No, Apple, These Macs Aren’t ‘Obsolete’
This week Apple updated its list of supported Macs, labelling several more models “obsolete” – a move that one computer repair specialist described as a “sales tactic designed to frighten” customers.
A host of models were added to Apple’s obsolete list in this week’s update, including the 2016 MacBook, MacBook Pro models from 2015 and 2016, and 2015 iMacs.
Apple adds products to its obsolete list when the company “stopped distributing them for sale more than seven years ago.” The company says that it “discontinues all hardware service for obsolete products, and service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products,” the only exception being batteries which can be available for as long as ten years.
While Apple is far from alone in retiring products, and indeed offers support for its products for longer than many other manufacturers, the use of the word “obsolete” raises eyebrows for products that are often still perfectly functional.
Last year, for example, I wrote about how I used Linux Mint to breathe new life into a 2013 iMac, which is still in daily use as an entertainment center in our kitchen today.
