Selling old MacBook Pro (A1278 / A1286 / A1297) : better with Windows?

[Peperonix]

Hi there,

I have a stock of several repaired / refurbished MacBook Pro from year 2011 (13'' A1278, 15'' A1286 and 17'' A1297 models) that I would like to sell, and who will need a fresh reinstall first.

In my country, in marketplaces, the price for such computers is currently ridiculously low, around 40$ for a A1286, whilst there are still quality hardware.
I believe there is an oversupply of these old MacBooks, causing the prices to hit the ground.

Is possibly their lastest supported operating system, Mac OS X 10.13.6 High Sierra too outdated for Apple customers and one of the causes of this excessive supply?

In my country a Windows 10 Home DVD costs around 110 USD and and Windows 10 Pro DVD costs around 140 USD.

Would it be worth investing in one Windows license for each of these devices, especially the pricier A1297, in order to get a higher selling price?
I don't mean using Bootcamp, but transforming those MacBooks into Windows-only computers.

Has anyone here attempted selling an MacBook installed with Windows?
Was it successful and the Windows license worth the investment in this context?

Windows 10 requires TPM 1.2 and Windows 11 TPM 2.0.

Although Linux hat great distros, my experience is that such computers are harder to sell.

Of course, I could make an A / B / C test on a maketplace, creating three items : one MacBook with OS X, the same with Windows (the latest with Linux) and see what sells first.
But if someone already has some experience with that, I would appreciate.

Please stay on topic. Thank you.

 

[britechguy]

I could not, in good conscience, sell these machines with Windows 10 on them even if that were achievable at this date simply because there is barely more than a year left for Windows 10. None will run Windows 11.

Hardware dating from 2011 is, by any estimation, ancient. To me, these are either Linux boxes or recycling fodder.

 

[Porthos]

Is possibly their lastest supported operating system, Mac OS X 10.13.6 High Sierra too outdated for Apple customers and one of the causes of this excessive supply?

Yes, they are useless unless you can find a sucker that will pay that low price without knowing they are buying non-upgradeable machines.

I believe there is an oversupply of these old MacBooks, causing the prices to hit the ground.

See my first comment.

 

[Markverhyden]

How many machines? Have you looked into refurb licenses? But I agree with the others. No supported macOS or Windows available. Hardware wise they aren't bad. Especially with the RAM maxed out and an SSD. They'd run Linux just fine. If it was me I'd just swallow my pride and put them out on eBay as is with 30 day DOA return.

 

[britechguy]

See my first comment.

And it ain't just Macbooks. We are coming up on a massive glut of hardware that's dead as far as using Windows is concerned. And when that day arrives, I don't care if the machine is 6 months old (and someone was foolish enough to buy it new at that late date), my position would remain the same: Linux or recycler fodder (and I consider raiding for parts to be recycling).

 

[sapphirescales]

Install OpenCore Legacy Patcher and sell them to someone wanting a cheap computer for their kid to use. I wouldn't sell it under my business if I were you. I would never want to warranty or support a 13 year old computer. Linux would be the best option if you want something that's still officially supported but no one uses Linux and I doubt anyone would want it. I tried selling old systems with Linux on them on Craigslist and no one wanted them because they didn't have Windows.

The sad truth is any Apple computer older than 5 years old is completely useless and obsolete. That's by design.

 

[timeshifter]

I don't know what the economic situation is in your part of the world, but no matter how you spin it I can't see how it would be ever worth it to fix up and sell 13 year old computers.

A few months ago I took about 14 iMacs to Apple and just turned them over for recycling. They were 2011-2014 era machines. The best I could get for any of them was around $100. The time to wipe them, install new OS (even the latest with Open Core Legacy Patcher) and sell them was in no way worth it.

Now to contradict myself...

How about making them into Chromebooks?

I have one MacBook Pro, similar vintage, that I did that to. I pull it out about once every nine months to test something.

Don't remember the name of the project, but there are ways to install Chrome OS on a Mac.

 

[sapphirescales]

The time to wipe them, install new OS (even the latest with Open Core Legacy Patcher) and sell them was in no way worth it.

Not to you or someone running an actual business but I'm sure you could have found someone who was willing to take them off your hands for cheap. It's worth it to throw them on Craigslist and charge like $300 for the lot. I list stuff on Craigslist that's not worth my time to fix and/or that I don't want to have to support or provide warranty for. I just listed a lot of 3rd/4th gen desktops on Craigslist for $50 a pop and they sold in a matter of days. I tested to make sure they power on and that's it. I don't sell anything older than 8th gen nowadays so when I get older stuff in I take it home with me and once I've collected a good 10-20 systems I just sell them in a lot.

I used to sell obsolete stuff in the shop like this but too many people expected me to warranty and support the stuff even when I had a big sign that said "As-Is Computers - $50 each" and specifically told people when they checked out that they were as-is, it didn't matter. I sell vintage systems and up-to-date supported systems but nothing in between anymore. I'll happily warranty and support a vintage computer I'm selling for $300+ but when I'm selling you a 3rd gen i7 desktop for $50 with no OS and you expect me to warranty it, or you bring it back saying it's "broken" because it doesn't have an OS installed, I don't have time for that crap. Why do you think it was $50?

 

[fincoder]

How about making them into Chromebooks?

I have one MacBook Pro, similar vintage, that I did that to. I pull it out about once every nine months to test something.

Don't remember the name of the project, but there are ways to install Chrome OS on a Mac.

I think that's the best idea. Only downside is the Android Play Store isn't available on Chrome OS Flex devices. Here's the link:

ChromeOS Flex: Our Cloud-Based Operating System - ChromeOS

Upgrade to ChromeOS Flex, our cloud-based, easy-to-manage, and secure operating system that's compatible with both PCs and Macs.

chromeos.google

 

[Peperonix]

How many machines?

Currently three.

Have you looked into refurb licenses?

I considered this in the past. But Microsoft's Terms and Conditions for refurbishers were so long to read (around 16 pages if I remember), and so complicated that I gave up.

But I agree with the others. No supported macOS or Windows available. Hardware wise they aren't bad. Especially with the RAM maxed out and an SSD.

I agree, but maximizing the RAM is even not necessary. In the past, I have done tests with computers with Dell Latitude E6520 (also using DDR3). Whether 4GB or 8GB make no noticable difference for boot time or office use, especially for computers with a dedicated GPU.
Chronometer in hand, I could not measure even a one second gain in boot speed.
But a professional SSD with a good controller and MLC NAND will in practice be almost twice as fast than with a consumer SSD using TLC.

They'd run Linux just fine.

Sure. But computers with Linux are harder to sell.
And in such a case, new users ask for Ubuntu, whilst there are better distros.

If it was me I'd just swallow my pride and put them out on eBay as is with 30 day DOA return.

I don't want selling anymore on Ebay.
They are witholding your funds, after a sale, if you do not agree their new "Terms and Conditions" that they publish around every 6 months.
I only see with own shop, classified ads and other marketplaces.

I would never want to warranty or support a 13 year old computer.

I warranty 15 years computers up to two or three years.
All depends on the model and which kind of components you put inside.
Some professional series from that epoch are more sturdy that many current models.
Same in optics. Old theodolites or binoculars had metal-only chassis, before plastic was used.