Archive
We Get Questions – Vol. 2
We continue with our second installment of questions I answer on Quora about the Mac, computers, Chromebooks, iDevices, etc. In some cases, I’ve extended my answers here to make them more complete or to add clarity.
What happens when you try to permanently empty your computer’s trash bin?
I’m sure you know that when you empty the trash everything inside is deleted. Sometimes you can’t delete a file or app because it is being used in some way by the computer. In that case, restart and then finish emptying the trash. Happy emptying!
Currently, can I sell my locked iPad Pro (12.9) to anyone other than the company it’s linked to? What is a good price for the iPad?
If the iPad is locked (and you don’t have either the lockscreen code or iCloud email/password) then it is worthless. Did you steal it? If so, please return it to the company or person from that company you took it from. If you purchased it from someone or the company, you’ll need to go back to that person/company IT folks to get them to disassociate their iCloud account from the iPad.
What are the risks of using a Mac that runs on outdated software?
I’ll mention a couple based on current experience. Having used Macs with newer Oses up to Ventura (but not machines with Apple Silicone yet), my Mac tower running High Sierra is just slow and takes forever to load.
I don’t use Safari with High Sierra because it is not safe to use on the Internet (newer versions are just fine). I can’t get any OS updates and a chunk of apps (save for a few like Zoom and browsers) won’t update. I’m stuck using 10 + years older software. So lack of support, some security issues and slowness are all “risks.” That said, High Sierra remains a capable Mac OS and can still do a lot but it is clearly getting long in the tooth.
Do you think the Apple Vision Pro is worth its high price point?
This is a truly game-changing device that- like many other first gen machines- will sell to a particular high-end clientele to start. But I could immediately see there are tremendous business, education and military uses so Apple will sell a boatload.
The good news is with volume comes a reduction in costs and and we middle class folks, schools, etc. will benefit over time. Higher Ed will be in line to buy these and even some school districts. Remember Macs, Tesla’s and many other higher-end product costs have come town as volume ramped up. It is also possible Apple will develop lower price models much as they have for their iDevices. So let’s see what happens! You might even want to buy Apple stock! 😀 Good luck.
Does Apple have any plans to switch from macOS to a different operating system in the future?
I’ve owned Apple computers and other company devices since 1983 and as a user, I’ve learned that Apple makes its own decisions based on any number of factors- especially when the hardware demands a new OS.
Apple is switching all their devices to Apple Silicon and the Mac OS followed. I don’t see them changing to something else anytime soon. The Mac OS is a robust OS that continues to impress and meets the needs of the vast majority of users. ‘Nuff said!
What are some ways to reuse old computers instead of installing Windows OS in their hard drives?
Google has made it fairly easy to turn some PC and Mac laptops into Chromebooks. Not all so check the requirements. There are a lot of helpful guides out there -here’s one from PC magazine:
How to turn an old laptop into a Chromebook
You can convert an older laptop into a Chromebook without spending a dime. All you need is an hour.
I’ve made the switch on both Mac and PC laptops with success. Also tried iMacs without success. 😀
You can use older machines for lots of things but as they get older, there are increasing security issues if you want to search the internet (for example).
You can also install Linux and other OS on many older computers. The link I provided is just possibility.
That said, if your computer is too old, please recycle it responsibly. Good luck!
I needed to add that the non-profit I work with in Maryland- MacRecycleClinic- takes older Macs (High Serra and newer) and Chromebooks to refurbish and return to the greater Washington DC region (we call it the DMV). More info at MacRecycleClinic.org.
Which is more economical: buying a cheap printer or buying expensive cartridges for a good quality printer?
Actually I would pay a little more for a printer with an eco tank. Brother and Epson offer them and I believe others do too. If you do that… get a better quality printer – it will last you many years. Yes the ink is expensive but the bigger ink tanks will allow you to pay less per ounce and print more pages.
the alternative is to get a laser printer which will provide hundreds of pages of printing. The laser cartridges are also expensive but the trade off is number of pages printed before replacement. They can be recycled for free by the way.
Good luck!
Hi! I accidentally deleted some important photos from recently deleted and iCloud I have no access to them. I only found WooTechy but it requires 40$, isn’t there any other way?
Well if you had a Time Machine backup the answer would be pretty easy. It doesn’t sound like you do so the next question is, are those photos worth the money to recover? $40.00 seems cheap.
What did you use to take the photos in the first place? Are they still on the original device?
