Instead of a new weak Chromebook with limited ram and storage, does it make sense to go with a cheap used 2008-2010 apple machine and install whatever OS on it? Will a machine like that, still be relevant today? Your opinion please…
2008-2010 laptop may be too far back though. May as well go for a 2012 laptop like my Ivy-Bridge i3 3110M laptop.
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Will a machine like that be relevant? It depends what tasks you want to grind through on your PC. Without knowing your use-case, there's no advice to give you. If you're using it for word processing and programming tasks for university, it's much different than if you're using it for graphic design or gaming.
Buying an older laptop has some caveats. L-Ion batteries discharge over time, so you're going to have to buy a new battery if you want any kind of usage longevity. In the case of a Macbook, it can sometimes be difficult to find any parts. Also, if you lose one key on the keyboard or damage one key, you have to replace the whole front assembly which must be special ordered. Apple parts are only available through the GSX (Apple global exchange) and after a few years they are "Vintage" parts and can't be obtained at all, except through third parties.
You are right, only reason I am considering older macs is because I can find them pretty cheap and ,from what I hear, they have good battery life too. Combining that with a light Linux distro, one can probably end up with a pretty decent ultrabook that costs much more today, I don't know, just saying
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What MacBook exactly are we talking about?
My use for a laptop is pretty basic. Web browsing, spreadsheet and word, but also some sketch up and steam in home streaming.
I did splurge once on a expensive laptop (an ivy bridge i7 and gt 640m GPU) but I did regret spend that much for a machine that I never used close to it's potential. Also battery performance is terrible. These machines have zero portability.
That is why I am looking for a cheaper alternative for some basic tasks. Only prerequisites are good battery life and a decent fhd screen
Somethink like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B002MRRRRI/ref=mp_s_a_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1469567025&sr=8-13&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=macbook
Or this https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B001I45U02/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1469567025&sr=8-15&pi=AC_SX200_SY289_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=macbook
Or this https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B002COJD1O/ref=mp_s_a_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1469567025&sr=8-18&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=macbook
I can see over than a hundred listings for used macs and that is on eu amazon stores alone. Prices vary from 250 to 500 euros
In general those are fine for most things but they are not any faster than a todays chrome book. The main problem is that h.265 will become the new standard for video streaming and older machines can only software decode that, if at all. I am writing this from a 2009 MacBook Pro and while it is basically ok, you can have the same experience or better on todays lightweight machines.
I think (i am not sure though) that most of the 5th gen mobile intel cpus and gpus didn't have H265 hardware decoders (that means that most of the 2015 machines will suffer in that area ). I am not sure if that has changed on the 6th gen CPU though
Any kind of 60fps video seems to be software decoded on my machine, even 720p which is probably h.264.
If you want to install linux anyway, why do you specifically look at chrome books?
Oh.. that is a real dealbreaker... So have you noticed any stutters while streaming movies or content on YouTube? Does the laptop fan keep spinning while watching something above 720p?
Also it seems that mid end Chromebooks are still pretty pricey in the EU. They usually cost above 500 euros...
Playing like 1080p youtube at 60fps (even when I download the file) uses 80 to 100% CPU.
Even my phone uses less resources for youtube 1080p streaming. But do the dual core celerons and m3 proccessors perform better?
I am not going to spend a dime on a laptop that can't perform basic tasks so I'll keep my reservations on cheap chromebooks too...
Not a mac from that era for sure. Sometimes you get lucky though. I had a 2011 MacBook Air in lowest config, 2GB RAM, and I got it in 2012 for 600,- Euro or something. Sure it is still expensive for the specs but cheap for a last years macbook.
The 2010 models had BGA mounting issues with the GPU's, the 2009's had HUGE power failure, the 2008's had certain series that would kill hard drives.
Macbooks are designed really horribly, as I have learned. The only dependable apple laptops are the powerpc models but getting parts is a pain in the ass. If you get a refurbished macbook you'll just end up running into weird problems with drivers every once in a while. Past that it might be ok. MIGHT.
I would recommend looking at some ultrabooks. If you got a lenovo unit you can go really cheap and the advertising robots that are installed are enulled. Personally I would go pretty far back in laptops if you're looking to do a linux unit and looking at older hardware. Something with BIOS, not EFIBios or EFI/UEFI, just straight BIOS. Something ZIF so you can mod it and something you can get parts for like batteries. Personally if you didn't mind the speed decrease I would point you to some single core units that are pretty easy to hack and tweak. Then again I might be the only one on this forum, or at least one of few, who rootkits old machines to get clock rates on mobo chips to go up..... I'm nuts.
Look up some of the HP units and maybe some lenovo. I had a Lenovo B575 for a good 4 years before I killed. The unit was supposed to last one... Still have it and the GPU (6320 on an E-450) was actually pretty OK. Good for youtube, the Mobo was very hackable, the unit wasn't ever that hot and the battery lasted ~= 4.5 hours. Good enough to go to classes and do some papers, then play some league in wine at ~45-50 FPS. the B575e might do better, never played with one.
Alternatively you could get an older gaming laptop on the cheap and use that. I have an asus G50VT-X5 that keeps up with the times pretty well. Can pick one up for around 200 bucks. Upgradeable too. But, I can only recommend what I have and what I have played with so don't discredit me for using older hardware :P
I am not willing to spend that much on such low specs. I only need a 13 inch ultrabook with good battery life and a decent 1080p screen. A backlight keyboard and a nice design are also welcome but not for much more money. I am also a fan of silence while working so extra points for that. From what I can see though it seems that there is not such a machine for near 500 euros so I guess I'll wait for a little longer...
Any Skylake CPU should have hardware acceleration for h.265. So look for that and you will have no problems for years.
I recently bought a refurbished dell m4050 with the e450 CPU for a relative of mine. A very decent machine for the price and with good battery life too. I would like something smaller thus more portable though..
Give me a minute
Macs are overpriced and underpowered for sure but the unibody construction is an amazing design. Although I must admit the material keeps getting thinner from generation to generation. I wouldn't trust the top shell of todays macbook pros.