So how do you reuse old technology?

[ejb190]

Being right after Christmas, I imagine more than a few of us got some new gadgets. On top of that, I've spent some time cleaning out some old cabinets. So now I have this stack of old technology (Old iPhones (including a 5c), iPads, a 3rd Gen Apple TV, a stack of Fitbits, an ancient Kindle). I abhor just throwing stuff in the trash and electronic recycling is only slightly better (in my opinion), so I'm trying to come up with any way I can to repurpose the stuff that still works. So what's your approach? What's the most creative reuse of technology you have pulled off?

For example, at work, we replaced all of our iPad Air 2s a couple years ago. So I got my hands on a few of them, bought a couple kiosk stands, developed a trivia application, and now we have a couple of portable gaming stations for outreach events for little expense.

Now I get that there are folks on the yearly/every-other-year upgrade path that lends itself to selling old equipment. If that's what you do, that's fine too. Let us know.

 

[Flowstates]

I keep an old iMac to run 32 bit software (games mostly). Macbooks have had the memories and batteries removed and sunk into epoxy resins to create "time capsules". Wanted to get around to it with the iPhones and iPods but the battery removal is nontrivial. Also intended to craft a lamp with an old airPort ala LTT, had no time or patience for it. People seem to do aquariums with iMacs.

Digital Cameras / Recorders were kept and give interesting patina and grain to pictures. The rest of the consumer tech, if still supported, give to charity or recycle it.

TL;DR repurpose the physical object for artistic / sentimental use or make use the ancient technology to run period appropriate tasks.

 

[russell_314]

I have an old Google Pixelbook Go that I use to watch YouTube videos on. I’m not sure if it’s any better than tossing it in the bin since I could use my iPad for that. That’s the downside of tech. Once it gets a little older it becomes less useful.

 

[ejb190]

Macbooks have had the memories and batteries removed and sunk into epoxy resins to create "time capsules". Wanted to get around to it with the iPhones and iPods but the battery removal is nontrivial.

Interesting idea. There was an original iPod in a sealed box on eBay going for a small fortune a couple years ago. I couldn't help but wonder how bad that battery was and how long before something liquid seeps out of the box!

 

[eyoungren]

I have two iPhone 5's that are currently serving as speakers for my 2009 Mac Pro, which is my primary Mac (running Sonoma).

I've used an iPad on a cupholder stand in car as a nav device (Google Maps). I will do so again once we upgrade iPads this year. I use my other phones as iPods, etc.

I have a variety of older Macs in service doing various things. For instance, one of my 2006 Mac Minis (I have three of these) is a download server. All downloads from all my active Macs go to that Mini's hard drive.

My 11 Pro Max is my primary phone and my 6s Plus is my secondary on it's own line. I take that phone on walks or for when I think it's possible my 11PM could be damaged in some way.

 

[ducknalddon]

Eventually I realised that this stuff is e-waste the moment it arrives in my house. Rather than worry about what happens to it at the end of life I concentrate on limiting the flow into my home. That's not to say that I will chuck it in the bin at the end of life but rather that the biggest environmental impact I can have is from not buying it in the first place.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Eventually I realised that this stuff is e-waste the moment it arrives in my house. Rather than worry about what happens to it at the end of life I concentrate on limiting the flow into my home. That's not to say that I will chuck it in the bin at the end of life but rather that the biggest environmental impact I can have is from not buying it in the first place.

True. And keeping your tech for as long as you can.

Currently using a 2018 Mac mini which will need to be updated soon.

An iPhone 12 which is fine for my needs.

AW SE which I got at launch.

Old iPad Pro can’t remember how old but a few years.

 

[rm5]

I have a new Lenovo Legion laptop, and an iPhone 16 Pro. Those are the only two new pieces of technology I own. And before that, I had an iPhone 11 Pro and an M1 MacBook Air.

However, the Lenovo isn't even really my main computer. That's just my laptop, used for gaming and schoolwork mainly. My main computer I use every day de[ends where I am. At home, I have a 13-year-old HP Z420 completely built of old spare PC parts. Only thing I paid for was the barebones workstation, which was under $100. CPU, RAM, hard drives, GPU, etc. - those were all spare PC parts I had laying around. So that's how I am currently using old tech.

In my college dorm room, I have a 2019 iMac. Newer, but still nearing obsolescence. I reckon Sequoia will be the last OS for it, though I'm currently running Ventura on it. I bought it last year with no plans to get rid of it anytime soon. Hope it'll last me at least until I graduate in two years, or hopefully longer.

 

[smirking]

I have a 2009 Unibody used for legacy software and to backup PC disk images when I need to repair one.

I have an iPhone 7 as a readout monitor for my Purple Air air quality station. Those things don't have displays so you can only view your readings online.

My iPad 4 occasionally gets used as a reader.

 

[avro707]

I have a mint 2010 Mac Pro that is maximum spec running Monterey - put away in original box. I’m not using it but also not sure what to do with it.

I’d have to workout what version of macOS it can run that doesn’t need open core if I was to sell it.

I don’t want to sell something then be left having to support open core.

 

[ejb190]

Eventually I realised that this stuff is e-waste the moment it arrives in my house.

And that's one of the things that stopped me from replacing my FitBit Charge 5 when it died. (That and the fact FitBit has been pillaged by Google!)

In my college dorm room, I have a 2019 iMac. Newer, but still nearing obsolescence.

[/Tries to hide my 2009 iMac still running as a media server]

 

[Herdfan]

Apple kind of screwed us with the previous iteration of the iMac. My old one (2011) would allow you to use it as a dumb monitor, but the newer (last Intels) won't.

So when my hard drive died in it a year ago I was left with less than preferred options.

1) Buy a new "M" iMac. Would have been my first choice, but they don't make it in a 27 and I didn't want to lose screen area.

2) Replace hard drive. Went with this option, but would have preferred option #3.

3) Get a Mac Studio and use my old iMac as a monitor. This is what I would have preferred, but Apple wouldn't let me.