How long ago did you delete the photos? iCloud gives you a 30 day grace period:
Finally, please start using Time Machine do this kind of issue won’t happen again. Good Luck!
Is the MacBook Pro 2011 still usable in 2023?
The answer is – it depends. At the MacRecycleClinic in Silver Spring, Md. machines running High Sierra are now at the low end of what we give out these days (we refurbish older machines to donate to those who do not have computers). Our donations are trending more towards mid 2012 and newer machines that can run Catalina and higher.
That said, depending on what you need to do, High Sierra is still very capable for many tasks. We recommend not using Safari as we don’t believe it is as secure as Firefox or even Chrome.
I have a Mac at home that runs HS and it can be slow but is able to browse, edit video and audio, get email and more. But the handwriting is on the wall since Apple no longer supports this older version of the OS (32 bit vs 64 and a newer APFS file management system). Good luck!
What is the most useful software on your Mac that you never use?
Let’s say I never used this software until I found out what a useful tool it is. That would be the Notes app. Who thought it could make such a difference. But now I use it for so many things on a daily basis. Thoughts, notes, poems, passwords (for short retention) and so much more.
Because it is part of iCloud, Notes is shared and updated on all your devices and you can share a note with anyone.
Here’s the most useful thing I do with it: I’ve written a note to my wife and children with a ton of information they will need to know if I become incapacitated or die. I got the idea from my best friend who did the same thing. It proved very useful when he passed. Good luck!
How can I view my photos on my external hard drive that was formatted for Apple but my Apple computer died?
Find a friend with a Mac, connect the external and then save the files to a thumb drive. Most thumb drives are formatted for PC use.
Macs can read PC formatted disks but PCs can’t read Mac disks without extra software (thus your second solution – install software that lets the PC read Mac-formatted drives.)
There are other ways but these might be the easiest for you. Good luck!
How long does it take for a full Mac OS X Time Machine backup?
First time will always take longer depending on how big your internal drive is. I usually set it up to run overnight. Next backups are quick depending what is added, subtracted, etc. from the internal drive. Good luck!
Can you upgrade an iMac to increase speed?
Not really. With a Mac always order a machine with a look forward attitude. Buy as much SSD and memory as you think you will need in 3–5 years. Unfortunately the best answer is to buy a new Mac if you are frustrated with the speed.
Macs today are configured with everything soldered on the mother board (with a few exceptions) so you have to buy what you think you’ll need in the future.
What is the difference between buying a product on Apple.com and at an Apple Store?
The best reason to buy at the Apple Sore is you can kick the tires and ask lots of questions. If you’re fairly new to Apple you want to go and physically see the computers, iPads or iPhones. Try them out. Ask all the questions you might have with someone who knows the equipment inside and out.
They can also help you transfer your data, get your computer or iDevice set up if you want. The prices won’t be different (tho you can buy refurbished machines online at a discount).
Note this applies s to third party retailers like Best Buy and others who can also help you in the same way. Big Box stores like Costco sells Apple products – sometimes for a bit less- but really don’t have folks who can help you in the same way as an Apple or computer store.You can also recycle your equipment at the Apple Store.
Good luck!
How can you fix your Chromebook when it won’t turn on, if it has no battery or no charger?
Hmmm. Where did the battery go? You do know your Chromebook won’t work if it doesn’t have a battery, right? And you need a charger to charge that battery.
The easiest answer would be to just get a new Chromebook and move on. Otherwise, check the model and serial number to find the right battery and charger online. You can install a new battery easily with help from iFixIt.
What are some of the best ways to connect a keyboard to an iPhone/iPad?
There are many Bluetooth keyboards out there – some on the iPad side with a cover as well. I’m using one right now. Good luck!
How can you get Google Chrome to update itself automatically and silently?
So this is what I have found working with Chrome (the browser) on older Macs. If the Mac has Chrome installed, start it and try to update it.
If it won’t, simply go to the Chrome website (Google “Download Chrome”) and download it. Even if the older version won’t update, you can get the newest version just by downloading and replacing the older version with the newer one. Chrome should update itself automatically by the way. (Check About Chrome from the Apple menu on a Mac – a new page will open and Chrome will check to see if it is the latest edition.)
Can you turn an iPad into a laptop without buying anything extra?
