The Agony and Ecstasy of an Older Mac

I believe in hanging on to aging hardware, but you also have to know when to let go.

Rebecca Freed, PC World

Comments or questions? Drop a line to The Mac Skeptic.

I've been getting lots of feedback and questions from readers of this column, especially about OS X--sharing the experiences you've had after upgrading, or wondering whether your hardware will support it. Whether and when to upgrade is an interesting but knotty subject. I'm neither qualified nor inclined to dispense technical advice for specific cases, but I do have some general thoughts about when it's time to retire your beloved old box.

I understand the pride that goes with maintaining old hardware. It means you're thrifty, environmentally conscious, and ingenious--especially if you've kept it running after drivers and parts are no longer readily available.

One of the systems in my household is a Beige Mac G3 (circa 1998, acquired after its long career in publishing) that had no USB ports. I'm inordinately proud of the fact that I added a USB card to this machine, because it required replacing a ROM module and patching the OS, not just opening the case and dropping in a card. And for much less money than even a bottom-of-the-line new computer would cost, I have a system that runs all the productivity apps I need. (I drive a 13-year-old beater of a car, too. It runs great, and it's never been broken into.)

But I won't upgrade my 1998 Mac to OS X or install any more components, even though it is theoretically possible. I've reached my pain threshold; the potential headaches of further upgrades aren't worth it for me. As with a car, there comes a time when coaxing your old system to do what you want is no longer worth the time and expense it takes.

Everyone has their own pain threshold (and budget); but generally, if your system is more than three years old, you can buy a new one with a completely clear conscience. With Macs, I think systems after and including the original Blue-and-White G3 from 1999 still have useful life left, but anything older than that isn't a good investment anymore.

Not Retired, Just Repurposed

Of course, what's outdated for you may be the perfect starter computer for someone else. If you don't have any deserving friends or family to bequeath your system to, you can try recycling it or selling it.

If you've tried to donate a computer before, you know that many organizations take only fairly recent machines. World Computer Exchange takes working older machines and redistributes them in developing countries. Go to the "To Donate" tab and click "What We Need" to find out if your machine meets WCE's needs.

To unload your machine, try EBay. Many Mac forums also have "for sale" and "wanted" boards.

My Favorite Mac Help Sites

Here are some of my favorite sites for Mac advice and peer support, which can help you wring more juice out of an older Mac--whether it's for your own use or someone else's.

LowEndMac: To learn about your system, check out the Computer Profiles, listed in the navigation bar. There's even a page that lists "Road Apples," Macs that were dogs from the start. And if you don't already have enough aging equipment hanging around, you can also peruse prices and availability of used gear at this site.

MacFixIt Forums: MacFixIt is devoted to troubleshooting Macs--a few minutes spent browsing the news postings will dispel any romantic notions you have about Macs being trouble-free--and has extensive forums devoted to problem solving. Note that parts of the site are available by subscription only.

Apple Discussions: I've turned to Apple's own discussion boards repeatedly to find out about issues I've encountered. The Older Apple Products forum is where I got the most information about and help with the USB upgrade for my Beige G3.

Mac User Groups

If you want some personal coaching or just want to meet other Mac users near you, consider contacting your local user group. Apple maintains a list of Mac user groups.

It's possible to lose whole weekends happily perusing sites like these, then applying your newfound knowledge to your old computer. Just remember that there's a thin line between the satisfaction of doing it yourself and throwing good money after bad. Be alert to when that balance shifts.