to be some hurt.
 
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BotchQue said:
Computer gear, almost nothing. I still have my 2007 iMac, and it still runs music/MIDI recording s/w; but anything older (G3, Atari) I either sold or gave away. I still have my last two film cameras (Nikon F-4s, FM-2) but won't be shooting any more film, too expen$ive.

My big disappointment is the death of Surround-sound music. In 2010 I replaced my 30-yr old stereo system with a 5.1 system, including an Oppo universal disk player (plays both 5.1 SACDs and 5.1 DVD-A disks). I built a large collection of surround-sound disks, and was very happy. When Oppo announced they're leaving the disk player market, I bought a replacement/spare.
Well, the first Oppo eventually died, and now my replacement machine is starting to skip/stutter. These things can't be fixed, and universal disk players aren't made anymore. Sony and Panasonic do make Bluray disk players that will play 5.1 SACDs, but neither will play a DVD-A. I can't play those disks anymore.
This is especially frustrating in light of the resurgence of inferior vinyl playback, and even cassette tape (?!?!?) players, but no support for 5.1 disks. 😢
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I believe there's software available to rip DVD-A to FLAC/ALAC and preserve your 5.1 audio collection.
 
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I have a ton. Old laptops, netbooks, smartphones, PDAs, tablets, handheld electronic games, cameras, video game consoles, etc.

The only things I get rid of are those that are completely nonoperational. But things that work/turn on/light up? I hold on to.
 
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I used to keep bins full of FireWire drives, SCSI cables, and obsolete Apple gear, but recently did a ruthless audit of it all.

Every piece of old hardware was evaluated strictly by its long-term expected value for my family's well-being. If a device or cable didn't actively contribute to a current workflow or serve as a critical backup, it was sold, donated, or recycled. The physical space and mental clarity gained far outweighed the "just in case" nostalgia of hoarding a 15-year-old paperweight.

I’m now down to a single legacy MacBook for emergencies and a small pouch of essential adapters. Highly recommend the purge.
 
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Pacific1972 said:
View attachment 2635568
Actually, behind this HDMI (1024x768 / 4:3) screen inside a Macintosh SE 1/40
case is an old Alienware X51 (Core i5 1150, 8GB, 256GB SSD + WIN10)​

I like to upcycle 😄 from old to super-cool gadgets ! But of course you can use any Mac, PC or Raspberry Pi with HDMI.​
Click to expand...
Yep I still have my Mac SE......which I did a motherboard upgrade to a SE 30.
 
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