If by laptop you mean a computer with a keyboard and maybe a mouse the answer is not really. The iPad meets many requirements of a laptop, but having to peck on the screen is a challenge to productivity. That’s why I have a Bluetooth keyboard for my iPad. It makes a high difference just in speed. And yes – you can also connect a bluetooth mouse to your iPad as well. But frankly, if you need a laptop, get yourself one.
Good luck!
New Domain Name!
Recyclemac.wordpress.com is now recyclemac.org – either will work but the “primary” URL is now much easier to use. Thanks to everyone for following us! There’s lot to talk about so stay tuned. 🙂
It Takes a Family to Recycle
A new shelf goes up in the MacRecycleClinic workspace at Marvin Church.
I took a look back at this blog and realized we’re closing in on six months since we got RecycleMac started. MacRecycleClinic was reestablished earlier than that, of course (after a two year hiatus). But it feels like we are really only now getting everything finally back together. It’s taken awhile to get the word out – we are finally starting to get more customers (guests/patrons/Mac aficionados) and making some progress on some other projects like the Mac Lab at Marvin and making community contacts.
We have added more shelving to the office space to get our refurbished computers off the floor. We donated a Mac laptop to the Blair High School AfterProm Committee for senior Daniel Naval to take to college. And we’ve helped some wonderful people get their Macs working again. Our agreement with the county to take Macs that would otherwise be recycled at the Shady Grove facility is also starting to bear some fruit – we find there are parts we can use if nothing else. The other day, a machine came in that had no memory or hard drive, but the Airport Extreme wireless card had been left in! It was easily the most valuable part.
Macs being refurbished for donation. Come see what we're doing any Monday night!
We continue to look for ways to work with the Silver Spring and Montgomery County communities to get computers into the hands of folks who don’t have them. We remain open to suggestions and will gladly take referrals from non-profits who feel someone they work with could use a computer. In many cases, we can also provide a printer so there’s a complete solution (just provide the Internet and ink cartridges!)
We look forward to the future as we are able to make more alliances and get the word out that MacRecycleClinic can, in a small way, make a difference in our community.
Why We Recycle: A Personal Story
Jessica Snow receives her refurbished MacBook during the MRC's Monday Night Clinic.
MacRecycleClinic is a small group – with a collective big heart. We are all volunteers but like many who care, we put a lot of time and effort into what we do. We care about the environment and want to play a part – admittedly a small one – to help folks continue to get good service out of computers that others no longer want or need.
The fact that we only work with Macintosh computers is a benefit of the job. We’re also passionate about Apple products and from long experience, we know they will provide years of good service with just a little loving care.
So when Jessica Snow – a college student who cares deeply about the environment – came to us, we were happy to work with her. Jessica – a former blogger for the Examiner newspapers – needed something portable and easy to care for. A MacBook was the answer.
Silver Spring Patch Covers MacRecycleClinic
MacRecyleClinic volunteers - Photo courtesy Silver Spring Patch
Thanks to the Patch’s Ben Gross for visiting MacRecycleClinic’s Monday Night Clinic a few weeks back. His article appeared online and starts:
According to the EPA, between 2005 and 2010, more than 250 million computers became useless, with less than 10 percent of them being recycled. In fact, more than 85 percent of the computers “thrown away” wind up in landfills.
At the same time, many individuals and families lack the financial resources to have a home computer. One local company has found a way to address both problems at once – Silver Spring’s MAC Recycle Clinic.
(The Patch got a little excited with the caps – but we’re thrilled to have the story out there!)
If you’d like to read the entire story – the URL is: http://bit.ly/fo9KqX
If Apple Replaces Aluminum with Carbon Fiber Can it be Recycled?
Apple filed a patent for a carbon fiber case in 2009. There were lots of rumors of Apple devices using the material but they all proved to be false.
News reports this week have Apple hiring a composites engineer named Kevin Kenney (who has consulted with Apple and has expertise with carbon fiber bicycles). Carbon fiber is a terrifically strong and lightweight layered material that would likely be a good replacement for the aluminum the company now uses for its laptops and i-devices. You can read more about it in Apple Insider and 9 to 5 Mac among others. Of course, a Google search also indicates that Apple has been testing carbon fiber for a long time and even filed a patent in 2009. But the real question for those of us who have to deal with older machines is – can laptops or idevices with cases made of carbon fiber be recycled as e-waste?
