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July 17th, 2024

Age before beauty: Why a decade-old laptop is more than enough

A decade-old laptop can still be relevant with upgrades. Older models like Dell Latitude E6430 offer competitive features, upgradability, and cost efficiency. Drawbacks include software limitations and outdated hardware. Workarounds exist for extended use.

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Age before beauty: Why a decade-old laptop is more than enough

A decade-old laptop can still meet modern computing needs with some tinkering and upgrades, offering surprising results. While newer laptops boast sleek designs and powerful features, older models like the Dell Latitude E6430 can still compete with modern counterparts due to their generous I/O options, upgradability, and lower cost. These older laptops, such as business-class models like Dell's Latitude line or Lenovo's ThinkPads, often have superior build quality and are environmentally friendly by giving existing machines a second life. However, drawbacks include limited support for the latest software, lower efficiency in terms of power consumption and performance, and outdated hardware components. Despite these limitations, the affordability and potential for upgrades make older laptops an attractive option. Workarounds like installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware or using tools like OpenCore Legacy Patcher for Mac can extend the lifespan of older laptops by keeping them up to date with the latest software versions.

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Link Icon 3 comments
By @leapingdog - 6 months
I'm writing this from an older laptop, a Lenovo ThinkPad X121e from 2011. Intel CORE i3 processor, 8GB RAM, spinning rust disk. I bought it new, it was cheap and I liked the small form factor. It came with Windows 7 but has run a Linux MATE desktop environment for a long time.

From a compute perspective, this specification is adequate for what I use it for - primarily spreadsheets, letter writing and tax returns.

The main problems are with hardware/deterioration. The OS started displaying warnings about the battery so I run it off mains with the battery removed. I looked at replacement batteries but they are either woeful or expensive or both. I don't live in a hot climate but automatic shut-down due to overheating has started to become an issue. Anything CPU intensive is risky. Tweaking CPU throttling and monitoring via sensors hasn't helped. The built in screen stopped working but has mysteriously come back to life.

I've had my money's worth but I wouldn't buy a 2nd hand 10 year old laptop.

https://support.lenovo.com/gb/en/solutions/pd015763-detailed... https://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Lenovo-ThinkPad-X121e-N...

By @musicale - 6 months
For a decade-old (or older) Apple laptop, however, you may be stuck with running another OS (Linux, Windows, ...) when security updates are no longer available for macOS on it.

Frequently the hardware outlasts the software support. Personally I'm a fan of Apple's pre-2016 "retina" MacBook Pro design, which included a better (chiclet) keyboard than later intel (butterfly) or Apple Silicon (scissor switch) models, but still had a great display, acceptable weight/bulk, and reasonably fast (and sometimes upgradable?) flash storage.

Surprisingly, Apple Silicon 16" MacBook Pro models are somewhat bulkier and heavier than their 15" intel predecessors, though they do provide drastically improved battery life.

By @NoPicklez - 6 months
I agree that often a decade old laptop is more than enough.

I have a Macbook from 2013 which has 2 USB ports, headphone jack, thunderbolt, HDMI and an SDXC card slot, which is more than enough for me and it still works great (albeit the battery).

But it's an odd comparison taking the Dell latitude and comparing it to a Macbook Air, when the Macbook Air is designed around portability to the max.

If you look at the Dell machines of today, you have the Dell XPS which legitimately only has two external ports that are USB-C, then you have the Dell Inspiron which has 2 USB ports, 1 USB type c, headset port, HDMI port and an SD card slot.