Any reason to keep this laptop:

Mid 2009
13"
MacBook Pro 2.26 GHz Core 2 duo
2 GB Ram
160 GB HDD
Currently on Yosemite

It needs a new battery.
It looks like I can get a new battery, 8 GB RAM and a 250 GB SSD for a little over $200.00
Everymac says El Capitan is the as far as it is supported.

I inherited this machine and don't really need it.

Time to recycle?

Steve

I would throw in a $20 eBay battery and sell it.

Quote
jonny
I would throw in a $20 eBay battery and sell it.

Id throw it on ebay for $20, but dont expect to sell it. =)

---

Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

EVERYONE needs extra computers - sell it as it is - I'd ask $50

I’d sell it, or use it for home entertainment. Please don’t recycle it.
I have a couple 2009 MacBooks (2GHz C2D) running Windows 7 and El Capitan. With J River on a dedicated HTPC in the den, they act as clients in the living room and office audio entertainment systems. They are perfectly adequate for the task.

Quote
hal
EVERYONE needs extra computers - sell it as it is - I'd ask $50

LOL, true mac hoarder represent. =)

Saw a nice 17" G4 iMac on CL yesterday.

---

Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

That machine, as-is, would be a fine PLEX server.

Give it to a kid whose family can't afford a laptop.

Quote
anonymouse1
Give it to a kid whose family can't afford a laptop.

I get the sentiment... but is that really feasable? or even usable? Im thinking... no.

---

Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

Quote
jdc

Quote
anonymouse1
Give it to a kid whose family can't afford a laptop.

I get the sentiment... but is that really feasable? or even usable? Im thinking... no.

I gave a 2009 MacBook 2GHz C2D to my 9 year old nephew last year. It had El Capitan and Windows 7. He uses it as his daily computer. It won't run 64 bit Windows software, but he doesn't have any of that. It's fine for word processing and web browsing.

Quote
S. Pupp
I gave a 2009 MacBook 2GHz C2D to my 9 year old nephew last year. It had El Capitan and Windows 7. He uses it as his daily computer. It won't run 64 bit Windows software, but he doesn't have any of that. It's fine for word processing and web browsing.

Yeah, I dont think I worded my answer right -- my oldest uses a 2007 iMac, youngest 2008 iMac, wife 2009 iMac and I used a 2010 iMac until 2016... plus a pair of 2012 13" MBPs ... so I get the longevity thing

I guess what I meant is that unless you make all the upgrades... it might not be

All of the above Macs have been upgraded -- SSDs, extra ram, slimmed down systems.

---

Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

plenty of kids these days with no home computer and only on-line instructions.

As long as it runs a browser, it's enough - even if it must remain plugged in.

---

--------------

Embarassing myself on the Internet since 1978.

Quote
jdc

Quote
jonny
I would throw in a $20 eBay battery and sell it.

Id throw it on ebay for $20, but dont expect to sell it. =)

I just sold that model with 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD and original (working still) battery for $199 + shipping on eBay. Admittedly, it did go to what appears to be a package forwarder address... So I'm waiting to see if I get hit with some sort of "not as described" scam....

“ a little over $200.00”

Micron 5100 Pro 480GB SSD - $68.75

[eshop.macsales.com]


NewerTech 65 Watt-Hour NuPower Battery - $89.75

[eshop.macsales.com]


OWC Memory 4.0GB 2 x 2.0GB PC8500 DDR3 - $18.99

[eshop.macsales.com]



About $175

With those stats it's not a usable machine nowadays.

However if you can come by 4GB and a castoff 120 or 240 SSD for peanuts, then a cheap eBay/Amz battery might be worth it. I used ~$30 batteries in 2006-08 MacBooks and they were fine though lower capacity.

I have a 2009 15" MBP on my desk now which gets occasional use and every summer a High School student uses it in Mrs. Zealand's lab.

But it has 10.11.6, 8GB, 240SSD, OK original battery and is in *pristine* shape, the primary reason why it still gets some use.

Quote
btfc
“ a little over $200.00”

Micron 5100 Pro 480GB SSD - $68.75

[eshop.macsales.com]


NewerTech 65 Watt-Hour NuPower Battery - $89.75

[eshop.macsales.com]


OWC Memory 4.0GB 2 x 2.0GB PC8500 DDR3 - $18.99

[eshop.macsales.com]



About $175

The RAM price I saw quickly at OWC sw $48.00.
I like your price better, but it might still be throwing good money after bad…

Ooo can I play, can I play?

Silicon Power A55 256GB SSD $34
[www.amazon.com]

noname battery $30, you could get another
[www.amazon.com]

OWC Memory 2 x 2GB PC8500 DDR3 - $19 (same as above)
[eshop.macsales.com]

$83 total and IMO about the limit for an 11 yo laptop if I needed some portability. If I could find even an Anker battery for $20 more, I'd maybe go for that but frankly I'd try my luck with the no-name, which I've done in the past.

I have a Late 2008 Macbook w/ 4 gigs and a SSD as a shop/ loaner laptop and it runs El Cap just fine.


There was info posted on the forum a while ago re: running unsupported OSes.

upgrade to Snow Leopard and use the Airport Utility to manage your Apple Router, to run non-subscription Adobe software, etc.

I still have that exact machine with 8gb ram amd a hybrid drive. It's running 10.6.8 just fine. When I went to upgrade to Sierra, all things went kerplooey, so I went back to Snow Leopard.

I've replaced battery and optical drive and maybe even the touchpad.

---

Hurts like a bastid...

Kurtzie,

I've got that same machine and it's surprisingly capable for its age. Very handy to have around to use as a "floating" laptop for visitors or to use in case one of my primary machines is down. Even at the 11 year old mark. 'course mine has ample RAM and an SSD already. Invested in that stuff years ago.

That said, you can definitely make that a basically usable machine for less than $100.00. If you've got the cash, it's worth it. The machine is fine for very basic tasks under the Mac OS. Or, if you want to experiment, throw a flavor of linux on it.

And, as others have mentioned, you can do the basic upgrades and donate the machine. I know many people who can't afford a computer. Not even an 11 year old Macbook Pro. They'd be thrilled to own it.

Robert