Crowdsourcing – Your Best Computer Recycling Tips
I have been thinking about putting together a “Computer Recycling Guide” for everyone – talking about the best ways to prepare your computer to either recycle it as e-waste (by taking it to the Shady Grove Transfer Station here in Montgomery County for instance) or finding someone to donate it to (like MacRecycleClinic or other recycling organization). But in a very brief moment of inspiration, I thought why not let you help me do this? Let’s give you the power to contribute to something we can all use. In fact, it’s something we could distribute here and through our MacRecycleClinic.org website.
You don’t need to answer all of the questions – even one is beneficial. It just needs to be based on your own experience no matter where you are. And the answers can be short too. Links are welcome of course. We’ll gather them all together, combine, edit and format – and repost it here on RecycleMac for all to enjoy. And although we are focused on Macs, if you have great tips for the PC side, we’ll be happy to have them as well. Just put your tips in the comments for this posting(which follows) and we’ll take it from there. Or if you’d rather, shoot them to me at dottalini at macrecycleclinic.org.
Here are the questions:
- How do you know it’s time to replace your old computer (see earlier post here but I want your thoughts);
- How should you prepare your Mac or PC for recycling or donation;
- Are their pieces of the older machine you can put to good use with the new one?
- What is the best software to use to get your information transferred from your old computer to your new one?
- At what point is it better to just recycle your computer vs. donating it individually to someone else or through a non-profit like MacRecycleClinic?
- Anything else you’d like to contribute?
That’s it!
This will be posted on our Twitter site too (we don’t have a Facebook account as of yet but I do and will post it there) but please pass this along.
What Exactly IS MacRecycleClinic’s Mission?
This is the door at Marvin Church you use to get into the MRC workspace. We're open Monday nights from 7 to 9 to work on sick Macs and take donations. (Photo taken with an iPod Touch)
Informed folks want to know! I’ve been talking a lot about what we do and how we do it but sometimes just having an actual mission statement can provide some focus for an organization. MRC is a SMALL organization mind you. We still have a number of folks who were part of the old Tuesday Night Crew as we called it at Washington Apple Pi (WAP). Over the time we were “in the wilderness” and without a home, we did lose a few friends.
We hope that as we reestablish ourselves in our new location at Marvin Memorial United Methodist Church in Silver Spring, others interested in helping will step forward. And of course we could use some customers too! We survive thanks to your donations. Come join us! Read more…
We Get Questions About Mac Recycle Clinic
RecycleMac has been getting some positive feedback so thanks to all of our readers out there. This is really a long-term project that tries to build a quality voice in a room filled with many folks who are passionate about the environment and recycling. We’ll keep working at it with your help!
So here are the questions:
What’s different about recycling Macs than other computers?
A Mac is a PC – that is, it is a personal computer or a personal appliance or a personal electronic gadget. So essentially you would recycle it the same way you might any other computer. All the folks we’ve talked about – from Apple to Dell – will take your computer and many times other electronic equipment and recycle them.Unfortunately, Apple has taken some heat in past years because its computers were not made of materials that were easy to recycle or were toxic. To its credit, Apple has made some major changes and is much greener these days. I won’t go into depth here but you can read all about it on their website. If you’re interested, you can also see what Greenpeace says these days – it has an entire website devoted to the issue.
Please know that the Macs that are donated to us are thoroughly checked and cleaned. Hard drives are securely wiped of all data and an appropriate version of the Mac OS is installed. If the machine can not be made to work (and we get some that just don’t want to work no matter what we do) we will take out any reusable parts – hard drives, memory, batteries, sometimes the power supplies and optical drives – and send the hulk to Montgomery County’s Processing Facility and Transfer Station in Derwood (Gaithersburg), Maryland – which is the closest county recycling center to us. Here’s a map:
Five Myths About Recycling Your Mac
1) I’m Just One Person – What Does It Matter?
Time and again, we see examples of individuals really making a difference. The 7 year old who raises money to help the families of our Wounded Warriors. The cancer victim who walks with many others each year to raise research funds. The church members who individually volunteer their time at everything from soup kitchens to homeless shelters. Americans like to look on themselves as individuals but the fact is we work pretty well together when there’s a need. Recycling computers and other electronics is important and something we can all be part of. Whether you donate your old PowerMac G4, G5, iMac, eMac or Intel machine to a group like MacRecycleClinic to refurbish for others, take it to your local Apple, Best Buy or other store for recycling or your county or state recycling center, you make a difference each time you or your neighbor makes the decision to recycle rather than throw away.
MacRecycleClinic Photos
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