Throw-away fruity laptop

20 Sep, 2025

We now live in a throw-away society — there's no denying it. Fast fashion often dominates the news, but Tech is not squeaky-clean by any means.

The current story is the imminent cessation of Windows 10 updates. Granted, your Windows 10 machine will not collapse in a useless heap when Microsoft stop supporting it. However, it will receive no more vital security updates to protect you from the bad boys. Support ends 14 October 2025, but consumers can pay for a brief extension of a further year!

Microsoft and the hardware manufacturers are desperately trying to convince us that we should get on board with Windows 11, and we need new hardware to run it. Clearly we are not listening, as Windows is running on 45% of desktops.

Expired Fruit

Of course, Apple are also in the same game!

I have a MacBook Pro, from mid-2015. That makes it ten years old. A few years ago it stopped being "compatible" with operating system updates and the laptop fell a few versions behind. Inevitably it lay in a cupboard gathering dust, and doing nothing. A perfectly functional device, consigned to the scrap-heap.

About a year ago I decided to fish it out of the recesses of the cupboard and try to put Linux on it — I was curious to see if it would work.

Twenty minutes later I had a complete installation of Linux Mint installed and purring like a kitten. Despite its ten-year age, the hardware is still more then sufficient for typical use.

Powerless

A few weeks ago it stopped charging. Was the laptop finally dead, or was it the power cable?

Concerned that it may be the laptop rather than the power block, I thought I would be smart and take the laptop into an Apple store. My nearest one is a two hour drive, but a few days ago I was up in the general location for something else. I used the opportunity to pop in.

If you drop in, you generally only get access to a sales person. You need to make an appointment with a genius. I did not have an appointment. I chatted to a sales-lady, and explained I had an older MacBook Pro and asked if there was an opportunity for me to test a power cable on it.

As suspected, I was encouraged to make an appointment. I explained my two-hour location problem and she took pity. She grabbed one of their gurus and I explained my issue. I was told that they do not keep spares and accessories for 10-year old devices. Clearly, "it was passed its life-span", and "would I like to look at alternative new models?"

I politely declined and left, a little deflated.

When I returned home I decided I would purchase an un-branded fake Apple power block/charger.

Power Up

I am pleased to report that the laptop charged and continues to run Linux Mint. I spent a handful of notes on a alternative-manufacturer power cable, and I saved a very decent laptop from the bin.

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